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  • Boat to Go: Portable Flat-Pack Vessel Folds Up Like a Tent

    [ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

    This folding boat from design student Thibault Penven is a surprisingly effective way to keep a water conveyance with you at all times. It is surprising, of course, because one would not expect a boat to fold up and still be water-worthy – but this one does it spectacularly and without much trouble.

    The project is called Ar Vag, and it quickly goes from a folded up, easily transportable waterproof skin to a one-person rowboat. The yellow waterproof skin is reinforced with rigid boards sewn inside. After unfolding, poles are inserted into pockets in the rim of the boat – kind of like tent poles – to hold the boat open.

    Finally, a board holds the sides apart under tension and acts as a seat. The unfolded boat is surprisingly watertight and looks much like a normal boat – with one difference: when you’re done paddling around for the day, this one fits in the hatchback of a compact car.

    Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

    15 (More!) Flat-Pack Furniture Designs & Ideas

    A pizza box that folds out into a desk? Flat-pack furniture is incredibly clever, saves space, cuts shipping waste and is fun to put together.
    Click Here to Read More »»


    Whatever Floats Your Boat: 29 Wild Watercraft

    Boats are boring, right? Wrong. Here are 29 reasons why.
    Click Here to Read More »»


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    [ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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    WebUrbanist

  • Cloud City – San Francisco, California

    One aspect of San Francisco that has forever fascinated and inspired me is the fog. I suppose having lived most of my life in areas that lacked such dense fog adds to my appreciation of it. While many associate rain as being a cleansing phenomenon, I can’t help but think of fog in the same way. It shrouds what many may consider commonplace views and magically re-reveals them in dramatic fashion. If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time you can see the fog wash over some of San Francisco’s most impressive and well engineered structures making them look like toys. Fog illuminated by magic hour light at sunrise or sunset is an easy sight to have engrained in ones mind via an iconic photo, but for me the one aspect of the fog locked into my memory that can never be shared in a photo is its smell. The clean marine smell that comes with it is rejuvenating tactilely and visually. When I return home to the coast from the mountains and desert it is the fog that greets me stimulating every sense and lets me know I am home.

    Cloud City – San Francisco, California

    Photo Details:
    Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 II, ISO 400, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

    Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved

    Cloud City – San Francisco, California

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    JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography

  • Nikon D3000 Pictures

    Nikon D3000 Pictures I AM 16 AND NIKON D3000 IS MY FIRST DSLR CAMERA MORE PIC. estrm.deviantart.com
    Video Rating: 4 / 5

  • Corn Colonels: 13 Creepy Geeky Scarecrows

    [ By Steve in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]


    Not all scarecrows are outstanding in their fields (they just look that way) and not many scarecrows are creatively constructed – most farmers have other, more pressing concerns. Through design or by default, however, some scarecrows rise above their humble origins and scare a lot more than just crows. Hay, it’s in their jeans!

    Gene-netically Modified?

    (images via: Rocketnews24 and Himajin Sokuhou)

    This demonic scarecrow used to rock & roll all night but now he just rocks… when the breeze is blowing. Better not let Gene Simmons know about this scarecrow or the Japanese farmer who installed it may receive a letter from a lawyer demanding payment of a licensing fee.

    (image via: Himajin Sokuhou)

    What do the local crows think of this KISS Army of one? They’re not saying, but every time one comes near the scarecrow breathes fire and spits blood.

    Zombie Orc Scarecrow

    (image via: Imgbit)

    Ever wonder what an Orc from the Lord of the Rings film series would look like if it was struck by lightning in the middle of a meadow? Wonder no longer… and just be glad you’re meeting this epic scarecrow in broad daylight. Notice there are no crows on the scarecrow or anywhere else – they may be birds but they’re no birdbrains. Mmm, birrrrd brraaaainnns!!!!!

    Dark Night of the Scarecrow

    (images via: Film School Rejects, IMDB and Schlockmania)

    The 1981 film Dark Night of the Scarecrow didn’t win any Oscars but it did succeed in erasing any residual cute factor engendered by Ray Bolger in The Wizard of Oz. It also gave new meaning to the phrase “going postal”. Interfere with delivery of the U.S. Mail? That’s a shootin’.

    (image via: Schlockmania)

    Dark Night of the Scarecrow’s plot, if we can call it that, roughly centered on a dim-witted local yokel who hides out from vengeful vigilantes inside a scarecrow. Not the ideal hideout but we did say he was dim-witted. If he only had a brain!

