Photographed By William Murphy - Select Image To View Photographs

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LEGACY IMAGES JULY 2009

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At the time, the scene was in a fascinating state of flux. What began in the 1980s as an illegal byproduct of the breakdance craze had evolved into a tolerated, if somewhat crude, gallery of urban expression. Back then, the massive concrete supports were covered in layers of spray paint that, by modern standards, might seem unrefined. Today, those early tags have been replaced by high-fidelity, world-class professional murals, but the soul of Drogheda’s art scene remains rooted in those riverside pillars.

The 2009 Kit: A Tale of Two Systems

Documenting this trip was meant to be a high-water mark for my photography, but for years, I looked back on these files with frustration. I was shooting with a Canon 1Ds MkIII and a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2.

The Canon 1Ds MkIII Autofocus Woes: The 1Ds MkIII was supposed to be the pinnacle of professional DSLRs. However, it was plagued by a notorious autofocus issue that caused significant tracking inconsistencies. At the time, I couldn't figure out why so many of my shots were just slightly "off." I returned it for repair but was informed that it worked as it should. I eventually migrated to Sony mirrorless systems, leaving the Canon files to gather digital dust, convinced they were unsalvageable. Note: I still have the Ds1 MkIII and use it in full manual mode and the results are acceptable but is totally outperformed by by Canon 5D III.

The Lumix LX2: This was my pocket companion. With its unique 16:9 native sensor, it was ahead of its time for wide-angle street shots. While it was a capable camera, I never truly warmed to the handling and eventually gifted it to a friend.

The Digital Resurrection: DxO PureRaw 6

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I obtained a copy of DxO PureRaw 6, and it has been an absolute revelation for my 2009 catalogue.

The software’s DeepPRIME XD3 algorithm has effectively "cured" the legacy issues of the 1Ds MkIII. By re-processing the original RAW data, it corrected the optical softness and noise that I once thought were permanent. Most impressively, version 6 introduces a new high-fidelity compression; the resulting DNG files are actually smaller than the original RAWs without any perceivable loss in quality. It has allowed me to resurrect a lost decade of work without the traditional storage penalty of Linear DNGs.

Evolution of the Boyne Banks

Drogheda has always had a deep relationship with the visual arts, from the 1981 passing of abstract expressionist Nano Reid to the 2006 opening of the Highlanes Gallery in the old Franciscan Friary on St. Laurence Street.

However, the Bridge of Peace represents the "people’s gallery." In 2009, the work was often unsponsored and fleeting. Today, the local authorities and businesses have embraced the medium, providing sponsorship that has allowed the scene to transition from "aerosol graffiti" to "professional murals."

While the 2009 works are long gone—painted over by successive generations of artists—they provided the foundation for Drogheda's current reputation as a premier destination for street art. Seeing these images revived through modern software serves as a reminder that while the paint may be temporary, the history of the town's creative evolution is now permanently preserved.

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The Boyne Viaduct - Select Image To View Photographs