Atlanta about to make a wish

I have disappeared off the blogging radar in recent times. This has been largely due to a combination of being very busy and a lack of inspiration when windows of opportunity do arise.

I took the neglected Nikon out yesterday for my niece Savannah’s Communion celebrations and some of those photos are below.

I have also included a few snaps I took on a couple of the other rare occasions I have briefly taken the camera out lately.

Hopefully, this post will kickstart more regular photo taking and posting.

Savannah puts her shoes back on to restore the full Communion outfit after a spin on the bouncy castle

One of the many colourful flowers in my mother’s garden

If you look closely into Savannah’s eye you’ll see the photographer

This tree at Johnstown Castle definitely has a story to tell

Laura’s smile. My leg

Strawberries

Laura and Savannah draw in the sand oblivious to the fact that Shauna has let a rock go behind them…

The Aftermath!

A pretty impressive rhododendron, as seen from across the lake at Johnstown Castle

A rhododendron casualty floating on the lake

Savannah and Shauna at the former’s Communion celebrations

Laura skims a stone at Cullenstown Beach

Atlanta navigates a rocky path across the water

Laura drying her hair

Rusty and I relaxing in the car boot before heading for a walk

Gianna

Savannah takes off

Neglected fountain at Johnstown Castle

Johnstown Castle

Atlanta makes her way…

To make her mark

]]> http://conorcullen.com/2013/05/19/a-few-snaps/feed/ 38 conorcullen Atlanta about to make a wish Savannah puts her shoes back on to restore the full Communion outfit after a spin on the bouncy castle One of the many colourful flowers in my mother's garden If you look closely into Savannah's eye you'll see the photographer This tree at Johnstown Castle definitely has a story to tell Laura's face. My leg. Strawberries Laura and Savannah draw in the sand as Shauna lets a rock go behind them... The Aftermath! Pretty impressive rhododendron across the lake at Johnstown Castle A rhododendron casaulty Savannah and Shauna Laura skimming a stone Atlanta starts on the rocky path across the water Laura drying her hair Laura Rusty and I relaxing in the car boot before heading to the beach Gianna Savannah takes off Fountain Johnstown Castle Atlanta makes her way... To make her mark DSC_0006 http://conorcullen.com/2013/04/08/skerries/ http://conorcullen.com/2013/04/08/skerries/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:37:51 +0000 Conor Cullen http://conorcullen.com/?p=3377 ]]>

We took a quick spin to Skerries yesterday afternoon as it’s where the owner of the ear pictured above will be spending her working week.

And what’s a reconnaissance mission without a few photos?

]]> http://conorcullen.com/2013/04/08/skerries/feed/ 41 conorcullen DSC_0195 DSC_0071 DSC_0006 DSC_0149 DSC_0028 DSC_0305 DSC_0099 DSC_0003 DSC_0013 DSC_0235 DSC_0200 DSC_0277 http://conorcullen.com/2013/03/30/a-good-good-friday/ http://conorcullen.com/2013/03/30/a-good-good-friday/#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:46:24 +0000 Conor Cullen http://conorcullen.com/?p=3337 ]]>

Flying a kite at Bull Island

So, with city centre cabin fever setting in, Laura and I travelled the very short distance to one of Dublin’s gems, Bull Island, yesterday, Good Friday.

It was very cold, as it has been lately, with a biting wind, but the sun was shining and the fresh, sea air was heaven-sent.

Afterwards, we stopped in across the road (almost literally) to the beautiful and somewhat underrated St Anne’s Park for a short while.

The photos aren’t great, but it was nice to get the camera back in my hands again, it has been all-too-rare lately.

But, we get an extra hour this weekend and – even though it doesn’t feel like it in this unseasonably cold weather – summer is coming.

I feel a photo-revival coming on!

The smokestacks seen from one of the bathing shelters on Bull Island

Bull Island’s Realt na Mara (Star of the Sea) statue

Laura at the end of the North Bull Wall

The Telegraph Car post on Bull Island…

… and a close up

One of the bathing shelters on Bull Island. There actually was a lady using this! She was suffering the icy waters in the hope it would help with a persistent running injury. However, while the “Gents” and “Ladies” shelters remain, the segregation doesn’t!

