<p><img src="/images/photography/postcards.jpg" alt="Postcards of trees in a fan display"/></p> <p>A few days ago, I ordered a set of postcards from <a href="http://www.photoboxgallery.com/snowblink/">Photobox</a>. The photo was a scan from a <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/snowblink/360765202">slide</a> I took in New Zealand. I was a little worried that if I uploaded a full resolution image, it would be downloadable. Thankfully, those Photobox peeps are smart. Although the image you see is not very big, the prints are made from the high resolution image. The package arrived this morning and I'm quite impressed. </p>  A few days ago, I ordered a set of postcards from <a href="http://www.photoboxgallery.com/snowblink/">Photobox</a>. The photo was a scan from a [slide][flickr] I took in New Zealand. I was a little worried that if I uploaded a full resolution image, it would be downloadable. Thankfully, those Photobox peeps are smart. Although the image you see is not very big, the prints are made from the high resolution image. The package arrived this morning and I'm quite impressed. flickr: 360765202 2004-09-29T12:50:00-07:00 245 1 2007-05-28T07:10:31-07:00 <p><img src="/images/art/hallway.jpg" alt="Hallway"/></p> <p>This was a lot harder than the previous chapters. I had to take sightings and figure out relative sizes using the pencil against a basic unit. I haven't drawn for a few days now, and I have to get back into the groove. I think it would be a good idea to draw even a small thing every day. </p>  This was a lot harder than the previous chapters. I had to take sightings and figure out relative sizes using the pencil against a basic unit. I haven't drawn for a few days now, and I have to get back into the groove. I think it would be a good idea to draw even a small thing every day. 2004-09-28T17:27:00-07:00 244 1 2007-05-28T07:11:30-07:00 <p>Adobe have announced 2 bits of interesting news.</p> <p>First off is an update to <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html"><acronym title="Adobe Camera Raw">ACR</acronym></a> to process RAW formats of many new cameras. I'm very pleased that the <a href="/articles/2004/08/07/canon_powershot_s60/">S60</a> has been included in this.</p> <p>Secondly, <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html">Digital Negative (DNG)</a>: an open format for storing digital image information. This addresses many of my earlier <a href="/articles/2004/09/04/raw_format_future/">RAW concerns</a>. I especially like the fact that it's an <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/pdfs/dng_spec.pdf">open specification</a>. This means that tools can be built on all platforms.</p> <p>Adobe have already released a convertor for converting your RAW files to DNG.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp">Download ACR 2.3 and DNG converter</a></li> </ul> Adobe have announced 2 bits of interesting news. First off is an update to <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html"><acronym title="Adobe Camera Raw">ACR</acronym></a> to process RAW formats of many new cameras. I'm very pleased that the <a href="/articles/2004/08/07/canon_powershot_s60/">S60</a> has been included in this. Secondly, <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html">Digital Negative (DNG)</a>: an open format for storing digital image information. This addresses many of my earlier <a href="/articles/2004/09/04/raw_format_future/">RAW concerns</a>. I especially like the fact that it's an <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/pdfs/dng_spec.pdf">open specification</a>. This means that tools can be built on all platforms. Adobe have already released a convertor for converting your RAW files to DNG. <ul> <li><a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp">Download ACR 2.3 and DNG converter</a></li> </ul> 2004-09-27T16:25:00-07:00 243 1 2007-05-26T15:29:52-07:00 <p>I was considering using and recommending <a href="http://flickr.com/">Flickr</a>. However, a recent chance sighting led to something which put me off.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.smittens.biz/what.html">Smittens</a> website and this <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/58524630@N00/552164/">Flickr post</a>, bearing a striking similarity. Someone is ripping someone off. I wasn't sure before, but <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58524630@N00/">this person</a> is definitely lacking a digital camera of his/her own.</p> <p>Pointing this out to Flickr, prompted a form response taken straight from their <a href="http://flickr.com/terms.gne">website</a> (last thing on the page).</p> <p>What if someone decides to use Flickr to just display other people's work. Each person has to contact Flickr regarding each photo? What if the copyrights breached are blatant? What if these people don't have a clue what Flickr is supposed to be?