The river in black and white

The River Lee in Cork shot from the Nano Nagle Bridge (erected in 1985 to commemorate Cork’s 800th birthday). Far off in the distance is Holy Trinity Church as well as Parliament Bridge. That ugly building on the right is where the IDA have their offices. What an eye sore.

Another version of this shot tomorrow. I couldn’t decide which one I liked best so I decided to post both!

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

Biosphere 2

Biosphere 2 lies in the dusty hot desert in Arizona. It was originally designed as a self contained “world” where scientists stayed for an extended period of time. After going through the tour, there’s no way I’d volunteer to spend my time inside. It must have been very difficult being cooped up in one building. The Wikipedia page on the project has a lot more detail about what went on there.

Anyway, the building is very striking to look at, especially as the day was fine and interesting clouds added to the scene.

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

Musical Sunglasses

A brass band played in front of Cork City Library today and I made this shot while waiting with Phil and his brother Christopher for Damien to appear.

We didn’t make it to Robodock in the end. I was busy and exhausted with a sick baby all morning and I think I’m lucky I managed to get into town at all! Nice to meet up with everyone, including Donal later on in The Newport.

Baby Adam is feeling much better after a lot of care and nursing. Doctor says he’ll be right as rain (and we get enough of that these days!) by Monday. Phew. Poor fella is really suffering.

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/125s

Electronic waste in the countryside

Last February we spent a weekend in Bantry where I made a couple of very nice shots when I drove into the hills surrounding the town. The area was so nice that I wandered up the road on foot a few yards for a better shot of this lone tree. I was disgusted to see the beige boxes of a PC and monitor lying half hidden in the tall grass of the bog.

Perhaps I should have climbed down and retrieved them but Adam was asleep in the car and we were miles from anywhere. I didn’t want to risk slipping and hurting myself. It’s such a shame those electronics weren’t recycled at the local dump. I wonder what Gardai would find if they looked at the drive in that PC. I wonder if they’d care?

Tomorrow – AJ tried booking Robodock tickets for himself but could only book for the 12 noon show. I thought we could pay at the entrance but obviously it’s popular and booked up. Maybe the bad weather will keep people away but I should be there before 3pm! Keep an eye on my Twitter account for updates!

Must pack WordPress stickers and badges, stickers and badges, stickers and badges…

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

Relaxing by the pond

Lots of people relaxing by the pond in Fitzgerald’s Park during the Lord Mayor’s Picnic a few weeks back. We were busily walking past with a slightly tired baby. Don’t do much relaxing these days..

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 88mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/200s

Waves crash at Allihies

Allihies Beach on a cold February afternoon. Waves crash on the beach. It was bitterly cold and windy that day but well worth the trip.

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

Saying Goodbye to Michelle

Michelle was my wife Jacinta’s family cat for the last 14 years. When I say “family cat”, I of course mean, Gerry’s cat, because Gerry took special care of all the cats in the family until she got sick and the burden of care mostly fell on my father-in-law Frank’s shoulders. He will tell you himself that he was never a big fan of cats, but if you saw the care and attention he lavished on that cat it was obvious she was special to him.

Unfortunately, Michelle was almost 17 years old. Her mother Patches was a regular in the household. She had a litter of kittens and Michelle, the older sister, acted as baby sitter many a time while her mother roamed the neighbourhood searching for food. Gerry took Patches in, and Michelle wandered in crying within a week. She became a permanent fixture and never wandered away again! Of all the cats that came and went, Michelle had a special place in my wife’s heart.

We took Michelle to the vet this afternoon. This was our third visit in the last two months. She had a large tumour, her appetite had disappeared, and she was very weak. We couldn’t let her suffer any more. The vet, Stephanie, let us say our goodbyes and gently put Michelle to sleep. Michelle was very calm through out. She lay there, letting Jacinta stroke her and cup her head in her hands, as the enormity of what was about to happen sunk in. I was fine until the needle went in and then memories of my own pets came flooding back and I was as inconsolable as Jacinta. It never gets any easier.

Michelle will be missed by all who knew her.

Surprisingly I only ever posted one photo of Michelle, when she was snug in her own little home in the back garden. I really like that photo. It’s the first I posted with the Canon 50mm f1/8 lens.

Crimson Red Flowers

Glowing red flowers captured my attention at Fitzgerald’s Park a year ago, but I was never happy with my work on this photo until recently. Now I love it. Hope you like it too!

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

hey BABe

Stenciled graffiti near Fitzgerald Park in Cork City. The walls of this alleyway were covered in in street art.

Is it vandalism or not? If not, would you like your house spray painted with slogans and designs. I guess there’s a place for everything.

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/25s

Traffic must go left

Traffic must go left. This is one of those shots that has sat in TODO folder for ages and ages because I liked it, but it was sorely in need of some work. I probably cheated by making it black and white.

Shot down at Cork Docklands about 13 months ago.

Aperture ƒ/9
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/160s

Rushing through countryside

I shot this through the window of our car while driving back to the ranch after Automattic’s trip to Biosphere 2 in Arizona a few months ago. I love how the foreground blurs but the background and the sky remain motionless and static. Love the movement.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 22mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/100s

Spotty Cactus

Another cactus shot from Arizona. I’m sure this is as boring as the flower pics everyone else posts for people who live in the desert but it’s all new to me!
Black vignetting caused by a polarizer!

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