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3D Printed Car is Strong, Light and Close to Production

08 Mar

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

The Urbee 2 is strong as steel, half the weight of a conventional vehicle, and can be manufactured in a warehouse full of plastic-spraying 3D printers. The teardrop-shaped 3D-printed car is an ecologically sound hybrid, and it looks cool, too. Aerodynamic and futuristic, this car could be a total game-changer for the automobile industry, leading to a rise of small-batch automakers.

The three-wheel, two-passenger prototype vehicle with a generously sized, curved transparent roof (also made of plastic) was constructed by Kor Ecologic at RedEye, an on-demand 3D-printing facility with a Fused Deposition Modeling printer that sprays molten polymer one microscopic layer at a time to create the desired shape. The whole car takes about 2,500 hours to manufacture, but the process is fully automated.

The Urbee 2 3D-printed car’s light weight makes it so fuel-efficient, creator Jim Kor aims to make it from San Francisco to New York City on ten gallons of gas. Kor Ecologic’s design ideals for the project include causing as little pollution as possible during manufacturing, operation and recycling of the car, using local or regional and/or recyclable materials whenever possible, and making it affordable.

You might wonder just how safe a plastic car can really be, but Kor is aiming high in that department, too. The bumpers will be just as strong as their sheet-metal equivalents. The final goal for the Urbee is not just to exceed all current automotive safety standards, but be able to pass the tech inspection required for race cars.

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Preservation Puzzle: Extreme Ideas to Save an Urban Facade

08 Mar

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

historic preservation prentice ideas

The Prentice Women’s Hospital building at Northwestern University has some serious fans, including a range of architects such as Frank Gehry, Robert Venturi, Tadao Ando, Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, who would like to see it preserved. The open question: is the exterior of sufficient historical value to keep, even if it means building up through, above and/or around it?

historic new tower solution

While a wonder of structural engineering with an iconic shape, the structure simply is not practical or fit-to-purpose anymore. One daring proposal from Studio Gang Architects (illustration by Jay Hoffman) involves adding dozens of upper stories, and nearly a million square feet, while leaving the shell of the original intact.

historic mirrored facade idea

A scheme by Cyril Marsollier and Wallo Villacorta won a competition to suggest alternatives with another approach – one that allows half of the building to be absorbed by a new structure, while reflecting the other half – using a mirror-image effect to preserve the complete appearance via a rather ingenious and nuanced illusion.

historic original humorous proposals

Critics exist on both sides. Some say this proposal strips away so much of the building and its context that what is left is really metaphorically (not just literally) a shell. Others suggest that any solution bends too far toward impracticality to accommodate an arguably unattractive building (many consider it an eyesore). Humorists like LunchBreath have weighed in as well, as seen above.

historic preservation proposal rendering

Meanwhile, the university itself does not seem interested in considering preservation options, so these concepts, while compelling, could well be moot in the end. Still, the High Line in New York is a great example of how enough public pressure and celebrity support can change the minds of an entire city, and perhaps a private institution as well.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

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Lunar Soil Structures: 3D-Printing Dwellings on the Moon

08 Mar

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

3d printed space base

One of the biggest challenges of settlements in space is the cost of transporting materials and technologies for construction, a problem addressed beautifully via 3D printing technology in this architectural proposal (currently being prototyped on Earth).

3d robot space printer

The design by Foster + Partners (in conjunction with the European Space Agency) uses a minimum of imported materials – mainly: an inflatable core, pumped up into domes and tunnels on site.

3d base concept prototype

Yet despite its simplicity, the project addresses everything from extreme temperature fluctuations to gamma radiation in this ingenious multi-person dwelling, effectively allowing humans to bypass the need to burrow below the surface while still using it effectively as a shield.

3d space home model

The man-made domes at the center of the concept are augmented by 3D-printed material derived from locally-sourced soil – a concrete-style foam substance providing stability, safety and structural support.

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

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Vertical Landfill: Monument to Civilization Honors Our Trash

08 Mar

[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 1

Nearly all of our most majestic architecture reflects pinnacles of achievement for our species, and one architect aims to call attention to yet another way in which we are ‘spectacular:’ our unmatched ability to produce incredible amounts of waste. ‘Monument to Civilization‘ is a vertical landfill tower that offers both a serious solution for urban waste management and a commentary on our unsustainable habits.

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 2

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 3

The third place winner in eVolo’s 2012 Skyscraper Competition, ‘Monument to Civilization’ is not just a sobering daily reminder of how wasteful we can be, and the pressing need for new solutions. It’s also a power plant, harvesting methane gas from all that rotting trash and using it to help keep the city running.

