I was there too
A white rhino wanders near a pool of water in Bioparc Valencia, Spain.
In 2023, two rhinos arrived in the zoo and in December that year, they had the largest group of this threatened species in Spain. The biggest threat to them is, of course, humans who want to poach the animals for their horns in a misguided attempt to provide folk medicine.
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/125s |
Ah, so, what’s the craic with the shopping trolleys in Cork supermarkets, you ask? Well, let me tell ya, they’re as much a part of the shopping experience as the Barry’s Tea in your basket.
In Cork, like elsewhere, shopping trolleys are a staple in supermarkets, making the whole shopping experience a bit more manageable. However, there’s been some chatter about the deposit return scheme, where folks have been having a bit of a mare with the reverse vending machines. These machines sometimes refuse to take back bottles and cans bought from different stores, which has left a few shoppers scratching their heads and making extra trips.
When it comes to the trolleys themselves, they’re generally well-equipped for the job. You can find a variety of them, from the standard metal ones to the more modern plastic versions that are lighter and easier to handle. These plastic trolleys are a bit of a godsend, being rust-proof and made from recyclable materials, which is grand for the environment.
There’s also been the odd sighting of someone pushing multiple trolleys down the road, which is a bit of a head-scratcher and has raised a few eyebrows around town. But sure, that’s just part of the charm of living in Cork, where there’s always something to keep you entertained while you’re out doing the messages.
Sometimes the AI can talk like a Corkonian. Things are looking up.
(The photo above is of a supermarket in Valencia, but I’m sure they have similar problems with shopping trolleys. Hopefully, no ethical dilemmas, though.)
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| ISO | 5000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Ladies in dramatic and colourful Flamenco dresses, caught in a moment on the street. The men in black are smartly dressed, but they don’t compare to the red, black and white of the dresses!
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 8000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
A man walks his two chihuahuas through the centre of Valencia. The two dogs had flashing lights on them, attracting lots of attention from people walking past.
I thought it was risky having two chihuahuas off the lead in a busy city centre, but the two dogs were calm and enjoying the walk.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| ISO | 5000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Come to Valencia, where you’ll find more than one shop that sells nothing but hats.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 5000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
On a busy street in Valencia, I took photos of the passing traffic under a cloudy sky lit by the setting sun. Another tourist decided they wanted to photograph the same scene and somehow failed to see me crouched near my camera. It wasn’t until his companion shouted at him to move that he obliged and moved!
| Aperture | ƒ/16 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 35mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 10s |
Friends sitting on a window sill, in front of a shop, in Valencia one afternoon in October 2023.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
One afternoon while we were in Valencia we visited the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe on hire bikes. There were huge crowds there, taking selfies and hanging around, but with a long 20-second exposure they all (mostly) disappear into a blur. In the photo above you’ll also see the Pont l’Assut de l’Or bridge and CaixaForum in the background and, of course, the clear blue sky.
| Aperture | ƒ/14 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 50 |
| Shutter speed | 20s |
Dancers who had just been performing in a square in Valencia relax for a few moments.
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
I wonder what was going through this woman’s mind as she looked at the wigs on display in this shop in Valencia, Spain.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 12800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/160s |
