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THE OLD FIRE STATION ON DORSET STREET NOW FULLY REVEALED IN ALL ITS GLORY

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PHOTOGRAPHED 15 NOVEMBER 2024

The Old Fire Station on Dorset Street: A Restored Gem Revealed

I’m currently dedicating a significant amount of my time to documenting Dublin’s architectural heritage, capturing images of old buildings before they potentially vanish. This has become particularly crucial now that Dublin appears to be entering a new development boom, which could lead to the disappearance of many historic landmarks.

One building that recently caught my attention is the old fire station on Dorset Street. For years, it was obscured by the Dorset Street Flats and Mary’s Place Flats, a large complex of social housing that had unfortunately become a hub for anti-social behaviour. Thankfully, these flats are now being demolished, with the final stages of this process nearing completion. This demolition has finally revealed the fire station in its entirety, offering a fantastic opportunity to photograph it before it becomes integrated into its new, modern surroundings.

Interestingly, it took me a decade to uncover the history of this building. My initial misconception that it was located on Bolton Street rather than Dorset Street, despite living in the immediate area for 21 years, highlights how easily we can overlook familiar surroundings.

The building is a handsome fire station designed by the renowned city architect, C.J. McCarthy, in 1901. It was one of a series of fire stations designed by McCarthy throughout Dublin, with others located on Thomas Street, Tara Street, and Buckingham Street. None of these buildings remain in use as fire stations today. The Dorset Street fire station is particularly noteworthy as it is set to be incorporated into the new development planned for the site, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Additional Information:

C.J. McCarthy: Charles J. McCarthy was a prominent Dublin City Architect in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He designed numerous significant public buildings in Dublin, including fire stations, libraries, and schools. His work often featured a distinctive blend of Victorian and Edwardian architectural styles.
Dorset Street Flats Redevelopment: The redevelopment of the Dorset Street and Mary’s Place Flats site is a major urban renewal project by Dublin City Council. The project aims to provide 163 new social housing units, along with community spaces. The inclusion of the old fire station within the new development is a positive example of how historical preservation can be integrated into modern urban planning.
Property Booms and Crashes in Dublin: Dublin has experienced several cycles of property booms and busts in recent decades. The Celtic Tiger boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s saw rapid property price inflation, followed by a dramatic crash in 2008. The current development boom is driven by a combination of factors, including economic growth, population increase, and a shortage of housing supply.

I VISIT GRIFFITH AVENUE SECTION BY SECTION EVERY AUTUMN

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14 OCTOBER 2024

The N2 bus service provides a convenient link between Heuston Station and Griffith Avenue, making it a great option for those who want to avoid the hassle of driving and parking, or navigating multiple bus changes. Another useful feature is that it stops at the Broombridge LUAS tram terminus and train station where one can get a train to Sligo and the twice an hour service to Maynooth.

Griffith Avenue stands out for being the longest purely residential tree-lined avenue in Europe. Stretching over 2 kilometres, it runs from Malahide Road to Mobhi Road, gracefully weaving through the neighbourhoods of Marino and Drumcondra in Dublin.

Originally envisioned as a grand entrance to a luxury housing estate in the early 20th century, Griffith Avenue quickly became a sought-after address. The avenue’s distinctive character is defined by its mature trees, primarily lime and elm, which form a verdant canopy overhead. These trees, planted in the 1920s, create a tunnel-like effect, offering shade in summer and a blaze of colour in autumn. It’s this autumnal spectacle that draws me back year after year, camera in hand, to capture the falling leaves and the avenue bathed in golden light.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Griffith Avenue played a significant role in Dublin’s history. During the Irish Civil War, it served as a base for anti-Treaty forces. The avenue’s wide expanse and strategic location made it ideal for military manoeuvres. Today, remnants of this turbulent period can be found in the form of bullet holes that still scar some of the older buildings.

Despite its historical significance, Griffith Avenue retains a tranquil atmosphere. The wide pavements and relatively low traffic volume make it a haven for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s a place where locals and visitors alike can enjoy a leisurely stroll, appreciating the beauty of the surroundings and the changing seasons.

The N2 bus service is a relatively new addition to Dublin’s public transport network. It operates between Heuston Station and Clontarf Station, running primarily through the north side of the city.

Here are some of major stops along the route:

Here’s the corrected list of major stops, including Broombridge:

Heuston Station: The starting point of the journey, this station is a major transportation hub for intercity and commuter rail services, as well as the Luas and numerous bus routes.
Phibsborough: This stop serves the Phibsborough area, a vibrant district with a mix of shops, restaurants, and residential areas.
Ballyboggan Road: This stop provides access to the residential areas of Glasnevin and Finglas.
Broombridge: This stop provides access to the Broombridge LUAS Green Line terminus, allowing passengers to connect to various destinations along the Green Line. It also serves as a train station with regular commuter services to Maynooth and intercity services to Sligo, further enhancing its connectivity within the wider Dublin region.
Griffith Avenue: This stop provides access to Griffith Avenue, a long, tree-lined avenue known for its residential character.
Marino: This stop serves the Marino area, a charming village-like neighbourhood.
Clontarf Road Station: The final stop on the N2 route, this station offers connections to the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) service.

DUNDRUM TRAM STOP JULY 2024

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ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE

Today (23 July 2024) I used a Sony FX30 and the Sony 18-105mm Lens which is a better lens than one might expect as it is often describes as a “kit lens”.

Dundrum Luas stop, in Dundrum Village, is a testament to the seamless integration of modern transport infrastructure with the historic character of a suburban setting. The stop itself is spacious and well-appointed, providing commuters with a comfortable and convenient waiting area.

