URBAN PHOTOGRAPHS

Urban Expression And Depression By Infomatique

dublin castle

HEIF FORMAT

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A QUICK VISIT TO DUBLIN CASTLE – SHOT USING HEIF FORMAT

I normally shoot in RAW but I am currently experimenting with an Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and I used [by accident] HEIF and Lightroom Classic did not like the format and crashed a few times which has not happened for at least a year.

Sometimes colours [especially yellow] and skies can look a bit odd.

High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is a container format for individual images and image sequences. The standard covers multimedia files that can also include other media streams, such as timed text, audio and video. A HEIF image using High Efficiency Video Coding, HEVC, requires only about half the storage space as the equivalent quality JPEG.

HEIF also supports animation, and is capable of storing more information than an animated GIF or APNG at a small fraction of the size.

HEIF files are a special case of the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF, ISO/IEC 14496-12), first defined in 2001 as a shared part of MP4 and JPEG 2000. Introduced in 2015, it was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and is defined as Part 12 within the MPEG-H media suite (ISO/IEC 23008-12).

HEIF was adopted by Apple in 2017 with the introduction of iOS 11, and support on other platforms is growing

A QUICK VISIT TO DUBLIN CASTLE

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A QUICK VISIT TO DUBLIN CASTLE ON A VERY COLD AND FOGGY DAY IN DECEMBER 2020

Today was very cold and foggy … much too cold to carry a camera so I used my iPhone XR and the Halide App which allows me to capture RAW images. Based on the results using this combination I decided to purchase an iPhone 12 Pro Max because of the camera [I will not use it as a 5G phone].

Here is how Halide describe their App:
“Professional photographers know that shooting in RAW can enable better, more detailed photos. But the magic of RAW files is kept locked away to those that knew how to properly edit them. Halide’s Instant RAW lets you immediately capture shots with more detail, dynamic range and an authetic look — all without ever having to edit anything.”

DUBLIN CASTLE – GHOST CASTLE

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DUBLIN CASTLE LOOKS LIKE GHOST CASTLE – WHERE HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE GONE

At times, because of Covid-19 restrictions, when I walk around the city I feel as if I am a ghost who has returned to discover that it is not possible to see people and also nothing is exactly as I remembered it. The other possibility is that I am alive and everyone else is a ghost. Sometimes I do see someone far off in the distance but their faces appear to lack features and as I begin to approach the keep moving away.

THE GROUNDS OF DUBLIN CASTLE

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THE GROUNDS OF DUBLIN CASTLE ON A SUNNY DAY IN SEPTEMBER

Today I visited the grounds of Dublin Castle but was upset when someone mentioned that additional Covid-19 restrictions may be introduced in Dublin tomorrow [18 September 2020] as this will interfere with a number of sessions photography sessions that I had organised for the rest of the month.

I would recommend a visit to Dublin Castle but I have noticed that many American visitors are disappointed because it is not the sort of castle that they had expected and this is because it is a working castle and has been constantly modified since it was first built.

Dublin Castle is a major Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction. It is located off Dame Street in Dublin.

Until 1922 it was the seat of the British government’s administration in Ireland. Most of the current construction dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland. The Castle served as the seat of English, then later British, government of Ireland under the Lordship of Ireland (1171–1541), the Kingdom of Ireland (1541–1800), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1922).

After the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, the complex was ceremonially handed over to the newly formed Provisional Government led by Michael Collins. It now hosts the inauguration of each President of Ireland and various State receptions.

The castle was built by the dark pool (“Dubh Linn”) which gave Dublin its name. This pool lies on the lower course of the River Poddle before its confluence with the River Liffey; when the castle was built, the Liffey was much wider, and the castle was effectively defended by both rivers. The Poddle today runs under the complex.

TWO STYLISED FIGURES WITH THE OLYMPIC FLAME

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TWO STYLISED FIGURES WITH THE OLYMPIC FLAME – SPECIAL OLYMPICS MEMORIAL BY JOHN BEHAN

Two stylised figures with the Olympic flame – the logo of the Special Olympics World Games Ireland 2003.

Special Olympics is an international organisation dedicated to providing sport opportunities for individuals with a learning disability.

In June 2003, the Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Ireland.
This was the first time the Summer Games were held outside the United States. 160 delegations involving 7000 athletes and 3000 coaches from all over the world participated in 21 sports.

Team 2003 comprised individuals and families who volunteered their time, talents and skills to ensure the wonderful success of these Games. Each member of Team 2003 is recognised here.

Their legacy remains in the positive attitude throughout the island of Ireland towards individuals with a learning disability.

John Behan (born 1938) is an Irish sculptor from Dublin. He studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, and Ealing Art College, London, and Oslo’s Royal Academy School.

He helped establish the Project Arts Centre, Dublin in 1967 and the Dublin Art Foundry. Notable sculptures include Arrival, commissioned by the Irish Government and presented to the United Nations in 2000 and Wings of the World in Shenzhen, China, 1991. He is a member of Aosdána.

The Liberty Tree sculpture in Carlow, designed by John Behan, commemorates the 1798 Rising of the United Irishmen. Several hundred rebels were slain in Carlow town and their remains are buried in the ‘Croppies Grave’, in Graiguecullen, County Carlow.

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