Bought myself a first generation Lytro camera of Amazon a couple of days ago.... basically liked the idea, but not the price, for a while now......
Logic in buying was that the price has been slashes to a pittance of its former loftiness and I was hooked...
Very strange, long, little square box with the lens at one end and a tiny, dodgy, screen at the other...
May post specs/photos later but its easy enough to find these on line and, for the mo, this is just post is just to keep track of the learning curve of blurred and "what the F*** is that" photo's I'm taking whilst learning.
First day's were all pretty much useless as just snapping away to sort how you actually frame these "living" photos.... You do have to rethink things somewhat.... a sound knowledge of photography helps up to a point and then you start thinking in 3D and stuff just starts to work..
2nd day photo of the little fox bronze in the courtyard off the high street in Stowmarket seem the best to date... if you have not seen one of these before... just click on the snowman's belly to refocus on him.... drag your cursor around to move.. or just press play... Have fun.
Well that was fun getting the photo on here.... future ref... ignore the info on the Lytro page and just switch to HTML and enter embodied code.. switch back to Compose and its there.... (Useful info for other "Lytro" Blogger users - make sure you have a couple of text lines below the embodied code link or you cant enter any as the player just keeps kicking in when you hit enter to start new text line.. had to go back into HTML to add an extra text line below and then the Compose page worked as normal)
Well its been a few days now.. but the weather here is just.... wet...so not to many pictures.. still getting to grips with the composition and separation of subjects..
Danger... Mechanic's at Work...
Badger Motorcycles.... Doug (in front) is a very talented motorcycle builder... might be a small, out of the way, workshop but every now and then, amongst the bread and butter servicing etc, out rolls a work of art...
Kevin, looking on, has an idea or three on how to.... lets say "improve" his motorcycle... Will see if he lets me take a few shots of the finished bike...
The picture is starting to look right... several things going on, nice separation between subjects and plenty on things to click on... Minimal or cluttered shots do seem to work better than "middle of the road" ones
Might need to try a mono/tripod as leaning my hands are non to steady these days and the shot is not as sharp as I would like....
My little Sage Statue...
Nice sharp photo for a "just hold my hand near the ground and see what I get" shot
The Led light in front was better shown in another shot but this was the sharper shot.. Not a lot of depth but it does work well when you click on the trellis... so learning that contrasting textures and colour have an effect.
Realising that these cameras need good light for the best results so may well invest in an Led ring light... Might as well start with a cheap Chinese job of flea bay...
Have seen some very cheap little, square, Go Pro led/usb lights, not very bright but might just be enough in a macro situation...
20/12/2015.. Playing with the Photo Editor
Realising that there is a lot more to Lytro pictures than just point - shoot - publish...... The editor built into the desktop app is a vital part of the process.... The odd little, or sometimes major, changes can really enhance the photo...
The edit options seem simple but have such a vast effect on the picture that it can quickly become a mess.... but the "restore to defaults" button at the bottom means that nothing is ever unrecoverable so try everything form max to min.... see what happens.... and restore if it does not work....
For me the first option that simply just worked was "Tilt" and "Rotation". Tilt alters the front to rear
aspect and rotation alters the angle of the depth of field aspect.... example..
Using just the "tilt" option so the depth of field worked from front to back did not rally do anything for this shot but adding "rotation" so it worked from the bottom left corner of the shot to the top right hand corner and the whole thing really starts to come together....
Having the two blue items in focus along the, drawn to, eye line of the paving slab edge just. simply, looks better....
Don't worry about messing things up.... as maxing out the "temperature" setting. just to see what happened.... I ended up with this..
Now this might not be the best shot in the world but, for me, it just kinda works "as is"... Even though the original sky colour was a crisp clear blue...
Using "tilt" on this shot just did not work.. the post in the foreground just went really weird, almost hourglass, looking....
No post in this one... just for colour comparison...
Using The "crop" effect can usually enhance any photo, and it is no different with the Lytro
The original had, pretty much, the whole cross as a foreground.... but cropping down to highlight the discolouration/patina made it pop...
I know these are not the best shots in the world... but snapping away at anything that looks like it might work is the way to go with the Lytro... as you learn more by taking an everyday photo and making it a great one than you do by just trying for that perfect shot.. They will happen.... some because of your "eye" and some that seem nothing when you take them..... but make you go "wow" later....
And finally... for now.... What is level...
There was a car parked in front of the gate and I had to look into the Lytro's tiny screen at an angle... so I was not as square on as I thought....
