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Handy on a skateboard

Two young men on skateboards, one filming the other with his phone.

On the Grand Parade, Cork, a few years ago, I was waiting around and saw a few guys on their skateboards. They were having fun. 🙂

The public toilet with the striking mural in the background was removed in the last year or so.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraDSC-RX100M4
Focal length25.7mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/500s

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Music on the street

Three people sitting against a wall. Two are playing instruments, the guitar and saxaphone and the other person is smiling and enjoying the music.
They have a box in front of them with a sign saying, "YOU ARE LOVED".

Three people sitting against a wall at one end of the Beurspassage in Amsterdam. They were really good, and it was nice to see people enjoying themselves playing music.


Apertureƒ/3.2
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/60s

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Stop Shell Hell in Mayo!

A woman stands behind a desk with the text, "Stop Shell Hell in Mayo!" printed on a covering on it. She is talking to a passer by, attempting to get a signature.
Other people walk behind.

Remember the Shell to Sea protests that wanted to stop Shell from bringing natural gas from the Corrib Gas Field ashore. They wanted Shell to refine the gas at sea.

According to the Wikipedia page for the group, Shell exited the project in 2018.

This photo is from April 15th, 2006.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/200s

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Gaza Protest in Amsterdam

A protest in Dam Square, Amsterdam, against the genocide in Gaza by Israel.
Protestors hold a sign saying, "STOP GENOCIDE IN GAZA" and two others shout into megaphones.
Two protestors, one beating a drum while the other waves the flag of Palestine.

A protest against the war in Gaza in Dam Square, Amsterdam. This was last month and late in the evening. It’s great to see it.


Apertureƒ/3.2
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO4000
Shutter speed1/60s

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You are included

A train painted in the colours of the Pride Flag with the text "EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE #YouAreIncluded" printed on it.

A young woman waits to cross the road.

A train passing by on a street in Amsterdam caught my eye. It’s painted in the rainbow colours of the Pride Flag, with EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE printed on it!

was the theme of the 2023 Pride Amsterdam, and it was nice to see the colours still there.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

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Wheels in Santa Monica

A mural called Wheels in Santa Monica, framed by trees and a parked van. The mural is in the shape of a wheel with circles at the end of each spoke.

Wheels is a mural made by artist, Anne Marie Karlsen from ceramic on 2nd Street in downtown Santa Monica, but I didn’t know that when I saw it. The vibrant colours and design caught my eye, framed by the trees and a parked van. More about it from here:

Anne Marie Karlsen created Wheels, an ambitious and vibrant ceramic tile mural that adorns the west-facing wall of Parking Structure 8 on 2nd Street in downtown Santa Monica. The artwork reveals different compositions depending on one’s vantage point and the wheel motif is loosely inspired by the structure of the recently retired Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier. Upon closer examination, viewers will discover that the abstracted shapes in the circular forms are in fact, photographic images the artist took of the Pacific Wheel in motion. The composition is meant to create the sort of whirling, topsy-turvy effect that one experiences on an amusement ride. The artwork acknowledges a part of Santa Monica history, while simultaneously becoming a bold new design for the future.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/500s

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The Green Hills of California

Far away hills and rolling slopes of green in California around Los Ángeles are a rare sight apparently, but they had lots of rain the previous weeks.
The sky is dotted with clouds.

Rain makes for a green landscape in the hills of Satwiwa Native American Indian Natural Area around Camarillo, California.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/125s

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Breaking barriers to the beach

On a beach, a wooden fence lies partly on the ground. Halfway through the photo are lots of food carts surrounded by people. A pier is visible on the left and a lifeguard tower on the right, under a blue sky lined with clouds.

A wooden fence lies forgotten in the sands of the beach in Santa Monica. Lifeguard Tower 15 stands in the background of this photo, just beyond all the food carts.


Apertureƒ/9
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/500s

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Directions to the Pier

A sign says "Pier West End" pointing forward.
Muscle Beach pointing left.
North Beach pointing right.
People cycling and walking on the beach in the background as well as Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica Pier is hard to miss, but if you didn’t know where Muscle Beach or North Beach were, here’s a sign to help you.


Apertureƒ/9
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length27mm
ISO320
Shutter speed1/500s

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The Santa Monica Roller Coaster

A section of a roller coaster with the car and people on it hurtling towards the camera. Some people have their arms raised. Others laughing, others grimly hanging on.

Some people love the roller coaster and raise their arms for that extra thrill, while others hold on with grim determination, hoping the ride will end soon. For others still, it’s just another ride on a vehicle they’re well-used to, their jaded expressions contrasting with the joy and terror of other riders.


Apertureƒ/7.1
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

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A lizard in the sun

A lizard lying on a sack under a bright, warm sun.

While out for a hike, we came across a few lizards, and one was lazy enough to lie still for a few seconds while I took some photos of him.


Apertureƒ/9
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length240mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/1000s

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Look up!

A man holding binoculars looks up at a building opposite him on a street.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it… is it… a building?

It was odd to see a man with binoculars on a street in Amsterdam looking up at the building opposite.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO800
Shutter speed1/500s