Infomatique

NORTH BRUNSWICK STREET WAS ORIGINALLY NAMED CHANNEL ROW

February 23, 2024 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED 22 FEBRUARY

Many months have passed since I last visited North Brunswick Street but as I was in the area I decided to photograph the street using my iPhone 12 Pro Max which I use as a camera and a GPS device.

As a matter of interest Pearse Street, on the south side of the river Liffey, was originally named Great Brunswick Street. I know this because I checked to see if there was a South Brunswick Street in Dublin.

The first recorded reference of the Dominican sisters in Ireland is 1644 in Galway. The sisters arrived in Dublin, first establishing themselves in Channel Row (Brunswick Street) in 1717 and later moving to Clontarf in 1808.

Brunswick Street North in Dublin boasts a unique architectural heritage, with buildings spanning various eras and styles. It was named Great Brunswick Street for the House of Brunswick, holders of the British and Irish crown from 1714 to 1901.

Until recently Dublin District Court (No. 100): Formerly the Richmond Hospital, this imposing Victorian structure dates back to 1890 and served as a medical facility for almost a century. Its grand facade and red-brick exterior exude a sense of history and gravitas. Today, it functions as a busy courthouse, adding to the character of the streetscape.

Carmichael Centre (No. 35-37): Originally built as St. John’s Convent in the 1860s, this Gothic Revival building served as a religious institution for many years. Later, it housed a medical clinic and offices. Today, it’s a vibrant cultural centre offering arts events, workshops, and community initiatives.

40A Brunswick Street North: This modest Georgian terrace house from around 1800 stands out for its elegant elliptical-arched doorway and well-preserved brickwork. It served as a residence and bakery in the past and currently functions as apartments. Its presence reflects the street’s historical evolution from primarily residential to a mix of uses.

98 Brunswick Street North: This detached two-storey house from the mid-19th century is a rare survivor of its kind on the street. With its Flemish bond brickwork, six-over-six pane sash windows, and bracketed cornice doorway, it embodies the architectural style of the era and offers a glimpse into the street’s past residential character.

Block E, Blackhall Square: This contemporary apartment building stands in contrast to the historical structures. Its sleek design and glass facade reflect modern architectural trends and contribute to the diverse streetscape.

KING’S INNS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW

February 21, 2024 by infomatique

I USED A ZEISS BATIS 135mm LENS

I can see part of King’s Inns from my bedroom which is great and I am lucky to have a pleasant little park on my doorstep.

Today I use a Zeiss Batis 135mm lens which does impose some limitations. However a 135mm lens is good for a surprisingly broad variety of shots, as this telephoto range tends to include a wide aperture. This makes 135mm a great choice for portraits of people and pets, landscapes, street photography and products. There are also specialised 135mm macro and tilt shift lenses available.

King’s Inns is one of the most important examples of Ireland’s Georgian architectural heritage. The eminent architect James Gandon, who had earlier designed the Custom House and the Four Courts in Dublin, was commissioned by the benchers in 1800 to design a new building for the Society on Henrietta Street. This followed the decline of the original premises that belonged to the Inns on the site of the present Four Courts.

On 1 August 1800, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Clare laid the first stone of the hall and library. By 1804 the structure of the hall was almost complete.

In 1813 it was agreed that the unfurnished library wing should be sold to the Office of Public Works for use as a record office. Francis Johnston, architect, supervised this work and also completed the cupola (to Gandon’s design). It was he who designed and erected the entrance archway from Henrietta Street.

The Library Building, also in Henrietta Street, was erected between 1826 and 1832 to a design by Frederick Darley. This building is a good example of Greek revival architecture. It contains a magnificent reading room with a splendid balcony.

The Society also owns one of the fine Georgian houses on Henrietta Street and within the parkland there are seven cottages, six of which have been refurbished for rental purposes.

The properties of King’s inns are listed buildings and are registered with the Charities Regulators of Ireland. Great care is taken to ensure that they are conserved in accordance with the standards laid down by architectural historians, conservationists and other professional advisers.

NEWS – VIEWS – UPDATES

I will not be buying and equipment during 2024 even though I am very interested in the new Sony A9III. As I have decided not to upgrade from my current Sony A7RIV to the A7RV I may try to hold out until the Sony A1 MkII becomes available.

I am considering the possibility of getting Fujifilm GFX 100 Mark II Camera Body but I will not be in a position to do so until the second half of 2025 and if I do I hope get the Fujifilm GF 30mm F5.6 T/S Tilt&Shift Lens.

