Sorting through my ever mounting collection of photographs I came across a folder called ‘Walks’. It was dated 2005 and became an exercise in stretching. Stretching my legs, my energy levels and stretching my eye behind the camera lense. At that stage a digital camera was still rather new to me and I enjoyed clicking away knowing that at the end of the day it was possible to hit delete if they were a total disaster.
This group of pictures were all taken in Crawfordsburn Country Park in Co Down. It was the month of March. I had decided that trees were to be my focus for the morning.
Taking the camera for a walk was a wonderful idea to get me moving. I would decide to go as far as a certain point in the distance before turning, yet when I reached it, there was always another carrot a little further on.
This last one is my favourite from that day.
Enjoy my walk!
UPDATE: I just realised the date - 2 years ago today I was pushed over a cliff never to return. 20th September 2006 was the day I started blogging.
In a public toilet with automatic doors that insist on opening and closing all the time.
In an elevator during a power cut
In an aircraft when the engines fail, and my wings are at home on the kitchen table!
On a sinking ship when I can’t swim.
Sitting in a chair along the wall of a Day room accompanied by fellow inmates, as the TV flickers and blares, only watched by empty chairs and the smell of yesterdays cabbage assaults my nostrils.
On Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September Northern Ireland threw open many doors as part of European Heritage Open Day. During this weekend, we were given the opportunity to explore venues and grounds across the Provence not normally open to the public.There were 121 places in Belfast, Antrim and Armagh to choose from.Prior to this weekend, I am ashamed to say, I had only visited 22 of those on the list.I was determined to change that situation.
The parish was fortunate to receive the gift of this pipe organ from St Brigid’s Church of Ireland, Parish of Mallusk, Co. Antrim.It had started life in a Roman Catholic Church in the South of Ireland and spent some time in a Presbyterian church before the move to Mallusk.Many hands were needed to assist in the task of moving the seven hundred and eighty pieces from St Brigid’s Church to the horse lorry, and again from there into Donegore Church.
Pedals polished by regular footwork.
A view from the pulpit.
In the south-west corner of the churchyard is the watch-house, or corpse house, built in 1832 to foil the attempts of the “resurrectionists” at body-snatching.You can see it at the beginning of this little video clip.
Donegore Church is a Grade A Listed Building by the Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch of the Depratment of the Enviroment (N.I.) and the corpse house is also a listed building. As such, restoration and repair must be carried out to the highest standards and in sympathy with the architecture and history of the building.
September 12, 2008 at 6:57 am
· Filed under Photography
What a difference a day makes few minutes make.
19.04 hrs
You saw this skyline by day with the men working on the camera. The last time I had a shot of the sun setting it was way off to the right of this photo.
19.06 hrs
I just kept clicking and picked the best.
19.08 hrs
They were all taken last night.
19.12 hrs
And then the phone rang…
19.23 hrs
The last one was taken with the phone in one hand and the camera in the other.
September 10, 2008 at 6:50 am
· Filed under Photography
Man woman cannot live by bread alone. This woman would become very bored if I had to. With this thought in my mind and a cupboard emptying faster than water in a colander I made a list on Monday and prepared to deal with the chore of shopping. Thankfully I have four large Supermarkets to the north, south, east and west of me all almost equidistant giving me the option of a choice of scenery for the journey.
Monday dawned bright and dry so I decided to go to Carrickfergus for the shopping, taking one way there and returning by another route.On my approach as the road dropped down towards Carrick, Belfast Lough glistened.“The shopping could wait another hour” I thought.I headed for the car park at the harbour and took the camera for a walk.
I noticed this boat looking folorn and neglected. It was a sorry sight. Even I was more upright after a night in the pub following CreativeCamp on Saturday. I moved a little closer to get a better angle.
A gentleman saw me clicking away and told me the boat was going for scrap on Tuesday. He said it was called the Walpaul and had been filmed many years ago as part of some programme for RTE Television. Now how true this fact was I have no idea. Perhaps some of you can tell me.
As I approached it Two men were busy draining oil from the boat. Perhaps this was the reason why it lay at such an angle.
I love this last shot of the peeling paint. It would make a great starting point for a Creative Needlework design.
Surrounded with water and boats my mind turned to ‘old salts’, when into view came Captain Birdseye and I couldn’t resist…
Meet Norman! With a gentle squeeze and a great big smile I headed off to do my shopping.
August 30, 2008 at 7:30 am
· Filed under Photography
Who said “A tree”?
I did know that much. But what type of tree is it? There are a whole row of them planted along the front of the IKEA store in Belfast. I never saw anything like them before.
At first glance you would think it was planted upside down with the roots skyward.
The East Antrim Pipe band Championships were held in the Playing Fields of the High School. Much organisation went into the day providing fun for all the family with stalls, face painting and bouncy castles Alas, the one thing they failed to organise was the weather.
The sun was shining as I left home, but I was well washed by the time I reached the field. There were of course distractions on the way…