However, it is the adjacent William Dargan Bridge that truly elevates this Luas stop to a landmark destination. Named after the renowned 19th-century Irish railway engineer, the bridge is a marvel of modern engineering, its elegant cable-stayed design a striking addition to the village landscape.

The bridge’s elevated walkways offer panoramic views of the village below, with its quaint shops, bustling cafes, and historic buildings. The open-air design allows natural light to bathe the walkways, creating a bright and airy atmosphere that is both inviting and uplifting.

Beyond its functional purpose as a pedestrian crossing, the William Dargan Bridge serves as a vibrant public space. Locals and visitors alike are drawn to its unique charm, using it as a meeting point, a vantage point for photographs, or simply a place to pause and admire the scenery.

In the evenings, the bridge is illuminated, casting a warm glow over the village and adding to its enchanting ambience. The Dundrum Luas stop and the William Dargan Bridge exemplify how public transport infrastructure can enhance the character and appeal of a community. They are not merely a means of transportation but a destination in their own right, offering a unique and memorable experience for all who pass through.

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The Sony 18-105mm E-mount lens, often bundled as a kit lens with the Sony FX30 camera, offers a versatile and practical option for both photography and videography enthusiasts. While considered a “kit” lens, it surpasses the typical expectations associated with such lenses, delivering commendable performance and image quality.

One of its notable strengths is the extensive zoom range, covering a wide focal length from 18mm to 105mm (full-frame equivalent of 27-157.5mm). This versatility makes it suitable for various shooting scenarios, from landscapes and architecture to portraits and close-ups. Whether you’re capturing sweeping vistas or intimate details, the lens adapts effortlessly to your creative vision.

The lens’s optical performance is surprisingly good for a kit lens, producing sharp images with decent contrast and colour rendition. While it may not match the exceptional sharpness and clarity of high-end prime lenses, it certainly holds its own in most situations, especially considering its affordable price point.

The autofocus system is generally quick and accurate, making it suitable for tracking moving subjects in videos or capturing candid moments. The built-in optical image stabilisation (OSS) further enhances its usability, particularly for handheld shooting and video recording, reducing camera shake and ensuring smoother footage.

For the Sony FX30 camera, the 18-105mm lens proves to be a well-rounded companion, offering a versatile and convenient solution for a wide range of shooting needs. While professional photographers and videographers might eventually upgrade to higher-end lenses for specific purposes, the 18-105mm lens is undoubtedly a capable and reliable tool that allows users to explore their creativity and capture impressive results without breaking the bank. Its overall performance, combined with its affordability and versatility, makes it a valuable addition to the Sony FX30 kit and a compelling option for both beginners and experienced users alike.

HOW TO SET UP BACK BUTTON FOCUS ON A SONY FX30

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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM MURPHY

Here’s how to set up Back Button Focus (BBF) on your Sony FX30:

  1. Decouple Focus from the Shutter Button

Menu: Go to the Camera 2 tab (Red Camera Icon) -> [AF2] -> [AF w/ shutter] -> Set to [Off]. This prevents the half-press of your shutter button from activating autofocus.

  1. Assign AF to a Back Button

Menu: Navigate to the Gear Icon Tab -> [Operation Customize] -> [Movie Custom Key Setting]
Choose Your Button: The most common choice is [AEL Button], but you could also use [C5] or [C6] depending on your preference.
Set the Button: Select the button you want to use, scroll down to [AF On] and select it.

  1. (Optional) Customize Your Focus Behavior

The FX30 offers several focus settings to tailor BBF to your liking:

AF Mode: Go to the Camera 2 tab -> [Focus Mode]. Choose the autofocus mode suitable for your shooting (for example, [Continuous AF] for moving subjects).
AF Area: Under [Focus Area], select your preferred area mode. Consider [Flexible Spot] or [Tracking] options for precise subject tracking with BBF.
Practice Time!

Now, to focus:

Press and hold your chosen back button.
Release the back button to lock focus.
Press the shutter button to take the picture.
Additional Tips

Focus Magnifier: Pair BBF with Focus Magnifier (assignable to another button) to zoom in for precise manual focus when needed.
Practice: BBF takes some getting used to, so practice in various scenarios to build muscle memory.

WHAT IS BACK BUTTON FOCUS?

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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM MURPHY

Traditionally, focusing and taking a picture is done with a half-press of the shutter button. Back-Button Focus separates these functions:

Focusing: You assign a button on the back of your camera (often the AF-ON button) to activate the autofocus system.

Taking the Picture: The shutter button now only handles the job of releasing the shutter.
Why Use Back-Button Focus?

Here’s why many photographers shift to BBF, especially in action or dynamic situations:

Greater Control: You decide exactly when to focus and when to release the shutter. This prevents the camera from constantly refocusing as you might slightly move or recompose a shot.
Improved Accuracy with Moving Subjects: With continuous autofocus (AI Servo on Canon, AF-C on Nikon/Sony), you hold down the back button to track a moving subject while only taking pictures with the shutter button when you want. This reduces missed shots due to focus problems.
Focus and Recompose Freedom: Focus on your desired point, then freely recompose your image without the camera trying to refocus on whatever is now under the central focus point. This is especially handy for portraits or off-center compositions.
Avoid Accidental Refocusing: Imagine branches in front of your bird subject. Traditionally, the camera might grab focus on the branches. With BBF, you focus on the bird, release the back button (focus is locked), and shoot away, even as branches pass in front.
Considerations

Practice Needed: Like any change, BBF takes time to master. You’ll need to retrain your muscle memory.
Not for Everyone: If you mainly shoot static landscapes or controlled situations, traditional focusing might be perfectly fine.
How to Set Up BBF:

The exact process varies between camera brands, but the general idea is to find the settings that allow you to:

Separate autofocus from the shutter button.
Assign it to your chosen back button (often AF-ON).

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