Bridge over the Liffey River, a photo from Dublin, South

Photographer's Note

The Ha'penny Bridge is a pedestrian bridge built in 1816 over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland. Before the Ha'penny Bridge was built there were seven ferries, operated by a William Walsh, across the Liffey. The ferries were in a bad condition and he was informed that he had to either fix them or build a bridge. Walsh chose the latter option and was granted the right to extract a ha'penny toll from anyone crossing it for 100 years

The river was previously named An Ruirthech, meaning "fast (or strong) runner".[1] The word Liphe (or Life) referred originally to the name of the plain through which the river ran, but eventually came to refer to the river itself. [2] It was also known as the Anna Liffey,[3] possibly from an Anglicization of Abhainn na Life, the Irish phrase that translates into English as River Liffey.[

The River Liffey in Dublin city has been used for many centuries for trade, from the Viking beginnings of the city up to recent times.

A well-known sight on the Liffey up to the 1990s, the Lady Patricia[5] and Miranda Guinness[5] cargo ships were used to export Guinness from the St. James's Gate Brewery.

In recent years, the only regular traffic on the river within the city is the Liffey Voyage water tour bus service, which runs guided tours along the River Liffey through Dublin City centre. Departing from the boardwalk downstream of the Ha'penny Bridge, the Spirit of the Docklands runs under O'Connell Bridge, Butt Bridge and the Talbot Memorial Bridge on a journey downstream, passing the Custom House before turning at the Grand Canal Basin and back up stream. Built by Westers Mekaniska in Sweden, this 50 passenger water taxi, has variable ballast tanks (not unlike a submarine) and an exceptionally low air draught which means that at low tide it can float high, but at high tide it can ride low and still pass smoothly below the Liffey Bridges.
Source

robertosalguero, Angshu, besnard, danos, avene, xuaxo, feather, Emile, jlbrthnn, ruisc_pt, bakes888, jwmunro, gunbud, josepmarin, Didi, zmey has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (196) 2008-07-08 21:18

Hi Pat,

Very nice night shot. The blue hour is well seen here with the city lights adding a nice element to the view. The image is sharp and nicely balanced. I would love to see this place under sunlight. I bet is a beautiful place to go for a walk. THanks Pat :-)

Roberto

besnard (48755) 2008-07-08 22:51

Bonjour Pat
Une image nocturne bien réalisée avec le pont et les reflets bien saisis.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

Angshu (51174) 2008-07-09 1:15

Hello Pat
So youre travelling in Ireland..wish to visit the country one day, heard it's very beautiful. The blue hour capture of the famous bridge is very well done. Like the rainbow like colours on the bridge & the reflection. At what time did you take the shot & what was the ISO? Just curious because I've just started using a DSLR lately
Best Regards
Angshu

danos (73926) 2008-07-09 2:58

Hello Pat,
nice nocturne shot taken at the most perfect time of the day,the blue hour. I don't think you could better the quality or the sharpness, they are just outstanding. It's a superb capture,with the depth of field to be impressive and in combination with the reflections of the bridge,to make the scene memorable.Well done.

Regards,Danos

avene (12671) 2008-07-09 4:15

hi Pat,
I think that the blue hour is the best time for photos like this, the strong colour nicely emphasises the golden lights and still contains enough details, but hides the possible distractions. smart use of the reflection to double the effect of the differently coloured lights on the bridge. very nice work, my compliments.

with best regards,
Kristine

xuaxo (6830) 2008-07-09 4:48

Olá Pat,
What a contrast with your previous post!
Good twilight view of river and bridge.
I like that you placed the bridge off-centre.
Your shot is upriver, while mine is nearer to the sea.
Enjoy your trip to rainy Ireland.
SAA, F

feather (51128) 2008-07-09 5:40

I see you are managing to post on the road. Excellent "blue hour" shot of the Ha'penny Bridge, although you probably found out that the "blue hour" lasts most of the night at this time of year. You found a good POV and the reflection is lovely. I like the slight off-centred composition giving room for the flag poles and introducing various different skyline elements. Good work
Kath

Emile (20348) 2008-07-09 13:07

Hola Pat.
Nice night shot of this beautiful and colorful bridge that you captured very well through a good POV. Colors and light are very good.
Well done.
Cheers.

lestans (16770) 2008-07-09 14:04

Hi Pat!!
so you are in Ireland now! I hope you enjoy it a lot! Ireland must be gorgeous.

