Photonique

• Hidden Hydrology And Wild Meadows
• A Vibrant Mesoamerican Dialogue At Trinity College
• This Is Not A Generic Red Metal Sculpture
• Modernist Form In College Park By Gerda Frömel
• Unveiling Failing Better
• Sculpture By Henry Moore At Trinity College
• Vernon Arch On Castle Avenue 22 July 2026
• Street Art On View At Malborough Place
• The Pond And Associated Follies
• Photographs Of St Anne's Park
• Deformed Trees And Exposed Roots
• Annie Lee Tower And Bridge
• The Clock Tower And The Walled Garden
• Northside Dublin

EXPLORING THE TRINITY COLLEGE CAMPUS

THE LEGACY CATALOG

* In The Year 2008 * In The Year 2011 * In The Year 2017 * Henrietta Back In 2010

I HOPED TO FIND AND PHOTOGRAPH ST PATRICK'S WELL

Hidden Hydrology and Wild Meadows: The Curious Paradoxes of Trinity College Dublin

• A visit to the historic grounds of Trinity College Dublin often yields unexpected discoveries. Founded in 1592, this ancient institution attracts millions of visitors annually through its iconic Front Gate. Most come to walk the historic cobbles, admire the 18th-century Old Library, and view the priceless 9th-century Book of Kells.

• Yet beyond the famous attractions lies a fascinating landscape of ecological experiments, curious tourist misconceptions, and centuries-old hidden history.

The Great "Wilding" Experiment

• For decades, first-time visitors arrived expecting a carbon copy of an Oxbridge courtyard, complete with pristine, emerald-green manicured lawns. Aside from the obvious geographic detail that Dublin is the capital of Ireland rather than England, modern visitors are often caught completely off guard by the sight framing the statues of Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith: a sprawling, intentionally overgrown wildflower meadow.

• What initially resembles neglected turf is actually a deliberate rewilding initiative. Following a 2020 vote where 90 per cent of students and staff supported the project, Trinity College replaced its bowling-green style lawns at Front Gate with urban biodiversity spaces.

• Instead of heavily fertilised, tightly cropped grass requiring chemical pesticides and constant upkeep, the ground was handed back to nature. Native clover, knapweed, buttercups, and rare orchids now flourish in the centre of bustling city traffic.

"Must Have Been Defunded!"

• Not everyone grasps the ecological intent immediately. Standing near Front Square on a warm afternoon, overheard remarks frequently reveal hilarious misunderstandings.

• One dismayed visitor was recently overheard telling their partner in all seriousness that the university must have suffered severe funding cuts, as it clearly could no longer afford to maintain the grounds or purchase a lawnmower.

• In reality, cultivating a rewilded meadow requires far more deliberate ecological planning than routine mowing. What some mistake for a depleted budget is a world-class university making a direct statement about biodiversity and urban conservation. High-Tech Pitch Maintenance and the Paradox of the Well

• The theory of a cash-strapped university becomes even more amusing just a short stroll away. While the Front Gate lawns are left to bloom wildly for pollinators, autonomous robotic lawnmowers quietly whir across the college grounds, precision-grooming the cricket pitches and rugby fields.

• During dry spells, sprinklers actively irrigate these sports grounds alongside official signs reassuring passers-by that the turf is being watered using an on-site subterranean well. The university balances two distinct operational choices: strict water sustainability initiatives alongside automated pitch maintenance, directly adjacent to an intentional urban wilderness.

Seeking the Lost Saint Patrick’s Well

• This modern reliance on groundwater creates a striking historical parallel with a search across campus for Dublin's legendary Saint Patrick’s Well (Sráid Thobar Phádraig).

• The historical well remains hidden along the southern boundary of the campus inside the Provost’s Garden, adjacent to the path leading to the Provost's House Stables. It sits inside a narrow subterranean brick vault. While the locked access point sits within the Trinity garden perimeter near the Arts Building, the underground chamber extends beneath the Nassau Street footpath near the Dawson Street junction.

Historical clues mark its presence:

• Street Names: For generations, the official Irish street sign for Nassau Street read Sráid Thobar Phádraig—translating directly to "Street of Saint Patrick's Well".

