The Panoramic Wheel Spectacle

The ferris wheel, or big wheel, or Panoramic Wheel as it’s known to it’s owners, on Grand Parade. We had some fun photographing it from the car park across the street.

Henry has a photo of the wheel on his Instagram account too.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length42mm
ISO320
Shutter speed2s

The Great Suitcase Lineup

A retail display showing colorful hard-shell suitcases in pink, yellow, navy blue, and hot pink arranged in a row, with fur-trimmed winter hats displayed on stands above them. On the left side, there is a glass display case containing jewelry and necklaces, while decorative patterned fabrics or textiles in turquoise, orange, and green hang on the wall in the background.

In a city of tourists, you can’t have enough suitcases, and that’s true of Istanbul. Tourists everywhere in the old city, and numerous places to buy clothes, goods, trinkets and souvenirs. You’ll be needing another suitcase to bring it all home with you!

I don’t share links very often, but here are a few you’ll appreciate if you edit in Adobe Lightroom (Classic or app):

  • A video about the Learn section of adobe.com, a great resource to learn editing techniques.
  • How James Popsys edits his photos, mainly using the global tools.
  • Using masks to reveal the photo. The opposite of the video above.

Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO125
Shutter speed1/500s

Cosmic Bubbles Meet Electric Candy Floss Trees

One of the nice things about Wonderlights was how they used the natural surroundings as part of the display. The electric trees and sign in the background were eye catching, but what piqued my interest here was the light highlighting the branches and autumn leaves of the tree in front!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length32mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/2.5s

Flowers and lasers at Fota House

I went to Wonderlights in Fota House last night with others from Blarney Photography Club and, despite the rain and mud, we were blown away by the light show, especially over the pond where lasers cut through the dry ice fog over brightly lit flowers on the water’s surface.

It’s a bit pricey at €25+booking fee, but it’s spectacular and worth it.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length26mm
ISO2000
Shutter speed1/20s

Christmas Lights and Light Trails

A scooter swerved in front of my camera just as I took a photo of Oliver Plunkett Street tonight. I wonder if it was the rider’s intention to ruin the photo, but they made it much better. 🙂

Thanks Henry for organising the night out!


Apertureƒ/14
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length61mm
ISO100
Shutter speed3.2s

A Kitten’s dreams

One of the cats I spotted in Istanbul was this little one, a kitten, sitting on the wall near the graveyard where so many other cats were lounging. He seems young, and his face shows he has already been in trouble, I think, with small cuts on his nose. It’s a tough life for an outdoor cat.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length132mm
ISO125
Shutter speed1/500s

The Night Cat

A cat we came across as we walked back to our hotel one night in Istanbul. I got the impression this cat was tough as nails. He looked back at me, but then continued to walk on, and disappeared behind a fence. Another cat came out to greet us while this one went off into the shadows.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length35mm
ISO12800
Shutter speed1/100s

It snowed this morning

It snowed for the first time this winter in Blarney. It was raining so, at least around here, the snow didn’t settle on the roads. All the snow is gone by this stage, but it’s cold out. Hopefully, the wet ground doesn’t freeze.

Raw and Edit

Apertureƒ/1.8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length75mm
ISO2500
Shutter speed1/15s

Umbrellas in the sky

The Dimitrie Cantemir Müze Cafe in Istanbul is a colourful place to visit, but apparently you need to order something to take photos inside.

I popped my head in the door, saw two gentlemen watching me, one laughing, and took a few photos. Not a penny spent inside. The reviews on Google Maps are terrible. Nice umbrellas.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO1600
Shutter speed1/60s