23
Feb
2010
Dispatches From Dublin
Wow, it’s been nearly a month since my last update! The main reason for this post is that I’ve completed the photos from Dublin, but I realize for anyone who doesn’t check Facebook, you may not know I ever got back! It was a mostly uneventful return. I did manage to leave my power adapter and a USB cord behind in the hostel. Some people leave their heart places, I appear to leave other bits behind… I actually remembered it on the train to the airport but did the math for what the train ticket cost me and realized I’d come out ahead just buying replacements rather than turning around. The airport in Paris was… an experience… I have experienced a good number of airports in multiple countries. From the cold and mechanical experience with security in Frankfurt to the cattle treatment at Atlanta Hartsfield, this was the first time I experienced someone who was personally hateful. I actually spoke back to him which I rarely do in these situations! I’ll save the details, but I was happy to be bound for the states! My last gift from France was a lingering cough that turned into an infection. This has not been a healthy winter for me. So much for lowering my stress and becoming healthier! But a good round of antibiotics and steroids and all better, which allowed me to begin working on my photos from Ireland in earnest!
Normally, I edit photos in chronological order. I very rarely deviate from that pattern, but I have this time. I think it helped me to attack the pile of photos by going at them in an order that doesn’t highlight how much is left to go. Thus, my first round of photos is from Dublin. Those who read the travel logs, know that I passed through Dublin multiple times in my trip, so the photos literally span the beginning, middle, and end of my time there. I will now be attacking other sections of the trip. I’m attaching a handful of photos to this post, but these are somewhat randomly selected. I rely on your collective feedback as well as my own second review to really cull the best of the lot any time I edit my photos.
Winter Skies
A view from Dublin’s Phoenix Park, one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe. The cross was erected in 1979 for a visit by Pope John Paul II. He conducted an outdoor mass here that was attended by more than a million people. The frost on the ground is just a taste of the winter that’s coming for my trip in Ireland!
The Distance - Glasnevin Cemetery
One of those predictable (from me) cemetery photos – Dublin’s Glasnevin cemetery in the snow – apparently snow is not common for Dublin, but I saw plenty of it. I’m just lucky like that!
Dublin's An Post
A view of Dublin’s main post office taken from O’Connell Street. It was the last of the grand Georgian buildings built in Dublin and still serves as the main branch post office in Dublin and the headquarters for the Irish postal service, An Post. The lady in red makes this photo for me.
Ridiculous River Liffey Panorama
While I certainly hope you will click through to see this and the other photos larger, this one demands it to fully appreciate. This is a panorama beyond reason, one of many photos I took along the River Liffey on this day (the light and skies were exceptional). It’s, if memory serves, six vertical images stitched together in photoshop. It’s probably around 160 degrees of view of the north bank of the river. The O’Connell street bridge to the right actually runs parallel to where I’m standing in reality. Despite the inherent distortions, or maybe because of them, I really love this shot.
Bright Lights, Big City - Dublin's Temple Bar
From my last night in Dublin is this fisheye photo of a pub in Temple Bar. Temple Bar is actually the name of a neighborhood, and not a specific pub, although I guess this one claims to be THE Temple Bar. I really liked the color, lights, symmetry, even the people waiting along the sidewalk outside. It’s my favorite of several shots I took that evening.
I certainly hope you’ll all check out the rest of the gallery and let me know what you like most amongst the lot of them!
4
Jan
2010
Dublin Dazed
I’ve been fighting a cold since getting back to Dublin. I blame one part winter cold to one part tour crud. That and a genuine need to do laundry was why I spent the day in yesterday. This morning I woke up feeling like I had turned a little corner, less stuffy and throat less rough. Still I got some cough syrup today to try to keep things easing off.
It’s a wonder I felt better this morning. Oh what a night. I’ve stayed in my share of hostels the last few years. Every so often you get some doozies. The first night there were 5 in the room (out of a max of 6). Two were a couple I barely laid eyes on who left the next morning. The others were a pair of French girls. I would ordinarily say women, but I am definitely describing their relative maturity here. I don’t know how long they had the room but they definitely had laid claim to every surface from bath room counter to desk. Even the radiator was covered with their drying clothes. I noticed it but other than taking note ignored it.
