FX30

YANG’S CHINESE RESTAURANT

September 1, 2023 by infomatique

CLONTARF ROAD NEAR ST ANNE’S PARK

I was a bit confused as I thought that it was Wong’s when I visited many years ago, I really did like it back then but have not had an opportunity to visit again.

Wang’s Chinese Restaurant in Dublin has a customer rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Google. This suggests that it is better than many other Chinese restaurants in Dublin.

“Yang’s Chinese Restaurant (formerly Wongs Chinese – now fully renovated and open under New Management) is the newest addition to Clontarf’s burgeoning restaurant scene. Located on the Clontarf road, a stones throw from St.Anne’s Park, Yang’s boasts a perfect location with sea views. Our goal is to deliver great Chinese food with an authentic Chinese dining experience. Our food is prepared fresh daily and is cooked to order. All our dishes is MSG Free, ensuring the healthiest cuisine. The setting at Yang’s is traditionally oriental with a warm, welcoming ambiance. We are open 7 days a week from 5pm to 11.30pm on Monday to Saturday. Sunday 1.30pm to 11.00pm, Sunday Lunch service till 5.00pm. We also offer a food to go menu.”

THE AREA IN MALAHIDE NEAR THE SLIPWAY

August 21, 2023 by infomatique

THE SLIPWAY IS VERY SLIPPY ESPECIALLY WHEN WET

The slipway is mostly used by the Malahide Sea Scouts and Malahide Yacht Club and I use it sometimes to take photographs but today the section that I wanted to use was very slippery so I avoided it.

Back in 2008 Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF), said the pier and slipway at St James Terrace in Malahide has ‘fallen into a serious state of disrepair’. The local councillor had investigating the facility but could find no record of ownership in the land registry records but according to locals it was built by the former Dublin County Council in the 1950s or 1960s. Cllr O’Brien said that he expected securing council funding would be difficult because the facility was not in council ownership.

EVERYONE PHOTOGRAPHS THIS BRIDGE BUT USUALLY NOT WITH AN 85MM LENS

August 20, 2023 by infomatique

THE FAMOUS HALFPENNY BRIDGE

I could no think of anything new to say about this bridge so I asked Google’s BARD AI why do so many people photograph the Halfpenny Bridge and it replied as follows [it made at least one major error]:

There are many reasons why people photograph the Ha’penny Bridge. Here are a few of them:

It is a historic landmark. The bridge was built in 1816 and is one of the oldest bridges in Dublin. It is also the only pedestrian bridge across the River Liffey in the city center [Note: not true].
It is a beautiful structure. The bridge is made of cast iron and has a graceful arch. It is a popular subject for photographers, especially at sunset or sunrise.
It is a popular tourist destination. The bridge is located in the heart of Dublin and is easily accessible. It is a must-see for many visitors to the city.
It is a symbol of Dublin. The bridge is often used to represent Dublin in photographs and paintings. It is a reminder of the city’s history and culture.
It is a romantic spot. The bridge is a popular place for couples to take photos. It is said that if you lock a love lock on the bridge, your love will be eternal.
No matter the reason, the Ha’penny Bridge is a iconic landmark that is sure to capture the attention of any photographer.

Here are some other reasons why people might photograph the Ha’penny Bridge:

To capture the hustle and bustle of city life. The bridge is a busy crossing point and is often full of people, making it a great place to capture the energy of the city.
To create a visual metaphor. The bridge can be used to represent a variety of concepts, such as love, unity, or change.
To simply enjoy the beauty of the bridge. The bridge is a visually striking structure and can be enjoyed simply for its aesthetic qualities.
Ultimately, the reasons why people photograph the Ha’penny Bridge are as varied as the people who take photos of it. But one thing is for sure: the bridge is a popular and beloved landmark that continues to inspire photographers from all over the world.

