William Murphy | THE HEADLESS PHOTO BLOG

PLEASE EXCUSE THE LENS FLARE

I expected to have issues with lens flare but I decided to live with it when using the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Chancery House: A Landmark of Dublin Social Housing

Chancery House, a striking apartment complex on Dublin’s Chancery Place, stands as an important marker in the city’s social housing history. Designed by the visionary architect Herbert George Simms and completed in 1935, it was part of a larger corporation housing scheme aimed at addressing Dublin’s chronic housing shortage and slum conditions.

The Concept of Social Housing in Dublin

Dublin, like many European cities in the early 20th century, faced a severe housing crisis. Overcrowding, dilapidated tenements, and poor sanitation plagued working-class neighborhoods. Social housing emerged as a government-led response, providing affordable, quality housing to those who couldn’t access the private market. The Dublin Corporation, of which Simms was the chief architect, played a pivotal role in driving these initiatives.

Chancery House: Quality and Community

Chancery House embodied a shift in social housing design. Simms rejected the austere, institutional style of earlier housing schemes. Instead, he aimed for aesthetically pleasing buildings that created a sense of community. Chancery House’s architectural features demonstrate this approach:

Georgian Influence: The red-brick facade and symmetrical design nod to Dublin’s Georgian heritage, integrating the complex into the existing cityscape.
Interior Courtyards: Spacious courtyards provided communal space for residents, fostering a sense of neighbourliness.
Amenities: The original design included a small public park, demonstrating an understanding that social housing extended beyond mere shelter.
Herbert Simms: A Legacy of Social Responsibility

Herbert Simms was a champion of well-designed social housing. His philosophy centred on creating dignified, liveable spaces that elevated the lives of working-class Dubliners. Some of his notable projects include:

Crumlin and Marino Housing Schemes: Large-scale developments that provided hundreds of modern homes.

Cabra Estate: Simms’ plans for Cabra transformed a sprawling estate into a model suburb with ample green spaces.

Simms’ lasting impact on Dublin’s social housing landscape is undeniable. His work demonstrated that affordable housing could be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, setting a standard for future developments.

Continuing Challenges

While Chancery House and Simms’ work represent a significant step forward, social housing in Dublin continues to face challenges. The demand for affordable housing still outstrips supply, and some historic complexes have suffered from neglect. However, the legacy of architects like Simms serves as a reminder of the importance of investing in quality social housing to create thriving, inclusive communities.

My Lens Flare Problems.

lens flare and green dots are known issues with Apple iPhones, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is not immune. Here’s why:

How Lens Flare Happens:

Bright Light Sources: When a bright light source (like the sun or streetlights) hits the camera lens directly or at an angle, it can cause internal reflections and scattering of light within the lens elements.
Lens Coatings: While lens coatings are designed to reduce flare, they can’t eliminate it completely, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Why Green Dots Appear:

Sensor Reflections: The green dots are likely reflections of the bright light source off the iPhone camera’s sensor. Newer iPhone models with larger sensors and more complex lens systems can sometimes be more susceptible to this.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max Factor:

Improved Night Photography: The iPhone 12 Pro Max has enhanced low-light capabilities, making it great for nighttime photos. However, this also increases its sensitivity to bright light sources, potentially leading to more noticeable lens flare and green dots.
LiDAR Sensor: The LiDAR sensor on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, while useful for certain features, might contribute to more reflections within the camera module.
It’s Not Just iPhones:

Lens flare is a common issue in photography and affects most cameras to some degree, including DSLRs and point-and-shoot cameras.

PHOTOGRAPHED APRIL 2024 USING A SONY FX30

What are Rag Trees?

Rag trees, sometimes called “cloutie trees” (from the Scottish Gaelic word for cloth), are trees adorned with strips of cloth or pieces of clothing. They’re primarily found in Ireland and Scotland and are often near holy wells or other sites of religious and spiritual significance.

History and Meaning

The tradition of rag trees has a long and complex history in Ireland:

Pre-Christian Roots: Many believe the custom has roots in pre-Christian Celtic traditions. Trees were often considered sacred, believed to be places where the veil between the human world and the spirit world was thin. Offerings left on trees were thought to appease deities or nature spirits.
Christianisation: With the arrival of Christianity, the practice of leaving offerings on trees didn’t disappear. Instead, it became associated with saints and holy wells. People would tie rags to trees near a well as a plea for healing from illness or as a request for blessings from the local saint.
Symbolism: The rags on the tree are thought to symbolise the ailment or problem the person wishes to be rid of. As the cloth disintegrates over time, the hope is that the illness or trouble will also fade and disappear.

Rag Trees Around the World

While most prominently associated with Ireland and Scotland, traditions of tying offerings onto trees exist in various cultures:

Eastern Europe and Asia: Similar practices are found in parts of Eastern Europe, Russia, and Asia. These could be connected to ancient animistic beliefs or adopted into other religious traditions over time.
Global Examples: You can find variations of this idea of leaving offerings on trees or bushes in other parts of the world, highlighting the cross-cultural power of trees as symbols and potential places of spiritual connection.

The Rag Tree in the Botanic Gardens

The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, has a rag tree. It’s likely a hawthorn, a tree often associated with this tradition in Ireland due to its links to the Otherworld in Celtic mythology. Visitors tie mostly colourful ribbons and pieces of cloth to its branches. While many holy wells are rural, the rag tree in the Botanic Gardens demonstrates this enduring folk custom in an urban setting, allowing visitors to connect with Irish tradition.