Clouds of flame

Shortly after I sat down at my desk this morning, I looked out the window to see quite a beautiful sunrise lighting up the sky.

The top of the sky was a cool blue, moving to dark cloud lower down, then melting to a lovely orange and yellow colour before the sun rose over the distant hill.


Apertureƒ/5.6
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length90mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/400s

Feb 24th Pro Palestinian Rally

The view down Robert Street where the rally doubled back through Oliver Plunkett Street. People walking and some carrying flags and banners.
A huge likeness of US President Biden with blood spattered hands held aloft by members of the rally.
A speaker in front of the crowd on Grant Parade.
Faces of the crowd at the rally. Flags and banners too.
A woman at the rally holds up a sign saying, "FREE PALESTINE IT IS A MATTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS"

Today saw the biggest rally supporting Palestinians happen in Cork this afternoon. Groups from all over Munster descended on the city and the rally walked down St. Patrick’s Street, chanting and singing. They doubled back through Winthrop Street and back up Oliver Plunkett Street before assembling in the Grand Parade for a number of speakers and singers.

The rally was organised by Cork Palestina Solidarity Campaign.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/500s

Bright clothes on a dull day

It was lovely seeing people dressed in bright clothes last Saturday when it was overcast and fairly dull outside. Yellow, pink and green made a nice change from the mostly muted colours other people wore.


Apertureƒ/1.7
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length6.3mm
ISO2000
Shutter speed1/1500s

Chicago Apple Store

The genius bar in this Apple store in Chicago.

An Apple Store in Chicago, in 2003. I wandered in here while I was in the city, curious about what it would look like, as I didn’t use any Apple products at the time.

Check out those CRTs at the back of the second photo!


Apertureƒ/2.2
CameraCYBERSHOT
Focal length9.7mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

So many steps

The steps at the bottom of the Escadinhas Damasceno Monteiro in Lisbon. Beautiful butterfly graffiti and a crudely written "FREE PALESTINE" on the wall.

The city of Lisbon is infamous for its hills, and the Escadinhas Damasceno Monteiro is a fine example. It is down the street from where we were staying. It’s got lots of steps. So many steps.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO160
Shutter speed1/500s

Let’s have a ceasefire now

What good has it done to kill over 28,000 people in Gaza? Hamas must free those hostages, it’s not like their presence is stopping the Israeli army from reducing the country to rubble. Let’s have a ceasefire now. This struggle has only caused misery, suffering and hate on both sides.

The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper for sale on the streets of that city in 2006.

In 2006, Israel stopped an attack after 37 children were killed. Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper with that headline. I happened to photograph it on the streets of that city in late July that year. They’re not stopping now, are they?

Some listening:

The Israeli Hostages
Leaving Gaza
The Words to Say It (transcript)
The growing dissent over Biden’s Israel policy

Edit a few days later, one more about Israeli attacks on an overpopulated Rafah on the Egyptian border:

A screenshot from Google Maps of Rafah and the border with Egypt. Dense city on one side of the border in Gaza.

Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/500s

It’s for me’o!

It’s still cold, but following up on my recent photo outside a gelato shop, here’s another one, on the corner of Patrick’s Street and Winthrop Street in Cork.

I love ice cream too, but maybe not enough to eat it on a cold wintery day, outside!


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO500
Shutter speed1/500s