Laura, with Dollymount Strand in the background

Watch your step! Looking out into Dublin Bay from the top of the North Bull Wall

A dog chasing after a stone at Bull Island

St Anne’s Park

St Anne’s Park

Laura checking out the trees at St Anne’s Park

St Anne’s Park

Enjoying a walk at St Anne’s Park

Laura

And, we’re back in the city centre!

Plans for redevelopment? 

The first is really striking and, in my opinion, a really impressive and effective piece.

The second is, well, pure Dublin in many ways. The plaster fell off the brick wall in a particular way and someone saw an opportunity to bring a bit of character to it.

It makes me smile.

This narrow and short street was tucked in behind our apartment and, apart from a lot of graffiti, it contained a photo gallery. Above the gallery door sat a lady, with a bright red heart shining out from beneath her white breast.

It’s visible in the photo, if you click through to the big version and have a closer look.

So I haven’t been getting out much with the camera lately unless I manage to clear out of Dodge completely for a few days, as I have been very busy, especially in work.

One of the main reasons for this has been due to managing a project to redevelop Alcohol Action Ireland’s website and to develop a new website, DrinkHelp.ie, as well as establishing a social media presence for both sites.

It’s been a very interesting project and it it at all went “live” earlier today, which is great! The usual teething problems need to be sorted, but they will be. I hope people find the new sites useful and engaging.

As many of you kindly helped me out back at the planning stages by filling in a survey I put up here, I said I would let you see how it all turned out, but I am keeping this post brief as the sites should speak for themselves – if they don’t I’m in trouble!

Feedback, as ever, is welcome!  Oh and normal photographic programming will resume shortly!

Alcohol Action Ireland and its Facebook page

DrinkHelp and its Facebook page

Click on any of the images for the larger versions. I have uploaded fairly big files as I feel the details in some of the buildings and landscapes are worth it.

Prague is a beautiful city.

The Crucifix and Calvary, one of the 30 impressive statues on Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge at night

I had a lot of time to appreciate Petrin Hill as it took me a long time to get down it (with bones intact) in the most innapropriate footwear for icy Prague hills!

St Vitus Cathedral

Laura enjoying a snowy Saturday morning

View from inside the Astronomical Clock Tower

Looking back towards the Old Town and our apartment for the weekend

Tram passes between the entrance to Charles Bridge (reflected in the tram door) and the Old Town

The Astronomical Clock

Charles Bridge

“Take my photo”. A view through the bridge tower to the rather unfortunately (and unfairly!) named Malá Strana, or “Lesser Town”

A night time view towards Petrin Observation Tower (a small version of the Eiffel Tower) from Prague Castle

Laura looking…

And laughing.

On the bank of the river Vltava

A view from Petrin Observation Tower

The Statue of Harmony (Sri Chinmoy). “If you can create harmony in your life this harmony will enter into vast world”

Smoke billows on the west bank of the river Vltava

Prague has some pretty great doors

Over the door decorations are common too

View towards a water mill from Charles Bridge

Looking out from the Dailborka Tower at Prague Castle

St Wenceslas

St Vitus Cathedral

The first Czech president, Vaclav Havel

Faces on their way to Charles Bridge

Old Town Square

View down the steps up to Prague Castle

St Vitus Cathedral

Snow melting on the base of a lamp post on Charles Bridge

A fountain, dating from 1560

Old Town

The Dancing House: Photo by Laura

David Černý sculpture outside the Kampa museum, which houses the permanent collection of work by the abstract artist František Kupka

Memorial to the Victims of Communism

Just another Prague building!

And another…

Okay, last one!

Another shot of my favourite statue on Charles Bridge, The Crucifix and Calvary, this time at night

Looking down from Petrin Observation Tower

Old Town

Laura jumping on Petrin Hill

The Vltava flowing under Charles Bridge