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.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/6s

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! 🙂


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/500s

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.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO10000
Shutter speed1/60s

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?


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length16mm
ISO250
Shutter speed1/500s

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.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length35mm
ISO2000
Shutter speed1/500s

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.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length124mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/6400s

Narrow Alleys and Vibrant Life in Malaga

I love the narrow streets and alleys of Malaga. They’re great for street photography!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length28mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/500s

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. 🙂


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length122mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/400s

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.


Apertureƒ/1.7
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length6.3mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/1500s