PHOTO OF THE SEASON : 2011-2012

After enjoying a month by month review of the past season, feel free to vote for your favourite photos from the following selected photos.

Corner

This photo was taken at the Hearts v Spurs UEFA Cup tie. I like it purely for the composition as Hearts fans look on helplessly as their team tries to restore some pride. They were 5-0 down when the corner was taken.

Statue

Again, the composition just makes this photo for me. Taken outside Old Trafford prior to a game against Sunderland on 5th November 2011

High Feet

Taken during a friendly between Derriaghy CC and Linfield in July. Again, the framing and composition just work for me.

Gaffers

Another one taken from Derriaghy CC v Linfield, I like this one showing Derriaghy’s management team watching the game, trying to see if there is anything they can spot which can help their team.

Lazy Summer Day

I used the pinhole effect in my camera for this shot, taken during a hastily arranged pre-season game between Linfield and Carrick Rangers.

I like the way it just captures watching football on a summer’s day. Even the Carrick Rangers subs appear to be relaxing while watching the game.

Linesman

Carrick Rangers again, this time a lot colder and darker, and more competitive, in a league match at their temporary home of Seaview.

I like this shot for the composition of the linesman, and the way the light reflects off Crusaders plastic pitch.

Boxing Day

This photo, taken on Boxing Day unsurprisingly, shows the crowd with their eyes fixed on Linfield taking a corner (taken, I think, by Rory Patterson) during a match against Glentoran.

Windsor Park

Taken prior to a match against Dungannon Swifts in January, I like this for the composition and the way the supporter’s shadows reflect.

Flag

Taken in Rotterdam while I was in Holland in February, Excelsior Rotterdam fans wave flags and release streamers as their side enters the field for a match against VVV Venlo

Cameraman

A TV cameraman captures the action during the Eredivise clash between Excelsior Rotterdam and VVV Venlo

Sunset

Photo outside Old Trafford prior to a UEFA Cup tie against Ajax on 23.2.2012

Old Trafford

Portrait shot of Old Trafford after the UEFA Cup tie against Ajax on 23.2.2012

City End

Linfield fans at The Oval, taken during a match against Newry City on 14.4.2012

Watson

Albert Watson, surrounded by supporters, is interviewed for TV after Linfield lift the Irish League title

Of ones not taken by me, there are two which stand out.

This one, credited to Getty Images, shows Kenny Dalglsh’s celebration just after Andy Carroll puts Liverpool 2-1 up in the FA Cup Semi-Final against Everton.

The composition and framing, capturing the emotion whcih makes it a fantastic photo.

I’m no lover of Liverpool FC, but credit where it’s due, that’s a fantastic photo.

The second photo, is of Ross Glendinning trying to save a shot during a friendly between Linfield and Rangers in May. It was credited to Pacemaker Press.

Like the Dalglish one, is the emotion and the framing which makes it, as Glendinning strains to try and stop the ball going into the back of the net.

For the record, the ball ended up in the back of the net.

I am aware that my natural footballing loyalties shouldn’t have me complimenting a photo of a Liverpool goal or a goal against Linfield, but, you’ve just to to appreciate good photography.

GRAFFITI ROUND-UP

Been out over the past week, and spotted some new graffiti in Belfast, mostly in the Cathedral Quarter, in the wee alleyway beside Premier Inn and in Garfield Street.

Some fantastic pieces of work. The ones that are titled ‘KVLR’ are done by Kev Largey, who has been covered before by this blog.

Enjoy.

Photo Album

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : MAY

Only two games this month, both at Windsor Park, and both finishing 4-1, and both rather grand occasions, the Irish Cup Final and Harry Gregg Testimonial.

Managed to get some not bad photos from both games.

So that, is another season gone.

But don’t worry, the 2012-2013 season is only days away when I go to my first game of the season, Holland v Northern Ireland.

Linfield v Crusaders

Linfield v Crusaders Photo Album

Manchester United v Irish League XI

Manchester United v Irish League XI Photo Album

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : APRIL

Onto April now, the time of year when trophies are decided and handed out.

My first game of the month was the day Linfield won he league against Portadown.

Not a great collection of photos, but I managed to have a more productive afternoon the following week.

That was at The Oval, for the Irish Cup Semi-Final against Newry City. A routine 7-0 win, but the weather was nice and I managed to get some good shots of the game and surrounding environs.

Inbetween that, fixture fulfilling games against Cliftonville and Coleraine saw me get some ok photos, nothing special.

So, the last game of the month, and last game of the season, against Glentoran, and it was all a big letdown.

The result (0-2) was bad enough, but the trophy presentation was ruined by one game a season supporters invading the pitch. Didn’t get the photos I wanted, but I did manage to get some.

Enjoy

Linfield v Portadown

Linfield v Portadown Photo Album

Linfield v Cliftonville

Linfield v Newry City

Linfield v Glentoran

Linfield v Glentoran Photo Album

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : MARCH

Two matches at Windsor Park and a game at Ballyskeagh, two grounds not so friendly for amateur photography.

I did try though.

