EVERYONE linked to this video this week, and I am reluctantly jumping on the bandwagon. It’s just that this idea and this video are so fucking cool, it’s impossible not to want to build one of these yourself. The Graffiti Research Lab is responsible for a huge number of really clever, high tech methods of “tagging” buildings. This laser pointer / high-powered projector is by far their cleverest yet.

As I understand it, from this how-to that one of the guys posted, they use the laser to draw on the building, and a mounted camera records the movement of the laser dot. It then projects a painted image, with many styles and settings, onto the giant wall. It requires a good deal of calibration to start, and a big-asses projecter, but it is basically really simple shit. Such a great idea. Somebody should install one of these in front of the Burj Al Arab…

All the programs they wrote for this are open-source and available to download for free here.

[via everyone.]

I have been asked for DSLR buying advice three times in the last two weeks. I decided that instead of emailing everyone individually, I would take the time to compile a useful post for everyone. Since DIGG and everyone else like bulleted lists, I decided to go with that format. So here goes…

9 Important Things To Consider When Thinking About Buying A DSLR Camera, plus what’s in my camera bag:

1. Do you need a DSLR?
A very good digital point and shoot camera from Canon costs under $400 and takes amazing pictures at 7MP with 3x optical zoom lens. You point it in the direction of something beautiful or strange, and press the button, and you’re done. What’s wrong with that? If you primarily take snapshots of you and your friends at bars, or on vacations, or if you find that you hand your camera to strangers so you can be in every shot to “prove you were there” then, well, maybe DSLR photography is not for you…

But if you want to do more than that, if you love photos, if you care about exactly what is captured when you press that button, if you want to pursue the art of it all, you may need a DSLR. With a DSLR you can control every aspect of the photo, from the focal length to the exposure to the white balance. You are able to adjust every setting to get the exact effect you are looking for. (Or, you can switch to automatic mode if you are feeling lazy, but you’ll find you do that less and less as you learn more and more.)

If you’ve used a film SLR camera before, most of this will be very familiar, but if not, there will be a lot to learn. Which brings me to my next point.

2. A DSLR is for the enthusiast, not the casual photographer.
There is a to ton learn. I bought my first DSLR because I wanted to learn exactly how a good picture was taken. A year and a half later, I still don’t know what all the controls do. I have shot over 10,000 picts, 95% of which of complete crap. I have no idea how anyone ever learned to shoot with a manual film SLR in the “good ‘ol days” but I can imagine it was grueling and massively expensive, and more frustrating than anything, ever.

The DSLR opens up incredible opportunities to experiment, try new techniques, shoot the same stupid coffee cup 500 times, all without any consequences. It’s really incredible to know that you can sit and click all day long and it isn’t costing you a penny more. Plus, all of your settings are captured with each picture in the EXIF data which can be reviewed later when you are trying to figure out exactly what you did wrong, or very rarely, right. But if the idea of learning like this makes you groan, then maybe you aren’t as enthusiastic as you think.

3. A DSLR is more expensive than the price of the camera (but way less expensive than it’s old film counterpart)
In order to get the full impact of the DSLR, you’ll need accessories. This often involves multiple lenses which can be quite pricey, a good external flash, extra batteries, maybe a battery grip, a bag, filters, cleaners, and memory cards. You might find a great deal on a Canon XTi with a kit lens and a small bag, but you will quickly outgrow that setup. Be warned, not only will you want to buy more stuff for it, you’ll be HAPPY about plunking down your credit card…

Where it is cheaper, much cheaper, is in film, processing, and developing costs. I mentioned earlier that I have taken 10,000 pictures in the last year and a half. I don’t even want to think what that would have cost in the film world. In order to get 1/10 of the shooting experience I have gotten in the last year, somebody shooting with film would have spent 10x what I have spent in processing costs alone.

4. A DSLR (and accessories) weighs a ton
All these accessories I mentioned weigh a ton and are very bulky to carry around. There is nothing more fatiguing than a 3 hour hike in the mountains of Oman with a full camera bag around your shoulder (and no water.) Trust me.