But the more I look at it, with the intention of going back and taking a better shot, the more it works as the pathway trees are, pretty well, vertical...
Used tilt on this shot as, even thought the "gates" are in the same plain, it brought out.... emphasised the dates, and the sentiment, better.
One of my better photo's, to date, that show of the Lytro's capabilities....
23/12/2015 Out in the Sunshine
The main drawback, I find, of the first gen Lytro is the fixed 1/250 speed. I know there is a lot of latitude within the shot but on cloudy days, or shooting indoors, getting a nice bright colourful shot is far from easy.....
So with the sun shining bright in the sky today I went out to the Cafe at Onehouse, Suffolk.
Bad timing as it had just closed when I arrived.... much to the amusement of the owners... who are in fact, my neighbours....
Still quite like this shot..
Using "rotation" helped to shift depth of field axis so it runs from the top left corner to the bottom right.... It really separated the blue swing seat, making it the focal point, and was well pleased that you could still read the "lakeside" sign when refocused...
As for the lake itself.... its a small but very picturesque fishing lake.... So a shot just had to be taken...
Just set this to F16 as it looks good just as is.... but it does prove the point that.... if the lights right, so is the Lytro.... as the shot is only spoilt by my, slight, camera shake.... must get a tripod or graph on some steadier hands...
Well that's my shots to date... Hope you are having fun taking yours....
Sunday 8 November 2015
Friday 6 November 2015
50 Years of Motoring... Not so much a Guide to Avoiding Idiots... Rather a Series of Observations
50 years of avoiding the loonies out there.... don't know how... just, mostly, have....
Actually started driving cars at 8 and motorcycles by 9 years old so that's a couple more years to tag on... Oh the joys of growing up in a scrap yard... Didn't matter if you crashed because they were being scrapped anyway and its so much better to learn you craft out in the field than be a damn nuisance poodling about on the road, whilst doing kangaroo impressions..
First Observation... Confidence.
Driving a car or riding a motorcycle requires confidence... in truth the vast amount of experience needed to have to ability do either well is purely down to confidence.... you think you can and you can.. (self doubt kills you just as quickly as inexperience)
But the tricky part is the amount of confidence... to much and your over-confident and your in a ditch saying (Ill let you choose the comment - but my favourite is "well that did not go as planned")...
The right amount means that you get to where your going without falling off the road or into someone else.... And.... you learnt something new along the way..... i.e. you can rear wheel steer around that corner at legal speeds.. Its all about keeping it inside your natural abilities....
Not like, as some people do.... and Mr Hammond did..... say "I am a driving God" and then crash... mind you still love Mr Clarksons quote of " slide through those pearly gates... backwards and on fire..." which, again, you may well do through over confidence..
Or your under-confident and your siting at a T junction waiting for the road to be absolutely clear before pulling out, whilst behind you is a flotilla of horns going of...
Or you are afraid to drive in town... or even out of town... Motorways.... Narrow roads that have tight bends...... etc... etc.. etc...
Under-confidence limits your abilities and the enjoyment of motoring... It also increases you chances of saying "never had an accident but seen several in the rear view mirror"
One of my Aunts used to take her hands of the steering wheel and cover her eyes if she found herself going over 40.. I kid you not....
Second Observation... Skill/Technique
Again, in truth, confidence is all that is required to drive on empty, normal, roads... but skill is the thing you learn over time.... and you need when there is any other traffic, obstacles, potholes and sheep about..... (don't hit a cow.... you might not have allot of car left)
you cant rush it..... you will either have a crash or will cause one....
You cant buy it.... you can pay for lessons to speed it up... but have known more than a few people who have proudly said "this guy has no idea" when referring to an instructor .... because they think they know better.... That comment looks, real, good on a headstone as they, themselves, are the ones with no idea...
You can only learn up to your natural reaction speed.... The brain takes half a second to react to something new... So its mechanism to get round this is automatic reactions... you do something a few times and then the brain says "OK got that.. when I see/feel/hear that... I do this".... instantaneously and then takes it a step further and says "this is new but its similar to...." and the auto reaction kicks in.
First time the back end steps out its, shall we say, entertaining.... but the next you just turn into it without thinking... that's automatic reactions.... the more you drive/ride the more automatic it becomes.... and if your brain is wired right you can end up a stunt rider with ease.... well with a lot of practise and a mountain of cardboard boxes...
But if its not important to you to be a better driver/rider as motoring is "just a form of transit" then the brain gets bored and switches off the auto react and just goes into a lazy autopilot mode... which means when something happens out side your normal "comfort" range... you crash or crash into.