• Viking Earthworks: Medieval lore suggests Saint Patrick used the natural spring to baptise early Dublin converts. Originally an open spring over 40 feet deep, it was enclosed in the 17th century when earth from the nearby dismantled Thingmote (Dublin's Viking assembly mound) was scattered along the lane, creating the vault and reducing its depth.

• The spring famously ran dry in 1729, likely due to local quarrying or foundation work severing the underground water vein. The event sparked immediate folklore, prompting Dean Jonathan Swift to write a satirical poem lightheartedly accusing thirsty Trinity students of drinking the holy well dry during an extended bender.

The Ultimate Campus Contrast

• Though the historic bricked-over vault of Saint Patrick's Well remains out of sight beneath Nassau Street, the campus hydrologic story continues.

Railway Stations

* Clontarf Railway Station * Docklands Railway Station * Malahide Railway Station

Recommended Photo Galleries

• Brown Thomas Sculpture At Limerick University Campus
• Niche By Orla de Brín At Limerick University Campus
• Sculpture By Betty Gold
• All Forms Of Memorial
• Standing On A Knife Edge By Henry Moore
• The Children Of Lir By Oisin Kelly
• Man And Dog Sculpture At Cork University Campus
• Many Years Of Sculpture In Context
• Public Art As Photographed In 2024
• Examples Of Public Art 2023 Catalog
• Annie Lee Tower And Bridge
• The Clock Tower And The Walled Garden
• Northside Dublin
• Formally Known As The Irish Suzhou Garden At St Anne's Park
• St Ann's Holy Well At St Anne's
• St John The Baptist Cemetery In Clontarf

Our Equipment Choices

Today I received A Godox iT30Pro L for my Leica Q3 and I also received A Godox iT30Pro S for my Sony A1 II and Sony A7RVI. I will discuss the Leica version here.

The Godox iT30Pro L is Godox's ultra-compact, dedicated TTL mini speedlite designed for Leica camera systems. Weighing a mere 120 g, it provides a portable, modern lighting solution for Leica M, Q, and SL series bodies without disrupting the balanced ergonomics of rangefinders or compact cameras.

Technical Specifications at a Glance

• Guide Number (GN): 15 m (at ISO 100) / ~49.2 ft
• Flash Output Range: 1/1 to 1/128 (in 1/3 EV increments)
• Exposure Modes: Leica TTL, Manual (M), Multi-Stroboscopic
• Sync Modes: High-Speed Sync (HSS up to 1/8000s), 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain
• Wireless Radio: Built-in 2.4 GHz Godox X System (Transmitter & Receiver; 32 Channels, 4 Groups)
• Display & Controls: 2.8" Full-Colour Touchscreen + Tactile Rear Scroll Dial
• Power Supply: Built-in 7.2V / 900 mAh Li-ion battery (USB-C rechargeable)
• Recycle Time & Battery Life: ~1.5 seconds full power; ~560 full-power flashes per charge
• Dimensions & Weight: 65 × 46 × 47 mm; 120 g
• EU Price Range: ~€100 – €110 (slightly higher than the €85–€89 variants for Canon/Nikon/Sony due to Leica shoe configuration)

Technical Review: Pros, Cons & Forum Insights

The Pros

• True Leica TTL Integration: Unlike previous manual mini flashes (such as the Lux Junior or iM30), the "L" version communicates directly with Leica's TTL metering system, yielding accurate auto-exposures.
• Integrated Godox 2.4 GHz X System: Functions as both a wireless Master/Transmitter (to trigger off-camera AD200s or V1s) and a wireless Receiver (controllable via a Godox X3-L trigger).
• Incredible Form Factor: At 120 g, it sits unobtrusively on top of an M10, M11, or Q3 without making the setup top-heavy.
• Built-in Wide/Normal (WN) Diffuser Switch: A mechanical side switch flips a built-in diffuser panel across the flash lens to soften direct light and widen beam coverage.
• Li-ion Convenience: USB-C direct charging eliminates the need for carrying spare AA/AAA batteries in your kit bag.