Monument to Civilzation Vertical Landfill 4

Lin Yu-Ta envisions a narrow tower reaching high into the sky. Noting that we often “build towers for towers’ sake,” the Taiwanese designer puts some meaning behind the spectacle: the 1,318-meter (4,324-foot) height of this tower proposal represents the space that would be needed to store just a single year worth of trash from New York City alone.

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 5

“The ever-growing Monument may evoke the citizens’ introspection and somewhat leads to the entire city’s waste-decreasing and better recycling. Perhaps all metropolitan cities would inverse the worldwide competition from being the tallest to the shortest.”

[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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Picasa web is now redirecting to Google+

08 Mar

Users looking for their Picasa Web Albums are now redirected to Google+ Photos. This change comes on the heels of Google’s announcement in December 2012 saying the company’s social media channel ‘Google+ is the new home for your photos.’ Two updates to Picasa’s desktop app also promoted Google+ integration, encouraging users to tag photos with Google+ contacts and Circles. Click through for more information and to find out how to still access your pictures on Picasa.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Vertical Landfill: Monument to Civilization Honors Our Trash

08 Mar

[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 1

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 2

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 3

Monument to Civilzation Vertical Landfill 4

Monument to Civilization Vertical Landfill 5

[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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Sekonic bundles L-478D/DR with X-Rite ColorChecker Passport in US

07 Mar

Sekonic’s Lightmaster Pro L-478D and L-478DR touch-enabled lightmeters are now available as part a $ 512 special edition bundle that also includes X-Rite’s ColorChecker Passport and White Balance Target. This offer is currently only available for US customers, who will save $ 50 compared to buying everything individually. The bundle also includes software to calibrate the meters and create exposure profiles for cameras. Current L-478D/DR owners can purchase the ColorChecker Passport and gray card for $ 49.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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3 Ways To Get Sharper Close-Ups

07 Mar

In close-up photography, one of your biggest goals is to draw attention to your subject–you want to make it really stand out.

One way to make your subject stand out is to make it the sharpest part of the image, since the viewer will usually look at the sharpest thing first.

But, how do you make your subject super sharp? Well, here are three simple ways:

1. Photograph your subject in front of a contrasting background

Things appear sharp when there’s a strong contrast along their edges, so one way to get sharper close-ups is to photograph your subject in front of a background that contrasts with your subject. The background can either be a contrasting color or it could be much lighter or darker than your subject. The key is strong contrast.

Vmhawk

For example, one of the reasons why the dragonfly is so sharp in the photo above is because the dragonfly is very bright while the background is much darker. This strong contrast helps make the dragonfly look sharper.

2. Use the sweet spot of your lens

Most lenses have a particular aperture that produces the sharpest images of the lens. Sometimes this difference in sharpness is pretty dramatic, so it’s a good idea to be aware of the “sweet spot” of all your lenses. It’s usually one or two stops down from wide open. So, a lens that has a widest aperture of f/4 is generally sharpest at f/8. This isn’t always the case though, so it’s best to test your lenses yourself to be sure.

If you use Canon, Nikon, or Sigma lenses, then you can experiment with a helpful tool at The Digital Picture to find the sharpest aperture of your lenses.

3. Position your camera so it’s parallel to your subject

When you focus your lens on something, what you’re really doing is focusing on a geometrical plane that’s parallel to your camera’s sensor. Everything that’s on this plane will be in completely sharp focus, so it’s important to position your camera so it’s parallel to the most important plane of your subject.

Tidytips

For example, one of the reasons why the wildflower is so sharp in the photo above, is because I spent a lot of time carefully positioning my camera so it’s sensor was parallel to the top of the flower. This helped keep all the flower’s petals in sharp focus.

But, the sharpest photo isn’t always the best photo

Sometimes it’s tempting to concentrate entirely on getting a sharp photo, because all you have to do is follow some rules like the ones above. But, it’s important to remember that composition still comes first. Sometimes you won’t always be able to get the sharpest photo because doing so would compromise the vision you had for the image.

For example, sometimes if you position your camera so it’s parallel to the most important plane of your subject, then you’ll end up with a poor background.

So, these tips aren’t meant to be followed all the time. They’re just some things to consider when you’re trying to get a sharper image.

About the Author: Steve Berardi is a nature photographer and software engineer. You can read more of his articles on nature photography at the PhotoNaturalist. Also, be sure to check out his eBook on Wildflower Photography.

