Photography

Trilo, at the top of the stairs waiting to be given out to. Anyone would think I’m just a mean person at heart. It’s a traditional thing to take a photo of a pet, normally a cat immediately after the acquisition of a new bit of photography hardware. I didn’t have a cat handy, so I cornered the dog and took a couple. Fear not though, she did get a tasty doggy biscuit as reward.

I’ve been inspecting the results from the first wedding I shot with the 5D last weekend and I’m massively impressed. Took 840 and for the first time ever, I got over 50% keepers. Closer to 68% I’d say… So then I make a call to see how many photos I have to deliver, and that magic number turns out to be 60. D’oh. Time to do some editing…

Truly horrific! Pictured on Fountainstown beach, among the corpses of many other such cans that seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. One can only assume that they devoured each-other in a midnight orgy of cannibalism. Ok, I’ll get my coat…

It’s basic, it’s quick & dirty but I appreciate it. I came home from work tonight quite tired (I love unpaid overtime) and decided to do nothing but watch bad TV, drink the rest of the bottle of wine in the fridge and take the odd glance at the internet. Oh, and mess around with my newest baby, a 5D. Let’s just say I finally fully appreciate my cheapest lens, the 50mm f1.8 (or nifty fifty/plastic fantastic). I promised myself I’d buy one if nothing new was announced at PMA. Justified in that the amount of weddings I’ll be doing with it this year make it a worthwhile upgrade from the 20D. It’s not that I like spending money, I’ve just gotten used to it over the years…

Toward the end of yet another tour around West Cork, we ended up (in quite good time) back at Gougane Barra. I had the intention of trying to re-create a previous shot, albeit this time during the rapidly failing light. It was great to be down there again, all the better that there was nobody around. Allowed me to break out the tripod and take a few long exposure shots.

Later on this year, I intend on organising a meetup/photo-tour kind of event that’ll take in a few choice spots in West Cork. Keep watching this space for more details.

A board working it’s way loose on an old wooden fishing boat sitting on some very mushy seaweed in West Cork. Waiting to meet it’s maker? Either that or the future owner of the land it’s sitting on is in for a very large surprise.

No, not a 1980′s hip hop group, this time it’s rather scary looking condiment holders. Here they are, posing for a little challenge on boards.ie. I could swear that sometimes when I open the cupboard, the white one is giving me the evil eye.

The start of another year is upon us (well, a few days ago) and as has become the norm nowadays, it’s nominatin’ time again. Damien (again working tirelessly) is already formulating a plan for the 2008 blog awards. As a change of pace this year, instead of nominating my now pseudo-photoblog, I urge you to instead take a few minutes to browse the list of massively award worthy folks below and give them your vote instead.

• Caitriona.net
• Darren Greene Photography
• Claire / Gingerpixel
• Donncha / Inphotos
• John / North Atlantic Skyline
• Treasa / Dancing Shades / Kitelense
• and of course Donal

And an astounding photographer that deserves an award but would probably tell you to feck off if he was nominated for one…

• Danny / Porchfield

That’s just a quick browse through my most visited links. There are too many new photobloggers around now to keep up with, so instead I’m being a bit backward, enjoying my little darkened cave and sticking with the ones I know. Either way, any of the above deserve your nomination.

Me, well I hope this year will be filled with more commercial work but hopefully will still leave me with enough time to get out and capture more landscapes than I’ve been able to in the last couple of months. 2008 is also going to be the year I finally develop a workflow and so end up spending a hell of a lot less time on the computer and more time filling the memory cards. Having said that, I’m sure I’ll still be saying the same once 2009 comes around. Anyway, have a good one!