I’m sorry.

I’ve been busy. And uninspired.

Okay, about these first. They are the first photographs of the new year. I have had opportunities to do sunrises, sunsets and aeroplanes and somewhere, my mind has been saying meh. But today while going about my lawful business of making tea, I was hit [...]]]> I know it’s been a while.

I’m sorry.

I’ve been busy. And uninspired.

Okay, about these first. They are the first photographs of the new year. I have had opportunities to do sunrises, sunsets and aeroplanes and somewhere, my mind has been saying meh. But today while going about my lawful business of making tea, I was hit with some inspiration. This is a glass which prior to having water in it had a smoothie in it. The tendency of liquidised strawberries to stick to glass is why it was soaking actually. Anyway the bubbles caught my attention. Shortly after that, it occurred to me that I hadn’t put the Christmas lights away yet. So what we have in the second shot is glass, with bubbles and liquidised strawberries, lit by Dunnes Store LED Christmas lights. The first photograph is much the same without the Christmas lights. What struck me about both of them is that there was a seemingly spacey type feel about them; the second in particular.

Which, given that they consist of a glass of water and some Christmas lights is as nice idea. In terms of running them through processing software, the blacks got upped a bit in the first one and the second one, I think I pulled back the exposure ever so slightly as those lights go some weird shade of pink when they are overexposed.

So much for the first picture. I have this 100mm. I’m going to play with it more I think as I’m still a bit devoid of inspiration on the sports front.

I want you to go have a look at this blog post. Before you do so, remember I spend some time in the water, and have some interest in what Roger does.

That way lies crazy. I’m not a full time surf photographer and in the last year I haven’t even done that much kitesurf for various reasons (maybe a world championship trip is called for this year). But there is something completely insane if there are more photographers in a surfing wave than there are surfers. I look at that and my blood just runs cold.

I like surf photography and to be frank, there are certain stock shots which every surfer will get. Identifying the special is the hard part.

Interestingly enough, Tonnta, the Irish surf magazine which has a website here did not have a photograph on the cover of Issue 11. They had a piece of art which was not a photograph. I don’t have a credit to hand but I think it’s still available so you should keep an eye out for it. Tonnta is fortunate enough to get work from some of the finest surf photographers around, including Mickey Smith. And while there have been some breaks with tradition (most of the big magazines when with monochrome shots post Tea’hupoo this year), the thing is, I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before.

I’ve done some similar stuff in the last year (with waves as it happens – see here) and it’s something I quite like the idea of. I based that off a photograph by the way, from Doolin in Clare.

Anyway, I’ve been saving up this blog post to say that the early water based photographers were innovative; I’m just not sure it’s all that special any more.

What else:

Yes. Alan Ross. Have a look here. I am ashamed that I have only happened across Alan’s work very recently.

Right. I think that’s it for now. I need to start taking more photographs. I also need to review some books because while I have not been taking photographs, I have been buying books about taking photographs, namely Lee Frost’s one on nightphotography and Tom Bol’s latest one on sports photography (some great photographs).

Also, if you have a copy of Digital Photo Pro this month, you’ll find a piece on Michael Clark, whose Adventure Photography is my definitive read on the subject.

I’m not one hundred per cent sure where that necklace is at the moment.

I’ve always liked this.

This grew in my garden. In fact, I watched the plant for a year thinking helpful things like “I don’t need 15 runners, can’t I just have some red, sweet, fruit please?” Eventually today, one of them was ready to eat. So I clipped it off the plant, took a few photographs of it as [...]]]>

This grew in my garden. In fact, I watched the plant for a year thinking helpful things like “I don’t need 15 runners, can’t I just have some red, sweet, fruit please?” Eventually today, one of them was ready to eat. So I clipped it off the plant, took a few photographs of it as it’s my first baby (as fruit goes – I’ve never grown any before) and then I ate it. It was lovely. I didn’t even feel the need to dip it in the hazelnut chocolate stuff that I made at the weekend.

One of the spawned runners and [...]]]> Last year, at a charity plant sale at work, I bought two strawberry plants. They spawned 15 runners, all of which I dutifully planted, 13 of which made it through the snow and about 5 of which have managed to survive still further. The mammy plants are also still alive.

One of the spawned runners and the two mammy plants this year are making a concerted effort to generate fruit for me. I have to say I never thought I would see this day but today, these are sitting in my garden.

and

Cute, baby strawberries that have not yet been pilfered by the local bird population. I’m immensely proud of them because to be honest, I didn’t think we’d get this far.

