John M

A worn, barred window set into a rough wall reflects leafless trees and a cloudy sky. Behind the glass, a mirror, a spray bottle, and three Guinness bottles sit on a shelf.

On a walk today, I passed by an old shed hidden in the trees, by the side of the lake. Three old bottles of Guinness lay on the windowsill, along with a fallen statue of the Virgin Mary. Only in Ireland. #PhotoADay #MobilePhotography #Reflections #WindowsAndDoors #TracesOfLife

Quiet Morning, Uneasy World A morning gesture interrupted by the truth of elsewhere

Quiet Morning, Uneasy World
open.substack.com/pub/johnnyme...

365 Project: February A month of small stories, weather, and the photos people loved most

365 Project: February - 2 months down - only 10 more to go. :-) open.substack.com/pub/johnnyme...

365 Project: January One day, one photo, one moment at a time ...

Month 1 of my 365 project. open.substack.com/pub/johnnyme...

Well done Aoibheann. More of this in the news please.

A person walks alone along a winding brick path at night, lit by a row of warm streetlights. Bare tree branches hang overhead, and the surrounding park is dark except for the glow of the lamps. The scene feels quiet and reflective.

Day 2 was harder than I expected. I kept thinking every photo had to be brilliant. I usually take 5–30 photos a day, but calling it a “project” adds pressure. I’m trying to remember this is about documenting the year — the good, the boring, all of it. Here’s today’s step forward. #365photoproject

A whimsical vintage car with red-and-yellow striped wings soars above a lush valley, carrying four joyful passengers. Below, a fairytale castle nestles among forested hills. The car’s license plate reads “GEN 11.” The scene evokes adventure, magic, and childlike wonder, with the title “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” floating boldly above in stylized red and yellow lettering.

It's New Year's Day and I find myself watching, and actually enjoying Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on TV. Is this what the Xmas excess has driven me to?

A step-tracking app screen shows the user’s 2025 activity summary: an average of 13,711 steps per day and a total of 5,004,554 steps taken so far this year. A horizontal bar graph displays monthly step counts from January to December, with each bar marked by a checkmark indicating goal completion.

5 million steps taken this year. Thanks to all the music, podcasts, and audiobooks that walked with me. Here’s to a wonderful 2026 for me, and for anyone who happens to pass by this post.

#NewBeginnings2026
#HappyNewYear2026
#NYE2026
#fitbit
#Walking
#steps
#5MillionSteps
#YearInSteps
#WalkingLife

A modern glass-fronted building reflects the ornate facade of a historic structure across the street, creating a striking visual contrast between contemporary geometry and classical architecture. The word “Explore” is displayed in large white letters near the entrance. Pedestrians walk along the pavement, and a few cars pass by, grounding the scene in everyday urban life.

I took this photo a couple of years ago during a short visit to Liverpool. Look at it... How could you not take a photo? The old and the new.
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#Liverpool
#reflections
#PhotographersOfBlueSky

The The Cure

A cozy, holiday-themed bar interior with warm lighting and festive decorations. The foreground shows a bar counter with two drinks — a clear beverage with ice and a glass of red wine — beside a smartphone held by a seated person. Coins and a card rest nearby. Behind the counter, shelves display assorted liquor bottles, a small Christmas tree with red ornaments, and a retro-style radio mounted on the wall. A garland with lights and a red-and-white mitten ornament hangs above. A neon sign with the letters “ST” glows on the back wall, adding to the inviting, celebratory atmosphere.

Hmmmm, this is a little different to my usual Monday night. But, in my defence, it is Christmas.

My incoming package has been stuck in Dublin 24 postal depot since Dec 6 with no updates from @Postvox. It's possibly lost - this will be the second package lost by An post in the last 3 months. I understand it's a busy time, but ...!! Support is not forthcoming either.

It's an Xmas must watch.

A photo of my TV.

I'm watching Jaws. I don't care what anyone thinks - it's a great movie and only 50 years old!

Leaving the big gear behind ... ⏱️ Grab a coffee — it’s an 8‑minute read

Leaving the big gear behind. Bergamo, 2023. Narrow streets, shuttered windows & looking for a camera that didn't feel like a burden. I left the big gear behind & found joy in the small.

#TravelPhotography #MinimalGear #Italy #SubstackWriters #JohnnyMeePhotography open.substack.com/pub/johnnyme...

A cozy café interior with festive decor. In the foreground, a black takeaway coffee cup labeled “the CREEL” sits on a gray table beside a pair of black gloves, suggesting a winter visit. In the background, a person in a green jacket sits at a counter facing a window adorned with holiday greenery and string lights.

