2013 IN PICTURES – DECEMBER (SO FAR)

December began for me chasing angels …….. graffiti on shutter of angels in East and North Belfast that is.

The first Saturday of the month saw me head for Coleraine to see Linfield take on Coleraine. It was my first visit in two years, and was enjoyable despite the rain, mainly because Linfield won 3-2 with a late goal.

The following week, Ballinamallard visited Windsor Park.

That is what i’ve been up to in December, concluding a photographic look back at 2013.

Here’s to more phototaking in 2014.

Angel

Shutter Angels

Coleraine v Linfield

Linfield v Ballinamallard United

2013 IN PICTURES – NOVEMBER

November wasn’t planned to be a busy month, but it resulted in me seeing Stereophonics in concert, Batman in West Belfast, and a couple of football matches.

The first football match I was at, Linfield v Ards, didn’t result in any good photos. My second match, Linfield v Warrenpoint Town, saw me get some ok photos.

The following day, based on a tip-off from another website, I headed to Springfield Road, to get some photos of a mural dedicated to comic book superheroes such as Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Random, but well worth checking out. It’s at the entrance of the Sliabh Dubh estate.

No rest for the wicked, the following night, I was at The Odyssey to see Stereophonics, my second time seeing them this year, having seen them at Waterfront Hall in March.

That weekend, I was at Stangmore Park to see Linfield take on Dungannon Swifts. One of my favourite grounds to visit, I got some ok shots as Linfield lost 1-0.

The rest of my photo adventures for the month were confined to football matches, Linfield’s games over the following Saturdays against Glenavon and Cliftonville.

Linfield v Warrenpoint Town

Springfield Superheroes

Springfield Superheroes Photo Album

Stereophonics Live At The Odyssey

Stereophonics Live At The Odyssey Photo Album

Dungannon Swifts v Linfield

Linfield v Glenavon

Cliftonville v Linfield

2013 IN PICTURES – OCTOBER

October began for me with a trip to Mourneview Park, to see Linfield take on Glenavon, one of the early season pacesetters.

It was a good day all round …… Linfield won, other results saw them go top of the league, and it stayed dry and I got some nice photos.

Enthused by that performance, I headed to The Oval three days later for a League Cup tie …….. and my enthusiasm was soon gone.

An awful game, an awful performance by Linfield, the only positive was that they won the tie on penalties.

Later that week, I went to my usual Ulster European game, against Leicester Tigers, getting a chance to see the redeveloped, but not yet finished, Ravenhill. It’s very impressive. Looking forward to visiting when it’s completely done.

The next day, I went to see Linfield have a routine win over Dungannon Swifts.

Meanwhile, the day after that, I was out and about in Belfast getting photos of Street Art.

The following Saturday, I was at Windsor Park for the match between Linfield and Crusaders. It was a 0-0 draw. Not an awful 0-0 draw, but not a lot of photo opportunities.

My only concert of the month, saw me see Primal Scream at The Limelight.

Two days later, I headed to Ballymena for the first time since January 2012 to see Linfield win 4-1 in four seasons in 90 minutes.

My final photo adventure of the month, was to get some satirical anti Barack Obama stencils which had appeared in Belfast recently.

Glenavon v Linfield

Glentoran v Linfield

Ulster v Leicester Tigers

Ulster v Leicester Tigers Photo Album

Linfield v Dungannon Swifts

Anyfin Is Possible

Linfield v Crusaders

Primal Scream Live At The Limelight

Primal Scream Live At The Limelight Photo Album

Ballymena United v Linfield

I See You

2013 IN PICTURES – SEPTEMBER

The summer might have ended, but that wasn’t the end of my photo adventures.

My first weekend saw me having a football double bill, Northern Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier against Portugal, followed by Linfield’s trip to Ballyclare to take on Ards, my first ever trip to Dixon Park

The following weekend, was another first, my first trip to Old Trafford to see a David Moyes Manchester United game, against Crystal Palace.

The weekend after that, was Culture Night, then a trip to Ballinamallard to see Linfield, then back to Belfast in time for Manic Street Preachers.

The day after the Manics, I was headed to the Cathedral Quarter to see the new Street Art painted as part of Culture Night, now that the dust had settled.

In fact, there was so much Street Art, I missed some, and had to come back the following Saturday. Later that day, I went to see Linfield take on Coleraine.

