Milky Way Over the Costa Brava

In July 2022, I was in Llafranc and wondered if I’d be able to photograph the Milky Way. Dark skies maps of the area showed glowing lights all along the coast, and it seemed unlikely, but I wandered down to the beach one night to try. I was pleased with the result because there was no way I could see anything like this with my bare eyes! There was too much light around.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO6400
Shutter speed20s

A Hotel on the Rocks

A hotel on the coast of Tenerife on Playa de Ajabo looks out on the Atlantic as waves batter the rocks underneath. They’re turned into mist by a long exposure photo in this evening shot, about 20 minutes after the sun has set.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed3.2s

Disco Forest Fantasia

Exactly a month ago, I ventured out with Blarney Photography Club to see Wonderlights at Fota House. The grounds were transformed into something straight out of a cyberpunk fairy tale. This particular shot caught my eye – a grove of trees bathed in blues and magentas, with disco balls dangling from gnarled branches like some sort of woodland rave.

The fog machines were working overtime, creating this ethereal atmosphere that had me half expecting to see digital faeries emerge from behind the trunks. It’s amazing what a few well-placed lights can do to transform these old trees into something so otherworldly. I shot this at ISO 100 for a lengthy eight second exposure with my tripod, and I was thrilled with how it came out.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed8s

Cork’s Christmas Commotion

Nollaigh Shona Dhaoibh go léir! Now that no more shopping is possible, maybe we can return to normality. Of course, in cold and dreary January, we might look back with nostalgic eyes at the bright lights, decorations, and all the stress excitement.


Apertureƒ/18
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length208mm
ISO100
Shutter speed5s

The Car Park’s Secret Disco Portal

The big wheel on Grand Parade in Cork spins and makes a lovely shape when captured by a long exposure shot. Also missing from this are a few friends who thankfully kept walking back and forth so they wouldn’t be captured in the image!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length33mm
ISO250
Shutter speed8s

The Yeni Camii overlooks the mall

A long exposure photo of the Yeni Camii in Istanbul, with the entrance to a small shopping mall in the foreground. Steps lead down, under a busy road, and vendors have set up shops down there selling all sorts of goods.

The Yeni Camii is also known as the “New Mosque”, even though it was completed between 1660 and 1665. It was originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque.

I wonder if that’s a drone flying overhead, over the mosque? I certainly didn’t see it while I was taking this photo.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/3s

Where Cathedrals and Carnivals Collide

St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork can be seen in the background behind the big wheel on The Grand Parade, in Cork, tonight. I didn’t expect any sunset because there would be so much low cloud, but there was a tiny spec of colour on the horizon. At times, the underside of the cloud was faintly lit up in pink by the setting sun.

Thanks Finbarr for reporting from the car park that there was some light. I had written it off entirely, so it was nice to see!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length66mm
ISO100
Shutter speed4s

The Panoramic Wheel Spectacle

The ferris wheel, or big wheel, or Panoramic Wheel as it’s known to it’s owners, on Grand Parade. We had some fun photographing it from the car park across the street.

Henry has a photo of the wheel on his Instagram account too.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length42mm
ISO320
Shutter speed2s