This was originally going to be a portrait shot of the Eiffel Tower but I quite like this one too, especially with the lovely colour of the sky in the background.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/6s |
Tag Archives: travel photography
Ancient Athens Meets Modern Tourism
When the sun is shining, it’s nice to have portable shade in the form of an umbrella. In Athens on the day this photo was taken it was a hot day!
The Basilica of Megali Panagia (which translates to “Great Virgin Mary”) was an early Christian basilica built in Athens during the 5th century AD. What makes this site particularly fascinating is that it represents the transition period when Athens was shifting from its ancient pagan identity to becoming a Christian Byzantine city. The basilica was constructed using materials salvaged from older classical buildings, a common practice called “spolia”, meaning those stone blocks you see in the photograph might originally have been part of temples or structures from Athens’ classical golden age, essentially recycled into a Christian church. The site reveals multiple layers of Athenian history literally built on top of each other. Athens during summer regularly reaches temperatures of 35-40°C (95-104°F), which explains why that blue umbrella is essential equipment for archaeological site visits. Many ancient sites in Greece now restrict visiting hours during the hottest parts of the day to protect both visitors and the monuments themselves from heat damage!
| Aperture | ƒ/4.9 |
| Camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Focal length | 27.2mm |
| ISO | 50 |
| Shutter speed | 1/380s |
Sailing Back in Time: The Galeón Andalucía Visits Ireland
The sun had set by the time I got into the city to photograph the Andalucía. Twenty minutes earlier, the sun was shining on it and made for a spectacular photo.
I made a bracketed shot from further down the quay because there were bright lights on the front of the boat that would make a shot from that side difficult. I like this shot anyway, as it captures the old with the new. The buildings at the quayside are old, the ship is a replica of an old ship and other buildings nearby are new and modern.
I did take some more photos. A rather drunk man asked me to take a photo of him with the ship, using his phone. A few minutes later, he asked me to photograph him in front of Penrose House here and then went off home.
So, I discovered that the Galeón Andalucía is not just a static museum piece. It is the only replica of a 16th-17th century Spanish galleon in the world that actively sails today, having travelled over 80,000 miles and visited ports on four continents since its launch in 2009.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/6s |
A Sunlit Stroll in Athens
It was a blisteringly hot day in Athens when we were walking around the ruins of the old city when I saw this woman in a bright yellow jumpsuit approach.
That yellow colour jumped out at me, but it was only later I noticed the man behind her carrying her bag. Is that a charging cable going from her phone to the bag? Nice to have someone else carry your bag on a hot day, with a battery for your phone too! 🙂
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
A Visitor’s Perspective of the Hagia Sophia
Another tourist watches for a moment before taking her own photo with her phone, inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Non Muslims are restricted in where they can go now because it was turned back into a mosque again in 2020.
This was on the morning after I spent the day in bed recovering from food poisoning, so I didn’t take a whole lot of photos and had to go back to bed afterwards as I was so tired from the walk. This page has a number of photos showing what it’s like. Definitely try to avoid the busy times. It’s thronged with visitors.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 10000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/60s |
Selfies and Red Phone Boxes at Edinburgh Castle
When you walk in the first gates of Edinburgh Castle you’ll spot two iconic red telephone boxes. I was delighted to see a father and daughter posing for a selfie which made for a nice candid photo. 🙂
Did you know that iconic red telephone box was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott?
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 250 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Eyes in the back of his head
I was lucky he didn’t spot me taking this candid photo.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.2 |
| Camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Focal length | 2.2mm |
| ISO | 500 |
| Shutter speed | 1/35s |
Market Day in Athens
One of the sellers at an antique market in Athens watched us walk past on a sunny day in May 2024.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| ISO | 2000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Silhouettes of Lisbon at Dusk
A glorious sunset over Lisbon in late 2023. The famous 25 de Abril Bridge is there, of course, as well as construction cranes nearby working in building sites.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 124mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/6400s |
Narrow Alleys and Vibrant Life in Malaga
I love the narrow streets and alleys of Malaga. They’re great for street photography!
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 28mm |
| ISO | 1250 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Family Moments by the Atlantic
I was watching the sun set in Tenerife when a family approached and walked by. They were silhouetted by the sun, but instead of the usual black shadows, I wanted to try something different. No doubt the purists will be scoffing at the bright vignettes. Well, thanks. 🙂
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 122mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/400s |
Plaid Hat Diplomacy in Valencia
A hand raised in greeting, with a smiling face, or is it a hand raised in anger?
Luckily, it was the former, with the smiling face of a friendly man just out of the shot greeting his friend in the plaid hat.
| Aperture | ƒ/1.7 |
| Camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Focal length | 6.3mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/1500s |