An example of all of the above is my personal pet hate number 23 (and yes there are anymore)...
Just watch a tailgater on the dual carriageway... easily recognisable by lack of distance to the car/bike in front of him and the brake lights are on when the one in front are not...
- Overconfident in Abilities and Reactions while Underestimating the Surrounding Conditions -
(To be honest you should never use your brakes on a dual carriageway... look far enough ahead... keep a sensible gap... and just lift you foot off the accelerator and, just, use engine braking)
Third Observation... Anger
Don't care how good a driver/rider you may be you get angry and your abilities go sky high but your survivability goes to zero..
Yes I have seen some of my friends ride faster and better than there natural abilities allow.. but you become focused... single minded... and that's just simply dangerous... deadly even...
If some moron pulls out in front of you and you don't need to brake then why get angry... If someone pulls out in front of me and floors it... could not give a monkeys...
If that moron pulled out and you did have to brake the just be glad you missed him as getting angry and shouting obscenities often just gets you rear ended because you forgot to move again...
If the moron pulled out and you hit him.... don't get angry... just get the phone out and photograph everything...... LISTEN.. don't verbalise... you will be £'s better off in the end... mind you you may need that punching bag hung up the garage when you get home...
Fourth Observation.... Indifference
Why do most accidents happen within half a mile of home or a workplace.... Indifference.... "I always turn here so why do I need to indicate!" being my pet hate number 16....
The "you should know where I'm going" brigade do my head in. Longest I ever worked at one place was 15 years... and always indicated to turn in... but, as there were thousands who worked at Cranes, hundreds, everyday, did not.... kept the factory nurse busy anyway...
Fifth Observation.... Perception
The ability to be aware of your surroundings... More and more drivers these days are not...
Pet hate number 19.... Slip Lanes..... especially the one at the bottom of the A140 where it joins the A14.... nearly been killed there on many an occasion....
I'm coming up the slip lane behind someone.... were doing 60/60+ already.... I look over my shoulder/in the mirror... to check the gap... and when I look forward again the car in front is braking.. violently..... THE LORRY CAN NOT DO 60..... but he still panics and brakes rather than just carry on onto the carriageway...
I'm swerving up the inside of him... the lorry driver is laughing his head off... and the car driver, now stopped, need five times the gap before he can pull out again...
A really good trick/habit is to assume that someone is going to suddenly appear and pull out of every junction you pass..... and the thing is to think "where can I go"... it that gate open... is the pavement clear... that hedge is softer than the brick wall... anything is better than hitting something head on..
And in truth I have had to resort to driveways a couple of times rather than have a collision.
Never ever think "it will not happen to me" for the universal truth that is "Its never if it happens... its simply when.."
Anyway as I said at the start.... Not a "survivors" guide just random notes of the journey..
Would I love to do another 50.. not sure... to many cars and to few major roads to run them on.... but its all academic really as I know the Fuchs' Dystrophy will kick in one day soon and that will be that....
Be careful out there....
P
Actually started driving cars at 8 and motorcycles by 9 years old so that's a couple more years to tag on... Oh the joys of growing up in a scrap yard... Didn't matter if you crashed because they were being scrapped anyway and its so much better to learn you craft out in the field than be a damn nuisance poodling about on the road, whilst doing kangaroo impressions..
First Observation... Confidence.
Driving a car or riding a motorcycle requires confidence... in truth the vast amount of experience needed to have to ability do either well is purely down to confidence.... you think you can and you can.. (self doubt kills you just as quickly as inexperience)
But the tricky part is the amount of confidence... to much and your over-confident and your in a ditch saying (Ill let you choose the comment - but my favourite is "well that did not go as planned")...
The right amount means that you get to where your going without falling off the road or into someone else.... And.... you learnt something new along the way..... i.e. you can rear wheel steer around that corner at legal speeds.. Its all about keeping it inside your natural abilities....
Not like, as some people do.... and Mr Hammond did..... say "I am a driving God" and then crash... mind you still love Mr Clarksons quote of " slide through those pearly gates... backwards and on fire..." which, again, you may well do through over confidence..
Or your under-confident and your siting at a T junction waiting for the road to be absolutely clear before pulling out, whilst behind you is a flotilla of horns going of...
Or you are afraid to drive in town... or even out of town... Motorways.... Narrow roads that have tight bends...... etc... etc.. etc...