    Minimal Material, Maximum Impact

    (image via: Penn Museum)

    If farming (and not that other thing) is the oldest profession, then scarecrows are older than culture itself. What did the first scarecrows look like, and how scary could they have possibly been? The minimalist scarecrow above, photographed in 1932 in rural Iran, gives us a good indication of both.

    Too Ghoul for School

    (images via: Toychan and Look Around Kawagoe)

    Recycling old clothing is a very good thing. Recycling old Japanese sailor suit school uniforms to make the world’s creepiest scarecrows, not so much. One wonders what the former schoolgirls think when they come home to visit the folks and see their straw-stuffed doppelgangers standing silently in the back forty. That’s the signpost up ahead – your next stop, the Scarecrow Zone!

    (image via: Licolita)

    If it isn’t schoolgirl uniforms it’s maid outfits – sweet and adorable in real life, dark and disturbing when used to clothe scarecrows. At least the fields are kept clean and are well dusted.

    The Grimm Reaper

    (image via: Don33c)

    Look who showed up at the peaceably-named Auburn Community Festival! Looking like the idiot lovechild of Freddy Krueger and The Thing from The Fantastic Four, this oversized guardian of all things agricultural wants you to know his favorite time of year is harvest time slash clobberin’ time… with emphasis on the slash.

    Crowabunga!

    (images via: Tokyo Times)

    Seated deep within the verdant undergrowth threatening to take over a forlorn Japanese open-air greenhouse, it’s a wonder any crows could even see this serious-looking scarecrow let alone be afraid of him. Perhaps he’s just lulling them into a lowered state of alertness… for the LULZ, of course.

    (image via: Tokyo Times)

    Wasting old clothing is almost as bad as wasting chalk, and the melancholy mannequin above does double duty disseminating both messages. Yep, it’s the same serious-looking guy from the previous image though summer has flown away like a well-fed crow… DOH!

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    20 More Cute, Creepy, & Geeky Urban Vinyl Collectibles

    Continuing our collection, here’s a look at some incredibly cute, creepy, and even geeky urban vinyl collectibles.
    5 Comments – Click Here to Read More »»


    54 Creepy, Bizarre and Geeky Xmas Tree Ornaments

    Divided into four sections, the following collection includes some of the creepiest, scariest, weirdest, most bizarre, and geeky Christmas ornaments for you to pick from.
    17 Comments – Click Here to Read More »»


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    [ By Steve in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]

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  • Embrace the change in your life

    Samantha moves away

    I met Sam when she was kind enough to model at one of our photography workshops a few years ago, since then we’ve done well over a dozen shoots and have become close friends.  I love talking to Sam, sometimes we get lost in conversation for hours, if my camera is nearby I’ll pull it out, if it’s not I don’t, but it’s during days like this that I usually shoot my favorite images.  We were talking about change, and dreams, and boys and her moving to Boston (which just happened this past week).  I jotted down some of my favorite things she shared… hope she doesn’t mind!

    “I am learning to embrace the change in my life.  It is taking me to new places and doing new things and in the journey I am discovering so much.” -Sam

    Click for a larger image

    Embrace the change in your life.
    Because change is the only constant. Changing relationships, seasons, moods, friends, our surroundings.
    Sometimes I feel  as though I am addicted to change, like I wanna see how many different people I can be.
    Because if change is the only thing I can count on, then I better get use to it.
    Get use to the heartbreak, get use to being let down, get use to new experiences, get use changing your mind- and then changing it all over again.
    if possibilities are endless, then i am never the same person twice.
    It’s like a cycle really, the cycle of change.
    Change your clothes, change your attitude , change your perspective.
    How many different ways can i see this world?
    Change your outlook-what do you  think you know?
    Life is magic, if you let it be.

    -Sam Law


    “The world is just a dream, because guess what, when you’re dreaming it’s just your subconscious, just rolling, when you’re awake that subconscious is still rolling. Everything we see we have so much connected to it. Isn’t it interesting how sometimes when you start telling stories with people, your idea of the story changes, your perception on it changes or all of the sudden the memory is different because someone is all, no I saw it this way. We all have these complex perceptions and where they are rooted, in the human psyche, if this is just a dream (which I strongly believe it is) then I’m creating it.  If I realize I’m dreaming it.  If I’m aware of that subconscious that’s playing all the time then I can train it.” -Sam


    “The world is the best teacher” -Jake
    “Only if you’re the best student.” -Sam
    “I get worried. Poor students, get hard life lessons.” – Jake
    “Have you ever heard the quote, in school you study and then you take the test but in life you take the test and then study where you f*%$ @# up?” -Sam


    “I think I have the best life ever, and I don’t even know it sometimes. Like sometimes I just forget. We have the luxury of daydreaming and wonder about how we’re going to fix our problems. We just get to think.” -Sam


    Jake Garn Photography

  • 12 October, 2012 – The Needles District – The Road Less Travelled

    Miles Hecker’s Geotagged travel article for this month is titled The Road Less Traveled – The Needles Distrct. Been there, hope to go back.

