In Dublin for TBEX, I attended Tea with the Lord Mayor of Dublin at the Mansion House, the oldest free-standing house in Dublin and the residence of Dublin’s first citizen. After tea we were given a tour of the lower floor of the mansion.
Passing through the hall to the Dining Room, it was hard to miss the glow of light filtering down from the stunning rotunda skylight above. The tour was moving through at a quick pace, so I found the nearest wall to lean against, dialed my ISO up to the 600 range, steadied myself, pointed towards the ceiling and clicked the shutter. I caught up with the rest of the group in the Dining Hall. Here the light from the skylights was interspersed with shimmering decorative chandeliers. The natural light highlighted the surrounding trim, intricate moldings and patterned glass.
When out shooting, I try to take in the variety of angles and perspectives available to me. Some of the prettiest light comes filtered from above, through skylights, decorative lights, leaves, screens and reflected off of buildings. Dramatic light and perspective is all around you. Always look up.
The Mansion House was built in 1705 and became a government building in 1713. There is a residence upstairs for the current Lord Mayor to live in while he/she serves a one year term. I learned much about the history of Ireland while touring the mansion. My favorite story and the story that touched me the most will be shared in my next post. And yes, I hear there are ghosts!
