Nov 15 2006

I really don't have anything to write today, not really in the mood.

Here is a photo from Dingle on the western coast of Ireland. I think I read it was the westernmost city in Europe, but I wouldn't quote me on that. Huh...look at that Dingle is actually a "sister" city of Santa Barbara, CA. Those Irish get around I guess. The Dingle Peninsula also happens to be where my mother's side of the family came from many a years ago. The city is a bit of a tourist mecca in the summer months, and also is home to about 50 pubs (in a city of 1500 or so full-time residents). This is a place I will go back to at some point in time.

The Peninsula itself is absolutely gorgeous, rolling green hills for endless miles. The habor is includes an active fishing industry and at the right time of day you can catch the fishing boats going out to sea (or returning). I wish I remember where we stayed at, maybe Jen or Meg remembers. I know it was a B&B on the top of the hill and where this photo was taken from. Oh, and I remember the Gaileo family stayed there annually. The only downside being no pub so it was Guinness out of a can, which is a sin while you are in Ireland if you ask me. They shouldn't even offer it...just say look, here's a Murphy's, deal with it.

As for the photo, this is a scan from a film negative. Truthfully it did not scan all that well, so there were some enhancements on this picture. Noise had to be reduced because of the poor scan, it was converted to a silver duotone using a new toy I bought! I've been having a blast with the b&w studio and tone version studio tools. I then introduced some film grain back in to the picture to add some depth and texture in the clouds and beams of light that was removed when cleaning up the noise. Oh, and I brought the contrast down a bit to silhouette the trees more with the bay. And before you get all uppity with me, it's nothing more than what was done in the darkroom back in Ansel's days...just a different set of tools.

Dingle, Ireland
May 2003