March 2007 Archives

I know that you too have been a nervous wreck over the fact that my Sigma 8mm fisheye lens aperture locked up.  Indeed, I have been just beside myself as well.  I was so excited to travel to Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies for Spring Break to shoot a landscape with which I am unfamiliar as a photographer.  I was eager to shoot panoramas with this lens.  I couldn't.

[OK, so I put it out there.  I called myself a photographer.  Which, when one considers how little I know about this art form, one shudders at the audacity of the statement.  Perhaps I can be forgiven for my linguistic recklessness if we measure the term in interest level rather than skill?]

The whole of the earth can now breath a sigh of relief.  I got a call from Showcase, who I dogged out in a previous post, informing me that my lens was back in town after being repaired.  I was elated.  It had not taken the minimum of 3 weeks they had so indicated.

Technorati Tags: Photography

I know I am not "normal."  I find things like what you are about to read interesting and worth some "thought time."  Is the statement below true?  I don't know.  At some point I have to trust someone.

Canon tells me my 30D has an 8.5 megapixel CMOS chip used to capture the color and luminance data of the world about me.  It's effective resolution is 8,200,000 pixels in a given picture.

But, how does the human eye compare to this?  How much pixel data can the human eye see?  Well, according to  an interesting post on the deviantArt blog, the answer is 576,000,000 pixels.

Technorati Tags: Technology

I have suffered the past few days with the unbearable pollen:  almost 6,000!  (800 is considered high.)  With no rain, the pollen is out of control.  I usually do not have much of an allergy response to mother nature, but this year has been seriously out of control.  My eyes, nose, and throat have been burning--even indoors.  And, without warning, my nose will... well, we won't go there!

The pollen count today is extremely high: 5,927 is the exact figure. That ranks second all-time behind the 6,013 mark, recorded on April 12, 1999.

Source:  11Alive Weather

OK, the Snap Preview Upgrade I mentioned in this post caused a few minor, unsightly "issues."  They have been cleaned up.  I removed the preview bubble from:

• the navigation links at the top of this page
• all of the links in the sidebar (except Other Blog Headlines)
• the "Permalinks" at the end of each post
• the "Comments" links at the end of each post
• all of the pictures

Isn't life just grand now?!

I received an email containing a number of anti-Bush sentiments seen on bumper stickers.  I had already spotted several of them around town and posted them to my blog.  Here are a few additional reflections on the disgrace in the White House:

BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

POVERTY, HEALTH CARE, & HOMELESSNESS ARE MORAL ISSUES

BUSH LIED, AND YOU KNOW IT

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM: A THREAT ABROAD, A THREAT AT HOME

BUSH SPENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY ON HIS WAR

FEEL SAFER NOW?

VISUALIZE IMPEACHMENT

HEY BUSH! WHERE'S BIN LADEN?

GEORGE W. BUSH: MAKING TERRORISTS FASTER THAN HE CAN KILL THEM

DON'T CONFUSE DYING FOR OIL WITH FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM

HATE, GREED, IGNORANCE: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

HONOR OUR TROOPS: DEMAND THE TRUTH

REBUILD IRAQ? WHY NOT SPEND 87 BILLION ON AMERICA?

FACT:  BUSH OIL -- 1999 - $19 BARREL;  2006 - $70 BARREL

"Iraq Distracts"

Isn't that the horrible truth.  It also affords a greater opportunity to concentrate more money in fewer hands.

I have purchased a lot of photography/videography equipment from Showcase over the years. Their prices are slightly greater than buying from B & H in New York. Initially they always want a lot more until they learn you're a serious customer by your telling them the competition's price point comparison. I usually purchase from Showcase even though they are a little higher because they assure me of good customer support in the event of an issue. Which I have never had until now.

My 8mm Sigma fisheye lens, granted, an unusual item not normally stocked, recently and unexpected locked down the aperture. As the lens is still under warranty, Showcase sent it to Sigma for me. I use this lens to create the panoramas. My problem? I have planned trips to the Canadian Rockies the first week of April and Rome and Africa the first week of May. I was excited to take panoramas in all of those locations.

The fastest turn around from Sigma I am told I can expect is three weeks. Showcase can not rush them, provide me with a loaner lens, or rent me anything. So why exactly do I pay the extra 3 - 5% when I purchase from them?

For me, no running of errands would be complete without going to a computer store. Today I went to two: the Apple store and CompUSA, both by/in Lenox Mall. I was shocked by each.

