Behind the scenes of the Thieving Duck

Long time readers will remember the thieving duck photo that I made in 2005. Scratch that, many people who use email, Facebook, Twitter or other social media website will be familiar with this photo. A recent post on Reddit showed me just how tired some people are of it as a meme! I would dearly love to know who it was that copied the photo into a joke email because I would thank them.

At first I was upset that my photo had been taken and used without my permission. It took me a long time to figure out that it doesn’t matter. I had fun taking the photo and it’s a reminder of a great holiday. I smiled looking at the photos this morning while I picked out these shots for this post. I wonder if the model, or the people pictured here have seen the meme?

I had no idea who financed this shoot although the Snopes article on it suggests Western Union did, nor did I talk to anyone there but I saw a chance to get an interesting photo and I took it.

Here’s a gallery of behind the scenes shots. Enjoy!

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 55mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/80s

Clontarf Bridge

Clontarf Bridge in Cork is a bridge across the River Lee, opened in 1912 and still very much in use. Originally built to link two railways it’s now used for road traffic! This Cokipedia page has lots more info on the bridge and this page mentions that the bridge, “could be lifted to allow the schooners and coasters access to the quay.”

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s

Ice Cream in Kinsale

A man enjoying his ice cream in Kinsale on a very sunny July day last year.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/320s

Walk and Talk

Kinsale, on a very hot day in 2008.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/250s

All wrapped up

Petrol pumps sit idle at the same derelict station I shot this flo gas photo.

One of my photos will be auctioned off today as part of Bid For Haiti in the Metropole Hotel in Cork. Paul O’Mahony is organising it but my brother Donal is helping to get prints together.
Check out #bidforhaiti on Twitter!

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/50s

Reach For The Sky

Bare trees reach for the sky by the Atlantic Pond and Marina in Blackrock, Cork.

Shot in April 2008.

woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof….

Aperture ƒ/10
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/250s

The Clarion and the Boardwalk

The Clarion Hotel and the Boardwalk and offices sit on the banks of the River Lee in Cork City Centre.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Blackrock Terrace

The Blackrock end of Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Michael Jackson, U2 and err, not sure who else have played in this stadium as well as the obvious GAA matches!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/80s

An Bhlarna

The sign points the way to Blarney or Blarna in Irish. If you’re interested, that’s pronounced “blawrnah”

“Secrets”, an adult store, occupies the building at the centre of this photo.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s