There are many, many times, when I just leave the camera at home. I used to also own and carry a digital point and shoot pocket camera, but it recently died on me. I am looking for a new one and maybe I’ll do a write-up on that selection process soon. In any case, the DSLR is a pain in the ass to carry around and there will be times when you won’t be able to shoot a classic sunset because you were too lazy to bring the camera with you.

5. Canon vs. Nikon (are there others?)
Well, the classic, religious, political question is upon us. Which do you choose, Canon or Nikon? Seriously, if you ask 50 photographers, you’ll probably get a 50/50 split. I have asked many, many people, and I find the answer is always personal preference. I personally went with Canon, but I have second-guessed myself ever since. I’m not sure I’d be happy either way. However, once you choose, you choose. The costs of all the accessories and the slow research and buildup of lenses will constantly prevent you from switching.

I think the answers to the following questions wold help point you in one direction or the other to start:
a. Do you have any lenses from a previous DSLR camera from Canon or Nikon? If so, are they good ones and/or expensive, and would you like to use them again?
b. Do you have a close friend who has picked a team who might lend you lenses in the future?
c. Do you have any friends or relatives who work for Canon or Nikon and might get a discount on lenses in the future?

See where I’m going with this.

I personally think Canon’s entry level (Rebel XT, or XTi) is better than the Nikon equivalent. I think Nikon’s midrange “prosumer” camera is better than Canon’s, and I think their professional level DSLR’s are about even. From a lens perspective, I thought Canon’s price-to-performance ratio was a bit better, and that was ultimately what put me over the edge. But, again, you’ll easily find a million people who disagree with me.

Lastly, the truth is, both companies are making such great equipment right now, that you’ll be happy whichever way you go.

6. Lenses are addictive, but fantastic
I very quickly outgrew the shitty 18-55mm kit lens that came with my first Canon Rebel XT. Luckily for me, one of my good friends is even more enthusiastic about this stuff than I am, AND he bought his Canon Rebel XT 6 months before me, so he had already done tons of research.

So then I started slowly accumulating lenses. First a really fast, inexpensive 50mm prime lens, then I borrowed a cheap 70-200mm from that friend. Later I bought a really wide angle 10-20mm (the best lens I own, by the way), and later still, a great midrange replacement for the kit lens, a nice 17-70mm.

In any case, I have bought all my equipment twice, because of an unfortunately stupid drunken cab accident, and I will share exactly what I own at the end of this article. Most of it is the best that can be found for Canon for the money. (I’ll even show you where I do my research and where I buy it…)

7. Ever used Photoshop before?
I guess using photoshop itself isn’t a prerequisite for DSLR photography, but honestly, iPhoto is not going to cut it. Luckily for us all, there are 2 fantastic competing products from two of the best software companies in the world. Apple’s Aperture ($300) and Adobe’s Lightroom ($300) do essentially the same thing. They let you store and organize your photos like iPhoto, but enable really great editing, adjusting, manipulating controls like Photoshop. The truth is that neither comes close to the power Photoshop gives you to layer and mask and manipulate, but they do provide plenty enough control to make shitty, washed out shots look like great. And that’s about what you’ll need, especially in the early days of learning your way around your camera.

8. There’s no picture on the LCD panel on the back like other digital cameras.
This is always a surprise to people who pick up my camera. They can’t understand how I paid a few thousand dollars for something and the LCD doesn’t work.

DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. This is an ancient and fantastic configuration for a camera lens and sensor, where a little mirror sits in front of the light sensor (or film in the old days). The mirror reflects the light coming in from the lens up an into the viewfinder. When you press the shutter release, the little mirror quickly flips out of the way, then the shutter opens exposing the film to the direct image (though upside down) from the lens. Here’s a better explanation.

In order for the LCD on the back panel to work on a digital camera, the light sensor needs to be constantly exposed to the light. In an SLR setup, this is impossible. (Well, maybe not impossible, Canon’s new professional camera, EOS-1D Mark III, about to be released, actually does this, but is costs thousands and thousands of dollars. I don’t know how it works. I imagine this is a feature more and more DSLRs will start having in the future though.)