There are a few young people - late teens, sitting near me in the coffeeshop. I both envy and celebrate their youth, positivity and carefree attitude. I'm not wishing for my own youth back - I'm recalling those days with fondness.

In Castlebar today, it's 4°. It's cold. It is winter after all. I'm wearing 2 T-shirts, a hoodie & a jacket. Even have my fingerless gloves on. However the local Trump supporter is still sporting his red "I belong to Jesus" T-shirt & his MAGA cap. It must be all the hydroxychloroquine he's taking.

I'm watching & enjoying Hidden Assets on RTE1. But, like a lot of other stuff on TV, there's way, way too much background music in it. Some scenes are meant to be quieter - it helps to set the tone and mood and allows the viewer to be in that moment. It also makes the dialogue easier to hear.

Turns out a combination of not using That Other Site and the economic landscape at the moment in general does, in fact, makes fulfilling the whole "starving artist" stereotype a whole lot more achievable 😅

A screenshot of some songs on my Spotify

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac - my current guilty listening secret. #music #fleetwoodmac

A screenshot of Google translate

This just came up on my Google photos memories. It was that time I was on a train in Germany and I used Google translate to eavesdrop on the conversation the people in the seat opposite me were having.

Glass storefront with white paint strokes and handwritten message reading “Have a beautiful day :)” in casual script. Faint initials “J.M.” appear in the top right. Behind the glass, a street scene with sidewalk, reflections, and storefronts adds urban texture.

I left a message on the coffee shop window for whomever sees it today. Have a beautiful Monday. #monday

A person walks a dog along a paved coastal path bordered by a wooden fence and grassy terrain, under a vivid sunset sky streaked with orange, yellow, and blue. The path leads to a sandy beach with a rocky jetty extending into calm sea waters. Near the shoreline stands a distinctive blue and white turreted building, partially surrounded by water. The scene is tranquil and picturesque, with the dramatic sky casting warm light across the landscape.

On our way back from Sligo today, we stopped briefly at Enniscrone to look at the ocean. I took a picture with my phone. This moment, this moment has never existed before, and will never exist again. #photography #Ireland

#latelatetoyshow With all the shit going on in the world, this was a much needed shot of positivity.

#latelatetoyshow So, we have a small Indian boy doing Irish dancing on the show. This is awesome and beautiful. It shows how all our cultures can be shared, appreciated and still thrive.

Kudos to Pan Collins whose idea this was in the first place 50 years ago @rte.ie @rteone.rte.ie @latelateshow.rte.ie #LateLateToyShow

Illustrated thank-you card featuring a cartoon-style character wearing a Santa hat, smiling and waving. The card includes large stylized text reading “THANKS!” and a bilingual message in Irish and English thanking “John” for his support. A social media handle is included for tagging the artist.

Assorted illustrated prints and stickers arranged on a wooden surface. Includes a cartoon bird in a beret painting a blue creature, grayscale portraits of women with mystical or activist themes, and banners labeled “ARTIST.” Social media handles and a website are visible on some prints.

Close-up of a cardboard envelope sealed with brown tape and a gold foil sticker. The sticker is embossed with “Ciaraioch Art” and a website address, suggesting the package contains artwork from the artist.

Black-and-white illustration of a person sitting on a bench, holding a protest sign. The person wears a sweater, skirt, and knee-high boots. The sign reads: “VOTE PEOPLES DEMOCRACY / JOBS FOR ALL / HOUSES FOR ALL / VOTES FOR ALL / NOW.” The style evokes grassroots activism and social justice themes.

Really happy with this beautiful print that arrived this morning from @ciaraioch.bsky.social Oh, and the thoughtful extras tucked in there too. Thank you 💚
Let’s continue to support Irish artists, this year and every year. #SupportIrish #BuyIrish Can't wait to hang it on my wall.

Are NFTs even still a thing! :-)

@davidjboughton.bsky.social Thanks for the repost.

Two smiling young people stand outdoors in front of a concrete structure and white fabric backdrop. One wears a dark green top, the other a dark sweater with a brown strap. Both have curly hair. The setting feels casual and unfinished.

My sister & I, decades ago, standing on the cusp of everything. My hair was bigger, my skin was clearer. Our future were filled with hope & plans. Not knowing what we’d carry forward or leave behind. The world stretched before us, blank canvas, stories already forming, waiting for us to write them.