I NOW LIKE SEAGULLS
THIS SERIES OF IMAGES IS ACTUALLY FROM MY JANUARY 2009 VISIT TO ST MARY'S ABBEY IN HOWTH [LONG STORY]
Taking the seabed area into account, Ireland is actually one of the largest EU countries with sovereign or exclusive rights over one of the largest sea to land ratios (over 10:1) of any EU member state.
Sea-fishing is consistently ranked as Ireland's most dangerous occupation, a fact underscored by high fatality rates. The human cost of the industry is stark: in the decade leading up to 2012 alone, approximately 42 crew members died at sea. More recent Health and Safety Authority (HSA) data, covering the 10-year period from 2011 to 2020, recorded 39 fatalities in the sector. This later analysis found the average age of those who died was 46, with the vast majority of deaths (87%) caused by drowning, most often following the capsizing or foundering of a vessel.
Some time ago I published a collection of photographs claiming that they were from my 2009 visit Howth and that I had used a Sigma DP2 camera but the story is much more complicated as the photographs actually resulted from a 2018 visit. In 2009 I used a Canon 1Ds MKIII which I still have.
Why the confusion?
A few days ago, while processing my back catalogue, I came across a collection of images from St Mary's Abbey. The files were Sigma RAW from a Sigma DP2, which surprised me, as I wasn't certain Lightroom could even process them back then. I remastered a number of the photographs with the intention of republishing them.
As I reviewed the images of St Mary's Abbey I realised something was seriously wrong. One photograph showed a section of the wall nearest the harbour as brand new. I knew this was impossible. That specific wall had been badly damaged by heavy rain and was only repaired after 2011. The 2009 date stamp had to be incorrect.
The Investigation
This discrepancy sent me investigating. My first step was to confirm my movements. I was able to verify that I did visit Howth on January 22nd, 2009, which only deepened the mystery.
Next, I checked the camera's release date. The Sigma DP2 was announced in 2008, so it seemed possible I had it. However, I then discovered that pre-production review copies were only made available in February 2009. It was highly unlikely I had one a month earlier.
I was getting nowhere fast until I checked my Flickr account. I found the exact image that had caught my attention: it was indeed date-stamped 9-1-2009, but it had been uploaded on January 22, 2018. The 2009 date was clearly an error, likely from my camera's settings being wrong.
The Resolution
So, what photos did I take in 2009? I searched my archive for images from that date captured with my other gear and found another collection from January 8th and 9th, 2009. Sure enough, the camera used was my Canon 1Ds MkIII.
Finding those Canon files brought the memory of that specific 2009 trip flooding back. I remembered it being a bad day. The Canon's autofocus (AF) had failed, which is why I decided to get another camera and eventually to switch over to Sony Mirrorless. I was also harassed by a woman who was annoyed I wouldn't photograph her. When she followed me into the graveyard, she was promptly attacked by seagulls.
I now like seagulls.
Taking the seabed area into account, Ireland is actually one of the largest EU countries with sovereign or exclusive rights over one of the largest sea to land ratios (over 10:1) of any EU member state.
Sea-fishing is consistently ranked as Ireland's most dangerous occupation, a fact underscored by high fatality rates. The human cost of the industry is stark: in the decade leading up to 2012 alone, approximately 42 crew members died at sea. More recent Health and Safety Authority (HSA) data, covering the 10-year period from 2011 to 2020, recorded 39 fatalities in the sector. This later analysis found the average age of those who died was 46, with the vast majority of deaths (87%) caused by drowning, most often following the capsizing or foundering of a vessel.
Some time ago I published a collection of photographs claiming that they were from my 2009 visit Howth and that I had used a Sigma DP2 camera but the story is much more complicated as the photographs actually resulted from a 2018 visit. In 2009 I used a Canon 1Ds MKIII which I still have.
Why the confusion?
A few days ago, while processing my back catalogue, I came across a collection of images from St Mary's Abbey. The files were Sigma RAW from a Sigma DP2, which surprised me, as I wasn't certain Lightroom could even process them back then. I remastered a number of the photographs with the intention of republishing them.
As I reviewed the images of St Mary's Abbey I realised something was seriously wrong. One photograph showed a section of the wall nearest the harbour as brand new. I knew this was impossible. That specific wall had been badly damaged by heavy rain and was only repaired after 2011. The 2009 date stamp had to be incorrect.
The Investigation
This discrepancy sent me investigating. My first step was to confirm my movements. I was able to verify that I did visit Howth on January 22nd, 2009, which only deepened the mystery.
Next, I checked the camera's release date. The Sigma DP2 was announced in 2008, so it seemed possible I had it. However, I then discovered that pre-production review copies were only made available in February 2009. It was highly unlikely I had one a month earlier.
I was getting nowhere fast until I checked my Flickr account. I found the exact image that had caught my attention: it was indeed date-stamped 9-1-2009, but it had been uploaded on January 22, 2018. The 2009 date was clearly an error, likely from my camera's settings being wrong.
The Resolution
So, what photos did I take in 2009? I searched my archive for images from that date captured with my other gear and found another collection from January 8th and 9th, 2009. Sure enough, the camera used was my Canon 1Ds MkIII.
Finding those Canon files brought the memory of that specific 2009 trip flooding back. I remembered it being a bad day. The Canon's autofocus (AF) had failed, which is why I decided to get another camera and eventually to switch over to Sony Mirrorless. I was also harassed by a woman who was annoyed I wouldn't photograph her. When she followed me into the graveyard, she was promptly attacked by seagulls.
I now like seagulls.
COMPLICATED STORY