Last night though, there was another guy in the room. He must have come in late as I called it a night maybe 9pm (I know, how sad). In the middle of the night I was awakened by the sound of whistling, high pitched and shrill… It was then I noticed the low rumbling of someone snoring and someone else giggling uncontrallably. One of the French girls was trying to rouse the snorer. How obnoxious! She alternated for awhile between whistling and clapping abruptly. The snoring never changed cadence.
I’m not sure how long it continued, that battle of wills as I turned over and pulled the blankets over my head and drifted back off awhile.
Then an alarm went off, fire alarm I suppose. Before I could even focus, the French girls had the lights on and were very panicked looking. They had opened the door and were looking into the hall about the time I had found my glasses and was half heartedly putting on my shoes. The snorer was doing the same. And then the alarm went off. I pulled my shoes and glasses off and rolled back into bed. The French girls returned to their beds as well but the snorer went out the door. Last I saw of him. I don’t know if he returned later or went to complain or what but he was gone this morning
I have to admit that I rather relished making as much incidental noise as I could getting prepared this morning about 8am. They had left the room by the time I got out of the bathroom. And they are entirely gone now. I may well have the room to myself tonight but won’t get my hopes up. I’ll settle for not being awakened by whistling again!
Once up and moving, I had breakfast and left for O’Connel Street to find a bus. Leaving Dublin last week I saw Glasnevis Cemetery, massive and old. I had to find my way back. I found the supposed bus # last night on the web. Found the stop, hoped on and asked the driver and was given a totally different #. So, I walked to the main bus office which I had just passed and found a route map, yep he was right, the Internets were wrong! I hopped on the correct bus (140) and was confronted with the unwelcome wagon. Wow! I asked what the fare was to Glasnevin. The driver was curt from the start. He punched a few buttons and told me the fare. I fed my coins into the slot and waited. Nothing seemed to happen. I feared I miscounted. The coins under 50 euro cents still confuse me. I asked if I’d put in the correct fare and he pointed down to where a paper ticket had printed and asked “haven’t you ever ridden a bus before?!”. I stood with my mouth wide for a second and snapped back, “as a matter if fact, not here I haven’t, thanks…”
That’s been my only ugly local moment but I thought of a world of things I’d have liked to have said, but I think I said enough without having an ugly toourist moment.
The ride was uneventful. I spotted the cemetery in tine and hit the button to signal a stop ahead and hopped off. Most of the snow in dowtown Dublin has turned to ice or dried, but the cemetery was very picturesque with 150 year old graves emerging from white fields! Perfect! I really enjoyed my wander there. The cemetery is still in use. In fact there was a funeral staring as I left but the bulk of it is Victorian and beautiful. There are tours at 2:30pm, but I was there too early to hang out for it. Perhaps shen I return once more to Dublin.
Afterward, I found my way back to Trinity College yet again. This was my chance to see the book of Kellls, elaborately illustrated chapters of the bible from circa 800ad. It was kind of pricey at 9 euro, but another group similarly laboring over the price commented “when will we get another chance?”. How very true! The exhibit was fascinating, filled with info on the process if illustrating, the history of the book as well as pages from the book itself and some similarly aged manuscripts. It’s not every day you get to see such. The tour also included a gander at the old library at Trinity. Never in my life could I imagine such. The volume and age of those books. Wow is all I can say.
After, a quick walk thru St Stephens Green and a long dawdle around some adjacent neighborhoods. I thought I was close to the National gallery and was sort of. I only saw it after I has stopped by a Tesco’s for food. So later for that. I then took the most scenic route possible getting back here. You could call it getting lost but I was always heading more or less in the right direction just not the best one
That may be it for the night. My feet are tired. I may see a movie or just sit here and read up on Galway, which j figure on going to next. I need to look at bus options as well as accomodation. I’m considering treating myself to a room of my own. The alone time sounds valuable after last night!
20
Dec
2009
Churchill & New York City
What a truly random combination of work, but it’s what I have to discuss right now!
As I prepare to prepare (yes, I’m that far behind) for my trip to Ireland, I’m doing my best to finish editing my NYC photos. It’s a fair bet, however, that while I may post them in my gallery on my website, nothing new is going to make its way to my prints until I’m back.
