.. Jalbum 8.6 slides/jun30.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Some clouds over the house, post sunset. Mods: Contrast enhanced. Some clouds over the house, post sunset. Mods: Contrast enhanced. slides/jun30.jpg slides/jun29.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is an idea I cooked up with a dozen nuts, a magnet, and Vista's aurora screensaver as a backdrop. Mods: None. This is an idea I cooked up with a dozen nuts, a magnet, and Vista's aurora screensaver as a backdrop. Mods: None. slides/jun29.jpg slides/jun28.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Every year we get a plumbago for the backyard. It's a beautiful, blue flowering plant. Mods: Nothing. Every year we get a plumbago for the backyard. It's a beautiful, blue flowering plant. Mods: Nothing. slides/jun28.jpg slides/jun27.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is what pays the bills. I work for Nokia, a cellphone company. I took multiple shots and used the same software I use for super resolution and focus stacking to remove random noise by using multiple shots. It makes cellphone photos come out much, much better. Of course the clouds moved, so you do get some jitter effect on them. Mods: Combined to remove noise and enhance color. This is what pays the bills. I work for Nokia, a cellphone company. I took multiple shots and used the same software I use for super resolution and focus stacking to remove random noise by using multiple shots. It makes cellphone photos come out much, much better. Of course the clouds moved, so you do get some jitter effect on them. Mods: Combined to remove noise and enhance color. slides/jun27.jpg slides/jun26.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 I tried another super resolution photo of the moon. Decent cratering, but I still think somehow I can do better. Mods: 19 pictures combined for a super resolution shot. I tried another super resolution photo of the moon. Decent cratering, but I still think somehow I can do better. Mods: 19 pictures combined for a super resolution shot. slides/jun26.jpg slides/jun25.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Today was window washer day at work. They only do this maybe once a year or so. This is from the 3rd floor- the start at the top of the 7 story building and work their way down. Mods: None. Today was window washer day at work. They only do this maybe once a year or so. This is from the 3rd floor- the start at the top of the 7 story building and work their way down. Mods: None. slides/jun25.jpg slides/jun24.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 These flowers are on an asparagus fern on our front porch. They are just a few centimeters across. Mods: Focus stacked for greater depth of field. These flowers are on an asparagus fern on our front porch. They are just a few centimeters across. Mods: Focus stacked for greater depth of field. slides/jun24.jpg slides/jun23.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 I got a new CD today. I normally don't buy them anymore, but this one, by Simple Minds, was not available on iTunes in the US. And it contained a bonus disc as well. What I liked was that the interior was a pop-up cut-out, and when you opened it, lifted the CD and pushed it out some. Pretty cool! Mods: None. I got a new CD today. I normally don't buy them anymore, but this one, by Simple Minds, was not available on iTunes in the US. And it contained a bonus disc as well. What I liked was that the interior was a pop-up cut-out, and when you opened it, lifted the CD and pushed it out some. Pretty cool! Mods: None. slides/jun23.jpg slides/jun22.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is a cone flower, seen on a walk around the neighborhood. Moda: None This is a cone flower, seen on a walk around the neighborhood. Moda: None slides/jun22.jpg slides/jun21.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Found a twinned egg today when preparing breakfast. The egg was quite large, so we figured it was a twin. Mods: None. Found a twinned egg today when preparing breakfast. The egg was quite large, so we figured it was a twin. Mods: None. slides/jun21.jpg slides/jun20.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 A friend of mine installed two Solatubes in his house- they were for interior areas where they could not have a window. It's a skylight alternative that brings in quite a bit of outside light. Mods: None. A friend of mine installed two Solatubes in his house- they were for interior areas where they could not have a window. It's a skylight alternative that brings in quite a bit of outside light. Mods: None. slides/jun20.jpg slides/jun19.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This was simply to express solidarity with the protesters in Iran. This was simply to express solidarity with the protesters in Iran. slides/jun19.jpg slides/jun18.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 OK, here's a more instantaneous view of it. I tried again tonight, and added a second floodlight on the opposite side to double the light, then increased the ISO to 2000, shutter speed at 1/2500s, aperture at f10, for some depth of field. This quite well froze the action! Mind you, this shape maintains itself for a tiny fraction of a second. At 6.3fps, there is exactly 1 frame with water in it before I get a black frame with no more water. This time, I used black tape to secure the needle to a straw. It was less obvious, but I still airbrushed it out. Mods: Airbrushed out the straw bearing the pricking needle. OK, here's a more instantaneous view of it. I tried again tonight, and added a second floodlight on the opposite side to double the light, then increased the ISO to 2000, shutter speed at 1/2500s, aperture at f10, for some depth of field. This quite well froze the action! Mind you, this shape maintains itself for a tiny fraction of a second. At 6.3fps, there is exactly 1 frame with water in it before I get a black frame with no more water. This time, I used black tape to secure the needle to a straw. It was less obvious, but I still airbrushed it out. Mods: Airbrushed out the straw bearing the pricking needle. slides/jun18.jpg slides/jun17.