</p> <p>It's a nice idea, but sadly open to abuse. Until they take steps to deal with this in a realistic way, I cannot recommend the service. </p> I was considering using and recommending <a href="http://flickr.com/">Flickr</a>. However, a recent chance sighting led to something which put me off. The <a href="http://www.smittens.biz/what.html">Smittens</a> website and this <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/58524630@N00/552164/">Flickr post</a>, bearing a striking similarity. Someone is ripping someone off. I wasn't sure before, but <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58524630@N00/">this person</a> is definitely lacking a digital camera of his/her own. Pointing this out to Flickr, prompted a form response taken straight from their <a href="http://flickr.com/terms.gne">website</a> (last thing on the page). What if someone decides to use Flickr to just display other people's work. Each person has to contact Flickr regarding each photo? What if the copyrights breached are blatant? What if these people don't have a clue what Flickr is supposed to be? It's a nice idea, but sadly open to abuse. Until they take steps to deal with this in a realistic way, I cannot recommend the service. 2004-09-26T12:16:08-07:00 240 1 2007-05-26T15:29:51-07:00 <p><img src="/images/art/stepladder.jpg" alt="Step Ladder"/></p> <p><img src="/images/art/wickerchair.jpg" alt="Child Seated in a Wicker Chair"/></p> <p>Negative space exercises from</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0007116454%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0007116454%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21H1K86Q4CL.jpg" alt="Drawing from the right side of the brain"/></a></p>   Negative space exercises from [![Drawing from the right side of the brain][amazon-img]][amazon] amazon: 0007116454 2004-09-25T14:38:00-07:00 241 1 2007-05-28T07:51:51-07:00 <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0976694077%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0976694077%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21ZEN08MNFL.jpg" alt="Best of Ruby Quiz"/></a></p> <p><a title="Ruby Quiz" href="http://www.rubyquiz.com/quiz1.html">The Solitaire Cipher</a> is the first quiz at the newly formed <a href="http://www.rubyquiz.com/">Ruby Quiz</a>. I think this is a good fun start. Hopefully the quizzes will continue to be so engaging. To those people who have access to the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0099410672%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0099410672%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2">Cryptonomicon</a>: Don't cheat! </p> [![Best of Ruby Quiz][amazon-rubyquiz-img]][amazon-rubyquiz] <a title="Ruby Quiz" href="http://www.rubyquiz.com/quiz1.html">The Solitaire Cipher</a> is the first quiz at the newly formed [Ruby Quiz](http://www.rubyquiz.com/). I think this is a good fun start. Hopefully the quizzes will continue to be so engaging. To those people who have access to the [Cryptonomicon][amazon-crypto]: Don't cheat! amazon-crypto: 0099410672 amazon-rubyquiz: 0976694077 2004-09-24T17:18:00-07:00 239 1 2007-05-28T07:54:53-07:00 <p><img src="/images/art/hand1.jpg" alt="My Hand"/></p> <p>Acetate. Graphite. Permanent &amp; non-permanent markers. The helpful local art shop supplied the necessary materials for a drawing of my left hand.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0007116454%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0007116454%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21H1K86Q4CL.jpg" alt="Drawing in the Right Side of the Brain"/></a></p> <p><!-- My sister asked me why I was drawing - she being the more active artist in the family. I answered, to help my photography. Admittedly, this is why I bought this book. However, it's not the reason I draw. I've always drawn since I was a kid. --></p> <p><!-- No, I didn't do "art" in school. As the eldest child I never felt I had that option. I pursued my interest in my own time. There are some who look down on others because they didn't have the formal training in the arts. To all those people: bite me. --> </p>  Acetate. Graphite. Permanent &amp; non-permanent markers. The helpful local art shop supplied the necessary materials for a drawing of my left hand. [![Drawing in the Right Side of the Brain][amazon-img]][amazon] amazon: 0007116454 <!-- My sister asked me why I was drawing - she being the more active artist in the family. I answered, to help my photography. Admittedly, this is why I bought this book. However, it's not the reason I draw. I've always drawn since I was a kid. --> <!-- No, I didn't do "art" in school. As the eldest child I never felt I had that option. I pursued my interest in my own time. There are some who look down on others because they didn't have the formal training in the arts. To all those people: bite me. --> 2004-09-23T23:44:00-07:00 236 1 2007-05-28T07:56:29-07:00 <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=B0002MWELO%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/B0002MWELO%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/218R3DQYQVL.jpg" alt="Matrix Boxed Set"/></a></p> <p>Despite what you may think of the Matrix Trilogy, you have to hand it to the Wachowski Brothers. They know what the fans want and they know how to use the media to the fullest.