Category Archives: Belfast

Stepping Back in Time…

The Ballymacarrett Train Crash

Looking back to a 1945 tragedy, the Ballymacarrett rail crash. This mural is painted on the gable of ‘Claires’ in Dee Street, East Belfast. Photographed with the Nikon FM3a on Ilford HP5 film, ISO100.

Old Film, Old Chemicals, Old Man – and all in Working Order!

We have recently moved house. In our last home the water was full of impurities, and film developing was impossible. Negatives were destroyed with multiple little white flecks. Eventually I just gave up. 

On Saturday I thought, to while away an hour or two, I’d look through my old darkroom kit and see what was still usable. I found an unopened bottle of Fotospeed developer, (use by 11/2011). It was the colour of black ink, so it was disposed of. 

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HMS Caroline

A wee dander with Janette and young Jude, around the Titanic Quarter in Belfast on a beautiful afternoon, on Thursday 21st October. I also had with me the Fujifilm X-t4! Permanently moored in the dock there is the old HMS Caroline. This iconic ship has been docked here for 90 years now, used as the training centre for the RNVR.

HMS Caroline
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Stormont in Blue

On Tuesday 22nd June, 2021 our local seat of government, the classic Parliament Building of Stormont, Belfast, was illuminated in blue, to mark the centenary of the first sitting of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1921. I was commissioned to photograph the building, for publicity purposes, by Traditional Unionist Voice, one of the local political parties, whose initiative had led to this special commemoration event.

Stormont in Blue 1 – F=44mm, f/8 @ 5 secs on ISO1600
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S. D. Bell’s Tea

One of the simple pleasures of life on a dull December afternoon, with the bad news of another impending lockdown, and Christmas restrictions – a nice cup of S.D.Bell’s ‘Natural Leaf Tea,’ freshly brewed; golden brown and full of flavour.

One of my favourite local tastes!

Fujifilm X-T4, F=38mm, f/2.8, @ 1/250th sec on ISO250

S.D Bell’s are Ireland’s oldest independent tea merchant and coffee roaster. Established in Belfast in 1887, the firm continues to supply the finest teas and coffees from around the world. You can order on-line from them. Just click: https://sdbellsteacoffee.com