A view along the river Tiber towards St. Peters Basilica. Taken during our August holiday. A challenging shot as it was hand held at 1/4 sec and 1600 ISO.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The haunting Pantheon
When we visited Rome in August one of the buildings which had a profound affect on me was the Pantheon. In the bustle of a colourful city square with modern restaurants and buildings was this sepia toned ancient hulking and somewhat disturbing Roman ghost. It totally dominated the square in such a silent and eerie way...the history of 2,000 years etched on its scarred profile. It seemed to exude a menacing boast that all our modern architecture in this square could never match the majesty and longevity of this amazing building built by the bare hands of thousands and thousands of workers with the most basic of tools.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Love Story
In February I had a Flickrmail from a young Californian man called James. He told me that his girlfriend Emmi was studying in Ireland and he was about to travel over to Ireland to meet up with her on St. Patrick's Day. James said that he was planning to propose to Emmi during his visit and wanted my advise on a nice quiet and scenic coastal location in Dublin for the proposal. Wow, talk about putting me under pressure, LOL! After a little thought I suggested the above elevated location in a large parkland at Killiney Hill and gave him detailed directions.
I didn't think I would hear from James again. However late last month I got another Flickrmail from a very happy James. He told me that the proposal went very well on Killiney Hill and that they both loved the location! So I'm sure you will all join me in congratulating James and Emmi on their Irish engagement.
I took the above shot a few weeks ago as a little tribute to the happy couple while I was up for a regular walk on Killiney Hill. The inserts are photos from James and Emmi which they took themselves on Killiney Hill just after the successful proposal. Yes I know the blended image is probably a bit mushy and sentimental...but I'm an incurable romantic, LOL!
You can visit James and Emmi's Irish proposal page photos at www.flickr.com/photos/jamesemmi/page22/
I didn't think I would hear from James again. However late last month I got another Flickrmail from a very happy James. He told me that the proposal went very well on Killiney Hill and that they both loved the location! So I'm sure you will all join me in congratulating James and Emmi on their Irish engagement.
I took the above shot a few weeks ago as a little tribute to the happy couple while I was up for a regular walk on Killiney Hill. The inserts are photos from James and Emmi which they took themselves on Killiney Hill just after the successful proposal. Yes I know the blended image is probably a bit mushy and sentimental...but I'm an incurable romantic, LOL!
You can visit James and Emmi's Irish proposal page photos at www.flickr.com/photos/jamesemmi/page22/
Saturday, March 15, 2008
The Arrival of Columbus
This is my attempt to interpret the essence of one of my favourite short poems "The Caravels" written in about 1918.
It's such a simple yet powerfully descriptive poem from the viewpoint of a Native American. I love the man's shock and lack of understanding of how the huge ships are moving - only having been used to little canoes with paddles or oars. But in particular the line "His fallen hands forgetting all their shells" is what I focused on in the image. The forgotten shells of course are a physical symbol of the change about to take place from his old way of life. This is why the shells are emphasised a bit brighter and translucent to the sunlight. Also we are told Columbus landed in morning time - hence the low Sun from the east.
Methodology...
The seashore is not the West Indies but a shot I took in Donegal last year!
The Indian is me in silhouette - with a Halloween mask/wig! Taken indoors recently and added to original.
The shells were collected in Sandycove beach and added later with some computerised movement effects.
The three caravel images were found on the Internet and blended in.
The Caravels - by J. C. Squire
There was an Indian, who had known no change,
Who strayed content along a sunlit beach Gathering shells.
He heard a sudden strange Commingled noise: looked up; and gasped for speech.
For in the bay, where nothing was before,
Moved on the sea, by magic, huge canoes
With bellying cloths on poles, and not one oar,
And fluttering coloured signs and clambering crews.
And he, in fear, this naked man alone,
His fallen hands forgetting all their shells,
His lips gone pale, knelt low behind a stone,
And stared, and saw, and did not understand,
Columbus's doom-burdened caravels
Slant to the shore, and all their seaman land.
It's such a simple yet powerfully descriptive poem from the viewpoint of a Native American. I love the man's shock and lack of understanding of how the huge ships are moving - only having been used to little canoes with paddles or oars. But in particular the line "His fallen hands forgetting all their shells" is what I focused on in the image. The forgotten shells of course are a physical symbol of the change about to take place from his old way of life. This is why the shells are emphasised a bit brighter and translucent to the sunlight. Also we are told Columbus landed in morning time - hence the low Sun from the east.
Methodology...
The seashore is not the West Indies but a shot I took in Donegal last year!
The Indian is me in silhouette - with a Halloween mask/wig! Taken indoors recently and added to original.
The shells were collected in Sandycove beach and added later with some computerised movement effects.
The three caravel images were found on the Internet and blended in.
The Caravels - by J. C. Squire
There was an Indian, who had known no change,
Who strayed content along a sunlit beach Gathering shells.
He heard a sudden strange Commingled noise: looked up; and gasped for speech.