A sudden thought also went through my head as I downloaded the shots off the camera. They were taken with my 100mm macro, a lens I really only have accidentally. I wouldn’t have it except for a fatal accident involving my previous camera. In Brazil, my first 40D died. Stopped working. Suffered water damage and committed camera suicide. I was without a camera for about 4 months while I saved up the replacement money and traipsed into Gunns of Wexford Street – Dublin’s finest and friendliest camera store in my honest opinion. When I got there, the choice was pretty much a 40D or a 50D. The 50D was kind of new and when I looked at the technical specifications, it transpired that although less new and therefore potentially less sexy, the 40D was a better deal. It meant I had about 400E to play with, that I could save, or put towards some more useful equipment like a decent tripod, something which I still don’t own actually. I bought the macro lens.

I’m told I cried bitter tears when the original camera died. I don’t remember it, although I do remember the utter shock of realising I wasn’t going to be able to fix it. I hate the memory of it. But if it hadn’t happened, there are a lot of stunning photographs which I have now, like the above (okay, maybe not quite “stunning”) which I wouldn’t have because I’d have probably bought a tripod instead of a macro lens when I stashed spare 400E together.

So, skipping onwards from my green fingers, a couple of things.

If you go to NPX Wetsuits here, you’ll see one of the best uses of a kitesurfing photograph that I have ever seen – you’re looking for the Assassion shot by the way; there are three or four rotating. I saw it during the weekend in a spread-ad in Kiteboarder Magazine; an American magazine which is rapidly becoming my favourite kite magazine because the photographs are just that little bit different. It’s credited to Bryan Elkus although I don’t know who did the art work. I was looking at on an iPad going wow. Just a little bit envious (Andre Phillip, the kiteboarder in question, is the one kitesurfer I really, really want to photograph in the world right now). (Look, just because I point a macro at my garden doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the stars of my camera show).

Then if you go to your local newsagent and they are flogging issue 9 of Tonnta, please look for the photograph of Lahinch Stack done by Mickey Smith. There’s actually a wave and a surfer there too, but the context of the shot is given by that stack (it’s huge, if you’ve ever been anywhere near it in a boat, which I have). It’s a stunning golden coloured shot and I’d tell you what page it’s on except I don’t currently have the magazine to hand. It is, however, possibly my favourite surf shot of all time. I want a print of that so much. Gloss paper I think I’d like too if I thought I could get my hands on it.

I’m off to Cornwall tomorrow; flying into Newquay with Air Southwest. Expert more beachy photos for the next while. In the meantime, have a good one.

I’m not a Radiohead fan. They’ve never really spoken to me but I heard Street Spirit for the first time on Wednesday and there are elements of it that just really appeal to me. I am not sure why.

Anyway, this is from the front garden; I took pictures of it before it faded. I’m not [...]]]>

I’m not a Radiohead fan. They’ve never really spoken to me but I heard Street Spirit for the first time on Wednesday and there are elements of it that just really appeal to me. I am not sure why.

Anyway, this is from the front garden; I took pictures of it before it faded. I’m not sure what it is because I didn’t plant it. I have this tendency with flowers and pastel colours to do something to the saturation, between dialing up the intensity or …

…dialing it down a lot.

Anyway, I’m trying to interesting small things to take photographs of at the moment and flowers seem to be it.

This from the recent winter. As I have plants in the garden that are not currently dead, I am hopeful of no further snow.

Via LinkedIN, I’m subscribed to a bunch of groups and get discussion emails every day. A few of those are photography related. Anyway, from the Canon EOS Digital Group today, came an [...]]]>

This from the recent winter. As I have plants in the garden that are not currently dead, I am hopeful of no further snow.

Via LinkedIN, I’m subscribed to a bunch of groups and get discussion emails every day. A few of those are photography related. Anyway, from the Canon EOS Digital Group today, came an update to the discussion thread on

If you only had to use one lens, what would it be.

This is a problem for me. Some of the most beautiful photographs I have taken have come from the 100mm macro. A few nice ones have come from the 50mm as well and of course, there’s all that zoom I use on the kitesurfers. Although I use a 10-20 on them from time to time when I feel like risking my life in the water.

I think if I had to keep one lens, it might well be the kit 17-85mm. It’s not as fast as either of the two fixed focal lenses that I use, and it hasn’t the reach of the two zooms I carry around. However, it is more versatile and allows me some options albeit with a reduced DOF.

When I shot film, I got by mainly on the 50mm lens. There was a 35-105 that was good as well. I found my 80-250mm very difficult to use. If I were shooting with that camera, I guess I’d ditch the two zooms and stuck with the Zuiko 50mm which is unquestionably the best lens I’ve ever used.

More from the Christmas morning selection box

Word has it the cold weather is on its way back. arggh.

