Fuchsia

Fuchsia

Who doesn’t like nice flowers – apparently this one’s a Fuchsia – although to be honest, I thought it was a honeysuckle – but then, what would I know?  But I do like bokeh – the creamier the better!  This shot was made with the Fujifilm X-T2, with a 55mm lens opened up to f/2.8.  I’ve brightened up the background a bit in post capture processing, and added a border.

 

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Fuchsia

Here’s the small print: Fujifilm X-T2. F= 55mm f/2.8 @ 1/250th sec on ISO200.

Eleventh July at Ballybeen.

Eleventh July at Ballybeen!

Ballybeen is a large housing development close to our studio location in Dundonald.  The majority of people who live there are the decent Protestant working class people of Ulster – my own background.  For centuries July has been a special month for them – the annual celebration of victory of William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne, which ushered in the Glorious Revolution, enshrined the Constitutional Monarchy in the British Isles, dethroned the despotic Stuart kings, and guaranteed civil and religious liberty for all.

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William of Orange on a Banner

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Donaghcloney

DONAGHCLONEY

Donaghcloney, or Donacloney is a village in Co.Down, – or Co. Armagh (depending on who you ask!). I should know, for I used to live there – back in 1986, for around six months.  Situated between Banbridge and Lurgan, and along the bank of the Lagan River, the village was built around the Irish Linen industry.  The old linen mill was still working when I lived there, but it’s closed now, and its site is being redeveloped for housing.

In Donacloney to visit a home there, I took a few minutes to make some photographs.

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Slemish Mountain

Slemish Mountain is in Co.Antrim, to the east of the town of Ballymena.  Traditionally, it is said to be the first Irish home of St Patrick, who tended sheep as a slave boy on its slopes.Slemish (Slieve Mish)  is around 1500 feet above the surrounding plain, and is visible for many miles around.

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Fuji X-T2 f=25mm, f/16 @ 1/60th sec on ISO400

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Lough Neagh

I lead a VERY exciting life.  After a wet morning in the open air, doing some commercial photography, I got to stop for packed lunch at a favourite car-park!  Oxford Island, just outside Lurgan, Co.Armagh is a nature reserve, perched on the southern shores of Lough Neagh, the largest fresh-water lake in the British Isles.  My plan was to have lunch, then go for a stroll with a camera, but that came to nothing, for as soon as I’d finished eating the heavens opened and the rain poured down.  Again. Continue reading Lough Neagh

Portbradden and Dunseverick

Harbours!

The north coast of Ireland has a winding coastline with lots of quaint little harbours, many of which are picturesque and great for photography.  On a recent visit to Portballentrae, I travelled along the coast to visit two of those harbours.

DUNSEVERICK.

Dunseverick is a Hamlet, just along the coast from the world famous tourist attraction that is the Giant’s Causeway.  It’s little harbour lies down a long, narrow winding lane. Be careful – its just about wide enough for two vehicles to pass!

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Improve Your Urban Photography for £2.99!

CITYSCAPES!

Let’s face it – landscape photography is not for me! Successful landscapes seem to involve lots of early mornings, long arduous climbs to the top of mountains, hours of patient waiting for the sun to be at exactly the right point in the sky, or for the tide to turn… All much too energetic!

But I do find cityscapes to be intriguing, – I like the Belfast skyline when I’m passing through the city, and wandering the streets with a camera, making images of historical buildings, churches, dereliction, narrow entries and architecture can be really worthwhile and fulfilling.

Continue reading Improve Your Urban Photography for £2.99!

Commercial and Family Photographer