For the past three decades, the October Bank Holiday Monday sees Dublin city centre closed to give way to the annual running of the city marathon, and early this morning a record 12,750 runners passed through the start line on Fitzwilliam Street to participate in the 30th Dublin Marathon.
I found myself getting up early this morning to head into town for two reasons – firstly, the marathon would be a good opportunity for some photographs, and secondly, my father-in-law was going to be running it and so there was a chance to try to track his progress around the course.
Luckily for me, the start of the course ran along Fitzwilliam Square East, which is where my office is located – so not only did it mean I could bring my car (and my camera gear) all the way into town, but also I was guaranteed a good vantage point for the start of the race.
This is just one of a number of shots I took from this vantage point, but unless the blog is to get very boring, probably the only one I’ll post of the start (for now at least). It is using a tried-and-tested formula for me of fisheye lens + elevated vantage point + lots of people = distinctive shot. You might recognize the look from one of my favourite shots from the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in Galway last June. It’s a nice bonus that my office is almost directly in line with the centre of Fitzwilliam Square, giving the shot a nice symmetry.
After finishing up at the start area it was time to pack up and head for the 18 mile mark at Milltown, where I was lucky to get a nice photo of the ultimate winner of the race – more on that tomorrow.
Brilliant Ronan. Congrats!
Thanks Danny!