bioneural.net » Photography

Castles in the sand

Bruce — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:55:02 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Taken at Sugar Beach, Flic en Flac, Republic of Mauritius. Click thumbnail to enlarge imageCastles in the sand

A Mini adventure

Bruce — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:05:21 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Apparently the diminutive Mini is 50 years old this year. Worthing played host to a Mini rally today and—although not fans—we took the opportunity to have a look at what it takes to be an enthusiast. Herewith a few shots taken with my iPhone's equally diminutive 2MP camera. A political statement on the UK automotive industry: This one might have had a small part in the Transformers movie if it wasn't pink: Initial attempts at cross-breeding with Smarts were semi-successful, resulting in the Mini 0.5 Edition: Retrofitting a Space Shuttle main engine to a Mini... the power of dreams: Yep, that essential engine component really is made from a Red Bull can: Restoration on a budget using a repurposed jam jar with coat hanger mounting: This Mini toots like a truck:

A Nikon lens with double vision

Bruce — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:24:30 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

I was most disappointed with the images I obtained during our recent trip to Florida. Many telephoto shots appeared out-of-focus despite the well-regarded image stablilization (vibration reduction) built into the Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR DX attached to my new Nikon D90 body on it's debut outing. As was my habit, to protect my investment the lens was fitted with a screw-on skylight filter. I couldn't believe how poor my shots were when viewed on a 24" display: Was the camera (still in warranty) malfunctioning? Had my photographic skills regressed? Could something be wrong with the (now out-of-waranty) lens? Why was the centre of some images sharp, with progressive blurring or even 'double vision' towards the peripheries? These were questions for Nikon to answer. The image below illustrates the problem nicely (showing why I discarded 4 in 5 images I shot). It was taken in bright sunlight while standing still, handheld with VR active, on Auto program mode at f7.1 with a shutter speed of 1/200th of a second. AF lock was confirmed in Nikon View and corresponds to the central circle overlaid on the image: The bannisters in the central circle are in sharp focus; the bannisters in the peripheral circles are blurred, perhaps even double, with the amount of blurring seemingly worsening as you move towards the image edge. Each circle is the same focal distance from the sensor. I was at a loss to understand the optics behind such a result, and my local camera store recommended I speak ...

HoudahGeo take two best for geotaggers

Bruce — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:28:13 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

HoudahGeo was at version 1.4.2 when I last looked at it in a Mac geotagging software showdown. A license costs $US30 (50% less for students; also TrailPay option) although this is a free upgrade for those with a 1.x license. The following is a largely visual tour of HoudahGeo 2.1, illustrating its ability to perform both automatic and manual geotagging via an outstanding 3-step interface, and to share geotagged images with users of Google Earth, Flickr, and Locr—or any service/ software than can read EXIF metadata or CSV/ GPX files. Disclosure: A single user license for HoudahGeo was provided by Houdah Software for the purposes of this evaluation. You should be geotagging Geotagging—surely you've heard the term? The geotagging 'ABC' post here on bioneural.net is rather popular, and since the software showdown post was published geotagging in general, and on the Mac in particular, has seen a number of exciting developments. CDFinder has been updated with significant geotagging functionality (e.g. export of variable-size images to KMZ). GraphicConverter can edit geotags and create them using Google Earth. Geotag is a cross-platform tool seeing active development. An update to Nikon ViewNX brings free manual geotagging functionality. Even Apple have got in on the act with the release of iPhoto '09, which supports manual geotagging and sharing of geotagged images to Flickr Map (there are options for older iPhoto versions too). Of course the iPhone can geotag images taken with that device's camera, and track logging apps are available via the App Store. The range of Mac-compatible data ...

Geotagging comes to Nikon ViewNX

Bruce — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:19:13 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Nikon ViewNX 1.2.0 is a free download (56.6MB .dmg) and doesn't require a Nikon (e.g. works with iPhone images). Manual geotagging is limited to placing a pin on a Google Map (you can't search the map). ViewNX recognizes automatically geotagged images (embedded at capture, added via a track logger, etc.) and handles geotagging of Nikon's raw (NEF) format as well as JPEG. To view location metadata (indicated by a globe icon), select an image and click it's pin to reveal an info window. Reverse geocoding is not performed and any existing IPTC headers are ignored.

The Scottish Highlands in eleven days

Bruce — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:48:59 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Scotland. Even the name of the country causes something to stir in my McKenzie blood. The last time I was there in 1994 we didn't get to the North Western Highlands and so in early September, between the high season/ school holidays and autumn proper, we drove 2845km (1768 miles) in our tiny 698cc car to scratch that itch. Here is our admittedly full but rewarding route and accommodation plan, complete with downloadable maps, KML files for Google Earth, and itinerary/ POI files for TomTom navigation devices. For more photographs, see here. Day 1: Home to Glasgow Although not itself in the Highlands (as demarcated roughly by the Highland Boundary Fault), Glasgow served as the staging point for our expedition. We arrived mid-afternoon after a long drive so had several hours in which to visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the overrated SECC beside the black waters of the Clyde (not comparable to the Sydney Opera House as suggested), and the civic centre. We stayed centrally at the Thistle, a tired hotel not deserving of four stars (the window sill in our room had been used as an ashtray; we were flabbergasted to see a smoker puffing away in the corridor beneath a smoke alarm; housekeeping fit pillow cases inside-out, etc.). There's free WiFi for patrons at the Kama Sutra Indian restaurant—if you find yourself in the, err... position without it (excellent food with excellent service too). Day 2: Glasgow to Kilchoan Click thumbnail to enlarge imageRoute and points of interest for Day 2 Not far from ...