I encourage you all to take a look at the NYC photos I’ve posted thus far and will likely add to in the next week (so check back).
Mark Tisdale – Sept 2009 in NYC Gallery
There’s already some photos in there of which I’m very proud. And as is often the fact, I look at them and ponder when I might make it back to explore more of what I saw. Not tomorrow by any stretch, but someday I expect.
Lady Liberty Lifts Her Light
Knowing my sometime predictable luck, it should be no surprise that the boat ride on my first day in New York was as close as I ever got to the famous Statue of Liberty. Bad weather the morning I intended on visiting left this my best view, but it was not bad at all. The statue is a true treasure, and my photos that day gave me an excuse to do something a little more artistic, creating this many layered image to resemble an old color postcard.
New York Rhythm
This is one image I was quite taken with. It does require a small amount of explanation, though. I am quite near sighted and have an astigmatism. I would not get far in the world without my glasses. I was on a night tour of the city and took my glasses off for a second and glanced down a side street. This is more or less what I saw. And I loved the view, the city boiled down to its chaotic best. Lights without form! It suddenly occurred to me that I could reproduce this for my camera by putting it out of focus. So, you can see the world as I saw it. I played with this off and on the rest of the evening, and may post more but this first try was my favorite.
And now that you’ve seen some New York City, I can jump to Winston Churchill, because the connection is obvious isn’t it? Maybe you don’t know that the iconic prime minister of the United Kingdom, in fact, had American ties? His mother was born in Rochester, New York, and was raised in Brooklyn and New York City. So yes, there is a connection between New York and the famous British Bulldog. However, truth be told, there’s a different reason I’m posting this one. A couple of days ago, I was contacted by a would be buyer who really liked my photo of the statue of Winston Churchill silhouetted in front of London’s Big Ben. However, she had a special request that I fulfilled.
She wanted me to include the Churchill quotation that I have always included with the description of this piece on the print itself. And I think it was an excellent request! I’m really happy with the result and wanted to share it. I think it definitely helps anchor and explain the image and it was almost as if I left that massive base just for this purpose. I wish I could have been that forward thinking! Anyway, here’s hoping she enjoys it when she receives it!
5
Dec
2009
Christmas SAVINGS!
Hope the holiday season is a joyous one for everyone!
As a tiny bit of catch up, for those that don’t know, I did sell my house last month! Happy day for me and a happy day for the new owners! Their dream to buy my house was my dream to move on and I wish them much happiness. In the interim, I’m hopping across the pond for a bit at the end of December. Yes, I’ve made plans for my 6th New Year celebration outside of the US. I will be leaving for Ireland the day after Christmas! Ringing in the New Year’s in Killarney on a 6 day organized backpacker tour. After that I’m staying in Ireland for a while longer, bit over three weeks all told. And then flying over to Paris for 5 nights before coming home for the rest of winter. If anyone has some Ireland suggestions for must-sees after the tour, let me know! I still need to research that part, although I want it to be leisurely travel, not rushed. I don’t have to see it all.
Anyway, on to the meat of the matter, wanted to let everyone know that I’ve lowered the mark-ups on my prints and cards that are sold through my website! The mark-up on everything has been lowered at least 12%! So, if there’s something you’ve had your eye on for yourself or for a gift for someone else, now’s a great chance! The mark-down remain in effect throughout December!
If you are buying for a Christmas gift, then you’ll need to know the deadlines for holiday shipping through Redbubble who fulfills my print orders. No coupon or code needed, the price you see has been marked down already!
Also as an FYI, here are the order by dates if you’re using this opportunity to buy a Christmas Present!
- United States
- T-Shirts: 17 December
- Prints & Cards: 13 December
- Calendars: 13 December
- United Kingdom
- T-Shirts: 13 December
- Prints & Cards: 13 December
- Calendars: 13 December
- Australia
- T-Shirts: 13 December
- Prints & Cards: 17 December
- Calendars: 17 December
- Europe and Canada
- T-Shirts: 11 December
- Prints & Cards: 11 December
- Calendars: 11 December
- Rest of World
- T-Shirts: 9 December
- Prints & Cards: 9 December
- Calendars: 9 December
Mark Tisdale Photography Prints
I’ve also reduced my margin on all the prints in my Zazzle Store by 10% – Zazzle is also having daily offers for things like bigger mark-downs and free shipping! So, there’s a good chance that with some savvy shopping you can take advantage of my reduced margins and Zazzle sale at once!
