first shoot "out"

Last Saturday, I welcomed the even colder weather by going on my first ever field trip for the photography class I was taking.  I got my times all mixed up, and I arrived an hour later.  I thought, great, now I have to make up for it by taking less photos with better quality.  Having gone through the shots, I don't think I did so well.  I do have one or two that I liked, but overall, needs improvement.

Anyhow, sharing photos of the place, Balbriggan Harbour.  It was a nice venue for the shoot, I think.  It wasn't an enormous space that you'd not know where to start, but it had plenty of details of lots of subjects to shoot from.  Here are two that would give an idea of the setting:

Also, as it was a real working harbour, there were fishermen about.  Two of them actually wanted me to take their photos as they thought I was a tourist who was there to sightsee (close but not quite).  One of them kept saying "We're Irish fishermen!" before I took their photo.  Afterwards, the other one told me..."Have you ever asked yourself, what would you say to cheese when you're taking their photo?"  Errrmm...no, I haven't.

two years in Dublin!

A (half) pint of Guinness with the usual suspects on a Monday night to commemorate two years of living in Dublin. After holidays alone, an engagement, a funeral, two weddings, weight gain-loss-gain and several long haul flights, it was fitting to just sit, drink and look back.

Halloween 2010

Growing up, I was never exposed to the idea of dressing up as ghouls and goblins for Halloween.  In fact, I don't even remember when I actually learned and used the word "Halloween".  It was always just "All Saints Day" i.e.  school holiday.

After three nieces and two nephews, I've come to accept that my homeland has taken on this Western tradition as well.  I will admit though, it's not something I can easily join due to my lack of skills in arts and crafts and my imagination takes a while to kick in.  The best thing I can do is take part in some other way.

Yesterday I headed out to the Point Village Market and bought these halloween-inspired cupcakes.  I was in need of something to serve with coffee and these seemed like a good idea.

The main reason why I was there though, was because I stumbled upon Jane Shortall's website promoting their Halloween Flashmob.  Dancers in scary costumes dancing to Michael Jackson's Thriller was their way of introducing a new schedule of dance classes in a nearby studio.  I didn't get a good spot as parents, kids, weekend shoppers were already waiting for the show when I got there, but I do have this photo:

 

So cupcakes and watching dancers were the extent of my Halloween celebration.  Sweets and camera in tow, I headed back home for some coffee, cupcakes and X Factor (guilty!).