Categories
Photos

The Changing of the Guard

The changing of the guard. A guard approaches the camera. His dress uniform is a red cap with a long black silk tuft. His uniform is brown, and his shoes have a black tuft at the top. He has a grave expression on his face. Another guard stands in the background, facing away.

The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens always attracts a group of tourists, but the soldiers there take their job very seriously. They must stand guard, motionless, for an hour until relieved.

According to this page, the brown uniform these soldiers wear is only worn in Summer.

The uniform consists of:
• the farion – the Evzone’s fez, made from red baize and featuring a black silk tuft and the Greek coat of arms
• a white shirt with loose sleeves
• the fermeli – the handmade waistcoat with several delicate shapes sewn on it
• the fustanella – the Greek kilt, the making of which requires 30 meters of white cloth.
• four socks – two on each leg
• the anaspastos – the leather belt that holds the socks
• the tsarouchia – the red, traditional, leather shoes, with a black tuft in front. Each shoe weighs three kilos.
• blue and white fringes, representative of the Greek flag
• silk garters
• leather cartridge cases
All guards also carry a shotgun. It is the most difficult piece to carry, not only because of its weight but also because of the physical pressure that exerts on the soldier’s body.

This is the official version of the uniform that the Evzones wear only on Sundays and National holidays.
On other days, the white shirt, the fermeli and the fustanella are replaced by the doulamas, a special uniform that the soldiers of the Macedonian Struggle (1904-1908) used to wear. This uniform is blue in winter and brown in summer.

Greeka.com

Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length106mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/500s

Categories
Photos

Ghostly light trails in Amsterdam

A restaurant in Amsterdam sits on a corner of two streets that themselves border two canals. The light trails left by two bikes passing by are captured.

Light trails left by passing bikes along a canal side road in Amsterdam.

This photo is taken at the same location as the near miss photo I posted a few days ago.


Apertureƒ/14
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length21mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1.3s

Categories
Photos

Love at any age

A woman and a man walking home. She is carrying flowers and her handbag, while her partner carries the shopping on a street in Amsterdam.

She’s got the flowers, while he has the shopping, walking home from town. Amsterdam.

Live your life, love your life. It flies by so quickly, and can end so quickly, unexpectedly.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/800s

Categories
Photos

Temple of Poseidon, Sounion

The ruins of the Temple of Poseidon. A tree stands in the foreground, as well as some blocks with the prominent structure of columns and some horizontal pieces visible in the background.

The Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, south of Athens in Greece is an imposing structure, believed to have been built around 700BC.

It’s a tourist attraction now, attracting people from all over the world, as well as school trips for kids from all over the region.


Apertureƒ/11
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/160s

Categories
Photos

A face on the train

A train covered in graffiti with people visible through the windows.

On the busy M1 train in Athens, travellers are packed into the train at rush hour.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO6400
Shutter speed1/500s

Categories
Photos

Riding Through Lisbon Streets

A cyclist in professional gear rides a white Specialized road bike in a cityscape setting. The cyclist, wearing a helmet, white shorts, and a lavender and teal long-sleeve jersey, is passing by a row of parked cars, including a compact silver car. In the background, there are pastel-colored buildings with red-tiled roofs and multiple windows, along with some greenery and people walking on the sidewalk. The sky is overcast, giving the scene a slightly muted atmosphere.

A cyclist on the busy streets by the harbour in Lisbon, Portugal.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

Categories
Photos

Kennedy Quay Panorama

A wide view of Kennedy Quay, going on to Albert Quay in Cork. Buildings are reflected in the River Lee and a green ship is seen docked on the quay.

Kennedy Quay in Cork in February 2024 before the R&H Hall building was demolished. Look to the right, and you’ll see Albert Quay and the new buildings there. This whole area will look quite different in only a few years.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length32mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/25s

Categories
Photos

A trot after the race

A horse and jockey trot quickly after the race is over. The jockey is wearing black and whiteclothing.

After the race, the horses slowed down to a trot. Dawstown, this year.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length75mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Categories
Photos

Careful on a bike

A young man on a bike weaves through the pedestrian traffic behind a group of women walking in front of him, and just in front of me, the photographer.

Weaving in and out between people walking along a pedestrianised street in Malaga, this delivery guy made good pace, without upsetting many people, thankfully.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/500s

Categories
Photos

A near miss on the water

The light trails of two boats on a canal in Amsterdam show a near miss as they pass each other at night. The bridges they pass under are lit up under the arches while houses dominate overhead and trees line a nearby street.

I captured a near miss when I made this long exposure shot of a canal in Amsterdam. Two boats were heading towards each, and it was only by gunning the engines of the one that went under the bridge on the right that they missed each other. People on board must have watched nervously, but it all turned out OK in the end.

The photo was taken just about here on Google Maps at the junction of Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht. The first night I walked past, the lights had been turned off as we were out too late but the next night was worth the walk there.


Apertureƒ/14
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed20s

Categories
Photos

Sunset at Ventura Pier

Just after sunset looking out on the Pacific at the Ventura Beach Pier. Waves roll in in the foreground.

The waves roll in on the beach at Ventura Beach while the pier extends out into the sea. The pier was damaged in storms and closed in early 2023, but still made for a great subject at sunset.

I have so many photos of this pier from that night. I’ll be posting photos of it again over the next year or two.


Apertureƒ/11
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length41mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/6s

Categories
Photos

Galloping to the finish

Horses and jockeys race to the finish lineat the Dawstown Point to Point.

Horses and jockeys race to the finish line at the Dawstown Point to Point a few days ago.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length600mm
ISO500
Shutter speed1/500s