Alamy has about 155 million images available for licensing and say they have the world’s most diverse stock photo collection. In early December they announced that in January they would announce they were increasing their commission from 50% to 60%. An increase of 20%. The Alamy forum erupted in a tirade of condemnation. Feelings ran …
Category Archives: Life
Storm Diana
We’re lucky in Northern Ireland when it comes to the weather. It‘s mild. It rarely gets too warm in summer and in winter rarely drops much below freezing. When storms get to us they’re usually winding down or just brush us as they pass by. The latest storm to pass by is Diana. It’s giving …
Bank of the Four Johns
The Bank Buildings, Castle Street, Belfast was built in 1785 and was originally known as the Bank of the Four Johns because the four founders shared that Christian name. The bank collapsed around the early 1800’s and became the residence of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Connor. Interestingly or gruesomely, depending on …
The morning after
Every year, in September, we have a Culture Night in Belfast and this year was the 10th anniversary. The night now attracts over 100,000 people to the various events both in the street and in bars and restaurants. These range from mural painting and street entertainers, that tend to just pop up, to more formal …
Pottinger’s Entry
An entry is what people from Belfast call an alley. “The Belfast Entries” or simply “The Entries” are the alleys that mostly run from Ann Street through to High Street, Belfast. They have been described as, “The close knit passageways where Belfast was born and bred.” They date from a time when the geography of …
Pride before a Fail
I try to get to Belfast Pride most years and send the pictures to Alamy Live News. I don’t think I’ve ever sold any as news but the occasional one has sold after it moved from News to the main collection. The first Belfast Pride Parade was, unbelievably, in 1991. The years really do pass …
Interesting?
McHugh’s in Queen’s Square is believed to be the oldest surviving building in Belfast, dating from around 1711. It’s a popular bar and restaurant especially when there’s an event in Custom House Square. I’ve taken many photographs of McHugh’s over the years but always found it difficult as the front of the building seems to …
Hop On, Hop Off
Last week I was in Scotland and spent a day in Edinburgh. It’s a beautiful city with plenty of sights, friendly people and things to do.There’s even a Tesla showroom! Walking on Princes Street I photographed one of the City Sightseeing Tour buses with Jenners Department Store in the background. I would’ve liked to have …