Tag Archives: Ireland

The Boat Cove Boys

In the middle of July when Ireland was moderately warm and the sea was, if not warm, ok to swim in for a few minutes at a time. A bunch of lads were jumping off the pier at Ardmore Boat Cove, but when we walked by, they were playing football and I think one team had scored a goal a moment before. 🙂


Apertureƒ/4.9
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length27.2mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

The Swan Whisperer of Galway

If you’ve ever wandered down to the Claddagh in Galway, you’ll know the swans are less “graceful wild creatures” and more “assertive locals who know exactly when the bread’s coming out.”

That’s what happened on this day in 2005 when we visited and saw a young woman feeding those swans. Other birds wanted crumbs of bread too! Now we know that bread is not an ideal food for birds. Green vegetables are better for them.


Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraCYBERSHOT
Focal length17.2mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

Bridge Jumping Season

When the rare Irish sun decides to grace Graiguenamanagh with its presence, the locals know exactly what to do: head straight for the old stone bridge over the River Barrow.

At least it was in the summer of 2013. I doubt they’re doing it today, in the middle of December.


Apertureƒ/7.1
CameraCanon EOS 6D
Focal length105mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/320s

We’re Always Connected

A woman completely absorbed in her phone, standing directly beneath a massive Vodafone billboard promising “Always Connected Technology”. I guess we are always connected. Even if alone.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/500s

Moving the Goalposts by The Lough

When you want to play a game of football, you need to set your sights high and aim big. No point playing with 2 jumpers for the goalposts when you can bring the real thing from home!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length10mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

Bus Stop Chronicles

I just read that Martin Parr passed away yesterday. He was a giant in street photography circles with a fantastic library of unusual photos showing a slice of life wherever he had his camera.

I was lucky enough to attend a Zoom call he hosted last year, showing photos and telling stories.

So, today’s image has to be a street photo. A busy scene on St. Patrick Street, Cork in 2017.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 6D
Focal length50mm
ISO320
Shutter speed1/400s

Killarney’s Crystal Water

Last October when Blarney Photography Club visited Killarney to photograph the rutting season this year, we took a break from the deer and some of us went to O’Sullivan’s Cascade. This is the Lakes of Killarney as seen from where that waterfall flows into the lake.

It was a beautiful clear day. The sky might have been a little boring for photography but I loved what I saw there. Especially when I saw how the sunlight caught a rock in the water. The hills in the background disappear into the distance like a painting. Quite a remarkable day.

Videos and Links

I love Alex Webb’s photos. Here’s his 2026 calendar.


Apertureƒ/11
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/50s

Dingle’s Gentle Sentinel

Many years ago while travelling on the Dingle Peninsula we came across a donkey in a field in Muiríoch. I posted a photo of him in 2007 and again in 2008 but I happened to come across this photo of him and did a little work on the photo.

There’s a chance this donkey is still alive. Hopefully he’s well cared for and enjoying his elder years.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length125mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/250s

Urban Geometry at Night

Black and white night-time photograph of a modern brutalist covered structure with horizontal fluorescent strip lighting and concrete cylindrical support pillars, gravel and paved ground in foreground, white metal railings, modern building visible on right side, and a contemporary public space at Bishop Lucey Park, Cork.

The brutalist architecture of Bishop Lucey Park seems to suit black and white night shots. This was only my first time trying to photograph it in such a way but I’ll try again.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1s

Festive Commerce in Cork

Brown Thomas on Patrick Street, Cork, is all lit up again for Christmas. On Oliver Plunkett Street they’ve put up the usual decorations and they look fabulous!

Night-time photograph of pedestrians walking on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, beneath cascading golden fairy lights creating a canopy effect overhead, large red neon-illuminated festive spheres and decorative motifs suspended above the street, blurred figures in winter clothing in motion, storefront signage visible at street level.
Night-time photograph of pedestrians walking on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, beneath cascading golden fairy lights creating a canopy effect overhead, large red neon-illuminated festive spheres and decorative motifs suspended above the street, blurred figures in winter clothing in motion, storefront signage visible at street level.
Night-time photograph of pedestrians walking on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, beneath cascading golden fairy lights creating a canopy effect overhead, large red neon-illuminated festive spheres and decorative motifs suspended above the street, blurred figures in winter clothing in motion, storefront signage visible at street level.
Night-time photograph of pedestrians walking on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, beneath cascading golden fairy lights creating a canopy effect overhead, large red neon-illuminated festive spheres and decorative motifs suspended above the street, blurred figures in winter clothing in motion, storefront signage visible at street level.
Night-time photograph of pedestrians walking on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, beneath cascading golden fairy lights creating a canopy effect overhead, large red neon-illuminated festive spheres and decorative motifs suspended above the street, blurred figures in winter clothing in motion, storefront signage visible at street level.
Night-time photograph of pedestrians walking on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, beneath cascading golden fairy lights creating a canopy effect overhead, large red neon-illuminated festive spheres and decorative motifs suspended above the street, blurred figures in winter clothing in motion, storefront signage visible at street level.

Links:
Christian does a nice edit of a panorama in Lightroom Classic. I learned something new – use the aspect slider to adjust the oddities of LrC panoramas.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/6s

Books for Christmas

Light shines out of the windows of the Dubray bookshop in Cork recently.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length16mm
ISO3200
Shutter speed1/125s

A Sunlit Afternoon on the Wall

This is me standing on the old walls of Cork where I took this photo in Bishop Lucey Park yesterday afternoon. The sun had already started to head to the horizon and it wasn’t even 3pm, but it did light up the mural on the wall and placed the ground in front of me in shadow.

For many in Ireland, November is firmly in the winter months of the year. It seems to be a traditional Irish/Celtic thing because Met Éireann uses meteorological seasons which classify September, October and November as autumn.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/1000s

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