The tide was neither out nor in and I’m not sure which way the water moved. But the evidence of its daily movement, in and out is clearly evident.

It you were unaware of the aerial perspective you might imagine a leaf rotting in the mud or a fallen tree long after being felled. It’s the little ripples that give away the true story as they cut perpendicular to the ebb or flow.

I wonder what comes first? Is the bifurcation of paths on the rising tide as the water seeks the lowest path to high ground or the merging of rivulets finding their way back out to sea.

Tags:   abstract aerial beach bifurcation flats inchydoney ireland sand tidal tides

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This was my first whiskey sour in a Dublin bar and wow that ice cube had my attention from the moment my drink was served.

I don’t normally post images of my food and drink when out and about but this creation was so simple and so beautiful I had to make an exception.

Tags:   bars cocktails drinks ice ice-cube mixers whiskeysour

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While this image may have its technical flaws, I'm not that concerned as it is my first foray back into technical imaging after many years.

Recently, a club presentation on night photography, hyper-focal distance, and focus stacking sparked my curiosity. I set out to find a solution, whether hardware, software, or app, that could simplify the focus stacking process beyond manual refocusing and shooting.

The market offered plenty of options involving hardware solutions or USB-to-PC connections. However, I specifically wanted wireless control, which eliminated USB options. While many apps seemed promising, they required Bluetooth connectivity, which wasn't compatible with my WiFi-only camera.

After brainstorming with OpenAI's ChatGPT, it suggested RupiApps might have a solution that could communicate with my camera over WiFi. Though ChatGPT couldn't confirm if it would meet all my needs, I decided to give it a try.

Enter Camera Pro Control, and what a discovery it was! After installation and configuration, I found exactly what I'd been looking for. The app's interface made it effortless to set up the camera, define focal limits, specify the number of spanning frames, and sequence the capture. This particular image comprises 20 frames, starting from the engraved case-back and working down to the screws beneath the escapement.

And for those wondering what makes the Airman tick? At its heart beats a Selita SW330-1 movement.

Tags:   airman cameraprocontrol. focusstacking glycine macro mechanical rupiapps watches

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If you have ever grown carrots in your backyard garden, not pulled them from the ground but watched them flower and grow to seed you might noticed the resemblance.

This is not a carrot flower but a close relative, Ammi majus, the Bishop's Flower.

Well before Christianity and it’s current day namesake, this plant was used as a remedy for skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo (their modern names). My late mum suffered from vitiligo. Perhaps Bishop's Flower may have helped.

Once a symbol of light and healing, a useful medicinal herb and because of its effect on skin pigmentation when exposed to sunlight, Bishop’s Flower became associated with light, transformation, and divine intervention.

While it is admired for its beauty, its rich history in medicine and folklore are left quietly in the past.

Tags:   ammimajus bishopsflower botanical flowers herbal macro medicine nature

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For a technical, pixel-peeping photographer, (like someone I know), there’s a wonderful freedom in simply turning the focus ring until it just feels right.

I’d been carrying my camera unused for most of my walk. The light was fading, the last rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. What the heck, just take a photo, I told myself.

The golden light was beautiful, but through the viewfinder, the scene felt uninspiring. Then, for a brief moment, I lost focus, literally. The auto-focus hunted way off, and suddenly, something in that blurry image caught my eye. Wow, that’s interesting.

Inspired by this serendipity, I switched to manual focus. Slowly, I turned the focus ring, watching the image change, until it just felt right. Click.

This image was that moment.

Tags:   abstract blurry bokeh f/6.3 focus focusblur goldenhour sunset

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