Sony Electronics Announces a New Compact FE 24-50mm F2.8 G Standard Zoom Lens Designed for High Performance and Portability
A large-aperture, constant F2.8 standard zoom full-frame E-mount lens that delivers outstanding end-to-end image quality in a compact and lightweight form facto
February 21, 2024

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 21, 2024 – Sony Electronics is pleased to announce the release of the FE 24-50mm F2.8 G standard zoom lens (SEL2450G), which is compatible with Sony’s α™ (Alpha™) cameras. The 72nd addition to the full-frame E-mount lens lineup is extremely compact and lightweight yet maintains high-resolution performance synonymous with Sony’s G lens series. With a constant F2.8 maximum aperture, it produces stunning bokeh and enables creative flexibility across the entire zoom range. The versatile 24mm to 50mm focal range, coupled with its compact form, enables users to capture a myriad of scenes including portraits, everyday snapshots, landscapes, and video.

“The demand for light and compact standard zoom lenses is increasing, and our new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G lens offers a F2.8 standard zoom option for creators seeking portability, without a sacrifice. It is a lens option ready to go anywhere,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G is our first-ever full-frame F2.8 standard zoom lens in the G series lens lineup. Bringing the ever-popular F2.8 aperture from our G Master series into the G series is yet another example of our dedication to building lens options for every level of creator.”

Outstanding Optical Performance in a Compact Form Factor

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G’s design is compact with a filter diameter of φ67 mm, maximum diameter of 74.8 mm (about 2.94 in), length of 92.3 mm (about 3.63 in), and weight of approximately 440 g (about 15.52 oz). Despite its compact size, the lens maintains exceptional image quality throughout all focal lengths. This is made possible by the incorporation of four aspherical lenses and two elements of Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass. These advanced elements effectively minimize chromatic aberrations, resulting in high-resolution performance that remains consistent from the center to the corners of the frame.

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G’s 11-blade circular aperture and well-controlled spherical aberration creates the beautiful, smooth bokeh known to the G lens series. Painstaking optical optimization has achieved impressive close-up performance at all focal lengths. It has a minimum shooting distance of 0.19 m (AF) at the wide end, and a maximum magnification of 0.30 x (AF) for detailed shooting.

Fast and Precise Autofocus Capabilities for Both Stills and Video

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G is equipped with two linear motors to achieve extremely fast, precise, and quiet focusing with AF (autofocus). It also supports high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking of up to 120 frames per second, a feature offered on Sony’s newest full-frame mirrorless camera, the Alpha 9 IIIi.

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G’s AF capabilities make it advantageous for video production, especially when shooting in high frame rates like 4K 120p or FHD 240p movie recordingii. It supports in-camera Active Mode Image Stabilizationiii for fast paced shooting and is compatible with the Focus Breathing Compensation feature native to select Sony Alpha camerasiv. In addition, the Linear Response MF offers intuitive and precise manual focus adjustments, a feature beneficial for filmmakingiv.

Enhanced Controllability and Reliability

The FE 24-50mm F2.8 G is equipped with intuitive controls designed to offer ultimate operability. These features include a customizable focus hold button, aperture ring, aperture click ON/OFF switch, and focus mode switch.

Additionally, the lens’ front element is fluorine coated, which effectively repels and effortlessly eliminates fingerprints, dust, water, oil, and other contaminants. This dust and moisture resistant design makes it a reliable option for any environment.

Pricing and Availability

The new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G will be available in May 2024 for approximately $1,099.99 USD and $1,499.99 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

A product video on the FE 24-50mm F2.8 G can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/pC0shkwJ7b0

For more information about FE 24-50mm F2.8 G, please visit: https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/all-e-mount/p/sel2450g

Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new FE 24-50mm F2.8 G and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony α – Alpha brand

Today, Sigma introduced two groundbreaking new lenses: the 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | Art, the world’s first full-frame F1.4 fisheye, and the amazingly compact and lightweight 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports. Both lenses set new bars for performance and image quality on Sony E-mount and L-Mount cameras, empowering photographers to explore creative frontiers far and wide.

THE SCIENCE GALLERY

February 19, 2024 by infomatique

LOCATED AT THE NAUGHTON INSTITUTE AT TRINITY COLLEGE ON PEARSE STREET

The site was constrained by the railway tracks so it is like the bow (sharp end) of a ship and in the past I have had difficulty photographing the building mainly because of traffic or poor weather conditions.

Science Gallery is an international group of public science centres, developed from a concept by a group connected to Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. The first Science Gallery was opened in 2008 and housed in the Naughton Institute at Trinity College.

Each gallery is operated by a major academic institution in partnership with Science Gallery International and each holds various artistic exhibitions and lectures with a view to science outreach and art-science collaborations. Unlike most science centres, they have no permanent collections, but rather a series of three to four temporary exhibitions each year.

Five galleries were established by the end of 2020, with several more planned.

In 2022, the Science Gallery, in Dublin, faced significant financial challenges and was even forced to close temporarily. This was primarily due to several factors:

Accumulated deficits: The gallery had experienced financial losses for several years, leading to a deficit of around €2 million.

Impact of the pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic further affected its income through reduced ticket sales and event revenue.

Funding model concerns: There were questions about the long-term sustainability of the gallery’s existing funding model, which relied heavily on private donations and grants.