Know your waypoints from your track points

Bruce — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:23:05 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Geotagging photos can be done manually or automatically. When using a GPS data logger in automatic mode your position at each point in time (intervals vary) is recorded as a track point. The collection of track points recorded during a logging session is called a track log. Some devices (e.g. GlobalSat DG-100, Holux M-241) feature a button for manual entry of a specific GPS location as a waypoint, which you can match to the corresponding photo(s) by hand. That all sounds pretty straight forward doesn't it? Well it's not, because some GPS devices can't tell their waypoints from their track points. Thankfully the aptly-named GPSBabel can translate us a way out of this misunderstanding for the DG-100, and an update to BT747 means you can now download waypoints from the M-241 to your Mac. It's not merely a question of semantics Contiguous track points illustrate a very clear path on a map: you can see exactly where you went and, at a pinch, use a pre-recorded track to follow in someone else's footsteps. What you can't do is readily identify particular locations, because when plotted on a map track points are indistinguishable from one another. Specific locations (waypoints) have a variety of uses, including manual geotagging of photos, mapping points-of-interest, indicating landmarks for direction-finding, or marking cache locations in geocaching. If you're looking to providing instructions you want others to be able to follow, an ordered set of waypoints (describing a route) is what you need. Lets look at some simple examples with ...

The limestone paving of Malham Cove

Bruce — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:11:58 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

This weekend just gone my wife and I met up with David from the Internet for a walk, talk, and geotagging/ track logging at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales. One of the natural attractions along the Pennine Way, from the bottom this 80m tall and 300m wide crag is one impressive wall of rock. No water has fallen down the cliff face since prehistoric times; today the gentle Malham Beck mysteriously emerges from subterranean origins at the base. But it's the weather-eroded limestone "paving" at the top of the crag that is the real attraction. The dissolved plant-filled fissures are known as grykes, and the blocks are termed clints—since you asked. Aside from the oddity of the paving, the views from the Cove and surrounding hills are remarkable. The rolling green hills, dry-stone walls, and constant threat of drizzle are so quintessentially English. Well worth a day trip. Click thumbnail to enlarge imageThe limestone paving of Malham Cove

Geotagging with the Mac-friendly GlobalSat BT-335

Bruce — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:37:06 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

GlobalSat's BT-335 functions as both a Bluetooth-equiped GPS receiver (compatible with most NMEA-compliant mapping/ navigation software on Bluetooth SPP-compliant PDAs, smartphones, and computers) and as a stand-alone data logger. It can perform both functions simultaneously, saving coordinates, time stamps, altitude, and speed to a log which can be wirelessly downloaded for use in geotagging photos or in other location-related applications. This review compares the BT-335 to my previously purchased and evaluated Holux M-241, focussing on Mac compatibility and geotagging utility. Disclosure: A sample BT-335 unit was provided by USGlobalSat, Inc. for the purposes of this review. Those unfamiliar with the basic concepts of geotagging may wish to read this introduction first. What's in the box? BT-335 packaging and accessories BT-335 unit; CD-ROM (with PDF manual, Windows-only software); Set-up/ quick start card; 12V DC car charger; US-style 110/ 240V AC wall charger; US-to-Euro wall adapter. The BT-335 ($US120) is a compact 75g matchbox-style unit in silver plastic that includes anti-slip strips for horizontal placement (e.g. on a dashboard). Unlike the cylindrical M-241 (which has to be kept vertical) the BT-335 doesn't come with a lanyard, although use of one was obviously a consideration—the unit has a lanyard attachment. I do find myself using the lanyard with the M-241 around my neck, mainly so I can keep a close check on battery status. One of the LEDs on the BT-335 lights red when the battery needs charging, but with a claimed 25 hour capacity the unit could easily be turned on and "forgotten" in a pocket (e.g. jacket, camera bag). As well as ...

Lathkill Dale in the Peak District

Bruce — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:37:42 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net doi:tSglPpAB7a8nfM :

Lathkill Dale in the Peak District is considered "one of the country's finest limestone valleys". Lathkill is one of five separate limestone valleys comprising the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve, which is managed by English Nature. Friends took us walking in the area yesterday (we hadn't been for a while) and we were reminded how lucky we are to have such easy access to this part of England. The river Lathkill running through the Dale contains the clearest water we've seen anywhere in England. Some of the limestone outcrops that punctuate the valley walls can be seen above the stone wall in the right of the picture. This is fairly typical Peak District scenery, and quite hard to beat on a sunny Spring day. Click thumbnail to enlarge imageLandscape around Lathkill Dale The walk took us about 5 hours, first travelling west along the Dale from Youlgreave before climbing out of the valley just over half way to Monyash. At Monyash we stopped for liquid refreshments at the pub, then headed east along the second half of the Dale to our previous crossing point, climbing out at that stage to return to Youlgreave across the fields. As you can see in the following track, the panorama was taken from a high meadow looking down into the valley. Click thumbnail to enlarge imageOur route around Lathkill Dale Download a KMZ file (57KB) for viewing in Google Earth