Tag Archives: Sony A7RV

Blarney Castle at sunset

Blarney Castle can be seen above the trees of the surrounding area as the sun set last Thursday evening. Blarney Photography Club took the opportunity of a lovely evening to walk around the village and nearby to photograph the area. This photo is, of course, taken from Ring Wood, off Station Road.

Did you know that membership of Blarney Photography Club is now open to all (over 18s)? The new season starts in September and the club is holding an open night on September 5th at the local secondary school. Doors open at 7:30pm. I’ll be there, as will other members of the club. The famous Beginners and Improvers Photography Course will start the following week, and the 8-week course is great value at only €75. You’ll also become a member of the club, so you’ll be welcome to our weekly meetings, outings, competitions, practical sessions and more.

Visit the Club open night web page for further details!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length240mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/50s

The train tracks of Birkenau

The train tracks of Birkenau concentration camp in Poland lead off to the front gate. The camp is only a 5 minute bus journey from Auschwitz, along a road bordered by a train track. It’s surreal passing by homes, businesses and people walking about living their lives next to these places.

Tourists gather around the building, listening to their tour guides.

A low down shot of the train tracks at Birkenau
Just before the train tracks end
Train tracks running alongside a public road between Auschwitz and Birkenau.
Train tracks running alongside the public road

Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length240mm
ISO160
Shutter speed1/500s

The Cork Pride Flag

One of the (many) highlights of the Cork Pride parade is the massive rainbow flag that accompanies the marchers through the city. It was unfurled on Grand Parade where a jubilant crowd carried it and waved it in preparation for the trip around the city. I noticed a bump in the middle, and saw the reason underneath. 🙂


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO500
Shutter speed1/6400s

The Commandant’s House

The Commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, lived in the large house at the end of this road. It sits right outside the concentration camp where so many people were put to death, but a family lived here, and they are the subject of a 2023 movie, The Zone of Interest.

When I visited the camp last week, the guide made an offhand remark while pointing in the direction of a locked gate, saying, “That’s where the camp commandant lived with his family.” My group were on our way to Gas Chamber 1, so nobody went to look, but I stuck my camera over the gate and recorded a photo of an ordinary street with parked cars outside a red brick building and the family home further down. Watch the trailer of the movie, and you’ll recognise the shape of the roof in the background. Gave me chills.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/500s

Bambie Thug at Cork Pride

Bambie Thug holds up the transgender flag on stage.

At the Cork Pride party today, Bambie Thug performed for the crowd, and came on stage proudly waving the transgender flag. The party was great, and the parade was full of energy, colour, smiles and happiness. If you missed it this year, make sure to go next year. It’s a great event!


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length240mm
ISO5000
Shutter speed1/2000s

80th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising

Young men climbed on a public toilet in the centre of Warsaw this afternoon to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.

At 5pm, sirens rang out and suddenly red flares were lit as a large cargo plane flew overhead. Smoke from the flares filled the air, and it got noticeably cooler as the sun was temporarily blocked.

Polish flags fly as they are surrounded by smoke from flares
Photo by my teenager who was there with me.

The flares and smoke cleared within minutes, and a commanding voice in Polish continued to talk to the massive crowd.

A military service attended by uniformed soldiers and two elderly people, one in a wheelchair.

Earlier in the day, we observed a simple military service. Two elderly people were there, and it’s obviously about the Uprising, but if anyone recognises them, I’d love to know more.

This episode of Dan Snow’s History Hits podcast does a great job covering what happened when Poles rose up against heir Nazi occupiers 80 years ago today. I found a Reddit thread about it too.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length124mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/800s

St Kinga’s Chapel in the Salt Mine

Buried deep underground in the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a huge man made chamber called St Kinga’s Chapel. It’s quite a sight to see after wandering down tunnel and after tunnel. You come across chambers on the way there, but this one is the special one, and it’s a consecrated Catholic Church where they hold religious ceremonies.

It’s 101m underground, 11m high and has a floor space of 465 metres squared.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to spend there as the mine is really busy at this time of year with tourist groups coming in and out all the time!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length35mm
ISO8000
Shutter speed1/25s

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