Tag Archives: Photography

Vineyard Vistas in Portugal

Amidst the stunning scenery of Portugal’s Douro Valley, we found ourselves at Quinta da Roêda, a picturesque vineyard nestled under a breathtaking blue sky. As far as the eye could see, the vines stretched out into the distance, beckoning us to explore further.

A solitary tree stood tall nearby, while on the horizon, two tall, thin evergreens created a natural border against the rolling hills. It was a serene moment, a glimpse into the raw beauty of nature and the splendour of the Douro Valley’s vineyards.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length31mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/160s

Framing the Cathedral and the Church

In the midst of a mellow July evening, I met with members of Blarney Photography Club at Bell’s Field, a blissful backdrop boasting breathtaking views of the north side of Cork City. From my lens, I looked upon The Cathedral of St Mary & St Anne, majestically standing on Cathedral Road, and The Church of the Ascension, nestled amidst the cityscape.

My eyes drank in the details of countless cosy homes while cars careened along the winding road below, adding a dynamic dash to my dreamy, detailed composition. It was an awe-inspiring moment, an alliterative adventure accentuating the essence of Cork City in one captivating click.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length240mm
ISO12800
Shutter speed1/200s

Exhausted on Snowy Slopes

We had trudged up and down rugged hills, wearing snow shoes, until we finally came to a stop, feeling sore and utterly exhausted. The sun blazed down on us as we stood at 1500m on a crisp, clear day. Ahead of us loomed another hill, descending a valley and then ascending at a steep incline. At the bottom, we spotted two skiers preparing to travel further down the slopes.

In the foreground, a sign attached to a precarious, leaning pole caught our attention. It commanded us to “Halt”, but the sign pointing to the ski lift pointed upwards towards the sky, which was fitting because the ski lift itself ascended the side of a dauntingly steep hill.

Wisely, I believe, we decided to take a break for lunch instead of attempting that treacherous incline. 🙂


Apertureƒ/9
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length146mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/2000s

New Year’s Fireworks in Malaga

Bright fireworks burst in the sky in an explosion of colour
Bright fireworks burst in the sky in an explosion of colour
Bright fireworks burst in the sky in an explosion of colour. The Hotel Soho Boutique Equitativa and the Moon can be seen behind.

The new year was welcomed by fireworks lit by a random guy in Plaza de la Marina in Malaga. I thought there would be spectacular fireworks over by the lighthouse as the clocks struck 12, but no, the skies remained empty.

We turned away and saw fireworks lighting the sky next to the towering Hotel Soho Boutique Equitativa near the plaza. Bangers were lit and it was very noisy. I remembered I had Bluetooth earphones, and they helped dull the noise when I started playing Pet Shop Boys a little louder than I would normally.

All the photos were hand held. I had a tripod, but it was hard to know when a firework would go up. I eventually set up the tripod during a lull when they lit some sort of sparkler on the ground, but then the main protagonists just walked away. The show was over.

It was my first time shooting fireworks close up and handheld. I shot in manual mode, with the aperture as wide as I could, ISO 100. After a few shots, I switched to back button focus and focused on the hotel, but I’m not sure if it helped much.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length108mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1s

The Tide is Out

The Tide is Out

Low tide on the River Lee recently, but with the talk of drought in Europe this summer, it’s hard not to jump to the conclusion that the water level is extra low.

I drove by the river yesterday evening during high tide. The water was only 30cm or less below the level of the street, an extremely high tide, and quite a contrast to the low!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO250
Shutter speed1/500s

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