FX30

BALNAGOWAN HOUSE WAS ONCE AN ART DECO GEM

October 5, 2024 by infomatique

NOW IT IS A DERELICT RUIN

The recent fire at The Haven, which tragically destroyed outbuildings on the grounds of Balnagowan House, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of this architectural gem. Located off Mobhi Road in Glasnevin, Balnagowan House stands as a testament to Ireland’s early embrace of Modernist architecture.

Wendon House, later renamed Balnagowan, was a marvel of modern luxury hidden behind an unassuming exterior. While the street presence was understated, the interior was a testament to cutting-edge design and comfort.

Architect Harold Greenwood, under the direction of developer George Linzell, incorporated features that were ahead of their time:

Modern Conveniences: Central heating, concealed lighting, and an internal telephone system for seamless communication with staff.
Luxurious Amenities: Bedrooms with private hand basins and built-in wardrobes, two bathrooms, and a serving hatch between the kitchen and dining room with electric hotplates to keep food warm.
State-of-the-art Appliances: A laundry room equipped with a washing machine, connected to the upper floors by a laundry chute.
Modernist Design Elements: Oak panelling and chrome light-switches added a touch of sleek sophistication.
Linzell, who built speculative houses in Dublin, leveraged his own residence as a showpiece of modern luxury living, attracting discerning buyers. Later occupants further enhanced the property with additions like a tennis court, swimming pool, greenhouses, and outbuildings, while strategically planted trees provided privacy from the neighbouring Bons Secours Hospital.

The house changed hands several times over the years, with notable residents including publican John Doyle, who renamed it Balnagowan, and the Quinns, the last family to reside there. Before its current vacancy, it served as the headquarters for the Central Fisheries Board.

THE SONY FX30 CAMERA BODY

October 3, 2024 by infomatique

RECENT FIRMWARE UPDATE WAS WITHDRAWN

SONY Cinema Line FX30 Super 35 Camera

20.1 MP Exmor R APS-C (Super 35mm format) image sensor with wide dynamic range
S-CinetoneTM for a cinematic look straight out of the camera without grading
Flexible ISO, Cine EI Quick and Cine EI Log shooting modes for optimized image quality
User LUTs can be applied to the LCD display and HDMI output and embedded in clips
Dual Base ISO and a 14+ stop range for wide latitude and low-noise images

$1,598.00

SONY FX30 [RECENT FIRMWARE UPDATE WAS WITHDRAWN]

What is Shutter Angle?

Shutter angle is a way of controlling the amount of motion blur in your video. It’s a concept that originates from film cameras where a rotating shutter with an opening (measured in degrees) controlled the exposure time.

A wider shutter angle (e.g., 360 degrees) results in a longer exposure and more motion blur, creating a smoother, more cinematic look.
A narrower shutter angle (e.g., 90 degrees) results in a shorter exposure and less motion blur, creating a sharper, more staccato look.
The key advantage of using shutter angle instead of shutter speed is that it maintains a consistent look for motion blur regardless of your frame rate. For example, a 180-degree shutter angle will always result in a shutter speed that’s half the frame rate (e.g., 1/48 second for 24fps, 1/240 second for 120fps). This ensures consistent motion blur even when you change frame rates.

Here’s the rewritten response with the corrected information:

Sony Cinema Line FX30: A Detailed Look

The Sony FX30 is a compact and capable cinema camera designed to be an affordable entry point into Sony’s Cinema Line. It offers impressive image quality and professional features in a small and lightweight body, making it ideal for solo filmmakers and content creators.

Key Features and Advantages:

Super 35 Sensor: The FX30 boasts a back-illuminated 26.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, capable of capturing 4K footage with 6K oversampling. This delivers excellent image quality with rich detail, wide dynamic range, and impressive low-light performance.
S-Cinetone: Inherited from Sony’s high-end cinema cameras like the VENICE, S-Cinetone provides a natural and cinematic look with pleasing skin tones and smooth color gradations, minimizing the need for extensive color grading.
S-Log3 and Cine EI: For those who prefer more control over their image, the FX30 offers S-Log3 gamma curve and Cine EI mode, allowing for greater flexibility in post-production and achieving a specific cinematic aesthetic.
Compact and Lightweight: The camera’s small size and lightweight design make it highly portable and ideal for handheld shooting, gimbal work, and tight spaces.
Advanced Autofocus: The FX30 features Sony’s renowned autofocus system with real-time tracking and eye autofocus for both humans and animals, ensuring sharp focus even with moving subjects.
Extensive Connectivity: The camera offers a variety of input and output options, including microphone and headphone jacks, HDMI output, and USB-C connectivity for live streaming and external recording.
Why Choose the FX30 Over Other Sony Cameras?