Okay – some plugging. Julie is flogging very nice handmade photographic calendars here. I’ve seen her prints. I wouldn’t be plugging them if they weren’t worth flogging.

Richard has a very ominous moody sky here. I’d like [...]]]>

More from the Christmas morning selection box

Word has it the cold weather is on its way back. arggh.

Okay – some plugging. Julie is flogging very nice handmade photographic calendars here. I’ve seen her prints. I wouldn’t be plugging them if they weren’t worth flogging.

Richard has a very ominous moody sky here. I’d like to say it’s nice but it feels like a complete insult to the atmospheric malevolence pouring out of those clouds so instead I will say you should go and look at it. It’s got snow as well.

Something a little different from PhotographyServed here. I never quite get that softness of colour – I try but somehow something contrasting bashes its way in.

Tommie and I went to Trim together the evening the balloons went up with black flags for Danny O’Brien. I feel this post.

John Smyth has nice things to look at shooting Venus. I have a housing estate. Colour me slightly envious. It’s in the wrong place for me to get it over an eastern sea.

Redmum has had some great, great shots over the year. This is a classic I feel.

I took some photographs in Cork on Christmas morning. Some sunrise shots, and also, some of the frosted snow using the macro lens. I would never have seen myself as a macroey person but…Anyway. This is from wild parts of my parents garden; nothing cultivated I must confess.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2010. The [...]]]>

I took some photographs in Cork on Christmas morning. Some sunrise shots, and also, some of the frosted snow using the macro lens. I would never have seen myself as a macroey person but…Anyway. This is from wild parts of my parents garden; nothing cultivated I must confess.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2010. The year has been a rollercoaster for various reasons, and as it closes, I’m not perhaps as happy as I could be. Although I took a few lovely photographs, I never felt I quite got into groove. I realise that some people may consider this to be closet insanity but to be honest, it’s been a feature of my life that I never really had a lot of confidence in things I do well. That being said, the good folks at twitter picked a few of those photos out as TOTDs and I am going to be vain enough to nominate one of them as a contender for picture of the year.

I want to dedicate the photograph above to one of my friends whom I’m not going to name but who always seems to be around when I need one, and who actually listens to me when I’m asking for advice before rushing in with said advice. This is such a rare skill that it’s worthy of mention. Hope 2011 is good to you.

In other unrelated news, I’ve a new photography book called The Photographer’s Mind by Michael Freeman who appears to be my tutor of choice at present. As noted above, I seem to be slightly lost on the photography front, so in the best traditions of TG4, I’m in search of Súil Eile if you like. I will, when I get around to it, post a review of it after I’ve read it.

That being said, taking photographs is a journey and sometimes it takes you places, as on a rollercoaster – it is to my camera that I owe trips kitesurfing to Brazil and Morocco in the last few years, also to Spain and Portugal. I owe several very good friends to my camera and they come from both the kitesurfing and photography worlds. One or two even come from the yarn world now also. It is to my camera I owe the ability to stand still for hours on end just watching things, although I’m still bloody useless at wildlife photography. On the other hand, you need similar skills for kitesurfers and with a 2.8 macro lens. Always useful. Sometimes, the journey isn’t that clear, so I find myself thinking of a poem by Robert Frost, along with Patrick Kavanagh my favourite English language poet (I tried to love Emily Dickens as well but somehow she never quite took my heart). It seems odd to be discussing poetry on a photography blog.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Identifying that road is hard sometimes.

In the meantime, I wish the burglar alarm that has been going for the last 20 minutes would shut up. It’s blocking out the music of Keith Jarrett.

I have a macro lens.

and a clothes line

and a large population of spiders in the garden.

I like this.

ETA: and so did the nice people at Pixie where it has been voted TOTD. Yay.

I’ve come to the conclusion that other people are better at selecting jewellery for me than I am. This is from one of my friends who thought a necklace that featured some element of the sea was suitable for someone like me. The blue piece of glass is seaglass. You can collect seaglass on most [...]]]>

I’ve come to the conclusion that other people are better at selecting jewellery for me than I am. This is from one of my friends who thought a necklace that featured some element of the sea was suitable for someone like me. The blue piece of glass is seaglass. You can collect seaglass on most beaches; it’s broken glass rounded by the action of the sea. Based on what I see by way of broken glass on local beaches to me, I won’t see to much in the way of this beautiful blue as clear glass and brown glass is favoured for “breaking on the beach” purposes in Dollymount. The necklace also features a silver starfish and a freshwater pearl. It really is very beautiful.

This got taken because I was playing with light and a macro lens this afternoon.