</p> <p>George won't be getting my money until he takes the blinkers off. Greedo shooting first?!? Get a grip man. I think Penny Arcade put it <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-09-22&amp;res=l">rather succinctly</a>.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=B0002MWELO%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/B0002MWELO%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2">How to release a DVD Boxed Set</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=B0001ZE1OU%26tag=snowblink03%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/B0001ZE1OU%253FSubscriptionId=180CCZQDRSAWM30FTCG2">How not to release a DVD Boxed Set</a></li> </ul> [![Matrix Boxed Set][amazon-matrix-img]][amazon-matrix] Despite what you may think of the Matrix Trilogy, you have to hand it to the Wachowski Brothers. They know what the fans want and they know how to use the media to the fullest. George won't be getting my money until he takes the blinkers off. Greedo shooting first?!? Get a grip man. I think Penny Arcade put it <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2004-09-22&res=l">rather succinctly</a>. - [How to release a DVD Boxed Set][amazon-matrix] - [How not to release a DVD Boxed Set][amazon-starwars] amazon-matrix: B0002MWELO amazon-starwars: B0001ZE1OU 2004-09-22T12:59:00-07:00 235 1 2007-05-28T07:58:52-07:00 <p><a href="http://www.infinitecat.com/"><img src="/images/humour/cat.jpg" alt="Cats Staring at Cats" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.infinitecat.com/">The Infinite Cat Project</a> lets you observe cats observing other cats. I'm not sure yet whether going forwards or backwards is more freaky.</p> <p>(via <a title="Life In The Present" href="http://michellefierro.typepad.com/veritas/2004/09/feline_infinity.html">Life In The Present</a>) </p> <a href="http://www.infinitecat.com/"><img src="/images/humour/cat.jpg" alt="Cats Staring at Cats" /></a> <a href="http://www.infinitecat.com/">The Infinite Cat Project</a> lets you observe cats observing other cats. I'm not sure yet whether going forwards or backwards is more freaky. (via <a title="Life In The Present" href="http://michellefierro.typepad.com/veritas/2004/09/feline_infinity.html">Life In The Present</a>) 2004-09-21T23:21:00-07:00 234 1 2007-05-26T15:29:51-07:00 <p><img src="/images/journal/crw_9249.jpg" alt="Charging up Old Winchester Hill"/></p> <p>Yesterday, Z and I went for a walk around <a href="http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?NNR_ID=123">Old Winchester Hill</a>. On our way down we bumped into this young lad charging up the hill. I thought the polka-dot wellies finished off the outfit rather aptly. </p>  Yesterday, Z and I went for a walk around <a href="http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?NNR_ID=123">Old Winchester Hill</a>. On our way down we bumped into this young lad charging up the hill. I thought the polka-dot wellies finished off the outfit rather aptly. 2004-09-20T12:36:00-07:00 233 1 2007-05-28T08:00:32-07:00 <p><img src="/images/journal/crw_8587.jpg" alt="Bear on The Way Down"/></p> <p>On Saturday, we were treated to an awesome aerial display by some brave bears.</p> <p>They checked their paragear as they rode an orange bucket up the side of the tower. The bears proceeded to <acronym title="Building, Antenna (tower), (bridge) Span, or Earth (cliff)">BASE</acronym> jump from the bell tower of St Andrews.</p> <p><img src="/images/journal/crw_8579.jpg" alt="Bear Jumping"/></p> <p>Mostly they were single jumps, although I did see one tandem and of course the Red Teds put on a display.</p> <p><img src="/images/journal/crw_8599.jpg" alt="Just Jumped Bear"/></p> <p>Despite the many stunts attempted, including head-downers, there were few injuries. I witnessed only one pancake.</p> <p>A Red Ted did get stuck in a tree whilst attempting to perform a tricky maneuver. After several vain rescue attempts, a very big stick helped him down.</p> <p><img src="/images/journal/crw_8614.jpg" alt="Red Ted in Action"/></p> <p>All in all, an impressive display of why bears are the Kings of the Sky. Maybe next time they'll show off their daredevil bungee jumping adeptness.</p>  On Saturday, we were treated to an awesome aerial display by some brave bears. They checked their paragear as they rode an orange bucket up the side of the tower. The bears proceeded to <acronym title="Building, Antenna (tower), (bridge) Span, or Earth (cliff)">BASE</acronym> jump from the bell tower of St Andrews.  Mostly they were single jumps, although I did see one tandem and of course the Red Teds put on a display.  Despite the many stunts attempted, including head-downers, there were few injuries. I witnessed only one pancake. A Red Ted did get stuck in a tree whilst attempting to perform a tricky maneuver. After several vain rescue attempts, a very big stick helped him down.  All in all, an impressive display of why bears are the Kings of the Sky. Maybe next time they'll show off their daredevil bungee jumping adeptness. 