I’m rubbish at posting lately but problems with my wordpress client haven’t helped. I don’t know why but loading images as normal is now happening abnormally.
Anyway, this pic was taken in the Guggenheim cafe and I really like it. I don’t know why. I even got excited as I was taking it. Strange. It’s quite nice in the original colour as the wall is a deep red but I was messing around in Lightroom and quite like this B&W version too.
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I’d just got my tripod erected when a policewoman appeared out of nowhere asking if I had a permit for it. No, but I have a receipt for it!
This was just the first of many instances where my shiny tripod drew negative attention in NY. My heart sank until I realised that there was a flat marble surface at just the right height to allow me to continue without too much of a disadvantage without it.
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As this poor cabbie found out in NY last month. Broken down in Times Square - what could be worse? Being a recovery vehicle driver, perhaps? Still, I’m sure me setting up my tripod to take a photograph made him feel a whole lot better.Â
In my defense, I had to get the use from my newly purchased $100 holiday tripod as I wasn’t allowed use it anywhere I’d intended it for*. I call it a holiday tripod as my bf bought me an ab fab supercool Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod for Christmas with an even supercooler trigger thingy head. I can’t look up the details of the head as I don’t have it yet but have been promised it’s coming. Like Christmas then :-)
*Be warned - The ESB (Empire state building), Rockerfeller centre, Grand central station or any building that isn’t a bungalow don’t allow the use of tripods.  I did get a couple of ones I like from grand central though so I’ll post them shortly.
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Taken on the subway system in Manhattan last month.
A young enthusiastic bishop in the Galway Paddy’s Day parade today! They should be all like that :-)
Wishing you a Happy (belated) Christmas & a prosperous 2008. I’m sorry to see the end of 2007 but if 2008 is half as good then roll on :-)
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As I was on my way home from town this evening the sky in Salthill was like this. Cursing myself for not having my camera with me and the ‘L’ driver in front for not being able to enter the roundabout, I raced home to get it.
Apart from being underexposed by either 1 or 2 stops, this shot is totally unedited, not even cropped. That must be a first!
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… and time for a pint!
 
I haven’t seen an image like this in a while. This farmer’s abode was in an idyllic location at some lovely foothills in Kerry. We climbed those hills but I never asked their name. I’ve quit pretending I’ll ever remember.
This man’s simple house reminded me of the house my Mum grew up in, overlooking Lough Key. We would visit her uncle who lived there ’til an old age. You could smell the turf fire as you walked down the cobble path. He was usually standing at the door, always wearing his peak cap. He would trade his long winter overcoat for a shirt and tank top in the summer. But always the peak cap.
The bare stone floors always made the place feel dark and cold, which probably explains the overcoat and turf fire 365 days a year. But that’s the way he liked it (otherwise my Mum is mean*). The only thing he allowed change was the vinyl tablecloth. It was usually the only colourful thing in the house, apart from the fire.
I loved the fireplace. It had a great big black kettle hanging from it along with other fire poking instruments and Mum would explain how that was her and her Mother’s kettle when she was small and how it was the only means of heating water - for washing and cooking in their very humble abode. The little stone house had just one little room either side of the kitchen/dining room. And the kitchen/dining room met you right at the front door, with no hallway.
A bit like new Ireland then. Have we come full-circle?
* She’s not though :-)
This is another shot taken along the Dingle peninsula on the October bank holiday Monday of the Galway walking club weekend in Annascaul, Co. Kerry.
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