It’s images like this that makes photographing amateur athletics worthwhile.
Here’s Jordan Heron of North Belfast Harriers, who has just crossed the finish line, running 5 miles in just 26:12 minutes and achieving overall first place in the Broughshane 5 Mile Race, organised by Ballymena Runners. These people train hard and give their best for pure enjoyment and personal satisfaction. To capture their achievement photographically is not just a challenge, it is a privilege.
Culcrow is a townland between Kilrea and Coleraine, in County Londonderry, and not far from the amazing Brown Trout Inn, where one can enjoy fantastic food. It has a lively Primary School, a handful of houses and farms, and a few old characteristics that always caused me to slow down as I travelled up the road between Kilrea and Coleraine, on route to Portstewart. Of course I never got around to stop and take a closer look because I was in a hurry, or it was raining, or someone was with me… whatever. But Culcrow has still got an old red phone box, and despite driving past it for years, I really wanted a closer look.
Continue reading Old CulcrowI use public transport – a lot. What I most like about it of course, is that for senior citizens of my vintage it is free to use here in Ulster. So, being a skinflint, I use it extensively.
Now, I don’t want to be over critical, – after all, our public transport in Northern Ireland is vastly superior to that in some other jurisdictions. We have clean modern trains that run on time and can usually get you to your destination without the risk of getting mugged. Buses that are punctual and clean and with reasonably polite and helpful drivers (speaking generally). But if there is one minor criticism that I hope I am allowed to offer on the subject of public transport it is this…
APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO SPEAK PROPER ENGLISH. This post contains a lot of colloquial idiosyncratic diction. (Slang!) It’s just the way we spake over here, so it is…
It is PUBLIC. Too public for comfort. I know there’s little that Translink can do about the public nature of its public transport, but at least allow me the comfort of having a decent rant about it.
Continue reading What’s Wrong With PUBLIC Transport?A day spent around Belfast city centre can be quite boring for the dutiful husband who is required to take his ever patient wife to the city for a shopping trip – especially when that shopping trip involves what seems like endless browsing around the many clothing outlets!
The answer, of course is simple. Bring a camera, and leave her too it. That was my course of action a few weeks ago, when I left Janette in the care of the retailers, and wandered off on my own with the Fujifilm X-T50, and headed for Belfast’s touristy dockland, once the home of the coal boats, and the shady haunts of visiting seamen – now a venue for visiting cruise ship passengers and folk on city sightseeing bus tours. Safe access from the shopping area of the city to the docks is via an underground walkway, amply adorned with vivid graffiti.
I’ve just heard a rumour, that Fujifilm may be releasing another new camera in the X-T series around the autumn of this year (2026) – possibly a new X-T6, to replace the existing X-T5.
For a committed Fujifilm user like myself the release of a new model always poses a challenge. It usually starts with a determination that I am not going to spend any more money on photo-gear, which is slowly eroded over the period of a couple of months, until I eventually yield to the inevitable, and buy the latest model. (I justify the expense by telling myself that I don’t smoke or drink alcohol, or waste money on gambling etc, so a few hundred pounds spent on a new camera is fully justified. I use this ‘logic’ every time).
Continue reading Fujifilm X-T6 RumoursI’ve had quite a few conversations about weeds over the years. Not just the complaints at home about the weeds that grow in the lawn, and seem to be indestructible. A few weeks ago I was complaining about those garden weeds, and the persistent clover in particular, and the other party to the conversation implored, “Let the weeds alone… they’re part of nature…” Another joined in with the perceived wisdom that weeds are just flowers in the wrong place!
Anyway I’ve just discovered why weeds exist. To relieve boredom! On Saturday 6th June 2026, I was standing on the edge of Portglenone Forest in Co.Antrim, waiting for an athletics event to finish, and I was in a lull in the action, I was bored. Then I saw some WEEDS and I lifted the camera. Here’s one of the shots…
So, I have been enlightened. Weeds exist to relieve the boredom of a photographer, in athletic action lulls.
This photograph was made using the Fujifilm X-T5 with a 70-300mm lens, and the aperture was open wide, because I was shooting athletics, so I needed a fast shutter speed and reasonably high ISO.
A PLEASURE to photograph the wedding of Callum and Emma yesterday, 27th May 2026! A gorgeous warm day, with locations at Bangor, Portrush, (Magheracross and White Rocks) and concluding the day at the always splendid Royal Court Hotel, where the 200 or so guests enjoyed a fabulous meal, and great company.
Sometimes I am asked to do press photos – and when these are for a worthy cause, I’m always willing to oblige, if I’m available, and last week I travelled over to Ballymena to help with publicity for the
FAIRHILL 5 MILES RUNNING EVENT
This is an annual race, sponsored by Fairhill Shopping Centre, and run by BRAC, the Ballymena Running and Athletics Club, – this year in aid of Castle Tower Parents, Friends and Staff Association,
Out for a walk in the spring sunshine a few days ago I noticed that the doors of the local RC Church, here in Portstewart were open, and no services scheduled, so I ventured inside with the Fujifilm X-T50 camera.
The mobile studio is back in the road, – this time in a school classroom – doing formal photos as the student gather to await transportation by bus to their dinner venue!
Yes – it’s a music room! – and 45 excited young people all looking their very best.
If you’d like to discuss studio photography options at your event venue, just drop me an email or phone for more information.
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