Nice capture this pedestrian bridge using a 300 mm zoom! Lovely reflection and atmosphera.
I'll wait next pcs from you!
a big kiss!
Livia

Gerrit (43735) 2008-07-09 17:02

Hi Pat,
excellent night- and mirrorshot and such beautiful colors.
Great work.
regards, Gerrit

jlbrthnn (79773) 2008-07-10 6:33

Hello Stalemate,
It is a night image, at the blue hour of very good quality. Pretty reflections and large depth of the photograph. Cheer.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

ruisc_pt (10111) 2008-07-10 8:23

Hello Pat
Ireland..humm a nice country tio visit..and what a superb shot.
In the blue hour your capture of this famous bridge is very atractive.
Best Regards
R

MiguelP (14464) 2008-07-10 13:03

Of course there is modern buildings in this photo, but It reminds me to a short tale of James Joyce, adapted to the screen by John Huston in what it was he last film and masterpiede: "The death". Fantastic light Patricia.

MarianneS (15338) 2008-07-10 22:21

Hello Pat,
I love blue hours! I call it magic blue hour :-))
I have the impression that you did the same error as the one I often do : you took your shot a few minutes too late, when the blue hour is already dark. If you have a very well illuminated building, it does not matter. If not, you have a dark composition. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think 5 or 10 minutes earlier would have been perfect.
Fortunately, you have here the bridge which brings some light twice, thanks to its reflection. It crates a nice graphical view.

Regards,
Marianne

John_F_Kennedy (41368) 2008-07-10 23:29

Nicely captured image at night. Like the composition and the colours. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

bakes888 (18499) 2008-07-12 0:36

Hi Pat. You have certainly caught the blue hour! Excellent photo. Good POV and composition. Nice mix of colours also. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

pablominto (53744) 2008-07-14 8:18

Hello Pat,

Night life in Dublin, colourful and swinging!
The dominating blue contrasts so well with the spots of warm artificial light, and if I look closely I can see some nightlife on the riverbank...
A well composed image with a fine mood!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Bluejeans (64221) 2008-07-17 6:04

Ola Pat,
Que linda foto nocturna capturaste um magnifico reflexo desta ponte antiga , o reflexo ficou com uma boa simetria , gostei muito das luzes e do céu , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

jwmunro (286) 2008-07-20 14:24

Hello Pat -

This image is just past the blue hour but I think it does show the Liffy and the Ha'penny Bridge quit well. I think the reflection makes the image. Isn't this a wonderful town, for a big city? Jo and I just love Ireland and the people. More, please!

Thank you for sharing.

John

gunbud (34052) 2008-07-20 19:43

Hi Pat,
Wonderful blue hour capture of this iconic span. The blue gold and green colors work wonderfully in subtle late day harmony.
I talked to a Warsaw Jewish Dr. that said in Warsaw thay would say things are band but not as bad as Dublin which for centuries was the poorest city in Europe.
Regards, Tom

josepmarin (55011) 2008-08-11 9:08

Hi Pat,
good capture at the blue hour, I like the lighting of the bridge and its reflections on the water, and the city in the semidarkness, that it offers us a good contrast with the sky and the clouds.
The luminosity of the scene is very interesting.
Beautiful city, and beautiful photo.
HLJ
Josep
PS: thank you very mauch for your words of condolence, my friend.

Didi (48880) 2008-08-13 10:44

Hi Pat
Well done with the lights management without excessive exposition.
It's a very nice blue hour composition.
Cheers.

zmey (7335) 2008-09-10 12:42

hello pat

a beautiful scene; love that blue and the city lights reflecting. but something seems off compositionally (for my eye). hmm, cannot point my finger at it, what exactly it is. possibly disbalance between the wide open blue on the top and saturation of bright lights at the bottom. maybe a more narrow crop would balance out nicer. hmm... don't mind my babbling ;)

cheers,
kristaps