68/365: Dublin, city of contrasts

A long layover gave me the opportunity to explore Dublin a bit. What struck me most were the contrasts within this very compact capital city (I was only in the city for 6 hours). The above photo was taken in O’Neill’s Pub in the early afternoon. Just outside were the river and the streets.

Dublin is well-known for its doors

and greenery

and, despite the recent Celtic tiger growth, for its urban decay.

Of course, the weather can change rapidly

But no matter what, the streets are paved with Guinness!

58/365: Happy pint

Because who doesn’t like to look at a smile?

31/365: Lights in motion

Experimentation with light is at a basic level what photography is. The best experimentalists (in my field, at least) occasionally have to just try something because it seems intriguing.

I’m not going to claim such a higher level thought here. But if you always have a camera, you’re more likely to experiment. Even if you’re only semi-coherent while doing the experiment.

Today’s photo was taken at the end of a very long day in the office performing scholarly duties. Afterwards I went out for beer(s) with my collaborator. After consuming enough beer to make me happy that I can walk home, a lot of experimentation ensued (much of it utterly forgettable). But I liked this sequence.

The above and below are of the same subject.

And the original scene of the crime. Note the T on the exit sign. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to reproduce this effect. But I like the combination of music and dancing photographically (and otherwise), though I suspect this thought’s not general (nor the appeal of this photo).

14/365: Green Fluorescent Guinness

The perfectly poured pint – rendered green fluorescent. The green fluorescent appeal may be partly related to professional interests (related image). The high contrast particularly emphasized the bubble fine structure in Guinness.

Original image (because on a very very cold winter day, inside seemed the best locale for the day’s photo):

Guinness as a moonscape – craters, pocked surface ridges, crescent. I really liked the ultrafine structure of the bubbles (seen on magnification) and the shadow cast by the legs (I needed a taste for complete photographic inspiration!) as well as the shadows produced by the daylight coming from the window.

These aspects (especially the bubble microstructure) are emphasized in the black and white version of the image:

Though I think the sepia-toned version is the most true to the beer (and indeed the best of these images, taking into account shadows and wood grain):

If your Guinness doesn’t look like this (and it usually doesn’t), find a different bar where they know how to properly pour a pint!

Cheers!