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is my first balloon pop, and I will get better at this. After taking my first shots, I realize the camera was shooting at 1/60s. It needs to be much faster to really freeze the action. So I will probably add a second floodlight (only one light on the right side) on the left, and up the ISO speed to compensate. My camera will only shoot 6.3fps, so I only get 1 frame before the water is almost completely out of the picture. Mods: Removed my hand with the needle to pop the balloon from the shot. This is my first balloon pop, and I will get better at this. After taking my first shots, I realize the camera was shooting at 1/60s. It needs to be much faster to really freeze the action. So I will probably add a second floodlight (only one light on the right side) on the left, and up the ISO speed to compensate. My camera will only shoot 6.3fps, so I only get 1 frame before the water is almost completely out of the picture. Mods: Removed my hand with the needle to pop the balloon from the shot. slides/jun17.jpg slides/jun16.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Just a nice flower in the neighborhood, caught while I was out taking a walk. Mods: None. Just a nice flower in the neighborhood, caught while I was out taking a walk. Mods: None. slides/jun16.jpg slides/jun15.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is a 'super resolution' picture taken with my cellphone. It consists of 10 images. It is really not that sharp here, because the cellphone camera is just not that good. But, the software- PhotoAcute, also uses the multiple frames to remove the rampant noise, and- a nice side effect, the JPEG tiling patterns that unfortunately cellphone cameras introduce by not allowing you to pick a higher quality setting. The result is a pleasantly smooth picture, even if still not the sharpest. The wind was blowing a little bit, so the tree in the middle shows some artifacting. Mods: Super Resolution combo This is a 'super resolution' picture taken with my cellphone. It consists of 10 images. It is really not that sharp here, because the cellphone camera is just not that good. But, the software- PhotoAcute, also uses the multiple frames to remove the rampant noise, and- a nice side effect, the JPEG tiling patterns that unfortunately cellphone cameras introduce by not allowing you to pick a higher quality setting. The result is a pleasantly smooth picture, even if still not the sharpest. The wind was blowing a little bit, so the tree in the middle shows some artifacting. Mods: Super Resolution combo slides/jun15.jpg slides/jun14.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This was probably my most innovative shot of the day. This is somewhere over central-to-western Texas. I had a window seat in First Class, so I covered the window with a blanket to reduce internal light reflection from the cabin and tried to hold the camera still. I believe the movement in this picture was the results of gentle rolling by the aircraft (the slight star motion) and mild bumpiness that naturally occurs during a flight that shows up in the brighter ground lights that streamed past the window in this 15s exposure. Mods: Noise reduction, as digitals in high-ISO conditions can be noisy. This was probably my most innovative shot of the day. This is somewhere over central-to-western Texas. I had a window seat in First Class, so I covered the window with a blanket to reduce internal light reflection from the cabin and tried to hold the camera still. I believe the movement in this picture was the results of gentle rolling by the aircraft (the slight star motion) and mild bumpiness that naturally occurs during a flight that shows up in the brighter ground lights that streamed past the window in this 15s exposure. Mods: Noise reduction, as digitals in high-ISO conditions can be noisy. slides/jun14.jpg slides/jun13.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 We spent Saturday on Santa Catalina Island. Avalon, the only real town, is a picturesque harbor, shown here in this manually-stitched 2-photo panorama. Mods: Manual stitching of two shots. We spent Saturday on Santa Catalina Island. Avalon, the only real town, is a picturesque harbor, shown here in this manually-stitched 2-photo panorama. Mods: Manual stitching of two shots. slides/jun13.jpg slides/jun12.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 I was in California over the weekend. I caught this surfer at Manhattan Beach in LA. Decent action shot, another reason why I like this camera a lot! Mods: None. I was in California over the weekend. I caught this surfer at Manhattan Beach in LA. Decent action shot, another reason why I like this camera a lot! Mods: None. slides/jun12.jpg slides/jun11.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is a super resolution shot of a plumbago, a really nice bluish-flowered shrub that we have on our deck. Mods: Super Resolution shot to crisp up the details. This is a super resolution shot of a plumbago, a really nice bluish-flowered shrub that we have on our deck. Mods: Super Resolution shot to crisp up the details. slides/jun11.jpg slides/jun10.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Today there was an Amber Alert in our area, and this chopper was out looking for the perps. Smart of me to stand outside and take their picture- I'm sure they saw me. Mods: None. Today there was an Amber Alert in our area, and this chopper was out looking for the perps. Smart of me to stand outside and take their picture- I'm sure they saw me. Mods: None. slides/jun10.jpg slides/jun09.