Exploring the Causeway Coast
============================

  By Paul Robert Lloyd
  <https://v2.paulrobertlloyd.com/2012/12/causeway_coast>
  Monday, 3 December 2012

After attending [Build][1] in Belfast last month, [Chris Armstrong][2] gave [Ethan Marcotte][3], [Chris Shifflet][4] and myself a tour of the Causeway Coast which, as the name suggests, is home to the famed [Giant's Causeway][5]. Below is a selection of photos I took during our tour. [The full set can be viewed on Flickr][6].

In tandem with improving my proficiency with a camera, I'm trying to better understand [Aperture][7] and make more of my photos. These are the first I've processed using [<abbr title="Visual Supply Co">VSCO</abbr> film emulation filters][8]. The initial results are encouraging.

Besides showcasing some recent photography--something I'd like to do more often on this site--this is also an opportunity to experiment with the [compressive images][9] technique. The photos on this page have been saved with larger dimensions than required, but also lower quality levels than I would normally use. This should result in smaller file sizes and sharper imagery on high resolution displays. Daan Jobsis was the first to suggest this technique, and his [Retina Revolution][10] post is worth a read.

  [1]: http://2012.buildconf.com/
  [2]: http://chris-armstrong.com/
  [3]: http://ethanmarcotte.com/
  [4]: http://shiflett.org/
  [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giants_Causeway
  [6]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulrobertlloyd/sets/72157632145059113/
  [7]: http://www.apple.com/aperture/
  [8]: http://visualsupply.co/film/01/aperture3
  [9]: http://www.filamentgroup.com/lab/rwd_img_compression/
  [10]: http://blog.netvlies.nl/design-interactie/retina-revolution/

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast1.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>The Causeway Hotel</h4>
        <p>66% quality, 44<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast2.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>Tourists besiege the causeway</h4>
        <p>57% quality, 108<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure class="tandem">
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast3.jpg" alt=""/>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast4.jpg" alt=""/><br/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>Interlocking basalt columns</h4>
        <p>55% quality, 63<abbr>kB</abbr> / 58% quality, 35<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast5.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>The Giant's Causeway viewed from above</h4>
        <p>55% quality, 151<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast6.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>Large basalt columns</h4>
        <p>55% quality, 167<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast7.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>Anything that can be hexagonal, will be hexagonal</h4>
        <p>38% quality, 122<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast8.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>A storm brewing</h4>
        <p>60% quality, 100<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>

<figure>
    <img src="/_assets/2012/12/causeway_coast9.jpg" alt=""/>
    <figcaption>
        <h4>Ballintoy Harbour</h4>
        <p>57% quality, 91<abbr>kB</abbr></p>
    </figcaption>
</figure>