9. There is tons of information out there.
I rely heavily on two very, very good and very thorough review sites, DPReview.com and Steve’s Digicams. Both of these sites offer so much photography experience and really gruelingly in-depth analysis of every little details of most every new camera. These are must-read sites for the camera shopper.

Recently I have started loving the blog Digital Photography School, which offers some really great tips and advice for photography beginners. I also browser Flickr a lot, and check the EXIF data of the pictures I like (In fact, now I try to guess it before I look. I’ve pretty good at knowing the focal length by site.)

If anyone knows any other really good resources, let me know.

10. Some of you may be wondering what I have purchased after all of this research. Well, here’s what I bought, twice. I actually rebought most of it, but upgraded some, like the camera itself and therefore the battery grip too. I’ll use B & H’s links since they have every piece of camera equipment known to man, and they are my favorite camera store by far. (They even ship internationally.)

• Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT (a.k.a. 350D) 8.0 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Body (Black), upgraded to the Canon EOS 30D 8.1 Megapixel, SLR: When I lost ALL my kit in a taxi over Christmas break, I was heartbroken, but took the opportunity to buy a better camera. The 30D is a LOT more camera than the XT, but it also nearly twice the price. Still, for $1100 I don’t know of a better piece of equipment you can buy.
• Canon BG-E2 Vertical Grip/Battery Holder: Battery grip with room for two batteries and adds extra controls for when you hold the camera vertically. My batteries last for well over 1000 picts.
• Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM Autofocus Lens: OUTSTANDING lens. This is not the one with Image Stabilization (costs twice as much), but it is so sharp and so great. Heavy, white, L lenses make you look like a pro too.
• Sigma Zoom Super Wide Angle AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro Autofocus Lens: Outstanding everyday lens. I did a lot of research before buying this and I think I made the right choice. Fantastic bit of kit.
• Sigma Zoom Super Wide Angle 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens: The best lens in my bag. It is about $200 cheaper than the Canon 10 – 22mm equivalent, and I think it’s a better lens. Any of the pictures I’ve taken that you might have thought were pretty good were probably taken with this.
• Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens” This $70 lens is the best thing you can possibly buy for that amount of money. The 1.4 version is $350 and meant to be stunning, but to be honest, I doubt there is much difference between the lenses. f1.8 means you can shoot in really low light and get great shots. I love this lens.
• Sigma 1.4x DG EX APO Teleconverter for Canon EOS: This was a Christmas present. Another great value piece. For $179, you can add a lot of zoom. Puts my 200mm near 300mm and takes away very little quality or speed. Good kit.
• Canon 580EX Speedlite E-TTL II Shoe Mount Flash: Best flash for Canon SLRs on the market. Worth it’s $400 price tag, I hope.

OK, so that’s all I can tell you for now. I’ve opened up my camera bag to you all, and shared everything I know about this crap. Good luck to you, on your new journey into photography.

I know it’s a little early, but this little news item is too good to wait to share. Apparently some smart folks down there in Mobile, Alabama caught a glimpse of a real-life leprechaun hiding up in a tree. They’ve got sketches and a magic flute to prove it. Have a look. You won’t be disappointed.

“Maybe he jes’ a crackhead, took some wrong stuff and thinks he suppod’a be up in dat der’ tree…”

[thanks to rob and his new blog.]

Oh, the joys of YouTube… and Walmart. Some coordinated guys finally found something to do on a boring Friday night in town where there’s a 24 hour store.

Good break-dancing never gets old.

It’s in a foreign language, but you’ll get the joke.

The last bike guy is my favorite.

Yeah, I give relationship advice sometimes. Tonight I gave some to an old friend from NY, a girl that I have never been in a relationship with, but who I know very, very well. When I was writing it, I realized that I could take out a few names and it would be good advice for anyone. So here is some of my relationship wisdom:

It’s simple really. You’ve made a hard but very real decision about your ex. Lonely, horny, nostalgic, angry, whatever, there is no reason to think too much about him at all. You aren’t going back to him, even for just one night, so there is no decision to make, nothing to think about, nothing. If want any type of friendship with him, then fine, it is unlikely to work out in the end, but fine. Just make sure you treat him like a friend and nothing else. If he keeps on treating you like something else, then the friendship can’t work. If you give him reason to do that, then it’s your fault.