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 I'm not sure what this flower is, but they were still blooming near our home. I liked the so-called bokeh effect, with background out of focus. Mods: None. I'm not sure what this flower is, but they were still blooming near our home. I liked the so-called bokeh effect, with background out of focus. Mods: None. slides/jun09.jpg slides/jun08.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 I found this pill bug in the garden. At first I didn't think it would make that interesting of a macro, but it did- there is a lot of detail in it. It was (and is) alive, so no opportunity to do a super resolution shot, since it was moving a lot. Amazingly, these are not insects, but crustaceans- related to shrimp and crabs (they kind of look like a cross between a shrimp and a trilobite). Mods: None. I found this pill bug in the garden. At first I didn't think it would make that interesting of a macro, but it did- there is a lot of detail in it. It was (and is) alive, so no opportunity to do a super resolution shot, since it was moving a lot. Amazingly, these are not insects, but crustaceans- related to shrimp and crabs (they kind of look like a cross between a shrimp and a trilobite). Mods: None. slides/jun08.jpg slides/jun07.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 The sunsets are definitely interesting lately. This is quite a bit post-sunset. I liked the low layer of broken up cloud going in a contra-flow direction. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. The sunsets are definitely interesting lately. This is quite a bit post-sunset. I liked the low layer of broken up cloud going in a contra-flow direction. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jun07.jpg slides/jun06.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is an Heirloom tomato, also called a Heritage tomato, that I found at Whole Foods on Friday. It's an old fashioned type, not a modern hybrid. I rather liked the shape and striations on it. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. This is an Heirloom tomato, also called a Heritage tomato, that I found at Whole Foods on Friday. It's an old fashioned type, not a modern hybrid. I rather liked the shape and striations on it. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jun06.jpg slides/jun05.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Tonight, instead of looking down with the macro lens, I looked up with the telephoto lens. This is a super resolution shot of the moon, consisting of some 10-12 pictures. It's not as high as I'd like, and there appears to be a little fringing at the edge. But not bad, and definitely better than just a single picture. Next time I'll try it when the moon is higher in the sky (less atmosphere), and with a bit more edge showing, so you can see mountain and crater walls lit sideways by the sun at the terminator. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Super resolution shot assembled in PhotoAcute. Tonight, instead of looking down with the macro lens, I looked up with the telephoto lens. This is a super resolution shot of the moon, consisting of some 10-12 pictures. It's not as high as I'd like, and there appears to be a little fringing at the edge. But not bad, and definitely better than just a single picture. Next time I'll try it when the moon is higher in the sky (less atmosphere), and with a bit more edge showing, so you can see mountain and crater walls lit sideways by the sun at the terminator. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Super resolution shot assembled in PhotoAcute. slides/jun05.jpg slides/jun04.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 This is another super resolution image, this time of the eye on the pyramid on a dollar bill. You aren't seeing this at full super-res, mainly because it wouldn't fit. But this is about 2/3 or so of the best resolution, so you get a really good idea of how well this technique has helped me capture more details in the micro-sized world around us. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Super Resolution shot processed in PhotoAcute. This is another super resolution image, this time of the eye on the pyramid on a dollar bill. You aren't seeing this at full super-res, mainly because it wouldn't fit. But this is about 2/3 or so of the best resolution, so you get a really good idea of how well this technique has helped me capture more details in the micro-sized world around us. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Super Resolution shot processed in PhotoAcute. slides/jun04.jpg slides/jun03.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 Another interesting sunset tonight as well. I did not have my camera for the best part of it- by the time I got hom this was what was left. I still liked the holes in the clouds. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. Another interesting sunset tonight as well. I did not have my camera for the best part of it- by the time I got hom this was what was left. I still liked the holes in the clouds. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jun03.jpg slides/jun02.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 I found this common garden snail shell while planting some flowers. It's been long dead, but makes for a nice picture. This is a super resolution macro- built up of some 10 images for sub-pixel resolution. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Super resolution processing in PhotoAcute. I found this common garden snail shell while planting some flowers. It's been long dead, but makes for a nice picture. This is a super resolution macro- built up of some 10 images for sub-pixel resolution. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Super resolution processing in PhotoAcute. slides/jun02.jpg slides/jun01.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:26:53 -0500 We have a lot of pretty sunsets around here. Yet another nice one tonight. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. We have a lot of pretty sunsets around here. Yet another nice one tonight. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jun01.jpg