Sigma 18-200 – Page 20 – In Photos dot Org

Street Performance World Championship 2009

Some photos from last Sunday when the Street Performance World Championship was held in Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork. I actually didn’t really see any performers because of the huge crowds. The place was packed with people. No wonder, when we went down around 6pm it was a glorious evening!

These photos have also been uploaded to pix.ie.

There’ll be a repeat in Dublin next weekend. Hope you get the same great weather!

Aperture	ƒ/9
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	21mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/200s

The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher, majestic cliffs in County Clare looking out on the Atlantic Ocean. 7UP are part of the campaign to name the cliffs as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world. You’ve probably seen the crazy adverts!

It was a really miserable day when we got there. Shooting was really difficult but it was great to finally see the cliffs.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	72mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s

Highrise Property

The Elysian, as seen from Merchant’s Quay carpark on a bright day in May. You can also see numerous other buildings and get a feel for how the 17 storeys of this tall building looms over the rest of the city. Must be a great view from up there!

Aperture	ƒ/10
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	59mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/250s

Gate in Silhouette

The top of a gate silhouetted by a bright sun thankfully hidden by a passing cloud.

Shot in Kinsale last Summer.

Aperture	ƒ/14
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	18mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/640s

The rubbish tip that is Myrtleville Beach

No, this isn’t the landfill site near the Kinsale Road, Cork. It’s the beautiful beach at Myrtleville in County Cork last Tuesday. Disgusting isn’t it? My wife met a friend there who said that last year 3 people would clean the beach each day but this year, because of cuts, only one person was available. Apparently that morning he had filled up three sacks after the crowds the day before.

What you don’t see here is the used nappy on the road above, the half full carton of rotting salad, the plastic bags and other rubbish. You can’t smell the acrid burning rubbish in an overflowing bin near the slip way. You also missed the Gardai who took away two inebriated underage girls who had been singing and staggering across the beach or the man who was manhandled to the ground outside the gate to Bunny Connellans and probably arrested by the Gardai who ran passed me. A typical day at the beach?

What the hell? What’s up with people? Are they that ignorant of their environment? I remember watching that episode of Mad Men where the Draper family have a picnic in a picturesque green park. Their shiny new car is behind them. Everything is spotless and neat. Then when they get up to leave, the kids are tidied but afterwards the parents toss their rubbish on the pristine lawn. I wasn’t the only one to notice. Great comments on that blog post.

Shame we haven’t moved on since the 60’s.

Aperture	ƒ/5.6
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	179mm
ISO	400
Shutter speed	1/250s

Dick Copithorne

The late Dick Copithorne was Belgooly Athletic club president until his sudden death in 2003 and just outside the village is a public bench with this plague on it in his memory.

December 20th: Christmas Road Races
…. On Sunday (St Stephens Day) the Belgooly 4 mile Road Race will be held. This is a very popular road race, always attracting a big crowd including many American based athletes home for Christmas. Last year the race winners were Martin McCarthy and Carmel Parnell of Leevale but last years sadly will be remembered for the sudden death of Belgooly Athletic club president Dick Copithorne while watching the finish of the race. His family are sponsoring the race this year and part of the entry fee will go to Bowel Cancer Research in the CUH. Race headquarters are in Belgooly GAA and the race starts at 12pm.
…..

January 10th – Belgooly 4 Prize Giving
Presentations of Prizes for the Belgooly 4 held on Dec 26th 2003 will take place in the Viaduct Inn, Bishopstown at 8pm on Wednesday, January 14th. Prizegiving on the day of the race had to postponed due to the sudden death of Belgooly club president Dick Copithorne. ….

The local club even runs a memorial race each year. What a wonderful way to remember a man obviously loved by his local community.

Aperture	ƒ/7.1
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	10mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

Cock a doodle do!

A cock in Bunratty Folk Village struts around protecting his patch of ground from a nosy photographer.

Don’t think I’ve ever heard the nursery rhyme of the same phrase.

Cock a doodle do!
My dame has lost her shoe,
My master’s lost his fiddlestick,
And knows not what to do.

Aperture	ƒ/5.6
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	20mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

End of the Celtic Tiger

Construction. Ireland is too dependent on it but that’s old news now, but unspeakable just a year (or two) ago. Anyway, it’s the end of the boom, construction work has flatlined. The End is Nigh (and booted out the backdoor while we weren’t looking).

Shot in Youghal a few months back.

Aperture	ƒ/5.6
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	18mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

Frozen Water

Waves crashing on the beach at Couminole on Slea Head in County Kerry. Not all frozen water is cold.

Aperture	ƒ/4.5
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	33mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/1600s

Where you’ll find Fianna Fail

In years to come they’ll talk about the Fianna Fail posters of 2009. This was the year when many party members chose to hide the name “Fianna Fail” on their posters. You’d have to go right up to them to see that damned name.
One suspects they’re probably embarrassed by their association with Fianna Fail, a name synonymous with dig outs for the pals, corruption and hospitality tents for builders. Not the general public’s favourite political force right now.

The Local and European Elections are in a week’s time. I don’t know who I’ll be voting for but it won’t be Brian Crowley. He’ll be returned anyway as he’s very popular and it’s his bad luck his poster was the only Fianna Fail one I spotted on my walk.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	Canon EOS 40D
Focal length	18mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

Honeymoon Cabaret

Yesterday we had lunch in Ammicus, in Douglas while outside the stalls of a market sold all sorts of foods and produce. The road was closed off to traffic for street performers to entertain the crowds. Unfortunately rain probably dampened the spirits of all involved. The showers were really bad!

Here’s Marc and Svetlana Buttersworth, the Honeymoon Cabaret, performing their act to a delighted crowd (with brollies). They were so entertaining, kept the crowd going, and bravely carried on through all but the worst of the showers! Go see them if you hear they’re performing near you!

Flowers and Peeling Paint

Flowers poke through the peeling paint of an ornate garden fence or border. I can’t decide for myself what I should call that. The name of those flowers is on the tip of my tongue too but eludes me. Blame the tiredness.

Aperture	ƒ/7.1
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	18mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s