The Apple Store is under major renovation. While open, it is but a fraction of its former size–more like a bathroom! Even when full size, the store is clogged with people. This was insane. So why was I here??? ...

Then I went to CompUSA. I must confess to always having hated this store. The people who work there, when you can even find them, seem to actively avoid helping customers. But there were huge signs everywhere: they are going out of business--selling everything including the fixtures. Therefore, they had 10 - 30% off everything in the store--mostly 10%. I suspect the sale just started as the stock is still very high. I needed to upgrade the network switch at the house from 4 ports to 8.

So back to why I went to the Apple store. Every morning at 5:30 when I work out downstairs, I can't find anything on TV that interests me. MTV has become what they hated when they first started. Many of the channels air workout ads at that time. Geeze, I don't want to watch people sweat and smile while I'm sweating and dying!

So I decided to buy an Apple TV so I can stream content from my desktop, catch up on the daily podcasts I watch, and listen to music I actually like instead of the junk on MTV and VH1.

I took the day off to run errands, including the dreaded drivers' license renewal (made even more complex by the change of address, otherwise I could have done in on line) and car tag renewal. Of course, I had to go to two different places to do these. However, I was done by 8:00AM. Is this not amazing?!

I was first in line at both places and didn't have to wait at all. I didn't even have to prove my new address. I just had to pay and could even use my Visa to do that.

OK... I've bitten my tongue long enough about the incompetence of the nation's president. I have to rant for a minute.

We all know that the Bush administration fired the 8 judges for purely evil partisan political reasons. I loath it! I think almost all Americans can see that.

Now, upon being asked about it, the administration, including its attorney general, can't be open and honest about it. The almighty, above-the-law "W" says he will graciously allow Rove, et. al., speak before the congressional committees if it's just a little chat with no transcript and no oath to tell the truth.

Why would they be afraid of a simple oath and a transcript? Only one reason in this man's mind: They are liars, evil, evil liars that have no intentions of telling the truth.

I can't stand this administration. I delight in the fact that the Congress has been taken over by the Democrats who will hold their feet to the fire! These are evil, self serving thugs. All of them.

I heard Tom Delay on NPR yesterday. I had no idea how dangerous this very bright man is!

OK, I've updated the Snap Preview Anywhere code on my site. The older code had an annoying habit of getting in the way of actually clicking on a link. The code upgrade will place a small comic-like "bubble" next to links. If you don't go near the bubble, the preview window (of the link) will not appear, thus not getting in the way of clicking on the link. But... if you want a preview, mouse over the bubble and the preview window appears!

The banner pictures have had over 50 new additions to the rotation cycle.  Enjoy.

On a sad note...  My Sigma 8mm fisheye lens died and had to go to the Sigma 8mm fisheye lens doctor.  The aperture got stuck virtually closed. This is the lens I use to do the pano shots.  :o(

I was strolling through the woods today, enjoying the sounds of nature. I decided to record a short podcast of all of the birds singing their little hearts out. While recording this podcast presented below, suddenly, without warning, a wild beast bore down upon me, terrifying all of the birds. If you have a sturdy heart, can deal with sheer terror, then listen to the podcast. Otherwise...

Click picture above to listen

Or am I pushing my nose through a semi visible force field?

This pano was shot from under the bell tower.

Click above to view the full screen pano with QuickTime
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

Again, if you are not familiar with Pangea software. These guys have developed a browser plug in that is awesome for playing VRs (panos) very smoothly at impressive frame rates. I highly recommend you download (free) and use it. I am not certain, but I only think it's available for Mac. To see this same pano file using the Pangea plug in, download and install it (at the this link, and it's really easy to do!). Then you can view the same pano above by clicking on their logo below. Compare the difference!

One of the big differences between the Pangea plug in and QuickTime is certainly the smooth rotation or panning of the virtual reality scene. I really like what Brian Greenstone has done with this plug in!

I've gone with a different file formate so my Windows user friends can see. Guys, you really need to get a better computer. This file had to be significantly larger because most of your machines can not play H.264 compression in these virtual reality panoramas. So sad for you. So sad for me that I have to go down to the lower common denominator because Bill is mean.