As far as the other one is concerned, either be with him or don’t be with him. Don’t let fear of loneliness keep you in a relationship when you have for more important things to do with your time, alone or not. BUT if you are having fun and enjoying his time, then there is also no reason to let “the future” be the thing that ends the relationship. If all you can think about is whether or not the guy you are with is “marriage material” or long-term-worthy, then you will never be happy. You have to find someone who’s company you enjoy and who is on the same page as you.

“Same page as you” is worth explaining. If you want to have a one-night stand and have one with a guy who wants a one night stand, then all will be fine and fun and sexy. If you want a casual relationship with a guy who wants a casual relationship, then all will be fine and fun and sexy. If you want a casual relationship with a guy who wanted a one-night stand, then you’ve got problems. This goes on and on and always works. If you want a casual relationship and he wants a long-term relationship, disaster. See? Same page. You got to be on the same page no matter what it is you want.

Now, you and a guy might start on the same page, but then somehow it will eventually become lopsided. If it doesn’t, if you continue to grow your relationship at a reasonable and mutual pace, well then, there you have the marriage material. It’s a simple formula.

Of course, my problem is that I perpetually only want casual. It always goes lopsided, and then it always ends. Simple formula.

Now, when it is time to make a move with this guy, severing the relationship or whatever, do not “create drama.” That is the weak and easy way out. You also don’t need drama. What you need is some mature honesty. “This isn’t working out. We want different things. I don’t want to do this anymore. Sorry.” Done. Like ripping off a bandage – fast, clean, painful, but only for a second. Don’t insult him, but don’t worry about hurting him. It’s always going to hurt a little, and he is going to be fine. Don’t worry about “being the bad guy” or him hating you. Everyone always worries about that and then finds themselves 5 years into a shithole relationship and can’t figure out how they got there, even though they knew it wasn’t right after 6 months.

Best breakup I ever had went like this:
“I am not enjoying myself anymore. I don’t think I want to do this anymore.”
“I am so relived you just said that. I was thinking the same thing.”
“Sweet. Friends?”
“Sure.”
Done. Awesome.

That’s all the relationship advice I have. Take it with a grain of salt. I’m single.

I didn’t do enough traveling in my life, which is part of the reason I am in Dubai right now. I promised myself when I left NY that I would take advantage of every travel opportunity that came along.

But I have never been one to want to travel to common destinations for 4 days and 5 nights, following a guided tour through the most traversed tourist sites, on the top of a double-decker bus. That sounds like torture, not travel. That’s one of the reasons I haven’t really gone anywhere. NY is so far, and I have never really had more than 2 weeks vacation, so no travel opportunity ever seemed like the right circumstance to see things the way I like to see them – off the beaten path, as close to being a local as possible, out of site of the pocket digital cameras and bermuda shorts of the tourist masses…

Well, an opportunity has presented itself, and I’ll be plunking down my deposit this week. But I’ll need your help – more on that in a second.

There’s a charitable organization in Dubai called Gulf for Good. They frequently organize adventure travel for expats and others in Dubai that need to get away from it all for a little while. Trips have included kayaking, climbing, trekking, and biking in places like Machu Pichu, Oman, Mt Kilamanjaro, Mt. Everest, and on and on and on. They have a really good reputation for being organized and safe and professional. Some people here try to go on every single expedition.

The one I’ve chosen is the Motorbike Challenge which will take place in early September this year (giving me plenty of time to prepare.) We (me and a few local friends, plus I don’t know how many others) will be taking WWII BMW motorcycles with sidecars on a 6 day ride from Beijing to inner Mongolia and back. You read that correctly. Here’s how they describe it.

Does riding on a WWII BMW motorbike with a side car from China to Inner Mongolia pique your interest?. This 12 day challenge will involve 6 days actually spent riding the bikes from Beijing to Cheng De and back, covering an estimated distance of 1,500 Kms. Funds raised will benefit children’s charities in Mongolia.”