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

3 Ways To Get Sharper Close-Ups

Digital Photography School

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DIY: Turn a Lens into a Bouquet Holder

07 Mar

Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3

If you were to pick a themed wedding, it wouldn’t be lightsabers and Ewoks. It’d be photo-themed.

But this is no Vegas drive-through wedding. This is a ~~glassy~~ classy operation.

There are lots of ways to weave your favorite things into your wedding, but this DIY lens bouquet holder our pal Amber Phillips made stood out as a super original way to include your love of photography.

She’s sharing her how-to, and you don’t even have to be getting married to get in on it! You can turn your lens into a vase, planter, or a pencil-holder.

Make a Lens Bouquet Holder

p.s. Our buddies at Nations Photo Lab have 1/2 off all prints 8×10 and smaller right now. Hurry though, it ends at midnight EST!

Why It’s Cool:

ingred-sm Maybe you have a broken, old lens you haven’t been able to use, or maybe your local camera shop has a bin of scratched lenses that you eye every time you visit.

Whether you’re having a wedding or not, you can repurpose that lens, and that saves one more from ending up in the dump while beautifying your home all at the same time.

This project shows you how to safely hollow out your lens, so you can fill it with flowers, pencils, plants, a pile of plastic dinosaurs, or whatever else you might have around.

Ingredients:

paint-sm

A broken lens
A hammer
Pliers
Any kind of knife
Floral foam (a 4″ x 4″ chunk does fine)
Gorilla glue or hot glue
Safety glasses
Work gloves

STEP 1: How a Broken Lens Got Its Groove Back

paint-sm Where does one pick up a broken lens? It’s as easy as searching “broken lens” on eBay.

Your local camera shop might have unusable lenses for sale, and you might also find some at garage sales or swap meets.

There are a ton of old lenses out there that are just too scratched to be used. Once you have your lens, you’re ready to start breaking it down …

Step 2: Remove the Glass

paint-sm First, lay down cardboard or bubble wrap to protect your work surface. You’ll be removing the glass from the lens by hammering it.

Put on your safety glasses. We don’t recommend you touch the broken glass with your hands, but for extra precaution, put on work gloves. Or a robo-glove. Either works.

You might notice there are multiple layers of glass inside. Start breaking through the first layer of glass by hammering.

TIP: Breaking this glass is harder than you would think. The layers can be pretty thick. Be careful and watch for “bounce-back” with your hammer hand.

Use your pliers to pull out any glass that you wouldn’t want to touch with your hands.

Once you are through the first layer of glass, take a look at the lens depth and figure out if you want to go further. If so, keep on hammering.

Step 3: Cut the Foam

paint-sm Once you’ve reached the depth you need, bust out your floral foam.

Take a look inside the lens, and eyeball what size you would need to cut down the foam so it fits in snug at the bottom.

Use a knife to cut it down to size.

Step 4: Glue the Foam

paint-sm With a dab of glue, attach the foam into the bottom of your lens.

This’ll make sure the flowers don’t fall out while you’re holding the bouquet throughout the day.

Step 5: Arrange Your Bouquet

paint-sm Once the foam is glued inside, you can start arranging your bouquet!

If you’re feeling shy about arranging your own flowers, take it to your florist, and they’ll be able to make something stunning for you.

Step 6: Put It to Use

paint-sm Now what? Get married!

After you set up some chairs and get an officiant and all that.

Enjoy your day with your photo-geek bouquet, and play a prank on your photographer. What do you mean? Your lens *isn’t* supposed to have flowers in it?

Take it further

Make yours a planter. Check out our DIY!
Skip the foam, and turn your lens into a desk companion/pencil holder!
If you’re not in a DIY mood, Lens Mugs are super realistic faux lenses you can use instead.

Amber Phillips is a photographer and crafter based in Talladega, Alabama. Besides photography, she absolutely loves Doctor Who.

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Photojojo

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360Photography

Archive for March, 2013

3D Printed Car is Strong, Light and Close to Production

Preservation Puzzle: Extreme Ideas to Save an Urban Facade

Lunar Soil Structures: 3D-Printing Dwellings on the Moon

Vertical Landfill: Monument to Civilization Honors Our Trash

Picasa web is now redirecting to Google+

Vertical Landfill: Monument to Civilization Honors Our Trash

Sekonic bundles L-478D/DR with X-Rite ColorChecker Passport in US

3 Ways To Get Sharper Close-Ups