For in the bay, where nothing was before,
Moved on the sea, by magic, huge canoes
With bellying cloths on poles, and not one oar,
And fluttering coloured signs and clambering crews.
And he, in fear, this naked man alone,
His fallen hands forgetting all their shells,
His lips gone pale, knelt low behind a stone,
And stared, and saw, and did not understand,
Columbus's doom-burdened caravels
Slant to the shore, and all their seaman land.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Spring-Time!
My youngest daughter Shona (18) enjoys a few jumps around the garden on Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
What a Turkey!
The Irish national song contest to chose a song for the Eurovision usually bores the hell out of me and I haven't watched it for years...and I didn't watch it this year either. I must admit that initially I cringed on hearing that we had selected a glove puppet - Dustin the Turkey.
I watched the video on the net today and I felt a bit better. I've always said over the last few years that what we needed was a good punchy visual stage extravaganza. This act pulled it off fairly well. It's a crap song and Dustin can't sing but the words are funny and I also wouldn't underestimate the hypnotic effects on the voting masses of the regularly repeated words... "Irelande douze pointe"! He looks funny too and there's dancers and colour etc. The Eurovision is now a money sucking operation aimed at the millions of fools who pay to vote on instant impact entertainment...it is unfortunately no longer an outlet for exposing great music - which often has to be listened to repeatedly to fully appreciate.
I saw also a video of Dustin being interviewed on Sky News....an ideal exposure for him...the TV equivalent the Daily Mirror for instant appeal sugar coated stories. One big thought came to me from watching the Sky interview...ironically it shows we have grown up somewhat as a nation. Twenty years ago we would have been far too embarrassed to put such an act together. We had an inferiority complex as a nation....we would be afraid that other countries - especially Britain - would laugh AT us.
Now it's different. We are confident in ourselves, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the best nations and are better off and more skilled than most of them. We've won the Eurovision seven times - more often than any country. If we want to do something different and put on a light hearted fun show at the Eurovision - then why not!? If it does very well (as it might) it will be the perfect statement of what the Eurovision has become.
Go on ya good thing!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
"Am I Walking into Eternity...
...along Sandymount Strand?" (Stephen in the novel Ulysses by James Joyce)
I went for a walk along Sandymount Strand, Dublin at dusk this evening. It's truly a massive expanse of beach when the tide is out. I thought about the character of Stephen in the novel Ulysses and his philosophical musings as he walked on the same strand in 1904.
Yes it's a timer self portrait and yes the camera got dirty with sand!
I went for a walk along Sandymount Strand, Dublin at dusk this evening. It's truly a massive expanse of beach when the tide is out. I thought about the character of Stephen in the novel Ulysses and his philosophical musings as he walked on the same strand in 1904.
Yes it's a timer self portrait and yes the camera got dirty with sand!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"Brooding Darkness...
...spreads his jealous wings, and the night raven sings". (John Milton from start of the epic poem L'Allegro).
Spotted in Blackrock Park last week during full daylight and given a bit of Moonlight treatment in Photoshop. This general approach was often used in old Hollywood movies - filmed in daylight but darkened and tinted to give a night look - also called "nuite americaine" effect.
Spotted in Blackrock Park last week during full daylight and given a bit of Moonlight treatment in Photoshop. This general approach was often used in old Hollywood movies - filmed in daylight but darkened and tinted to give a night look - also called "nuite americaine" effect.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Friends
My daughter Shona (right) and her pal Alannah enjoying their dual 18th birthday party last August.
I like this shot because of the way their good friendship is so obvious and the gentle way Shona holds Alannah's hand. I always think that friendships made at school at that age can last a lifetime, even as they go on to lead different lives.
I like this shot because of the way their good friendship is so obvious and the gentle way Shona holds Alannah's hand. I always think that friendships made at school at that age can last a lifetime, even as they go on to lead different lives.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Old Man and the Birds
I look this photo last Autumn in Stephens Green Dublin. I've often noticed elderly people taking a interest in being near birds and feeding them etc. So maybe it's something I need to watch out for as a sign as I get older!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Oasis
Water dispenser in a remote part of Donegal, Ireland.
I played on the computer with selective colour as you can see.
I played on the computer with selective colour as you can see.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Go Forth My Child
Sorry I've been quiet for awhile on the Blog side. My main hobby in the last year has been photography and related interaction with the Flickr photographic web site. Tennis also occupies my time.
I haven't thought of much to say in the blog lately so when I'm feeling blank maybe I'll just post the occasional photo which I've been uploading to Flickr. This shot was taken at home with flash photography of a pose by my eldest daughter Amy and I. The background was added later in Photoshop. It's loosely based on the "Creation of Adam" painting by Michelangelo.
I haven't thought of much to say in the blog lately so when I'm feeling blank maybe I'll just post the occasional photo which I've been uploading to Flickr. This shot was taken at home with flash photography of a pose by my eldest daughter Amy and I. The background was added later in Photoshop. It's loosely based on the "Creation of Adam" painting by Michelangelo.
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