    Observant Home Page viewers will note that the new front page image was taken with the as-yet unreleased Panasonic Lumix GH3. I have been shooting with a press review sample and will continue for the next ten days or so. This is a pre-production camera, so it has it foibles. But so far I am extreemly impressed with the build, handling, and especially image quality, both stills and video. This may be the best hybrid camera yet.

     

      

     "Every time I go back to a module I had already seen, I learn additional things.  I have never seen tutorials that have the excellent mix of what the features are, 
    how to use them, enough of the under-the-hood information 
    and concepts so that I can utilize the features creatively and efficiently, 
    and just enough humor to keep the motivation     level high.  Wow!"

     

    …
    The Luminous Landscape – What’s New

  • In Pursuit of the Ideal Time-lapse Camera Bag: Gura Gear Bataflae 32L

    What is the best camera bag for time-lapse photographers?
    Welcome to my quest.

    I’ve been shooting time-lapse photography for several years and in that time some great gear innovations have come about. Back when I started exploring time-lapse photography a tripod, camera and intervalometer were all you needed so a standard camera bag was enough. Now that motion control dollies, robotic tripod heads, large batteries and computers are involved a simple camera bag often isn’t enough. Until recently I’ve been using my old camera bag and slowly adding smaller camera bags to the mix. It hasn’t been the most efficient way to travel and eventually I settled on traveling light with only my time-lapse gear in a smaller ThinkTank Sling-o-matic 10 bag that easily fits my eMotimo TB3, a battery, remote, a level and 1-2 lenses or a body & lens. Still I’ve been yearning for more… a bag that I can put everything in, work easily out of it and still travel with (car or plane).

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L

    The folks over at Gura Gear were kind enough to let me try out their latest camera bag the Bataflae 32L. In case you’re unfamiliar with the meaning of Bataflae it is Bislama (Vanuatu) for ‘butterfly’, which makes perfect sense when you begin to work with the bag. Rather than have one large flap that opens and closes to access the main storage area of the bag, you can access half the main storage area like a toolbox or open the bag like your standard bag. Personally I’ve fallen in love with the ability to access my gear with greater flexibility. The butterfly design alone makes the bag awesome. Every time I’ve gone back to using a standard camera bag I’ve tried accessing half the main storage area only to be bummed that I can’t. It’s such a simple innovation that after you use it you can’t believe someone hadn’t thought of this before.

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L

    Other features that I found to be rather slick include the ability to store the backpack straps for snag free travel, an extra handle on the side of the bag enabling you to lift the bag more easily and extra large side pockets to carry a tripod or in my case components of my time-lapse dolly. The bag comes in two models the Bataflae 32L and Bataflae 26L. The Bataflae 32L has external dimensions of  14 x 21 x 9 inches (36 x 53 x 23 cm) and internal dimensions of 13 x 20 x 7 inches (33 x 51 x 18 cm). The smaller Bataflae 26L has external dimensions of 14 x 18 x 9 inches (36 x 46 x 23 cm) and internal dimensions of 13 x 17 x 7 inches (33 x 43 x 18 cm). The cost for the 32L is $ 449 and 26L is $ 399. Yes a bit pricey, but the material, construction and flexibility make this a great choice. One of the things that attracted me to the 32L was the prospect that I might fit Dynamic Perception Stage One modular dolly rail sections in the bag. These modular rails measure 21″ long and they’re just a bit too long to fit inside without altering the bag. Where there is a will, there is a way I suppose. I’m sure they could be squeezed inside, but I found it workable to store these modular sections in the external side pockets designed for tripods and keep the interior of the bag looking like new.

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L

    One question I’ve received after releasing my eMotimo TB3 review was, “How do I carry everything?” Clearly having an assistant would be ideal to help cart around cameras, lenses, dollies, tripods, etc. In the past I’ve saddled up like a mule carrying my ThinkTank Sling-o-matic 10 bag and two tripods (in two bags clipped together with one shoulder strap) over my back with my free hands then carrying my Dynamic Perception Stage One dolly. Clearly having an assistant would be easier on the back. The Bataflae 32L looks to be a more comfortable and flexible solution if you’re aiming to be a bit more mobile in the field.

