I was there too
2023 is almost over here in Ireland. How’s 2024 in Australia? Let’s say goodbye to what has been a mixed year and hope for a better 2024.
Happy new year!
Edit a short while later: I shouldn’t have asked about Australia. They’re suffering from a terrible heatwave of 49.5℃!
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
There’s no ceiling on this building. For the younger reader, watch. 🙂
This long derelict building in Skibereen is an unfortunate eyesore that’s surrounded by a lively town, and shops and buildings decorated for the Christmas season. It stands opposite the entrance to the lovely Abbeystrewry Church and nearby Aldi.
I went back in time through Google Street View, and it has been abandoned and derelict since at least 2009! What a waste.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
I was out and about with friends from Blarney Photography Club on Thursday night, and we got some great shots of the big wheel on Grand Parade. This year the big wheel is joined by a statue of the Big Fellah, Michael Collins.
Check out Henry’s photo here.
| Aperture | ƒ/18 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 15s |
Nobody knows who NAF1 is, but in my research I did find a Portuguese company called NAF. Seems they’re involved in real estate and probably not a fan of graffiti. I don’t imagine this man is either.
| Aperture | ƒ/1.7 |
| Camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Focal length | 6.3mm |
| ISO | 10 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
“Look, the taxi is coming now. I see it!”
“It better be Afonso driving. He owes me €10 from the other night.”
“Oh, doesn’t look like it. Not his car. You lent him that money to buy a gift for his mom, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, He paid far too much for a little figurine, but his mom loves it.”
“Ah, that’s all that matters. It was worth the money then.”
“Hmm. I guess you’re right.”
“You know you’ll never see that money again?”
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
A few days ago, I received my copy of MOSTLY FALSE REPORTS. It’s a book I funded through Kickstarter by Stephen Leslie.
It’s a book of street photography, but if that genre doesn’t interest you, you’ll probably still be interested in this book. Stephen has included a story alongside each photo. They’re inspired by the accompanying photo, and some are hilarious. I love the ones about the hedge animals. You’ll find a few more of his photos on this page. Stephen is on Instagram too.
The question prompted by the photo above is one I think about a lot. “Do people mind you taking their photos?”
The Kickstarter campaign is over but, Stephen has a few extra copies and I can recommend buying a copy for the photographer in your life, or indulge in a copy for yourself.
While you’re here, have a look at Stephen’s website for several galleries full of photos, including a few from the book.
Wandering around Lisbon I came across this bus stop in the middle of the city. The guy pictured in the back of the bus stop caught my attention, contrasting nicely with the people waiting at the stop.
When I got home, I looked up the text, “O SONHO NÃO PARA, ARRANCA”, it says, “THE DREAM DOESN’T STOP, IT STARTS”. I guess his dream was to do handstands?
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/800s |
We took a trip around Lisbon on a tourist tram. It’s probably not worth it unless you’re obsessed with taking photos, so I loved it.You do get to see a lot of the city, and it is relaxing. It is cheaper to get an ordinary tram, say route 28, and sight see that way, but you’ll be bumping into annoyed locals then.
This is sort of a selfie as I can be seen sitting at one of the windows of the tram reflected in this mirrored window.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Ler Devagar is a bookshop in the LX Factory in Lisbon. Books line the walls on shelves too far up to reach, and of course, most of them are in Portuguese. There are a few in English, and even a few photography books. Unfortunately, many of them concentrate on architecture, but there was a really nice book on shopfronts in Paris.
A dog in a bookshop! Try that in Ireland and the staff will chase you out of the shop. It was lovely to see dogs allowed in shops and some restaurants.
When in a bookshop, look at your phone. Oh, here’s a fire extinguisher too!
| Aperture | ƒ/2.2 |
| Camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Focal length | 2.2mm |
| ISO | 800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/25s |
