Tag Archives: Photography

The McCurtain Street Building Site

Today was Robert’s funeral, so here’s a street photo he would like. It’s got layers, it’s got people, it’s got a changing city, from the old to the new.

Robert, you will be missed.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO1000
Shutter speed1/500s

Robert, the Street Photographer

Me and Robert on Oliver Plunkett Street in front of the Old Oak

I never did give Robert the expired rolls of film I promised him. I even took them with me the last time we did street photography in Cork, but I left them in the car. “Next time”, I said to him.

The odd thing about photography is, I have loads of photos of perfect strangers, but not many of people I know. Lightroom says I only have 38 photos of Robert, going back to 2015.

He was such a larger than life figure, enthusiastic about all things photography, especially Leica and street photography. A lovely guy to meet for a walk around town and a chat afterwards.

Can’t believe you’re gone, Robert. They better have cameras there.


Apertureƒ/2.2
CameraSM-G998B
Focal length3.8mm
ISO50
Shutter speed1/200s

So much red

While waiting to cross the road on Grand Parade, I saw a man hurry across the road, dragging a black suitcase. He was in a rush, in contrast with the family in front of me who were checking for traffic before crossing.

I love all the red in this photo. Her dress, his t-shirt, their bags, I love that both parties have suitcases.

The photo was made a year ago today, and I am posting a street photo because I heard today that a fellow street photographer, and friend, Robert, has suffered another heart attack and is in hospital. I hope he has a speedy recovery, and we’ll be snapping the streets again when he’s able!


Apertureƒ/1.9
CameraM2101K6G
Focal length5.89mm
ISO98
Shutter speed1/500s

A rainbow on the horizon

Here is something you may not have seen before. Horizontal rainbows or “fire rainbows” are a rare phenomenon that happen more often closer to the equator than Ireland is.

Here’s one I photographed off Ardmore, in Co Waterford. Nobody noticed it until they saw me with my camera pointed towards it!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length240mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/3200s

The Violinist and his audience

A man playing a violin on the street, with an older man sitting in the background with his arm raised, enjoying the music

I was in town this afternoon and walking up Oliver Plunkett Street, came across Ryan Parsons, a very talented violinist busking on the street. A sizeable crowd gathered around behind me, enjoying the music. The gentleman in the background of this photo was evidentially enjoying the music too, waving his hand in time with the beat of the tune.

I recorded a video of Ryan playing too. Enjoy his wonderful playing for yourself!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO1000
Shutter speed1/500s

2023 Fireworks on Spike Island

Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort
Fireworks light up the sky above Fort Mitchel on Spike Island. a crowd watches, surrounded by the buildings of the fort

Last night I attended the 85th Birthday Celebrations & Commemorations on Spike Island in Cork Harbour.

Eagle-eyed readers will already have seen the fireworks photo I posted to this page yesterday. Readers with even better eye sight will have noticed that I replaced the image I uploaded yesterday with a slightly different version today. Call it me being peculiar, but I wanted to edit the photo on my computer today and make the best of the image. The one that I uploaded yesterday came from minimal editing in Lightroom on my phone while we waited for the ferry.

From the Spike Island website,

At Spike Island, we’re celebrating our 85th birthday this year with our annual Family Fun Evening and Fireworks Display, marking the date when Spike Island was officially handed from Britain to Ireland in 1938. In honour of this momentous occasion, we’ll be celebrating our Independence Day with a spectacular fireworks display, musical performances and family fare on Saturday 8th July.
Visitors will board the ferry across the world’s second largest natural harbour, enjoy a guided tour on arrival, explore the fort’s amazing museums and exhibitions and walk the amazing island nature trails. On this special night, there will also be family entertainment, children’s activities,  pop-up musical performances, face painters and more.

To close the night, a fireworks display will launch 1300 fireworks into the sky over Cork Harbour, one for every inmate who died on the island in its three incarnations as a prison.

This year, to mark the 85th anniversary of the 1938 handover of the ‘Treaty Ports’ from Britain to Ireland, Spike Island is also hosting a new Handover Exhibition at Mitchel Hall featuring a newly added collection of original artefacts. Visitors will have the opportunity to view this exhibition telling the story of our independence on the evening of the celebrations event.

I booked my ticket late, so we arrived just before 8pm, did a tour of the fort, bought some food in the restaurant and settled down to wait until the fireworks started, accompanied by Strictly Cash, a Johnny Cash tribute band.

The fireworks went on for some time and were spectacular. We had a great time photographing them, and the images you see here are only a small selection of the images I shot.

The ferry back was supposed to be at midnight, but things got delayed. I think it might have been almost 1am by the time we reached Cobh. The rain held off all evening, until just after midnight, but luckily, I had an umbrella with me. Bizarrely, there was no sign of rain in Cobh at all!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1s

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