To end the month, I headed to East Belfast to get some Street Art shots, the Newtownards Road also getting the same treatment as North Street on Culture Night

Northern Ireland v Portugal

Northern Ireland v Portugal Photo Album

Ards v Linfield

The Butcher

Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Manchester United v Crystal Palace Photo Album

Manchester

Culture Night Belfast 2013

Culture Night Belfast 2013 Photo Album

Ballinamallard United v Linfield

Manic Street Preachers Live At Ulster Hall

Manic Street Preachers Live At Ulster Hall Photo Album

North Street – A Culture Night Legacy

North Street – A Culture Night Legacy Photo Album

North Street – A Culture Night Legacy Part 2

Linfield v Coleraine

East Belfast Street Art

2013 IN PICTURES – AUGUST

August began with a trip to Dublin to see Blur (supported by Bat For Lashes and The Strypes), for the first time, and possibly the only time, which was why I was so desperate to go.

As the concert was a Thursday, I decided to make a weekend of it, having not stayed in Dublin since 2011. While I was there, I saw lots of Street Art photos (I didn’t go in search of them, but I stumbled upon some, so it would have been rude not to get photos.

Also, while I was in Dublin, I went to see St Patrick’s Athletic take on Drogheda United (my original choice of Bray Wanderers v Shelbourne was moved to a later date) which finished 0-0.

It was my second visit to Richmond Park, both of which have finished 0-0. There’s probably a Banning Order against me attending another match there.

Upon my return from Dublin, that wasn’t the end of the fun, as I went to see The Charlatans at Falls Park. Like Blur, this was my first time seeing them, and possibly my only chance to.

The following weekend, the new season started, and I was at Shamrock Park to see Linfield take on Portadown

My next football match, was the rearranged from March game between Northern Ireland and Russia, which Northern Ireland won 1-0.

That weekend, I was travelling again, this time to Edinburgh, for the festival, but I took in a football match, Hibs v Dundee United, and got some Street Art photos.

After returning from Edinburgh, it was all about Belsonic, my only concert of it being Suede. I was already excited about Suede (like Blur and The Charlatans, never seen them, might be my only chance) but James being added as a support (seen them twice, but never in Northern Ireland) was the icing on the cake.

To end an exciting month, I went to see Linfield play Glentoran. It finished 0-0.

Dublin Street Art

Dublin Street Art Photo Album

Blur Live At IMMA Dublin

Blur Live At IMMA Dublin Photo Album

Bat For Lashes Photo Album

The Strypes Photo Album

St Patrick’s Athletic v Drogheda United

St Patrick’s Athletic v Drogheda United Photo Album

The Charlatans Live At Falls Park

The Charlatans Live At Falls Park Photo Album

Echo Raptors Live At Falls Park Photo Album

Portadown v Linfield

Northern Ireland v Russia

Northern Ireland v Russia Photo Album

Hibernian v Dundee United

Hibernian v Dundee United Photo Album

Edinburgh Street Art

Edinburgh Street Art Photo Album

Runaway Go Live At Belsonic

Runaway Go Live At Belsonic Photo Album

James Live At Belsonic

James Live At Belsonic Photo Album

Suede Live At Belsonic

Suede Live At Belsonic Photo Album

Linfield v Glentoran

2013 IN PICTURES – JULY

Now into July, there was lots of warm days but not much photography.

No concerts, but I managed three football matches, two of Linfield’s European games and a friendly against Derriaghy CC.

The extra light in the evenings helped me with my football photography, so I made the most of it.

Got some Street Art around Belfast as well during the month, managing to get one of a snowman throwing a petrol bomb.

Linfield v Fuglafjordur

The Snow And The Sun

Linfield v Skoda Xanthi

Derriaghy CC v Linfield

2013 IN PICTURES – JUNE

There may have been no football, but June was still a busy month, with many photos.

At the start of the month, protest t-shirts began appearing on trees in Ormeau Park, and I saw Silhouette in concert at Stiff Kitten.

Meanwhile, I was out and about with my camera, and got some pics of Street Art and Graffiti near Lavery’s. There was even one in East Belfast declaring Eric Clapton’s divinity.

I also attended The Big IF, held at Botanic Gardens to coincide with the G8, where I got absolutely drenched watching Two Door Cinema Club do an Acoustic set. Not one of my more pleasurable photo adventures.

Meanwhile, on my travels, I saw Street Art in Lisburn urging people to love more, stencils of Norman Wisdom in Ballyclare, and attending Whitewash, a Street Art event in Portadown.