Under-confidence limits your abilities and the enjoyment of motoring... It also increases you chances of saying "never had an accident but seen several in the rear view mirror"
One of my Aunts used to take her hands of the steering wheel and cover her eyes if she found herself going over 40.. I kid you not....
Second Observation... Skill/Technique
Again, in truth, confidence is all that is required to drive on empty, normal, roads... but skill is the thing you learn over time.... and you need when there is any other traffic, obstacles, potholes and sheep about..... (don't hit a cow.... you might not have allot of car left)
you cant rush it..... you will either have a crash or will cause one....
You cant buy it.... you can pay for lessons to speed it up... but have known more than a few people who have proudly said "this guy has no idea" when referring to an instructor .... because they think they know better.... That comment looks, real, good on a headstone as they, themselves, are the ones with no idea...
You can only learn up to your natural reaction speed.... The brain takes half a second to react to something new... So its mechanism to get round this is automatic reactions... you do something a few times and then the brain says "OK got that.. when I see/feel/hear that... I do this".... instantaneously and then takes it a step further and says "this is new but its similar to...." and the auto reaction kicks in.
First time the back end steps out its, shall we say, entertaining.... but the next you just turn into it without thinking... that's automatic reactions.... the more you drive/ride the more automatic it becomes.... and if your brain is wired right you can end up a stunt rider with ease.... well with a lot of practise and a mountain of cardboard boxes...
But if its not important to you to be a better driver/rider as motoring is "just a form of transit" then the brain gets bored and switches off the auto react and just goes into a lazy autopilot mode... which means when something happens out side your normal "comfort" range... you crash or crash into.
An example of all of the above is my personal pet hate number 23 (and yes there are anymore)...
Just watch a tailgater on the dual carriageway... easily recognisable by lack of distance to the car/bike in front of him and the brake lights are on when the one in front are not...
- Overconfident in Abilities and Reactions while Underestimating the Surrounding Conditions -
(To be honest you should never use your brakes on a dual carriageway... look far enough ahead... keep a sensible gap... and just lift you foot off the accelerator and, just, use engine braking)
Third Observation... Anger
Don't care how good a driver/rider you may be you get angry and your abilities go sky high but your survivability goes to zero..
Yes I have seen some of my friends ride faster and better than there natural abilities allow.. but you become focused... single minded... and that's just simply dangerous... deadly even...
If some moron pulls out in front of you and you don't need to brake then why get angry... If someone pulls out in front of me and floors it... could not give a monkeys...
If that moron pulled out and you did have to brake the just be glad you missed him as getting angry and shouting obscenities often just gets you rear ended because you forgot to move again...
If the moron pulled out and you hit him.... don't get angry... just get the phone out and photograph everything...... LISTEN.. don't verbalise... you will be £'s better off in the end... mind you you may need that punching bag hung up the garage when you get home...
Fourth Observation.... Indifference
Why do most accidents happen within half a mile of home or a workplace.... Indifference.... "I always turn here so why do I need to indicate!" being my pet hate number 16....
The "you should know where I'm going" brigade do my head in. Longest I ever worked at one place was 15 years... and always indicated to turn in... but, as there were thousands who worked at Cranes, hundreds, everyday, did not.... kept the factory nurse busy anyway...
Fifth Observation.... Perception
The ability to be aware of your surroundings... More and more drivers these days are not...
Pet hate number 19.... Slip Lanes..... especially the one at the bottom of the A140 where it joins the A14.... nearly been killed there on many an occasion....
I'm coming up the slip lane behind someone.... were doing 60/60+ already.... I look over my shoulder/in the mirror... to check the gap... and when I look forward again the car in front is braking.. violently..... THE LORRY CAN NOT DO 60..... but he still panics and brakes rather than just carry on onto the carriageway...
I'm swerving up the inside of him... the lorry driver is laughing his head off... and the car driver, now stopped, need five times the gap before he can pull out again...
A really good trick/habit is to assume that someone is going to suddenly appear and pull out of every junction you pass..... and the thing is to think "where can I go"... it that gate open... is the pavement clear... that hedge is softer than the brick wall... anything is better than hitting something head on..
And in truth I have had to resort to driveways a couple of times rather than have a collision.
Never ever think "it will not happen to me" for the universal truth that is "Its never if it happens... its simply when.."
Anyway as I said at the start.... Not a "survivors" guide just random notes of the journey..
Would I love to do another 50.. not sure... to many cars and to few major roads to run them on.... but its all academic really as I know the Fuchs' Dystrophy will kick in one day soon and that will be that....
Be careful out there....
P
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