    See more photos after the jump

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L half open with my time-lapse gear (Stage one dolly sled, 8 modular rail extensions, eMotimo TB3, battery, remote and tools)

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L half open with my camera gear (5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II and Stage 1 dolly ends/tripod plates)

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L open in the standard manner with all my gear

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L containing all my time-lapse gear plus two Indura tripods

    Gura Gear Bataflae 32L containing all my time-lapse gear plus two Indura tripods in their cases ready for travel

    Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved

    In Pursuit of the Ideal Time-lapse Camera Bag: Gura Gear Bataflae 32L

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    JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein Photography

  • Flickr Close to Releasing a Redesign of Global Navigation, Explore and Groups

    Yesterday I was contacted by a Flickr member asking me if I knew about the redesign that was being done on Flickr. Although I’d assumed that more redesigning was coming to Flickr after earlier releases this year, I wasn’t aware of what specific changes were being implemented or considered. I’ve seen screenshots of some of the new redesign but haven’t had a chance to seriously examine it yet.

    Apparently a beta group is currently testing changes to Flickr’s Global Navigation, Explore section and most significantly Groups. Rollouts of the new design have begun and some users are now seeing a different layout on Flickr.

    I’ve long believed that Groups represents Flickr/Yahoo’s most significant chance for winning at social. Although it doesn’t sounds like the new Groups layout is set in stone yet, some of the comments made by beta testers would seem to suggest that more emphasis is being placed on Group photos and less emphasis on Group threads. Here are some of the comments in the thread

    “That would be a complete disaster and kill off what remains of the active discussion groups on Flickr. Good luck getting new members to ever click over to the threads.

    The Groups List page redesign is also, quite frankly, atrocious. Much harder to find groups, not to mention the graphics are messed up.

    I will personally lead the revolt if the new group page design sticks. It will KILL any attempts to integrate new users into group discussions.”

    AND

    “Oh lordy, that’s terrible. The group rules page and intro is completely hidden and while the emphasis on photos is kind of nice, it completely destroys any importance of the description and the discussion.

    Not liking that at all. It makes groups look about as social as a set is now. Completely wrong direction and neuters the group other than a photo collection.”

    AND

    “Let me rephrase that. If you go ahead, and make the groups look like what I just saw, I will mothball every group I have, log out and never log back in. This is not out of some idea that I’d be contributing to an effort to twist Flickr’s arm into doing anything, but because navigation will have broken down so badly, that the site will no longer be worth my time.”

    These initial comments regarding Groups are disappointing. It sounds like Groups may be headed in the wrong direction. I’ve long been critical of Yahoo executives who can’t/won’t join Flickr publicly including current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer (Mayer posts her photos on competitor Instagram instead of on her own company’s photo sharing site Flickr). Previous CEOs Scott Thompson and Carol Bartz likewise did not have public Flickr accounts.

    Part of my criticism of Yahoo execs not using Flickr is that without dogfooding it, without really digging into it, I don’t believe that they can begin to understand the promise that Groups represent for social on Yahoo. Based on early comments on the Group redesign page I’m also beginning to worry that even Flickr staffers don’t truly understand the power of social that Groups represent.

    Whether or not this new Group redesign will be rolled out to other users or not remains to be seen. I’m concerned though that time/engineering/design talent wasted making Groups *less* social might just be another blunder after a long line of previous blunders made by Flickr in terms of the guesswork on what users may or may not want.

    Last year Flickr rolled out a wonky photo/chat feature, for example, that was quickly killed earlier this year. Time wasted going in the wrong direction hurts Flickr and hurts their chance at social.

    Photo sharing is a super competitive space and becoming more and more important. Great care should be taken to make photo sharing as social as it can possibly be. Every single step towards redesign should be asking the question, will this make Flickr more social or less social?

    Although I’m not part of this beta or test group, I’m usually not one to keep my opinions to myself, so I’ve also written a companion post to this one entitled “Ways to Redesign Flickr Groups to Make Them More Social, Addictive and Powerful.”


    Thomas Hawk Digital Connection

  • Bike Campers: 12 Mini Mobile Homes for Nomadic Cyclists

    [ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

    Choosing to ride a bike instead of driving a car doesn’t mean you have to forego the convenience of a camper trailer – if you’ve got the leg muscles to pull it off. From prototypes by a major German RV manufacturer to impressively innovative DIY creations, these 12 miniature mobile homes for bicycles pack lots of function into small (and not-so-small) trailers that don’t require gas or electricity to transport.

