September 2002. A trip out to Sherkin Island with Kev and Foss to swim (or paddle shin deep in my case), play football on the beach, take some photos and just enjoy the sun. Didn’t think I’d be back here only 7 seemingly short years later for Kev’s stag party. Then, the confirmation came that the other fella, Foss, is now also engaged. Good thing I don’t have a tendency to feel like the odd one out!
April 2003. One of the friendly and amazingly soft pawed ring tailed lemurs at Fota Island Wildlife Park in Cork. This was back when they’d come down out of the trees and run around visitors legs, hoping one of them might have a packet of crisps or a banana or something. On all my subsequent visits to Fota, I’ve never been this close to them again.
June 2003. Whilst at a very loose end one day and wanting to clear the head of unpleasant thoughts, I invented the tour which shall forever be known as the “Solstice Sojourn”. Started at home in Carrigaline, west taking in Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Schull, Leap, Sheeps Head, Bantry, Glengarriff and a few other towns that I can’t remember. All in all, took about 9 hours and was held for two years running on the longest day of the year. IRead More
June 2003. Back when I first got my (what I would now refer to as) first proper digital camera I tried out more or less everything with limited success. It was only when I tried everything that I really started lusting after a DSLR. And so the cycle of expense and gear porn begins. Here I was, perched outside Cork’s main fire station, waiting for an emergency so I could get what I imagined would be ‘cool’ shots of theRead More
April 2005. A very, very, very large boat docks in Ringaskiddy (about 5/6 mins drive from Carrigaline) and offloads a bunch of presumably wealthy tourists for a few days. This was taken just before it’s departure, which was also a grand affair that saw many locals, including local journalists, come out to record for posterity. Now a dwarf among it’s sisters, the others have taken to docking in nearby Cobh which I believe offers a more accommodating home for theRead More
April 2005. Always one of the places I’d take the bike to for a spin in the evenings or weekends, Charlesfort and it’s neighbour Jamesfort across the harbour are popular spots. That used to be just so I could go sit in the sunshine for a few minutes or to consume whatever I’d bought in the shop on the way down before walking around the outside of the castle taking photos. Then it became the invaluable spot to stop withRead More
April 2005. Before being boarded up, wrapped in scaffolding and having very large ‘no entry, prosecution blah blah blah’ signs posted at it’s gates some years ago, Castlefreake was, as it’s name suggests, a freaky spot to visit. At one stage the basement, including the tunnel pictured, was in complete darkness. Hence, I wouldn’t go down it. After a few bits of the building gave up and fell off it let a bit of light in and it was aRead More
June 2005. Victor Frankenstein marked a few firsts. First time I successfully blagged a press pass, first time I accidentally hit someone with a lens hood, first time I learned that the 20D was not a fan of being used at high ISO\’s and the first time I was propositioned by a very nasty prostitute. Serves me right for parking on the quays. Great show and huge crowds. One of the many great events that took part in Cork forRead More
September 2005. This one seems to get rolled out quite often. But why not, I like it! Taken back when I was still very much learning to use my then still new baby, a 20D. Also, Inchidoney is still as excellent as ever.
Fountainstown, sitting on the rocks at the beach one evening after going down to Cork for the weekend. Can’t help but think of the rule of thirds and how I’ve possibly not followed it’s teachings here. Meh, rules are made to be broken. Especially photography rules.
Shandon in Cork at the time of the blog awards earlier this year. Digging into the archives yet again and still avoiding scanning that stack of negatives slowly gathering dust.
Strolling around Currabinny woods with the lensbaby. It seems like a hell of a long time since I’ve been out and actually taken any photos, or even had the inclination to do so…
Presumably… One of the many delightful now almost naturally occurring sights on Fountainstown beach. My first outing with the macro lens in quite a bit of time.
Spending a few days around Cork & Kerry shooting a mixture of Velvia, Neopan and PanF. After (very successfully) developing three rolls of Velvia so far, I have to say that I’m in love. It’s a pain to develop but it’s just too worth it. This is the top of the hill at Barley Lake between Kenmare & Bantry. The lake is behind me somewhere. Must dev those last three rolls soon.
The Grand Parade in Cork. Lights that have been there for a while now, just starting to blend in with the surroundings. Until of course, they turn on. Jesus I’d love a cheese & onion pie from Lennox’s right about now.
In a similar vein to what Donncha posted a few days ago, Fountainstown beach isn’t a million miles away from Myrtleville. Although, in fairness, it is a hell of a lot cleaner. It’s (more or less) the next beach across as you’re walking around the rocky coastline and never fails to present some interesting titbit of thoughtlessly discarded waste on any visit to the spot. Also shot with Al’s lensbaby.
One of my favourite parts of the whole ‘Gougane Barra’ experience. This is the forest, not too far from the car park. There’s something about the trees there that even when it’s heaving with the tourist masses during the summer months, it has an odd kind of calm about it. Maybe it’s the goblins and such?