Belfast Randomness

Belfast Randomness Photo Album

Silhouette Live At Stiff Kitten Photo Album

Runaway Go Live At Stiff Kitten Photo Album

Eric Clapton and the G8

The Big IF

The Big IF Photo Album

Whitewash Portadown

Whitewash Portadown Photo Album

2013 IN PICTURES – MAY

May began at Ravenhill, for the match between Ulster and Cardiff. Ulster needed to win to secure a home Semi-Final in the Play-Offs, which they did. Unfortunately, they went on to lose the final.

Got a good shooting position and some good shots, especially of the renovation work at the ground.

Usually, the first Saturday in May involves me going to a football match, but this year was a bit different. I’m usually watching Linfield in an Irish Cup Final, but in an attempt to avoid this year’s Cup Final between Cliftonville and Glentoran, I headed to watch Bangor v Tobermore United in a Championship relegation decider.

Bangor kicked off in the relegation space, but won a tense and nervous game 1-0 with a late goal, to send Tobermore down instead.

Later in the month, I went out and about in Belfast in search of new Street Art, and found a mural dedicated to the movie Gremlins, as well as new pieces in East Belfast, and a mural of Belfast life on the grounds of Duke Of York.

Ulster v Cardiff

Ulster v Cardiff Photo Album

Bangor v Tobermore United

Bangor v Tobermore United Photo Album

Gremlins

Duke Of York

2013 IN PICTURES – APRIL

It’s fair to say that April was a busy month.

The first Saturday of the month, I went to two football matches in a day, both Irish Cup Semi-Finals. That night, I went to see Ellie Goulding at Waterfront Hall.

The following morning, I went to get some Street Art photos from the Lagan Towpath.

Three days later, I was in Glasgow to see Linfield in a friendly. I stayed for a few more days so I could see James at SECC, supported by Echo and the Bunnymen.

While I was in Glasgow, I managed to get some Street Art pictures, and attended the Scottish Cup Semi-Final between Falkirk and Hibs.

As you can imagine, I went camera happy during that trip.

Upon my return to Belfast, I was out getting photos of a mural of Bananaman in Great Victoria Street, as you do, before seeing Linfield finish off a miserable season with two home defeats.

Glentoran v Portadown

Glentoran v Portadown Photo Album

Cliftonville v Crusaders

Cliftonville v Crusaders Photo Album

Ellie Goulding Live At The Waterfront Hall

Ellie Goulding Live At Waterfront Hall Photo Album

Down By The Towpath

Glasgow Street Art

Glasgow Street Album Photo Album

Rangers v Linfield

Rangers v Linfield Photo Album

Falkirk v Hibernian

Falkirk v Hibernian Photo Album

Echo and the Bunnymen Live At SECC

Echo and the Bunnymen Live At SECC Photo Album

James Live At SECC

James Live At SECC Photo Album

Bananaman/Stay Puft

Linfield v Ballinamallard United

Linfield v Crusaders

2013 IN PICTURES – MARCH

March began for me with a trip to Dublin to see Linfield take on Shamrock Rovers in a Setanta Cup game. Unfortunately, I missed the first couple of minutes of the game, as I would have loved to have got the stadium in advance of kick-off to get some shots, and get a good shooting position.

The less said about the match, the better.

Three days later, I was at the Waterfront Hall (amazingly, it has been open since 1997, and this was my first concert attended at it) to see Stereophonics in concert.

Got a good shooting position and some good shots. An excellent concert as well.

That weekend, I went out and got some Street Art photos in Ormeau Park.

The following weekend, I was in Manchester to see United take on Reading. I didn’t know it then, but it would be the last time I would go to a United match managed by Sir Alex Ferguson.

On the Monday, I was at a freezing Seaview to see Linfield lose 3-0 to Crusaders. I should have just stayed in the house and watched it on TV.

The following Friday, I was hoping to go to Windsor Park to see Northern Ireland take on Russia. Unfortunately, it was postponed due to snow. In March.

I went out to try and get some snow photos. It wasn’t very photogenic snow. The photos of it weren’t particularly great.

The following Tuesday, I did get to see Northern Ireland play, against Israel, in a 2-0 defeat.

Shamrock Rovers v Linfield

Shamrock Rovers v Linfield Photo Album

Stereophonics Live At Waterfront Hall

Stereophonics Live At Waterfront Hall Photo Album

Anco

Manchester United v Reading

Manchester United v Reading Photo Album

Crusaders v Linfield

Snow

Snow Photo Album

Northern Ireland v Israel

Northern Ireland v Israel Photo Album

Niko