The closure triggered public outcry and calls for its preservation. While it didn’t permanently shut down, it led to a period of uncertainty and restructuring. Here’s what happened next:

Discussions and negotiations: Discussions ensued between Trinity College Dublin (which manages the gallery) and the Irish government regarding long-term funding solutions.
New funding secured: Trinity College secured additional funding from various sources, including private donors and foundations.

Focus on sustainability: The gallery actively worked on developing a more sustainable operating model, potentially involving changes to its structure and programming.

Reopening plan: In 2023, Trinity College announced plans to reopen the Science Gallery later that year with a renewed focus on financial stability and public engagement. While the future of the Science Gallery remains in flux, it’s currently operating and showcasing exhibitions. This comeback story demonstrates the ongoing effort to secure its future and continue its mission of fostering public engagement with science through art and innovation.

The Naughton Institute, also known as CRANN (Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices), is a state-of-the-art research facility located on the main campus of Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.

Building Details:

Location: Pearse Street side of the Trinity College Dublin main campus.
Year Built: 2007
Architect: Wilson Architects and RKD
Floors: 5 above ground, 2 basement levels
Facilities:
Environmentally controlled, vibration-free laboratories specifically designed for nanoscience research.
Clean rooms for research requiring minimal dust contamination.
Theatre for presentations and lectures.
Science Gallery, a public exhibition space showcasing science-themed art and installations.
Reception, cafe, offices, and staff amenities.
Image of Naughton Institute, Trinity College Dublin

Purpose:

The Naughton Institute’s primary purpose is to conduct cutting-edge research in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This involves studying and manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level, with potential applications in various fields such as:

Materials science: Developing new materials with improved properties, such as strength, conductivity, or biocompatibility.
Electronics: Creating smaller, faster, and more efficient electronic devices.
Biotechnology: Designing new drugs, diagnostics, and therapies.
Energy: Developing cleaner and more efficient energy sources.

THE TEMPLE BAR PUB

February 19, 2024 by infomatique

IT IS NOT THE OLDEST PUB IN TEMPLE BAR

SOUTH OF THE RIVER LIFFEY

THE NORSEMAN IS AN OLDER PUB

UNUSUAL SIGN IN TEMPLE BAR

Visitors are inclined to cluster here maybe because they do not understand that Temple Bar is an area rather than a specific building. Of course the pub in my photographs capitalises on the confusion and who can blame them. Personally I have never visited any pub other than The Palace Bar [about 40 years ago] so I am not in a position to recommend, or otherwise, any pubs in the area. If you are interested in eating out Capel Street across the river might be a better choice especially if you have junior family members with you. Note: During the day Temple Bar is ideal for children but it is a very different place at night and on holiday weekends.

I came across a claim that the Temple Bar Pub was one of the oldest in Dublin but when I challenged this claim I received the following information:

“I apologise, while the Temple Bar pub is a popular and iconic establishment in Dublin, it is not one of the oldest pubs in the city. In fact, there are several pubs with claims to that title, depending on how you define “oldest.”

Here’s a breakdown of some contenders:

Officially oldest: The Brazen Head holds the official title of Dublin’s oldest pub, with evidence of an inn operating on the site since 1198. The building you see today dates back to 1754.

Oldest licensed premises: The Norseman claims to have the oldest pub license in Temple Bar, dating back to 1696.

The Palace Bar, established in 1823, holds the title of being one of the oldest pubs specifically in the Temple Bar area itself.

GOOGLE NOW OWNS THE TREASURY BUILDING

February 18, 2024 by infomatique

LOWER GRAND CANAL STREET

I have not visited this area for a few years and today I was surprised to discover that the Treasury Building is currently a construction site.

When I returned from California in the 1980s I lived at the corner of Eblana Villas and Lower Grand Canal Street and at the time the building was the Hertz HQ in Ireland. There were three apartments but mine was the only one that was occupied. I think that the building is now named Wentworth House and it may have been home to a language college. I was offered all three apartments at a very good price but decided against buying as there was serious anti-social activity in the immediate area.

Google bought the Treasury Building from Ronan Group Real Estate for €120 million in early 2020 to further expand their Silicon Docks campus which is nearby. In February 2022 Dublin City Council granted planning permission to Google Ireland to increase the height of the building from six to eight storeys.

The Treasury Building was the headquarters of the Irish government’s National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) for many years. Redeveloped by Ronan Group, the Treasury Building was described as a landmark six-storey Grade A office building that previously housed Boland’s Bakery. This historic building was occupied by Éamon de Valera, later President of Ireland, during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Following its purchase in 1984, a major redevelopment saw the building stripped back to its concrete framed structure and reimagined for a new commercial future with the first 20,000 sq ft floorplates ever delivered in the Irish market.

Rowan Gillespie was commissioned to create a sculpture for the outside wall of the building. The statue, named ‘Aspiration’, was originally of a naked man climbing the outside wall, but Johnny Ronan insisted that the sculpture be changed to a woman. The statue was made of fibreglass. The sculpture was removed in 2020 when the building was sold.