MY JANUARY 2009 VISIT TO AQUA AND HOWTH HARBOUR
THIS SERIES OF IMAGES IS ACTUALLY FROM MY JANUARY 2009 VISIT TO HOWTH [I HAD LUNCH AT AQUA]
A Look Back: Remastering My 2009 Archive
As I've been working my way through my back catalogue, I'm excited to share a remastered collection from my 2009 visit to Howth. However, as I've been reprocessing these files, I wanted to provide a bit of technical context for what you're seeing.
These images were created with a Canon 1Ds MkIII. For those who remember the camera forums from that era, you'll know this body had a reputation for poor AF performance.
At the time, I was unaware that my specific camera was affected by a well-known (and later, recalled) hardware flaw in its autofocus system. This made the AF incredibly unreliable, especially for tracking subjects. If some images in this collection feel slightly less sharp than my current work, this is often the culprit.
Furthermore, you may notice that the shadow areas have a different character than my modern Sony images. Sensor technology from 2007, while top-of-the-line for its day, had far less dynamic range. When I "lift" the shadows on these older files, I'm pulling up a lot more noise and "grain" than you'd see from a modern camera. Rather than trying to scrub it all away and create a plastic-looking image, I've chosen to embrace it as part of the texture and history of that file.
These technical challenges were, in fact, the beginning of my journey to the Sony mirrorless system I use today.
It's a fascinating process to revisit these old files. It reminds me how far the technology has come, but also that a strong composition and moment will always shine through. I still own that 1Ds MkIII—and as it turns out, with manual focus, it still works beautifully as a studio camera!
And Now Why I Was In Howth
I visited Howth early in January 2009 as my mother requested me to bring her to lunch at AQUA. Starting in 2000 we visited four or five times every year up until 2020.
Is it still operational? Yes, Aqua Restaurant in Howth is still operational.
When did it open and what is its history? The restaurant officially opened to the public on 10 January 2000, following a private opening on millennium night (31 December 1999).
The building itself has a long maritime history. It was originally the home of the Howth Sailing Club, which was formed in 1895. The building was extended in the late 1960s but was vacated in 1986 when the club moved to new premises. The building subsequently fell into disrepair. The current owners, who were keen sailors, began a complete refurbishment in 1998, restoring the building to house the restaurant.
The restaurant has had closures unrelated to Covid. It is their organisational policy to close for a period every January for annual leave and maintenance. For example, in January 2014, they undertook a significant refurbishment that included sanding, painting, and reupholstering the dining room.
A Look Back: Remastering My 2009 Archive
As I've been working my way through my back catalogue, I'm excited to share a remastered collection from my 2009 visit to Howth. However, as I've been reprocessing these files, I wanted to provide a bit of technical context for what you're seeing.
These images were created with a Canon 1Ds MkIII. For those who remember the camera forums from that era, you'll know this body had a reputation for poor AF performance.
At the time, I was unaware that my specific camera was affected by a well-known (and later, recalled) hardware flaw in its autofocus system. This made the AF incredibly unreliable, especially for tracking subjects. If some images in this collection feel slightly less sharp than my current work, this is often the culprit.
Furthermore, you may notice that the shadow areas have a different character than my modern Sony images. Sensor technology from 2007, while top-of-the-line for its day, had far less dynamic range. When I "lift" the shadows on these older files, I'm pulling up a lot more noise and "grain" than you'd see from a modern camera. Rather than trying to scrub it all away and create a plastic-looking image, I've chosen to embrace it as part of the texture and history of that file.
These technical challenges were, in fact, the beginning of my journey to the Sony mirrorless system I use today.
It's a fascinating process to revisit these old files. It reminds me how far the technology has come, but also that a strong composition and moment will always shine through. I still own that 1Ds MkIII—and as it turns out, with manual focus, it still works beautifully as a studio camera!
And Now Why I Was In Howth
I visited Howth early in January 2009 as my mother requested me to bring her to lunch at AQUA. Starting in 2000 we visited four or five times every year up until 2020.
Is it still operational? Yes, Aqua Restaurant in Howth is still operational.
When did it open and what is its history? The restaurant officially opened to the public on 10 January 2000, following a private opening on millennium night (31 December 1999).
The building itself has a long maritime history. It was originally the home of the Howth Sailing Club, which was formed in 1895. The building was extended in the late 1960s but was vacated in 1986 when the club moved to new premises. The building subsequently fell into disrepair. The current owners, who were keen sailors, began a complete refurbishment in 1998, restoring the building to house the restaurant.
The restaurant has had closures unrelated to Covid. It is their organisational policy to close for a period every January for annual leave and maintenance. For example, in January 2014, they undertook a significant refurbishment that included sanding, painting, and reupholstering the dining room.
HOWTH HARBOUR 9 JANUARY 2009