Oregon Entropy
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 |
 |
 |
Archive for the ‘Pics’ Category
Hawaii “Polaroids”
Friday, May 28th, 2010As they appear in this slideshow:
- What’s Hawaii without Elvis? Inside Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts. At Bailey’s, you can buy, among other things, a pale yellow aloha shirt with a ukulele on the back for a mere 3000 dollars.
- On Kalakaua, Duke Kahanamoku perpetually raises your faded leis like an offering to the high rise hotels of Waikiki.
- The educated person’s source for Hawaiiana and history, Tin Can Mailman. The vintage aloha and swimwear ads alone are worth the visit.
- Ladies with leis in the “Boat Days” collection of photos documenting the golden age of cruise ship arrival to Waikiki. In the hallway of the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk.
- My white ginger and yellow plumeria leis, in the hands of Princess Ka’iulani, in condolence for that crappy movie. Sorry, your highness, you deserved better.
- The second in a series of ambulatory wedding cakes, also known as Japanese brides, in the lobby of the Moana Surfrider.
Shot with my iPhone, processed using Polarize.
Big Fat Video Camera Giveaway
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010Comments are closed on this post. Winner TBD next week. Thanks!
“Oh my god, you guys are OLD! You HAVE to do video!”
That’s a video blogger I’ve found myself in the company of at a meetup or two and were he not packaged as what otherwise seems like a nice guy, this sentence would end with “and then I skewered him with my chopsticks.” No need. Plus, while I don’t agree that I have to do video, I do see the value in it. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little curious about what I could do with the medium were I to have the tools to produce interesting footage.
“Cut to the chase,” you are thinking, I know it. I’m giving away a video camera. Actually, JVC is giving it away, I’m just the facilitator. The camera is a nice one, the JVC Everio HM-550. I’m doing a random draw– one lucky commenter will their bloggy paws on this compact little gadget that opens a whole world of complicated production questions.
And that’s what you have to do to qualify. Tell me your nagging question about video. Hardware, software, hosting, production tools, whatever… what do you wish you knew about video that you don’t already know? And if you’re a video whiz but just wish you had newer hardware, leave me a tip, some tiny piece of useful advice for a video novice. No question, no tip, no camera. That’s a pretty easy requirement and it helps me know you’re a real human. One comment only, entering more than once disqualifies you and I’ll check, I’m fussy that way. JVC will ship worldwide, though if you’re dinged with custom fees, that’s your responsibility — heads up on that. I’ll close comments on May 31st and draw a winner using Random.org.
I’ve been noodling with the exact model I’m giving away — JVC gave me one to review. My impressions so far?
- Wow, it’s teeny tiny! I’m AMAZED by how small and lightweight it is. Stack two Flip cams. It’s about like that. Maybe a little bigger.
- It’s fairly easy to use. I haven’t cracked all the features yet, but the controls are well placed and the onscreen tools are easy to use.
- I appreciate that it’s got a decent chunk of on board memory. You can buy flash cards, but you don’t have to.
- The video is sharp and clear, even in fairly low light.
- I don’t know bunk about shooting video. My stuff is shaky and boring as hell so far.
- The auto-focus is a little odd sometimes. I shot a bunch of “out the window” stuff in the rain and couldn’t figure out when it was focusing on the rain spattered glass and when it was focusing on the landscape. The photographer in me wants to control that and can’t figure out how.
- The battery life seems great, but I always recommend carrying a spare, regardless.
- It’s right handed. If you’re a lefty, you might be frustrated by this.
- Mac folks, my outdated version of iMovie (6.x) wouldn’t read the .mts files generated by the camera.Also, in the latest version of Windows Movie Maker, the files played but had no sound. There are some compatibility issues, clearly.
And hey, just in case you’re curious, here’s a “video postcard” we shot a few weekends back when the sun was (intermittently) out. I’m keenly aware of the flaws, but if you know more of video than I do, I welcome your comments on how to fix them — and yes, that can count as your entry. Don’t talk with your mouth full of salmon burger doesn’t count, wise guy.
Video Postcard: Seattle
Spring, After Noon
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Yesterday afternoon I was a weird combination of restless and lethargic. Earlier that day I’d handed in my corporate laptop — the nine month contract that saved me from a very bad work market was over, I’d been replaced by a full time on-site “resource”, one more willing than I am to sit in a designated chair for 40 hours a week. Without the additional 7 pounds of hardware in my backpack, I was feeling considerably lighter, nervous and celebratory at the same time.
About two months ago I picked up another part time gig; I’ve been (badly) managing two work calendars plus any writing I ought to be doing, missing breakfast dates, showing up late, falling in disorganized dreams and waking up tired. We needed the money, it made sense, but I am glad it’s over.
Yesterday was bright with a little bluster. Lighter without my corporate gig, I tied my shoes and went out into the sun. J and I walked to Bird on a Wire, a funky little coffee house about a mile away, conveniently located across the street from our nearest library. An older couple, maybe retired, chatted with the barrista, called him by name. He gave me my coffee and a cookie and spoke with a fake Italian accent, smiling. “In honor of, uh, St. Patrick’s day, that’s it!”
Yellow and white daffodils are up in neat gardens around the neighborhood — and in my messy garden. The wind blows gold swaths of tree pollen, it settles on flat surfaces, you can draw lines in it with your fingers or swear at it, like I do. The day before yesterday, the wind took out our power for three hours, starting around 2:30, so we went out then, too, to a different cafe and when we came home, our neighbor was out back playing with his little girl in the late afternoon sunshine.
Yesterday, we walked around our neighborhood, I wore a scarf but no coat. We walked in the alleys, avoiding big shiny puddles, and looked at the artist’s rendering of the new fire house, and J pulled dry flowers off lavender and rosemary plants. He rubbed them in his hands and opened them, letting out the scent and handing the crushed leaves and petals to me.
Free time on a bright afternoon is a luxury. It is undeniably spring.
Polarize Photos
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010It was with great ambivalence that I acquired an iPhone. While there’s much to love about the technology, the cellphone industrial complex makes me crazy. It’s tempting to veer into a consumer rant here, but I’ll sidestep that to tell you that I have greatly enjoyed having the Internet in my pocket. I also rather like some of the fun toys that make my phone do more stuff.
We recently spent a weekend in Kitsap county, just west of Seattle, and I shot a handful of photos with the phone in my camera and then, ran them through a little post processing tool called Polarize. I’m enjoying the lo-fi look, plus, it’s fun to share them right away via my other internet addiction, Twitter. The results are in the slideshow below, there’s more to come, I’m sure.
Port Townsend
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 |
 |
 |
 |
- Boat on the beach, Port Townsend
- Quincy and Water Street, Port Townsend
- Hot dog, just off the highway, Port Townsend
- Art car, Port Gamble