The FX30 occupies a unique position in Sony’s camera lineup. Here’s how it compares to other options:

vs. a7S III: While the a7S III offers exceptional low-light performance and full-frame capabilities, the FX30 focuses on cinematic features and ergonomics. Its dedicated video-centric design, S-Cinetone, and Cine EI modes make it a better choice for filmmakers prioritizing a cinematic look and streamlined workflow.
vs. FX3: The FX3 shares the same body design and many features with the FX30, like S-Cinetone and advanced autofocus. However, the FX3 boasts a full-frame sensor, offering shallower depth of field and potentially better low-light performance. The FX3 typically comes bundled with the XLR handle unit, which is an optional accessory for the FX30. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether you prioritize full-frame capabilities or a more budget-friendly option.
vs. FX6: The FX6 is a higher-end cinema camera with a full-frame sensor and more advanced features like internal ND filters and a modular design. However, the FX30 offers a more compact and affordable option for those who don’t require the full-frame capabilities or advanced features of the FX6.
Known Issues and Fan Effectiveness:

The FX30 has generally received positive reviews, but there have been some reports of overheating issues, especially when shooting in high resolutions and frame rates for extended periods. While the built-in fan helps to mitigate this, it might not be sufficient in extremely demanding conditions. Using an external recorder via HDMI can sometimes help reduce internal heat generation.

Firmware Upgrade Withdrawal:

Sony recently withdrew a firmware update (version 2.00) for the FX30 that was intended to add new features like breathing compensation, improved autofocus, shutter angle control, and support for 16-bit RAW output via HDMI. The update was pulled due to unforeseen issues that caused recording errors in certain shooting modes. Sony is expected to release a revised version addressing these problems. The new features were significant as they aimed to enhance image stabilization, autofocus performance, provide more creative control over motion blur, and improve external recording capabilities, which are crucial for professional filmmaking.

Lens Recommendations:

The FX30 is compatible with Sony’s extensive range of E-mount lenses, offering a wide variety of options for different shooting styles and budgets. Some recommended lenses include:

Sony 18-105mm f/4 G OSS: A versatile zoom lens suitable for a wide range of shooting scenarios.
Sony 16-55mm f/2.8 G: A fast and sharp zoom lens ideal for low-light conditions and shallow depth of field.
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art: A popular third-party option offering excellent image quality and a fast aperture.

THE MILL FIELD AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS IN APRIL 2024

April 8, 2024 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED USING A SONY FX30

I have already published photographs of what I described as Rhododendrons but I now suspect that my photographs included magnificent magnolias in the Mill Field. I mention this because on the following day I was watching Country File and there was a short section where Magnolias were discussed and I learned a lot that really surprised me.

A Splash Of Colour At The Botanic Gardens April 2024

Ancient Allure: Magnolias Through the Ages

Magnolias are an incredibly ancient lineage of flowering plants. Fossil evidence suggests they predate bees by millions of years, emerging during the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth. This long history explains a striking characteristic of magnolia flowers:

Built for Beetles: Unlike many flowers that evolved to attract bees, magnolias bear large, sturdy blooms with tough carpels (female reproductive parts). This structure evolved to withstand the weight and feeding habits of beetles, their primary pollinators. Today, beetles still play a role in magnolia pollination, along with other insects that visit the fragrant flowers.

Botanical Legacy: Pierre Magnol’s Contribution

It’s fitting the magnolia carries the name of Pierre Magnol, a true pioneer of botany. He revolutionised the way we think about plants by organising them into families based on shared characteristics. This concept underlies our entire modern system of plant classification! It’s a testament to the magnolia’s importance that it lent its name to an entire, extremely diverse family of plants, Magnoliaceae.

Magnolia Stars: Highlighting Featured Plants

Let’s shine a spotlight on the specific magnolias on view at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin:

Magnolia kobus (Kobus Magnolia): A native of Japan and Korea, this species boasts elegant, white star-shaped blooms in early spring, often before its leaves unfurl. It’s a smaller magnolia variety ideal for gardens.

Magnolia ‘Galaxy’: This hybrid magnolia is renowned for its stunning, large, goblet-shaped flowers that unfurl in a deep purplish-pink hue. ‘Galaxy’ is a vigorous grower, creating a dramatic spring display.

Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Alexandrina’: A classic saucer magnolia, ‘Alexandrina’ is beloved for its large, fragrant blooms. These emerge white and slowly develop a beautiful blush of pink as they mature.
Beyond the Blooms: Why Magnolias Matter

Magnolias captivate us with their breathtaking blooms, but their value extends far beyond their beauty:

Garden Gems: With varieties offering vibrant colours, a range of sizes, and differing bloom times, magnolias are stars of gardens and landscapes all over the world.

