This weekend I covered a First Communion Mass at the Christ of out Light Church in Ballincollig - mainly for the Cork Evening Echo in Cork a publication which has been present in the County of Cork for many years and distributed around the whole county.   I enjoy covering these events which for of course include Confirmations too.  Contact AJ Photography for more information .. 0876 234107

Pictured from it's harbour , in Cobh, County Cork, is St. Coleman's Cathedral one of Irelands tallest buildings and seat of the diocese of Cloyne,  This amazing piece of architecture looks over Cork Harbour, arguably one of the largest natural harbours in the World, in any case a great harbour and home to Ireland's only dedicated cruise terminal.  Cobh benefits greatly in tourism terms from its emigration and maritime legacy with its association with the RMS Titanic.  The Cathedral is a wonder of construction.  Building began  ni 1867 and was not completed and consecrated until 1915. The delay in construction was due to revisions of the original cost and plans, ( not unlike today's circumstances ).

A Cork Harbour pilot boat returns to Cobh after escorting another Cruise Liner out to sea. A Seagull shadows the vessel . Images © AJ Photography - Cork Photographer.

 It's been a while since I have visited the Costa Blanca region of Spain.  I tried really hard to leave behind my Camera and Lenses at home, but gradually found that I was feeding my camera bag with a Canon 5d Mk3 and several lenses.  For those interested, the above shot was taken with a 100-400L Canon lens at the longer end of its reach.  It's a bit of a beast, a white lens that shouts professional' and hardly inconspicuous. However  it was not at my side for many excursions out and around Calpe, on the Costa Blanca. Knowing that I was going to a region that had abundant wildlife nearby on Calpe's Penon de ifach, a rock very similar to the Rock of Gibraltar, but on a smaller scale, I had intended to take pictures of the Rock's bird population . The Rock was a few hundred metres from the apartment that I was staying in near the port of Calpe, a picturesque  location with sheltered beaches and coves ideal for those wanting to get away from it all' ' in the early summer sun.   However the bird photography did not materialise and the 100-400  Lens only made one appearance as a kind of regatta commenced on the Sunday in the waters between Calpe and the distant city of Benidorm.  I like this shot as a single sailing boat entered the scene with the hazy skyline of Benidorm in the background.  The boat was in fact a British  registered vessel as can be seen by the markings on the sail. The picture has depth with the Palm tree in the foreground and the backdrop of Benidorm. An idyllic scene showing the tranquility of the boat with the more hectic backdrop of a modern tourist destination, which has little to do with Spain naturally, but the juxtaposition works I think.... 

 The next image was taken whilst on a beautiful walk along the coastline beside the port of Calpe, as it meanders into the town itself.  I saw this mature gentleman walking along the rocky part of a beach in deep thought as he soaked up the sunshine of the day. I couldn't resist taking the shot with a 24-105mm zoom lens on the Canon 5Dmk3  .  It is the Journalistic  photographer part of me that brings my camera up to my eye to record a moment in time.    Again Benidorm is in the background from this more Gentile location some 9 miles or so from Benidorm as a crow would fly..  The coastal route to the city is a little longer and thankfully separates the Port of Calpe for those wishing a more tranquil location.  I cannot recommend enough this location for a holiday. Should you want to travel a short distance Benidorm and Alicante they are well within reach by bus of train.
      I am glad that I made the effort to take my camera with me to Spain on this trip. The shoulder back pac' was heavy and went as hand luggage, but to be honest was probably overweight for the 10Kg allowance.  Perhaps it is time for me to consider a smaller format for travel, like Sony's amazing A series of camera's the latest being the Sony A9.  It is a camera without a mirror pentaprism  and thus is not a SLR or DSLR format.. As a mirrorless camera format and without the additional weight of the prism its size defies the quality of images that it produces. Indeed more and more professional photographers, especially portrait and wedding photographers are using this format and doing so with great style.  However perhaps I am a dinosaur remaining with an outdated Camera system such as the Heavy full frame Digital Single Lens  Reflex camera that I use.  But this dinosaur is a happy one and for now will carry on snapping.... Thanks for reading and please subscribe and comment.  I hope to post some video's of my photography in a short while to augment this site.  Bye for now ! 

Part of my role as a photographer is to attend events around Cork and in General around the Island of Ireland for Local and National Press.  Today I had the pleasure of attending an award which takes place monthly at the River Lee Hotel, in Cork City - The Cork City Athlete of the Month Award . Pictured above is an amazing athlete Emma Coffey who received this months award after her achievements as a Pole Vaulter with her Club Carriage na bhFear AC. Pictured with her is her little sister Hannah, aged 5 who possibly took the limelight from Emma ! Undoubtedly Hanna was very proud of her older sister as she clung to the award .   © Copyright AJ photography Ireland.