photography tip

Clancy Brothers music festival in Carrick on Suir

What a great time to visit Ireland! This weekend Carrick on Suir, Tipperary, hosts the 7th annual Clancy Brothers Music and Arts Festival! The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were an influential Irish folk group in the 60s; they are loved and honored in their hometown and recognized by folk song lovers throughout the world. There are a few pictures of the shop windows decorated for the occasion.

A harvest time for street photography, but for me as a jet lag casualty it is impossible to see everything. I just walked Main Street to listen to the street performing, or busking, competitions, and went to the Ormond castle for a Family Day fun. I find it very fascinating to watch the street performers. Closeness to the art happening in front of your eyes gives you a false feeling of belonging, but when you look in their inspired face you realise how far away they are now, unreachable, deep in their work, focused and beautiful.

Ormond Castle welcomes families to enjoy the medieval experience.

Some people enjoy it even more than the others 🙂

The Falconry exhibition was grand but this 7-weeks old baby owl girl stole the show. It is exactly what we call a cuteness overflow. I wish you could hear the gentle sounds she made and see her cuddling in my lap.

There are so much more music and creative arts events, I wish I could be everywhere… Song writing workshop and competition, concerts of local and visiting performers and choirs, pub live music sessions all over the town, a river walk, children drama workshop and theatrical performances, visual art exhibitions…

Now you can go to the first picture and tell me what is your idea about the Guinness pints on the table. As you see some of them are full, some not 🙂

I didn’t make it to the River festival, so I just share with you my favorite song.

Have a great day!

Flight drama film by Robert Zemeckis, and my own dramas

Right now I am recovering from jetlag.

I love traveling and don’t mind airports; the airplanes are not my favorites, but they haven’t done me any harm so far, and it is enough to ask for. I have got two close calls though.

In 1979 I visited a friend who used to work on a tiny island north of the Arctic Circle. On my way home, very tired, I fell asleep without buckling up my safety belt. I woke up from a sharp pain in my leg, and when I opened my eyes I saw the cockpit door upside down. The airplane was spinning! I was in the first row, and I heard people behind me scream, and it was so surreal – that door, the screams and me flapping around ( I didn’t realize my leg stuck somehow between the seats, which perhaps saved my life). I just remember the only thought that came into my mind : how high we are? I don’t know how long it all lasted, probably just a few seconds. The airplane straightened up and started to regain altitude. The crew members didn’t explain us anything about the incident, but when we landed in an hour the place was all lit by the fire trucks and ambulances flashing lights. Some passengers were injured.

Since then I read everything I find about the plane crashes and incidents in the air. That strange spinning of the aircraft during its nosediving has never left my mind. Perhaps I found my answers when watching the movie Flight by Robert Zemeckis. Great movie, by the way.

Another close call was an aborted take off. We were said that one of the doors was not locked properly. Well, to be precise, it was not even closed.

There are a few pictures from the airports. I love Chicago O’Hare for its artistic air.

Photography tip of the day: Posed photos are great; candid photos are stunning.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Holidays and Pictures

My holidays are over… These pictures will remind me about the fun time we had.

Photography tip of the day: enjoy your photography, remember that it is not a competition.

Have a great day!

The Living Planet Aquarium

Humans are fascinated with water and water creatures. Growing up on a lake in 1960-s is my favorite memory; it certainly influenced my choice of academic studies and my life in general.

Right now I am on holidays and we are doing a bit of traveling around. This Wednesday we went to the aquarium. They say there are 2,484 animals on display which I cannot exactly confirm, but there are lots of things to see, and the place is something that you will enjoy visiting.