Ecological Importance: Magnolias attract pollinators, and their seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.

Cultural Significance: In many Asian cultures, magnolias symbolise nobility, strength, and perseverance.

A DISPLAY OF SPRING FLOWERS

April 8, 2024 by infomatique

THE MILL FIELD IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Typical Irish Spring Blooms

Ireland’s mild, maritime climate encourages a delightful display of spring flowers, including:

Daffodils: Cheerful symbols of spring, their bright yellow trumpets are iconic.
Primroses: These delicate, pale yellow flowers are often among the first to appear.
Bluebells: Carpets of vibrant bluebells create magical woodland scenes.
Snowdrops: These dainty white flowers symbolize hope and the end of winter.
Crocuses: Their vibrant colours add a pop of cheer to gardens and roadsides.
Early Flowering: Causes and Trends

There is strong evidence suggesting that many of Ireland’s spring flowers are blooming significantly earlier than in past decades. Here’s what might be happening:

Climate Change: Warmer average temperatures, particularly milder winters, disrupt plants’ natural cycles. This can trigger earlier flowering as plants misinterpret warmer weather as the start of spring.

Data Tracking: Detailed record-keeping by organisations like the National Biodiversity Data Centre helps track these changes compared to historical trends.

Local Variability: Weather patterns differ across Ireland, so the extent of early blooming varies. Urban areas might experience more pronounced effects due to the “heat island” effect.

Upsides and Downsides of Early Blooming

The consequences of these shifts are complex:

Positives:

Longer display of spring flowers for people to enjoy.
Potentially a head start for some pollinators, particularly if insects emerge earlier alongside blooms.

Negatives:

Mismatch with pollinators: If flowers bloom much earlier than insects emerge, there’s a risk of food shortages for pollinators and pollination failure for plants.

Vulnerability to Frost: Early buds and flowers may be damaged by late frosts, which are still possible in spring.

Ecosystem Disruption: The delicate balance of nature depends on timing. Changes in flowering can disrupt food chains and the interactions between species.

The Bigger Picture

Early-blooming spring flowers are one indicator of a changing climate. While these shifts might seem subtle at first, they could have cascading effects on Ireland’s ecosystems over time. Continued monitoring and research are essential to understand the long-term consequences and potential ways to help wildlife adapt.

As the were strong winds during my visit as and as the flowers were in constant motion I had to use very high shutter speeds and as a result the images contain a lot of noise.

THE BEST NIGHT EVER SCULPTURE BY BOB QUINN

April 6, 2024 by infomatique

DURING STORM KATHLEEN 6 APRIL 2024

Despite a storm warning, I decided to visit the Botanic Gardens. Keeping my lens dry was a significant challenge, and this greatly impacted nearly all of the images I captured.

I have photographed this sculpture many times as it is one of my favorites.

It’s worth noting that I have encountered another copy of this sculpture in City West. Unfortunately, the last time I tried to photograph the one in City West, I was informed by security, who shadowed me for about fifteen minutes, that I was on private property and that photography was prohibited. I was asked to leave immediately, and my policy is not to argue.

Born in 1948, Bob Quinn enjoyed a long career in the Irish advertising business as a commercial artist, designer, and the head of a successful design and production company. He now works full time as a sculptor in Blackrock, Co Dublin, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Over the weekend, Storm Kathleen swept across Ireland, leaving a trail of disruption in its wake. With its powerful gusts and heavy rainfall, the storm caused widespread power outages and travel chaos throughout the country, but it was at its worst in the South and the West.

Storm Kathleen made landfall with potent winds, reaching speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour along coastal regions. Counties Galway and Mayo bore the brunt of its impact, facing a Status Orange wind warning. The rest of Ireland was under a Yellow wind warning, still experiencing significant disruptions. Fallen trees and power lines were widespread, leaving approximately 34,000 homes and businesses without electricity. ESB Networks scrambled to restore power, but many areas remained in the dark for extended periods.

The storm’s potent winds caused significant disruptions to transportation networks. Rail services in and out of Dublin’s Heuston Station were suspended due to a fallen tree obstructing the line. Flights, particularly those to and from Belfast City Airport, faced cancellations. Ferry crossings were also affected, with choppy seas causing delays and cancellations.

Authorities issued warnings urging people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. The ESB emphasized the danger of downed power lines, advising the public to never approach them and instead report incidents immediately. The Irish Coast Guard also warned of dangerous coastal conditions.