Capturing the world with Photography, Painting and Drawing

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Happy, St Patrick day.

ST Patrick

St Patricks day

For anyone who has been viewing my posts (Many thanks!) you will have noticed that I don’t have a big belief in the Christian story.

This is a personal choice and not one I have always been able to make, in my younger days I do remember being very taken by the stories I heard in church. This stage of my life lasted into my mid teens then slowly faded as I started to travel more .

But anyway, I really do wish everyone a happy St Patrick’s day.

I found this to be a very balanced and interesting article, make your own mind up!

St Patrick and the snakes of ireland

Air

Pagan beliefs Air

Fujifilm X100

The pagan elements :

Air

Air is one of the four classical elements, and is often invoked in Wiccan ritual. Air is the element of the East, connected to the soul and the breath of life. Air is associated with the colors yellow and white. Interestingly, in some cultures a triangle sitting on its base like this is considered masculine, and is connected to the element of Fire rather than Air.

In some traditions of Wicca, Air is represented not by the triangle, but by either a circle with a point in the center, or by a feather or leaf-like image. In other traditions, the triangle is used to mark the association of degrees or initiation rank — typically first degree, but not necessarily. In alchemy, this symbol is sometimes show with the horizontal line extending beyond the sides of the triangle.

In rituals, when the element of Air is called for, you can use this triangular symbol, or use a feather, incense, or a fan. Air is associated with communication, wisdom or the power of the mind. Do an outdoors working on a windy day, and allow the powers of air to aid you. Visualize air currents carrying away your troubles, blowing away strife, and carrying positive thoughts to those who are far away. Embrace the wind, and let its energy fill you and help you achieve your goals.

In many magical traditions, air is associated with various spirits and elemental beings. Entities known as sylphs are typically connected with the air and the wind – these winged creatures are often related to powers of wisdom and intuition. In some belief systems, angels and devas are associated with air. It should be noted that the term “deva” in New Age and metaphysical studies is not the same as the Buddhist class of beings known as devas.

Read more about the magic, mythology, and folklore of air and the wind: Air and Wind Folklore.

Air

The first element of the alchemical tradition.
Air is the essence of intuition and learning, the element of the nature of the mind.
Astrological Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Represented by: Feathers, Birds, incense, fans, flags, flowing garments and sheer material.
Season: Winter
Color: White
Chakra: Crown

Celtic gods and goddess:

Arianrhod

“The Silver Wheel”, “High Fruitful Mother”. Celtic (Welsh) Goddess, the sister of Gwydion and wife of Donn. Deity of element of Air, reincarnation, full moons, time, karma, retribution. The palace of this sky Goddess was Caer Arianrhold (Aurora Borealis). Keeper of the Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol of time and karma. Her ship, Oar Wheel, carried dead warriors to Emania (Moon-land).

Arianrhod

Arianrhod (Welsh pronunciation: [arˈjanr̥ɔd]) is a figure in Welsh mythology who plays her most important role in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. She is the daughter of Dôn and the sister of Gwydion and Gilfaethwy; the Welsh Triads give her father as Beli Mawr.[1] In the Mabinogi her uncle Math ap Mathonwy is the King of Gwynedd, and during the course of the story she gives birth to two sons, Dylan Ail Don and Lleu Llaw Gyffes, through magical means.

Autonomy

Autonomy

Independent Heart

Soft words you spoken
From the heart that is broken
I know deep inside
You have a level of independence
With a mystery of suspense
You are recovering
Waiting for someone
To catch on to the discovering
Of the real you
With a heart so true
Giving of your best
Expecting nothing less
While hurt is making amends
Leaning on loving friends
Accounted for in time you spend
With words you write
Not giving into a broken hearts flight
Staying strong
Carrying others like me along

by Jodie Moore

Created on: May 22, 2007

The Lighthouse keepers of Ireland

St Johns point lighthouse

The picture above is of St John point lighthouse, Co.Donegal.

Back in 2011 I started a project of capturing photos and information about the history and lives of the Lighthouse keepers of the Ireland.

I just want to share a small amount in this post.

Molly at St Johns

St johns point is a very haunting and beautiful part of the coast line of County,Donegal.

St Johns Point Donegal

“This is a harbour light to guide from Donegal Bay and to mark the north side of the bay leading to Killybegs Harbour from the entrance up to Rotten Island.

The tower, built of cut granite, was designed by the Board’s Inspector of Works and Inspector of Lighthouses, George Halpin, and erected by the Board’s workmen under Halpin’s supervision.

The tower, painted white, had a first order catoptric fixed light 98 feet above high water with a visibility in clear weather of 14 miles. The light was first exhibited on 4 November 1831 with the buildings in an uncompleted state. The final cost at the end of 1833 was £10,507.8.5.