Click above to view the full screen pano with QuickTime
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

And, while I'm at it, if you are not familiar with Pangea software. These guys have developed a browser plug in that is awesome for playing VRs (panos) very smoothly at impressive frame rates. I highly recommend you download (free) and use it. I am not certain, but I only think it's availabel for Mac. To see this same pano file using the Pangea plug in, download and install it (at the this link, and it's really easy to do!). Then you can view the same pano above by clicking on their logo below. Compare the difference!

And finally, my obligatory apology. This pano has several really huge issues. Some are so easy. Others are hell! O well...

This is the park where I took the pictures of the grass I use in my Summer Theme. (You did know that by clicking on one of the tiny pictures under "Pick a Theme" in the sidebar, you can completely change the appearance of my blog, right? The Summer Theme is the first picture, of the white flowers.) I just don't see any grass in other place as green as the grass in Lenox Park.

So here is a picture I took this morning of the grass in the park. Spring is about to burst forth...

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

--John Kenneth Galbraith

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (CNN) -- Mayan Indian leaders have vowed to "spiritually cleanse" an ancient site in Guatemala after U.S. President George W. Bush visits during his seven-day, five-nation tour of Latin America.

Bush's visit to the ruins at Iximche, a one-time capital of a Mayan group, is part of an effort to show the administration is interested in all its neighbors in the hemisphere.

But many Mayans are angry that Bush is visiting Iximche, founded as the capital of the Kaqchiqueles kingdom before the Spanish conquest in 1524.

Mayan priests say they will purify the sacred archaeological site to rid it of any "bad spirits" after Bush is there.

Source: CNN.COM

Technorati Tags: Bush

Ok, so I'm starting to get this pano thing down! This one has some special features! Again, I use large file formats, and coupled with the special addition you may have to wait a bit for the pano to download depending on your connection speed. Enjoy!

Click above to view the full screen pano
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

This has been a very busy time for me. I spent the first part of the week at Jekyll Island with students from the school. I'm presenting a few pictures I took during the trip.

The deer in the bottom picture is a little out of focus. I didn't have my zoom on the camera. By the time I did, the wild beast had fled. The lighting conditions were just not adequate for a good shot without a tripod. This was the best of the three I shot.

Yesterday I was in Las Vegas. I was told this was the tackiest city in the USA. Well, that's an understatement! Of all the cities to which I have traveled, I'd have to say that Las Vegas is the tackiest city in the world!

I stayed at the Paris Hotel, complete with a horrific miniature of the Eiffel Tower and loud obnoxious "Parisian" music blaring everywhere! All I could think of was, "For just another 2 hours, and I actually could have been in Paris!" The room was very spacious, and the conference was wonderful. Oh, and I must give credit to the taxi cab drivers--I've never met more determined souls!

The flight over on AirTran was particularly dreadful, complete with these loud comments: "I've saved up for 6 months to be able to play the machines. I just can't wait." and "She let you take that picture of her? [ Naked woman on a cell phone] Man, that was really nice!" and this from a particularly loud passenger "You said you were going to start serving drinks in 20 minutes!" Flight Attendant: "Yes, 20 minutes after we take off." Loud passenger: "Now wait a minute, you didn't say anything about taking off first!"

It was a long flight! Thank god for my video iPod. I caught up on all of the episodes of Lost.

Well, it has been a long time in the making, but finally...

I used a Sigma 8mm Fisheye Lens to make this pano. It was a huge challenge because I had to calibrate the lens, a complex task I had never done before. The directions for calibration were written by someone who had a much deeper understanding of the art and science of photography than I certainly do! The directions also had errors in them, but fortunately, they were posted to a blog that welcomed comments. Those who commented caught and addressed the errors.

Yes, there are a couple of issues (OK, 3) in the pano, but I'm getting better at them!

QuickTime 7 is required to view this pano as I chose to use H.264 compression, which produces a beautiful finished product at a fraction of the file size.

Click above to view the full screen pano
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

Technorati Tags: Pano, Photography

I must admit to wondering if people think I'm a crazy man talking to myself (like the guy I blogged about nearly two years ago in this post ) when I'm talking on my bluetooth headset. This little movie file of a commercial is a good laugh about this very issue.

Click to watch.

I'm sitting here at 1 Infinity Loop in Cupertino, CA (for the unwashed masses, that's Apple's corporate headquarters), blogging. I presented to a group of educators from Florida and legislators from Michigan. I delight in showing our students' work and the quality of what children are capable of producing with elegant tools.

The weather out here is spectacular! I'm heading home soon via San Francisco. Jeeze, I wish I had some time to spend there again! I need to live on the west coast!