At last im nearly there with the new studio. It`s been a while since I posted about this but I`ve been struggling to find time lately. I`ve been saying “nearly there” for the past 6 weeks but now there is light at the end of the tunnel. I won`t go and advertise straight away as I want to build the business slowly and make sure I`m 100% happy with the quality of the product/service I`m providing. Hopefully this time next year I`ll be busy with it 🙂
The new studio is coming along nicely. The weather has been great the past couple of weeks. Since this photo was taken, the roof tiles are on and the electricians have finished the first fix.
Work began on my new studio build yesterday. It was great to see it started after all the time spent planning. The weather is great at the moment so hopefully there won`t be much delay.
When the alarm went off at 5:30 this morning I was sure I had made a mistake in planning a photo shoot at the nearby Blessington Lakes. I needed more sleep. Anyway a deal was a deal so I got myself up and braved the cold, started the car and let the frost thaw from the windows.
We arrived at the lakes at around 6:30 and settled on a location that would give us a good view of the sunrise. After about 15 minutes the grey skies began to glow from the sun rising behind the hills. It was amazing how quickly the light was changing and we knew it would not last very long as there was a lot of cloud around.
I got several shots that I was reasonably happy with and I will post them here over the coming days.
Here is the first;
Here`s the last from the weekends abandoned cottage shoot. Not really sure about it at first but the more I looked at it the more it grew on me. I really liked the pattern from the trusses and I tried to frame the chimney as best as I could through the gaps. I blended a texture layer to give it a bit of lift.
Another from the weekend abandoned cottage shoot. I really liked the textures and colour on this old door and the 50mm lens did a good job of capturing it. The plants behind the door were a bit distracting so I decided to desaturate them to keep the emphasis on the door. I think it works?
Heres another photo from last weekends abandoned cottage shoot. It was difficult to find a good angle while limiting myself to my 50mm lens but I enjoyed the challenge. The more I use this lens the more I`m enjoying it. It`s seriously sharp!
Went exploring some derelict cottages near Donadea Forest Park with my friends Tom and Damien this morning. When we arrived at our first location it was hard to know where to start as there was so much potential all around us. I remembered Brian Matiash`s sound advice from a post on his blog last year “get the gimme shots out of the way”. In other words, take all the obvious shots, before concentrating on details and angles.
With this in mind I decided to use only my 50mm 1.4 to force myself to move around a bit more and find the shot.
Here is the first of several that I will post over the next few days. I hope you like.
Nikon D90 / Nikkor 50mm f1.4 – 3 exposure HDR @ f16 and ISO 200
Grand Canal Dock – Dublin – Ireland
3exposures .4, 1/40, 1/10 @ f20 and ISO 200. Nikon D90 / Sigma 10-20
Dun Laoghaire baths were closed in 1997 and have now fallen into disrepair. The baths also had a water park and slides, and were known as Rainbow Rapids. Several plans to re develop the site have come and gone, but to date the site remains derelict.
Over the years, the moderate charges and high standards of maintenance helped to increase the popularity of Dun Laoghaire Baths. They were open from 6.30am to 8.00pm during the summer months. The service was excellent and included the provision of hot towels. There was a tea room nearby, providing refreshments for the bathers. Buses and trains offered a regular means of transport to and from Dun Laoghaire, making it a popular place for tourists and day-trippers.
During the 1970s, heated indoor pools were added as well as a water fun park, known as Rainbow Rapids.
In 1997, the outdoor baths were closed because there was a proposal made to develop a huge water complex on the site. This proposal did not come to fruition, due in part to the huge public outcry, but the baths remained closed.
In 2005, proposals were made available to members of the public regarding the development of the site of the baths. The plans included the re-development of the whole area from the back of the East Pier to Newtownsmith. This included the private development of some of the area through apartments, offices and shops.
There was a public outcry. The biggest rally and protest march the area had ever seen was held on Sunday September 18th 2005 at Newtownsmith. It included a free concert. Due to the public pressure, the plans were dropped and ideas sought for another way of using the site. It is hoped by many that the baths will be restored to their former glory and maintained to a high standard for use by both residents and visitors alike. The great public amenity that was Dun Laoghaire baths may, once again, be used by all.
3 exposures; 1/100, 1/500 and 1/125 @ f22 and ISO 200. Nikon D90 / Sigma 10-20.
Gerry Chaney Photography 