The way it works is simple. You pay about $600 to register. Then you need to collect about $5000 in charitable donations (that’s where you come in…) in order to qualify. Then you buy a round trip ticket to Beijing, and turn up on the day. About 2/3 of the donated money will go to children’s charities in Mongolia, which is actually a LOT.

We’ll be traversing some insanely beautiful stretches of countryside, on and off road, and camping at night. If you look at the itinerary (click the link on this page) you can see exactly what they’ve planned. It sound extraordinary. I can’t wait.

The best part of this little adventure is that I DON’T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE, even though I’ve been threatening to learn for years now. So, I am signing up this week for 18 lessons here in Dubai and getting an official license. What better way to learn than starting off on the most treacherous roads I’ve ever seen, and then flying to China to even worse conditions?

Regarding the motorcycles themselves, not only is it beautiful, but it is incredibly reliable, versatile, and it has a fucking sidecar. Here are the specs. Have a look.

As for its history, well now, there in lies the true romance of the whole adventure. These are Chinese manufactured versions of the motorcycles that the Germans invaded Russia with in WWII, then eventually provided the Russians with the plans for as part of the terms of surrender. The Russians gave the plans to China in the 1950′s, and they’ve been making the Chang Jiang 750 in mass quantities ever since.

So, that’s about all I know right now. I am going to ask for your help in collecting the charitable donations for the Mongolian kids. I’ll set up some kind of PayPal-type charity link where you can contribute with a credit card or whatever. I’d really, really appreciate your help with this. I really want to go, AND it seems like a great cause, AND it’s a tax write-off. If I learn more about any of this, you’ll be the first to know.

Wish me luck.

Robin asked to see a fake tilt-shift shot before and after. He suggested one of the Dhow shots. Easy enough request. Here you go Robin.

Before:

After:

I don’t know if this is interesting at all. I am not going to post anymore photos like these for a while.

There was a time back before YouTube and Google Video when you thought of a short film or animation you had to HUNT for it all over the internets, and there was a very good chance you wouldn’t find it. Message boards, P2P, Google, blogs, wherever. Back then, I was obsessed with Don Hertzfeldt, the brilliant and bitter animator who created Ah, L’Amour, and the absolute classic, Billy’s Balloon. (I’m sorry to whoever originally told me about Billy’s Balloon. I have forgotten who you are though I would love to give you credit here.) I collected many of the animated shorts in various formats but never had a way to post them on this site. Eventually my enthusiasm subsided, and I forgot about the whole thing.

This morning, our friend Mo sent an email with a link to a YouTube version of Hertzfeldt’s most popular piece, Rejected. At some point, the Family Learning Channel hired Don to create some promotional pieces. Normally he doesn’t do these sorts of things, but he accepted, and created a series of spots for the channel. All of them were rejected. There’s a reason for that, but you’ll need to watch them to find out.

Well now, through the magic of Web 2.0, an email reminder, and some simple embed code, I can reveal the brilliance of these animations to you all, especially if you’ve never heard of Don Hertzfeldt before. (If you have, well then, this should be a reminder, like the one Mo sent me this morning.)

My all-time favorite, Billy’s Balloon:
Here is Ah, L’Amour, the dark, but realistic love story:
And last but not least, The Family Learning Channel’s Rejected promo spots:

[thanks to Mo for reminding me.]

It’s the Year of the Golden Pig. Should be Year of the Flying Pig. I’m off to the Shangri-La Hotel for some proper Chinese food to celebrate Chinese New Year.

I just love how these fake tilt-shift photos come. I am a little bit obsessed right now, though I am running out of suitable shots to convert. I have never gone out to shoot anything with the intention of editing them like this, but I just might start. In any case, here are 4 more…

Deira Dhow

More Deira Dhow

Last show of the Dhow…

Car unloads at an Omani port

OK, enough of these for a while. I want shoot some new ones with cars and traffic. Before that I think I will start messing around with HDR.

This is my first attempt at a fake tilt-shift effect using Photoshop. I followed this really simple tutorial. I know there are some better, more advanced versions out there, but this one seemed to do the trick.

What do you think?