BOATS AND PEOPLE ON A SUNNY DAY IN HOWTH

August 20, 2023 by infomatique

I USED A SONY FE 85MM GM LENS

Howth is located on the peninsula of Howth Head, which begins around 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east-north-east of Dublin’s GPO, on the north side of Dublin Bay. The village itself is located just over 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) by road from Dublin city centre (the ninth of a series of eighteenth-century milestones from the Dublin General Post Office (GPO) is in the village itself). The settlement spans much of the northern part of Howth Head, which was once an island but now is connected to the rest of Dublin via a narrow strip of land (a tombolo) at Sutton. Howth is located in the administrative county of Fingal, within the traditional County Dublin. The village is bounded by the sea and undeveloped land except along two roads, one rising towards the Summit, one running at sea level near the coast, towards Sutton Cross.

Howth is at the end of a regional road (R105) from Dublin. One branch of the DART suburban rail system has its physical terminus by the harbour, the other northern terminus being Malahide’s station, which is actually on a through line for mainline rail towards Belfast.[10] Under the bus route network for Dublin overseen by the National Transport Authority, Dublin Bus serves Howth with route H3, and the local route 290 which goes over the hill and through Sutton to Sutton DART station. For decades prior to 2021, Howth was served by the 31 series of routes. There was previously also a tram service.

Howth, in addition to its fishery harbour, hosts a substantial marina, and seasonal boat service to the uninhabited Ireland’s Eye. Howth is also a waypoint for aircraft approaching Dublin Airport.

COMPRESSED VIEWS OF TARA STREET TRAIN STATION

August 19, 2023 by infomatique

I USED THE EQUIVALENT OF A 130MM LENS

The station was really busy because of the rugby match at Lansdowne Road. Five-try Ireland comfortably beat England 29-10 in a World Cup warm-up at the Aviva Stadium.

The station has two through platforms above street level with ticket areas and retail outlets at street level. The platform retaining walls, the stairwells and canopies were originally timber planking but upgraded to include escalators and fibreglass panels in the 1970s and 1980s.

More recent changes have seen new stairwells installed and platforms lengthened to reflect the increasing throughput. There are proposals to build in the airspace above the station and adjacent property has been acquired for this purpose.

The station opened on 1 May 1891.

It is on the ‘Loop Line’ which was constructed towards the end of the 19th century by the City of Dublin Junction Railway, connecting the Dublin & Kingstown terminus at Westland Row (now Pearse Station) and Amiens St (now Connolly Station) on the Great Northern Railway (Ireland), and linked into the Midland Great Western freight line, thus joining up all the main railways in Dublin.

The completion of the Irish Rail City Centre re-signalling project has seen an:

Increase in the number of Northern and Maynooth line suburban trains stopping at Tara street.
Trains from Newbridge also serving Tara Street station.This has been made possible by increasing the ability of the signalling system in the city centre to operate 20 trains per hour in both directions instead of 8.

The project began in March 2015 and was commissioned on 17 July 2016.

The future plans for Tara Street Station in Dublin include the construction of a 22-storey mixed-use development adjoining the station. The development, which has been approved by An Bord Pleanála, will include a 200-bedroom hotel, 430,000 square feet of office space, and a rooftop bar. The development is expected to be completed in 2025.

The development is part of a wider regeneration of the Tara Street area, which is also home to the new Metro station. The Metro is a planned underground rapid transit system that will connect the city centre with the suburbs. The Tara Street station will be a major interchange station for the Metro.

The redevelopment of Tara Street Station is expected to improve the connectivity and accessibility of the area, and to boost economic activity. The development is also expected to create jobs and to generate revenue for the city.

I used an 85mm lens on a Sony FX30 body which is equivalent to using a 130mm telephoto lens.

A telephoto lens is a type of camera lens that is designed to magnify distant objects. It does this by having a longer focal length than a standard lens. The focal length of a lens is the distance between the optical centre of the lens and the point where the light rays converge to form a sharp image. A telephoto lens typically has a focal length of 70mm or longer.

The benefits of using a telephoto lens include:

The ability to magnify distant objects, making them appear closer. This is useful for wildlife photography, sports photography, and other situations where you want to get close to the action without actually being there.
The ability to compress the background, which can make the subject appear larger and more dominant in the frame. This is a popular technique in portrait photography.
The ability to create a shallow depth of field, which blurs the background and makes the subject stand out. This is also a popular technique in portrait photography.
Telephoto lenses are not without their drawbacks. They are typically larger and heavier than standard lenses, and they can be more difficult to use. They also tend to be more expensive.