Linfield v Carrick Rangers

Linfield v Donegal Celtic

Lisburn Distillery v Linfield

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 25.5.2012

1. Alex Clare – Too Close
2. Gotye – Eyes Wide Open
3. Ben Howard – Only Love
4. Little Boots – Headphones
5. General Fiasco – Rebel Get By

It’s Eurovision!!!! Oh yes, it’s that time of year. When Englebert Humperdink was announced, I did a Eurovision Top Five. It would be rude to let this weekend pass without a chart, so here’s the Top Five from last year.

FIVE EUROVISION 2011 SONGS

1. A Friend In London – New Tomorrow
2. Anna Rossinelli – In Love For A While
3. Jedward – Lipstick
4. Getter Jaani – Rockefeller Street
5. Lucia Perez – Que Mi Quiten Lo Bialao

This week saw the unveiling of the trailer for the new James Bond movie. So, in honour of this, here’s a Top Five of Bond themes.

FIVE BOND THEMES

1. Carly Simon – Nobody Does It Better
2. Duran Duran – View To A Kill
3. Louis Armstrong – We Have All The Time In The World
4. Alicia Keys and Jack White – Another Way To Die
5. Chris Cornell – You Know My Name

It’s Paul Weller’s birthday today. I only know this because I saw it on Twitter. So, in honour of this, here’s a Top Five of Paul Weller solo songs.

FIVE PAUL WELLER SONGS

1. Changing Man
2. Mermaids
3. Sunflower
4. Instant Karma
5. From The Floorboards Up

This Monday sees Noel Gallagher’s birthday, so here’s the Top Five from his solo album, which I can’t urge you enough to buy.

PS : As a side note, i’ve applied for tickets to see him at Itunes Festival. Hopefully, if I do win, I get enough notice to get flights arranged, unlike when I won Manics tickets last year.

FIVE NOEL GALLAGHER SONGS

1. AKA ……. What A Life
2. I Wanna Live In A Dream
3. Everybody’s On The Run
4. AKA …… Broken Arrow
5. Stop The Clocks

Well, this week saw us have our one week of Summer and Sunshine. So, in honour of this, here’s five sun and five summer songs, to cheer you up when it starts pissing rain next week.

FIVE SUN SONGS

1. Crowded House – Distant Sun
2. Zoe – Sunshine On A Rainy Day
3. The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun
4. Elliott Minor – Solaris
5. Jamiroquai – Seven Days In Sunny June

FIVE SUMMER SONGS

1. Don Henley – Boys Of Summer
2. Bananarama – Cruel Summer
3. Lovin Spoonful – Summer In The City
4. Lostprophets – Last Summer
5. Squeeze – This Summer

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : FEBRUARY

Busy month this month, with an international theme. To give you an idea, I saw Ajax play as many times as I saw Linfield play.

The first weekend of the month saw me visit Amsterdam for a weekend. While I was there, Ajax were at home, so I booked tickets to see them play.

That match was on the Sunday, so on the Saturday, I went to Rotterdam for the day.

Local side Excelsior were at home, so I went to see them play VVV Venlo in an Eredivise game.

Absolutely loved it. It was a small ground, but the atmosphere was fantastic and I got some nice photos. Excelsior won the game 3-1.

While in Rotterdam, I managed to get some exterior photos of De Kuip, home of Feyenoord.

The following day, I saw Ajax take on Utrecht in the Amsterdam Arena. Fantastic stadium. The game wasn’t as good as the game in Rotterdam, but still enjoyable. Except maybe, if you support Ajax, as the hosts lost 2-0.

My next trip, was to Portadown to see Linfield get a 1-1 draw.

From there, it was on to Old Trafford to see United take on Ajax. On my 42nd visit to Old Trafford, i’d seen United lose (I’d peviously seen defeats at Ewood Park and Windsor Park) for the first time, and it wasn’t nice. Managed to get some not bad photos.

Just 41 hours after leaving Old Trafford, I was heading to Solitude to see Linfield get a 3-1 win over Cliftonville. Usual arrangements at Solitude. Not the best for getting photos, so I had to make do with what I had.

On the last day of the month, a bonus extra day with it being a leap year, I headed to Windsor Park to see Northern Ireland take on Norway.

A busy month indeed. Enjoy.

De Kuip

De Kuip Photo Album

Excelsior Rotterdam v VVV Venlo

Excelsior Rotterdam v VVV Venlo Photo Album

Ajax Amsterdam v Utrecht

Ajax Amsterdam v Utrecht Photo Album

Portadown v Linfield

Manchester United v Ajax Amsterdam

Manchester United v Ajax Amsterdam Photo Album

Cliftonville v Linfield

Northern Ireland v Norway

Northern Ireland v Norway Photo Album

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : DECEMBER

Managed to get some nice photos from trips to Seaview and The Oval and a couple of home matches at Windsor Park.

Was always going to be hard given the lack of daylight at shooting conditions at this time of year.

My favourites were the ones I took at The Oval (never a photographer friendly ground) on Boxing Day. Shame about the result.

Enjoy

Crusaders v Linfield

Linfield v Glenavon