    Mini Mobile Home for Bikes by Kevin Cyr

    (images via: kevin cyr)

    This amazing bike camper by Kevin Cyr looks exactly like a standard car camper, down to the smallest details like faux wood siding, reflectors and power inlets. For Cyr the camper is more sculptural art piece than functional recreational item, but he has definitely proven its viability by cruising it all over various cities.

    Midget BushTrekka by Kamp-Rite

    (images via: kamprite)

    Available at Kamp-Rite, the Midget BUSHTREKKA is a lightweight bike trailer built for uneven terrain. It features three main storage compartments with over 41 gallons of storage space and fully adjustable leveling jacks. The trailer pairs with the ‘TentCot‘ to create the camper setup pictured.

    Room Room Camper for Bikes & Burros</>

    (images via: design boom)

    The adaptable ‘Room Room’ by Encore Heureux + G Studio for ‘Crossing: Dialogues for Emergency Architecture’ Exhibition in China can be pulled by bicycle, motorcycle, donkey or on foot. Conceived as a mobile shelter for post-disaster recovery, the shelter can be picked up and hauled on its wheels, set back for sleeping or turned on its head and extended with a tent for longer-term use.

    Burning Man Bike Camper

    (images via: dvice)

    Built for Burning Man, this camper weighs 100 pounds and is packed with a solar oven and a solar water heating system, and has a wind turbine and solar lights on the exterior.

    DIY Bike Camper Inspired by Moon Rovers

    (images via: bikeportland)

    Spotted in Portland, this DIY bike camper was inspired by moon rovers and the moon landing vehicle.

    Minimalist Wood Camper by Sakari Holma

    (images via: saholm)

    Finish designer Sakari Holma built this minimalist wood bike camper trailer, which is just wide enough to lay down in to ensure that the design is streamlined enough to pull without too much effort.

    Little Tag Along by Kevin Cyr

    (images via: kevin cyr)

    The ‘Little Tag Along’ camper is another design by Kevin Cyr, with the look of a conventional camper shrunk down to bike-size. Pulled by a vintage 3-speed bicycle, Little Tag Along contains the minimum that you’d need to hunker down for the night on a regular basis – just a bed and a little bit of storage space.

    Ultralight DIY Teardrop Bike Camper

    (images via: tiny house design)

    Michael Janzen of Tiny House Design envisions a lightweight teardrop trailer for bikes in this concept illustration, pointing out that a company called Human Powered Machines makes bike trailers that can carry up to 500 pounds. Of course, whether the person riding the bicycle can tow that much is another question.

    The Caravan

    (image via: eta.co.uk)

    This tiny lightweight bike caravan is fancier inside than you’d expect: it fits a twin bed, a 19″ flat-screen television, an electric kettle for tea and a ‘drinks cabinet’. Optional extras include solar roof panels, a satellite dish, a gaming console, central heating and an external luggage rack.

    Dethleffs Bike Camper Prototype

    (image via: xhyperactive)

    German RV maker Dethleffs experimented with a concept bike camper, producing a prototype that included a bed and a small kitchen.

    Supertramp Fabric Bike Caravan

    (image via: lehmanb)

    Made largely of fabric, Lehman B’s ‘Supertramp’ is relatively roomy and even contains a wood stove. The designer took the bike around London in summer 2010, setting up near bars, restaurants, companies and galleries to inspire curiosity about living in tiny mobile spaces.

    Custom Electric Bike Camper

    (image via: jay nelson)

    Of course, the addition of an electric motor to pull a bike camper makes this particular creation a whole different beast, but it’s still impressive. The Golden Gate by Jay Nelson has an unusual geometric exterior made of fiberglass, plywood, glass and epoxy and incorporates bicycle wheels and other bike parts. It’s got a bed,a miniature kitchen with sink, stove and cooler, a toilet and storage space, but it won’t go more than 20 miles per hour, and only gets about 10 miles per charge. Nelson uses it for trips to the beach.

    Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

    Futuristic Mobile Homes: Trailer Trash or Treasure?

    With global warming threatening coastal cities and a new era of mass migration on the horizon, going mobile just might be today’s bright idea – and tomorrow’s way of life. Here are a dozen tech-packed trailers that are full of Win… without the Winnebago.
    10 Comments – Click Here to Read More »»


    Riding High: 30 Outrageous Bike Mods

    One way to get more people to start traveling via pedal power is to add a little creativity to an otherwise mundane form of transport.
    9 Comments – Click Here to Read More »»


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    [ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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  • Fine Arts

    A film project done for my art class. Fine Arts is a film about a photographer who captures the souls of his models and is then able to experiment with them.