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Posts Tagged ‘Conservation’

London researchers develop plant-powered camera system for conservation efforts

19 Oct

ZSL London Zoo has detailed the results of a new scientific trial that successfully powered a tiny camera using plants. At the core of the system are microbial fuel cells designed to harness the energy produced by bacteria in the soil, which works to breakdown biomatter produced by plants. The end result, according to ZSL, may one day be plant-powered cameras that can be used as part of conservation efforts.

The microbial fuel cells were installed in the London Zoo’s Rainforest Life exhibit for use with a maidenhair fern named Pete. Unlike batteries, which need to be regularly recharged using sunlight or an external power source, plant-based fuel cells can be used to power many low-energy sensors, cameras, and other devices in a variety of environments.

‘We’ve quite literally plugged into nature to help protect the world’s wildlife: Pete has surpassed our expectations and is currently taking a photo every 20 seconds,’ said ZSL Conservation Technology Specialist Al Davies. ‘He’s been working so well we’ve even accidentally photobombed him a few times!’ Below are a few photos captured with the system:

By utilizing this technology, conservationists may be able to monitor plant growth, temperature, and other data using remote hardware without relying on solar panels and batteries. Following additional refinement, the team plans to test the technology in the wild.

Image credits: Photos shared with kind permission from ZSL London Zoo.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Peak Design will donate today’s online sale proceeds to Conservation Alliance

22 Apr

If you’ve been eyeing a Peak Design bag, today may be the day to strike. In honor of Earth Day, the company is donating 100% of proceeds from the day’s online sales to the Conservation Alliance. The organization provides a link between outdoor brands like Peak Design and community efforts to protect and restore public lands.

Peak Design also recently launched Give a Shot, a website where wildlife non-profits can connect with visual content creators looking to volunteer their skills for a good cause. To sweeten the deal, the company offers creators who take on a volunteer project credit toward Peak Design goods.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Benjamin Von Wong’s latest project spotlights conservation with mermaid photo series

13 Dec

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A single plastic bottle doesn’t make for a terribly compelling photo. But what about 10,000 plastic bottles and an brightly costumed model? That’s a different story.

Benjamin Von Wong’s latest project seeks to call attention to the problem of plastic pollution. Von Wong quotes research that says 50% of plastic is used just once before it’s thrown away, and by 2050 the world’s oceans will contain more plastic than fish. 

Von Wong wanted to call attention to the problem, and came up with a concept that would help represent his subject beautifully – colorful mermaids lost in a sea of plastic. To do so required a massive number of plastic bottles and an equally large space to stage the scenes. You can read more about the logistics on Von Wong’s blog.

Using a Sony a7R II and a 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS, Von Wong captured the scale of his creations by rigging the camera to a system of plywood and pulleys, suspending it high above his model. He controlled it remotely from an iPad, and previewed images on a borrowed 52″ TV. See how it came together in the behind-the-scenes video below. If you want to take action, you can sign a petition to pledge to reduce your use of plastic. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Behind the camera: Cristina Mittermeier, conservation photographer

01 Dec

In this video we take a look at the work of Cristina Mittermeier, a conservation photographer who has dedicated her working life to documenting our changing environment and the roles of human communities around the world in protecting it. Founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Cristina delivered the keynote talk at our recent PIX 2015 show in Seattle. Check out our video to learn more about her work.  

A look at the work of Cristina Mittermeier, conservation photographer 

This is sponsored content, produced with the support of Sony. What does this mean?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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[MODIFIED] Cell Phone – Six Battery Conservation Tips

07 May

Six ways to keep your cell phone’s battery running as long as possible.

Is your cell phone battery losing power constantly? Have you ever had to stop using your cell phone in the middle of a call because the battery died? Here are a few tips you can use to conserve your cell phone battery’s power:

* If you know you’re traveling to an area without coverage or with only spotty roaming coverage, consider turning off your cell phone. Your phone can use a lot of power trying to find a suitable network, although some phones may stop polling after a while to try to reduce this battery hoggishness. One other option if you need to use your calendar, notes, play Angry Birds, etc. is to put the phone in “airplane mode” where all communications are stopped yet local apps should still be usable….

Read more at MalekTips.
New Computer and Technology Help and Tips – MalekTips.Com

 
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