Wet Wellow Web

Early in the morning dew coats everything and water droplets on spider webs glisten in the rising sun.

I’m not sure where this was taken, it was probably somewhere in Blarney but it was taken with my Panasonic FZ5 last September and I only copied it off a few days ago!

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera DMC-FZ5
Focal length 11mm
ISO 80
Shutter speed 1/125s

Fountainstown Cloudscape

Clouds gather over Fountainstown in Co. Cork. The setting sun provided a nice backlight for the clouds on the horizon.

Aperture ƒ/11
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/250s

Fountainstown Sunset

The sun sets over a small inlet in Fountainstown. The tide is out and boats are stranded in the mud.

One thing that bothers me about this photo is the large black bit on the left. I think I overdid the lomo a little although I’m quite happy with the burned in clouds. What do you think?

I’ve ordered another 200 moo mini cards. 100 images duplicated. Should do me for several months I think!

Aperture ƒ/14
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/400s

The Thieving Duck

A duck robs a poor innocent woman as she’s distracted by the cute ducklings. Moments later they all rush off with their ill-gotten gains!

What you don’t see is the camera crew, make-up and lighting people and a small crowd watching from behind them. This was for some advert and of course the woman in question is a model.
I shot this on State Street, Chicago after stumbling upon the shoot by accident. They didn’t seem to mind, and I even got a dazzling smile from the model!

I like this: xtreme (login may be required)

2006-10-03 – Welcome visitors from snopes.com, thanks Kathy B for linking here, I appreciate it. Please feel free to leave a comment!

Snopes.com have now published this picture and the joke description on a separate page linking to this blog. Thank you!

2006-10-07 – John Marguess pointed me at Organized Crime which uses the same image in another joke email! Thanks John!

Here’s the text of the joke email (via snopes) for those of you who go searching for the origins of it. I’d love to know who concocted it in the first place!

Seems the Better Business Bureau got a complaint the other day about a scam in which AFLAC allegedly was taking advantage of women on the street and stealing their money.
Now we all at one time or another have thought that INSURANCE Companies have stolen from us; however, this scam is netting COLD HARD CASH from unsuspecting individuals.
The way it works is the thief uses children to distract the target. While admiring the cuteness of the kids the target is robbed of her cash and never knows what hit her.
I’m sending this out for all to be aware that this is happening and it’s right out on the streets in front of the general public.
A passer-by with a digital camera phone happened to capture the photo attached.
Review it carefully and use caution when distractions like this come along.
Good Luck, and don’t say you weren’t warned.

According to Snopes, it was an advert showing how safe Western Union money transfer system was. I really should have asked someone..

A Golden Glow over Cobh

Last night we went down to Cobh to walk around and lucky for us the rain disappeared as we approached the town!

It was strange. There was lots of localised rain yesterday. Blarney was mostly dry, the roads were dry as we drove down but as soon as we crossed the bridge off the main road a steady drizzle enveloped the car.

I gloomily predicted that we’d spend our time in the Cobh in the car or sheltered under an umbrella but just as I parked the car, the drizzle let off and a little blue sky and sunlight peaked through the grey clouds! We had a nice pleasant walk after all!

This was shot at the end of a private row of houses that look on to the harbour. There’s a high chimney near the end of the road that I’d like to find out more about. I’ll have to do some research later on.

I like this: Wyre Wreck #5 – nice use of HDR to create a dramatic image.

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/100s

Hungry Caterpillar

A caterpillar munches on flowers by the bird sanctuary in Blarney, Co. Cork a few weeks ago.
No SF photos today, need to recharge my batteries!

Update on 2015-08-11 – I re-edited this photo in Lightroom and uploaded a larger version! You can find the original photo here!

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera DMC-FZ5
Focal length 6.4mm
ISO 80
Shutter speed 1/160s

Automattic at the Bridge

From left to right: Podz, Donncha, Andy Skelton.
In the background is the famous Golden Gate Bridge leading to San Francisco. Thank you Diane for the directions to this amazing viewing point and thank you Toni for the lend of the car!

Aperture ƒ/14
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/400s

Three Daisies

Daisy Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I’m half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won’t be a stylish marriage,
I can’t afford a carriage,
But you’ll look sweet on the seat
Of a bicycle built for two!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera DMC-FZ5
Focal length 6mm
ISO 80
Shutter speed 1/400s

Ladybird’s spots

Oh so high! When you’re tiny a few inches off the ground can appear like a huge drop to you.

The ladybird scurried away after this shot to get some peace and quiet from the camera toting freak in the garden! 🙂

Aperture ƒ/4.5
Camera DMC-FZ5
Focal length 6mm
ISO 80
Shutter speed 1/400s

Lady in the grass

A ladybird in the grass of my back garden.

Taken with my Panasonic FZ5. Almost run out of pre-prepared images. I’ll need to fire up the GIMP this weekend.

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera DMC-FZ5
Focal length 6mm
ISO 80
Shutter speed 1/400s

The Puppy, the cat and the calf

The Puppy and the calf

Sasha took quite an interest in a field of calves across the road from her home last night, and they in her! This particular calf was braver than the rest and sniffed at Sasha, Oscar, me and whoever was at the gate!
Ali, the cat, didn’t think much of the bovine crowd gathered around and soon settled in the ditch to sleep!

Photos of the day: Italian fans celebrate.

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 1600
Shutter speed 1/80s