Wet, shiny stones

The outgoing tide on Fountainstown Beach leaves behind wet stones and seaweed as it retreats.

This is a long exposure shot of one second with my camera resting on one of those rocks!

By the time you read this I’ll be on a plane, in the air most likely, or waiting for a connection in Heathrow more likely. More details to follow.

Aperture ƒ/22
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 21mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1s

Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Blackrock, Cork. It’s named after Pádraig Ó Caoimh (no relation), “a native of Roscommon, this War of Independence veteran became secretary of the Cork County Board at 21, and he began a 35-year stint as General-Secretary of the GAA barely a decade later”(ref)

Michael Jackson and U2 have both played here in the distant past.

Shot from the roof of the Montenotte Hotel during our last photowalk. You can also see the Marina, the River Lee and Lough Mahon in the distance.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 106mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Soiree

–noun
an evening party or social gathering, esp. one held for a particular purpose: a musical soiree. (source)

The first time I heard anyone use the word “soiree” was when my wife’s friend spoke about organising a party at her home. My wife uses it too. Must be posh, I married well!

Today I decided to see the world in black and white after reading an article in Photography Monthly about Chris Friel, a colour blind photographer in the UK, who shoots that way.
I set my shooting mode to Monochrome, quality to Jpeg and added a red filter (although I’m not certain it had much effect from testing..) and fired away. After 3 or 4 shots I chickened out and set the quality mode to RAW+Jpeg so at least I have the full colour image to work with in the RAW image.

I must say, I’m pleased with the results! Black and white doesn’t work for every image. They were rather flat out of the camera but a bit of dodging and burning helped add some punch. Hopefully I’ll find time to work on a few more shots over the next few days so you can see just what black and white images “out of the camera” can look like! (versus conversion by some filter or the channel mixer.)

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 144mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s

Fountainstown Sunset

The beach at Fountainstown in County Cork faces east but in the twilight there’s still a glow in that direction. This was shot with my 50mm lens, really close to the surface of the water there while gentle waves lapped the shoreline.

Unfortunately as a result I had set the focus point so the water would be in focus and today forgot to change it, thus ruining a nice photograph at a family occasion. Then the focus somehow got kicked into manual on my 18-200 lens and ruined another few photos. Oh well.

Love this shot though!

Aperture ƒ/1.8
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 50mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/640s

Kite Surfer

A lone kite surfer flies through the water at Garrettstown Beach in County Cork a few weeks ago.

Last weekend with the good weather the beach was packed, but we were there when it was cold, rain drizzled, and a cold wind whipped up the fine sand everywhere. Place was deserted.

I like this photo. Made the trip worthwhile! 🙂

Aperture ƒ/3.5
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/2000s

City Hall Hides A Secret

I’m sure every City Hall hides some secrets but in this shot, Cork City Hall hides the looming tower of the Elysian!

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s

Springer at Fountainstown

I always have a soft spot for Springer Spaniels. The beaches at Myrtleville and Fountainstown seem to be a favourite haunt of them if our experiences are anything to go by. Here’s a Springer that played with my son Adam at the beach in Fountainstown. They had a great time together!

Almost recovered. Stomach is still grumbling but the huge weakness I felt yesterday and this morning is gone. Relieved.

Aperture ƒ/1.8
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 50mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/3200s

Tipping Over

I thought I had posted this photo of waves crashing down at Couminole Beach before but no, I have posted several shots of waves at that exposed Atlantic beach but not this one!

I rarely mention WordPress stuff here but if you haven’t upgraded your site to 2.8.4, read this post by Matt. Please upgrade, you’ll be hacked otherwise!

Aperture ƒ/9
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/400s

Rain on the River

Rain falls on a river in a town in County Clare while we were stuck in a traffic jam. I used to know what town this was taken in but now it’s a mystery. It did have a very distinctive walled off area right in the middle of the river though. Anyone recognise it?

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 21mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/100s

Water rushes in

Waves crash and water rushes in on the rocks at Couminole Beach in County Kerry.

Shot almost 2 years ago on Slea Head!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 106mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/400s