2004-09-07T17:16:00-07:00 230 1 2007-05-28T08:07:46-07:00 <p>What do you go to a cinema for? Is it the overpriced food? Is it the rude hooligans? Is it the uncomfortable seat? Is it for the twat behind kicking your seat through the film?</p> <p>No. I go to see a film on a big screen.</p> <p>So, imagine my shock when they started playing Hellboy at a 4:3 aspect ratio in the cinema.</p> <p>Yes.</p> <p>I'm being serious. I have a feeling they just projected a DVD. Why? Because:</p> <ol> <li>I saw no certificate by the <a href="http://www.bbfc.co.uk/">BBFC</a> prior to the film.</li> <li>A <a href="http://www.fact-uk.org.uk/">FACT</a> announcement did come up, which usually does on DVDs, but this is the first time I remember seeing it at the cinema.</li> </ol> <p>I wonder how Guillermo del Toro would feel if he knew his film was being shown like this.</p> <p>It's sad that they think they can get away with this. I will be looking at reporting them for an investigation, but in the meantime I would recommend you avoid this chain of cinemas.</p> What do you go to a cinema for? Is it the overpriced food? Is it the rude hooligans? Is it the uncomfortable seat? Is it for the twat behind kicking your seat through the film? No. I go to see a film on a big screen. So, imagine my shock when they started playing Hellboy at a 4:3 aspect ratio in the cinema. Yes. I'm being serious. I have a feeling they just projected a DVD. Why? Because: <ol> <li>I saw no certificate by the <a href="http://www.bbfc.co.uk/">BBFC</a> prior to the film.</li> <li>A <a href="http://www.fact-uk.org.uk/">FACT</a> announcement did come up, which usually does on DVDs, but this is the first time I remember seeing it at the cinema.</li> </ol> I wonder how Guillermo del Toro would feel if he knew his film was being shown like this. It's sad that they think they can get away with this. I will be looking at reporting them for an investigation, but in the meantime I would recommend you avoid this chain of cinemas. 2004-09-04T23:10:43-07:00 228 1 2007-05-26T15:29:51-07:00 <p>UPDATE: <a href="/articles/2004/09/27/raw_format_future_update/"> Adobe release DNG</a></p> <blockquote> <p>Sometime in the mid-1980's I attempted to open one of my old, circa-1985 Word documents using the version of Word then current: 6.0 It didn't work. --- In the Beginning Was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson</p> </blockquote> <p>Canon are changing the RAW format as they release newer cameras. My first encounter with this was with the <a href="/articles/2004/08/07/canon_powershot_s60">S60</a>.</p> <p>The only program I have, which can read S60 RAW files, is the Canon Zoom Browser. I believe this is the one piece of software that can access the photos I shoot.</p> <p><!-- One of the many annoyances with this program is that it cannot read from network drives; I keep my photos on a RAIDed file server. --> So, the bad feeling begins.</p> <p>RAW files are not standardised. Each camera will have its own RAW format depending on the sensor. At what point will the photos become inaccessible? Will <a href="http://www.adobe.com/">Adobe</a>, <a href="http://www.phaseone.com/">Phase One</a>, or <a href="http://www.canon.com/">Canon</a> keep making backwardly compatible tools? Willing to bet your archive of photos on that?</p> <p>Perhaps in the future we'll all be running Windows emulators on Linux just to access some of our photos from the turn of the millenium.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://avondale.typepad.com/rawformat/">rawformat</a> - a blog discussing RAW format</li> </ul> UPDATE: <a href="/articles/2004/09/27/raw_format_future_update/"> Adobe release DNG</a> > Sometime in the mid-1980's I attempted to open one of my old, circa-1985 Word documents using the version of Word then current: 6.0 It didn't work. --- In the Beginning Was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson Canon are changing the RAW format as they release newer cameras. My first encounter with this was with the <a href="/articles/2004/08/07/canon_powershot_s60">S60</a>. The only program I have, which can read S60 RAW files, is the Canon Zoom Browser. I believe this is the one piece of software that can access the photos I shoot. <!-- One of the many annoyances with this program is that it cannot read from network drives; I keep my photos on a RAIDed file server. --> So, the bad feeling begins. RAW files are not standardised. Each camera will have its own RAW format depending on the sensor. At what point will the photos become inaccessible? Will <a href="http://www.adobe.com/">Adobe</a>, <a href="http://www.phaseone.com/">Phase One</a>, or <a href="http://www.canon.com/">Canon</a> keep making backwardly compatible tools? Willing to bet your archive of photos on that? Perhaps in the future we'll all be running Windows emulators on Linux just to access some of our photos from the turn of the millenium. <ul> <li><a href="http://avondale.typepad.com/rawformat/">rawformat</a> - a blog discussing RAW format</li> </ul> 2004-09-04T12:03:00-07:00 227 1 2007-05-26T15:29:51-07:00