Mark Tisdale Photography On Zazzle
Any of the Zazzle daily deals you’ll see on the top of the page!
So there’s your chance to save!
I’ll close with a few popular images!
Ruins Of The Lost
What'll Ya Have? Framed Print
London Calling Framed Print
Unknown Horizons Framed Print
El Castillo Framed Print
Please feel free to pass this along to friends and family! Thanks and have a happy holiday!
28
Oct
2009
Harvest Haul
Ah, time for a bit of a catch up post!
First off, my book Egyptian Dreams, which you may recall is available through Blurb, is entered in a contest at Blurb. I would MUCH appreciate if you could take a few moments to go and vote for it if you have not already done so!
For those who have already voted, thank you so much! For those who haven’t yet, there’s less than 2 weeks, what are you waiting for!?
As long as I’m shamelessly self promoting, I felt like I should point out that there’s currently a special running at Zazzle, another online Print on Demand shop where I host some of my work. It runs through 10/31 and is appropriately 10.31% off any purchase. So, a great time to start or finish your Christmas shopping and save some money on the way. To take advantage of this special, enter the code TRICKORTREAT
at checkout. Here’s all the lovely tiny print for the offer.
* 10.31% of the net sale price will be deducted when the coupon code TRICKORTREAT is applied at checkout. For most products, the net sale price is the price of the product (excluding shipping and taxes). For Zazzle Custom Stamps, the net sale price is the difference between the price of the Zazzle Custom Stamps (excluding shipping and taxes) and the face value of the postage. Offer is valid from October 19, 2009 at 12:01am PT through October 31, 2009 at 11:59pm PT. This promotional offer may not combine with any other Zazzle promotional or discount offers.
A little less self-promotion but partially so is reminding everyone that this weekend is Montezuma’s annual Fall Festival, known as the Beaver Creek Festival. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather because I’m told that the 15th annual festival should be a good one! And I will have a booth there – that’s all my self promotion for one post! Here’s a quote from one of the organizers about what to expect this year.
There will be GREAT children’s games, yummy food, cool art, excellent musicians, and worthwhile prizes! Don’t forget the Duck Doodle: $300 would come in handy for Christmas Shopping!
Okay, now for a few photos! I completed editing and uploading photos from my brief stop in Savannah last month. I still have to work on the NYC photos, but at least some progress. Savannah was beautiful and I hope you’ll all enjoy some photos!
Savannah River Sunrise
From my first morning in Savannah, Sunrise on the River near Battery Hamilton. It was a bit subdued by the clouds but pretty nonetheless!
Tybee Light at Dawn
Tybee light was beautiful in the morning and I love the cottage that the lighthouse keeper lived in back in the day. It’s been restored inside. All in all a very well kept monument to the history of the area.
East River Street
I didn’t get a lot of photos of the town itself. Spent so much time out on the coast or on the bus that I never really explored like I’d like to, but this photo from East River Street gives you a bit of a feel.
Cathedral of St. John The Baptist
Savannah’s lovely cathedral – simply gorgeous – be sure to check out the gallery for some interior shots as well!
Moon River
The natural beauty near Savannah actually inspired several Panorama shots. It’s hard to pick just one to show here, but this is Moon River near dusk and the colors were very special!
Angels of Bonaventure
In case you’re unaware the statue on the front of the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, was photographed in Bonaventure. Not the oldest cemetery in Savannah but a lovely one! The statue from the book had to be moved to protect it but there’s still some incredible statuary there!
Sunset Sea
My last evening in Savannah was back out to Tybee Island where I enjoyed strolling the beach. It was a subdued sky with a lot of clouds, but the colors and light was still pretty perfect. The above is a long exposure shot. I’ll pick one more, but I hope you’ll go check them all out. It’s hard for me to pick out my own favorites never mind yours!
Tybee Blue
One of the last from that evening on Tybee, the sun had sunk down and twilight was almost a solid cast of blue from the sky to the reflecting water on the beach.
For more of Savannah, check out the Savannah gallery.