The Lighthouse Keeper’s videos:

BallyCotton lighthouse

Ballycotton lighthouse

Hookhead Lighthouse

Landscape

This lighthouse project is ongoing and will most likely take sometime, I will keep updating..

Nigel

Killary Harbour

Killary Harbour

Nikon F90x, 50mm f1.4 lens on Kodak iso 100 film
Irish landscapes : Nigel borrington

Killary Harbour

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Satellite image of Killary Harbour

“Killary Harbour/An Caoláire Rua is a fjord located in the West of Ireland in the heart of Connemara which forms a natural border between counties Galway and Mayo. It is 16 kilometres long and in the centre over 45 metres deep. It is one of three glacial fjords that exist in Ireland, the others being Lough Swilly and Carlingford Lough.[1]

On its northern shore lies the mountain of Mweelrea, Connacht’s highest mountain, rising to 814 metres. To the south rise the Maumturk Mountains and the Twelve Bens. The area contains some of Ireland’s most awe-inspiring and dramatic scenery.

There are two minor settlements nearby. On the southern side near the mouth of the fjord lies the hamlet of Rossroe while Leenaun lies inland to the east. Close to Rosroe there is an old building which now houses a hostel. This building was formerly a modest house which was used by Ludwig Wittgenstein, the famous philosopher, as a quiet place to write shortly after World War II. A plaque acknowledging this was unveiled by President Mary Robinson in 1993.

Nearby lies the so-called Green Road, a rough road running along the side of the fjord back east towards Leenane at the head of the fjord. It stretches for approximately nine kilometres and was part of the famine relief program during the 19th century. Aquaculture is important locally with a salmon farm based at Rossroe while mussel rafts are a common sight more to the east.”

One of the most beautiful landscape in Ireland, visit if you can!

Tails from the river bank

I told you it was great in here…

Molly out 1

I know I left it here someplace, maybe right at the bottom – hang on

Molly out 2

Found it

Molly out 3

now for a good old run around

Molly out 5

followed by sunning my belly…

Molly out 7

So are you going to stop sitting in front of that Laptop after breakfast or what?

Can we go out please

Molly

I know your doing that blog thing again!!!!, but look the suns out and the river is going to be great this morning!

One for Monty and Anne…

Wicklow

Wicklow Landscapes on film.

wiklow hills

Shot of the Wicklow hills.

Nikon F90x, Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens and Kodak Ektachrome
Irish landscape images : Nigel Borrington

I just started looking at my older stock of slide images and found a set that I took way back when – in County Wicklow.

Some very good and interesting colours coming from these scans, maybe just maybe people have always been correct about film. The detail however is another issue, the film grain in these images removes a lot of detail that even my old Nikon D200 would record.

Look at the black and white contrast!

wiklow0004

Supermarket submission

Coolagh County kilkenny

I recently got asked to submit some images for a supermarket chain in County Kilkenny, they want to refit their stores. This is just one of the images I sent in.I don’t know if they will take the work but even if they don’t it’s made me a least think that someone may start to again.

Samuel Coulthurst

Samual Coulthurst

Samuel Coulthurst: Victorian Salford, Manchester(UK) – (1889 – 1890)

19th Century street photography

Back in 2002 I was back home in Manchester and visited the Lowry art museum and gallery at the Salford Quays, Manchester. This exhibition has stayed in my memory ever since so I thought I would share a post about the display of work I attended that day.

During a two year period (1889 and 1990), Samuel Coulthurst and his brother-in-law James Higson both members of the Lancashire and Cheshire photography union, dressed as what was known then as rag and bone men.

They carried their camera on the back of a cart they used and took many photographs of the people they met and got to know. Many of these photographs have been archived along with details of who these people were and what they did.

They were not simply doing a street walk about with a camera but spent time both living the lives and getting to know the people of Salford.

Many for the street children that the two photographed would have attended the Charter Street Ragged School, they had either lost parents to industrial accidents or to famine or disease. In the grounds of this church owned school is a grave yard that contains 6000 such parents. The city of Manchester has many such locations from this period.

It was in such conditions that these two photographers lived and worked taking pictures that made history. Without them most people would have forgotten in part at least, the kind of live’s that the 19th century people of Manchester lived including my Own Ancestors.

The exhibition is repeated by the Lowry Gallery so if you are in Manchester and into history/photography then maybe you could call in.

Gallery:

Samual Coulthurst 1

Flat Iron Market Salford. Manchester 1890.

Samual Coulthurst 2

Swan Street, Salford Manchester 1890.

Samual Coulthurst 3

Organ Grinder – Swan Street Salford, Manchester 1890.

Samual Coulthurst 4

Tom Shudehill, Poultry Market. Manchester 1890.