The Cons & Things to Be Aware Of

• Touchscreen Sensitivity (Crucial User Warning): A frequent complaint across user forums is that the 2.8" touchscreen is overly sensitive. Carrying the camera on a shoulder strap often leads to accidental power level changes or mode switches unless the screen lock is engaged.
• Fixed Flash Head: The flash head cannot tilt or swivel. You cannot bounce light off ceilings or side walls without removing the flash from the camera or using an off-camera TTL cable/trigger.
• Tight Leica Hot Shoe Tolerances: Leica hot shoes (notably on M film bodies and digital M models) feature tight mechanical tolerances. Ensure the quick-release foot is fully pushed into the shoe until it clicks, otherwise the TTL pins may lose contact.
• Modest Power Output: With a Guide Number of 15 m at ISO 100, this flash is designed for close-range street fill, environmental portraits, or indoor fill-in. It will not overpower harsh direct midday sunlight across long distances.
• Internal Non-Removable Battery: Once depleted, you must plug the flash into a USB-C power bank rather than swapping in fresh batteries.

Ideal Settings & Step-by-Step Setup

Recommended Operational Settings

• Street / Environmental Fill-Flash: Set mode to Leica TTL, with Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) set between -1.0 EV and -1.6 EV. This brightens shadow areas under eyes or hats while retaining natural ambient light.
• Low-Light / Indoor Portraits: Set mode to Manual (1/16 to 1/64 power), slide the WN switch to "W" (Wide) to deploy the wide-angle diffusion panel, and keep subject distances within 1.5–3 metres.
• Bright Sunlight / Open Aperture Shooting: Enable HSS (High-Speed Sync) on the flash so your Leica can sync up to 1/8000s shutter speed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mount and Lock to Hot Shoe: Mechanical setup. Turn off both camera and flash. Press and hold the quick-release lock button on the iT30Pro L base, slide the foot fully into the Leica hot shoe until seated, and release the button to secure the pin mechanism.

2. Power On and Select Exposure Mode: Initial settings. Power on the flash using the dedicated side power switch. Tap the top-left mode icon on the touchscreen to toggle between TTL (for automatic metering) or M (for manual power control).

3. Adjust Diffuser Position: Light quality setup. For focal lengths wider than 35 mm or close-up subjects, slide the side WN switch to "W". This drops the internal diffuser in front of the flash tube to broaden coverage and soften shadows.

4. Configure Exposure Compensation / Power: Fine-tuning output. In TTL mode, use the physical rear scroll wheel to dial in -1.0 EV FEC for natural fill. In Manual mode, spin the dial to set your desired output fraction (e.g. 1/32).

5. Engage Touchscreen Lock: Essential step. Long-press the lock icon on screen or press the quick-lock function to lock the touchscreen interface. This prevents accidental setting changes while shooting on location.

Why Are Official Leica-Branded Flashes So Expensive?

While the Godox iT30Pro L retails brand new for ~€100 – €110, official Leica-branded speedlites command a substantial price premium.

Pricing Context (EU Market)

• Godox iT30Pro L: ~€105 (New)
• Leica SF 40: ~€380 – €430 (Used / Pre-owned only — Discontinued by Leica; originally retailed at ~€510 new)
• Leica SF 60: ~€600 (New — Currently Leica's primary active entry-level speedlite)

Key Reasons for the Leica Price Premium

1. Rebadged OEM Partnering & Licensing Fees: Leica does not manufacture flash electronics in-house. Their SF series speedlites are re-engineered units produced by Japanese manufacturer Nissin (for example, the SF 40 is based on the Nissin i40, and the SF 60 on the Nissin i60A). Leica pays licensing fees for custom camera-to-flash communication protocols and redesigned outer casings, which inflates end-user costs.
2. Discontinuation and Availability Premium: Because smaller models like the SF 40 have been discontinued, users seeking an official compact Leica flash must either compete on the second-hand market or buy the significantly larger and costlier SF 60.
3. Low Volume Production: Leica operates on vastly smaller production runs than mass-market lighting brands like Godox. Fixed tooling and software engineering costs are spread across far fewer total units sold.
4. Brand Equity & Build Consistency: Leica gear carries an overhead markup tied to brand positioning, strict quality control standards, long-term servicing support, and aesthetic matching for anodized metal camera finishes.
5. Physical Capabilities: Larger OEM units like the SF 60 offer a tilting/swivelling head, motor-zooming reflectors up to 200 mm, and higher output power (GN 60). However, for compact travel and street shooting, the Godox iT30Pro L matches or exceeds them in pure convenience, radio ecosystem integration, and overall value.