360Photography

Blog

  • Practical Advice for How to Use Your Photographer’s Metadata

    I would love for you to look back at the article that I did a couple of months back. It is very simple to say that Photographer’s Metadata (PM) includes all the things that you know about your photograph which no one else is aware of. It is simple to say, but it is not so easy to grasp all the consequences.

    So many consequences.

    The aim of the previous article was to advance the idea of Photographer’s Metadata (PM). I think even the least concerned photographer has some vague thoughts in the back their minds about Photographer’s Metadata. However, if you are more aware of it, then it might become an important part of your photographic journey.

    What steps can be taken to close the gap between your perception of your photograph, and the perception of others?

    Narrow that gap.

    This might be thought of as a rather esoteric topic. I may be repeating myself, but I really do think that it is important to the understanding and development of your photography. Let’s start with an example, a photograph, and some of the Photographer’s Metadata.

    An example

    Charles Masters is my friend, quite an adventurer, and a fine photographer. In his own words:

    “This photograph is of Sherpa Tshiring climbing the serac wall, that is a glacial ice wall on Choy Oyu. It is one of the Himalayan peaks, and the ‘Turquoise Goddess’ is the sixth highest mountain in the world, one of 14 peaks in the world over 8,000 metres. This was taken approaching 7,000 metres and although it is considered one of the easier climbs, it is not a weekend hike.

    Raining Ice by Charles Masters on 500px.com

    The black & white version seemed to portray the atmosphere far better than the color version as the ice from the climber above Tshiring rained down on him. 

    To get to this stage on the serac wall, we had been climbing for more than three weeks. It was nearly a month since I had left home in the UK. The climb was made more difficult by the lack of snow that season, making the standard, easier route impossible.

    In order to acclimatize, we had spent the previous week rotating between the Advanced Base Camp and Camp One. Multiple trips included a 600m steep scree slope. We called this slope the less polite version of illegitimate, as the loose surface meant it was two steps up, one step down!

    The further ascent from Camp One to the glacial, serac wall was relatively easy but still included a number of crevasses which needed to be negotiated.

    The serac wall is about 45 metres of solid blue glacial ice, ranging from 45 to 80 degrees angle of climb. When the photograph was taken, I was hanging from a fixed rope, on a section where the ice wall was at its steepest, and the temperature was below freezing and had, at times, been in the minus twenties.

    The team triumph!

    It was one great moment from many, and it will live with me forever.

    Note: The two images above have been used with permission from the photographer, Charles Masters. 

    This story is a part of Charles’ Photographer’s Metadata. No one else knows the full events surrounding the ice wall photograph. However, can there be any doubt whatsoever that these circumstances have an effect on Charles’ perception of his own photograph? Can there be any doubt that there is a gap between the way he sees this photograph and the way you, or any viewer, see it? Let us look at what you might do to close that gap.

    Suggestion One – The Gift of Time

    A photographic subject which most of us have mixed feelings about is ourselves. A couple of years ago I decided that I wanted a more interesting portrait to use in the various places we use such things. It seems justified to spray and pray when you are, in effect, on both sides of the lens. So, I ended up with hundreds of shots.

    Too many.

    It was not a matter which taxed me on a daily, or even weekly basis. But I will admit that it was at least six months later, when I thought, “That one is okay”.

    Okay.

    A self-portrait may have one of the highest levels of emotional engagement that exists, along with a large chunk of Photographer’s Metadata. If you read the first article on this topic, you may recall that Ian Weldon said that he would like to wait six months before editing wedding photographs. In terms of reducing the effects of Photographer’s Metadata, I do not think there is any real substitute for the passing of time.

    Certainly, I have been in too much of a rush to share a photograph sometimes. Why did I choose this one?

    Surfboarder 1

    I think I must have liked some detail in the shot above. Maybe it was the separation between legs, arms, and face, or the look of a soul singer doing dance moves, some relative detail like that. But, the real story here is surely about action, and the second shot (below) depicts that better, with higher flung arms and a bigger splash.

    There is not very much emotional involvement here, the weight of Photographer’s Metadata, beyond being pleased with what my camera could do. However, even then, it was a few days later before it was clear to me which was the better photograph.

    Surfboarder 2

    The gift of time is not always available to us. Be cautious about reaching irrevocable decisions.

    Suggestion Two – Give Them a Clue

    Have you ever wondered where musicians get their titles? Me too! I have used song titles as inspiration for naming my photographs, and even my dogs! I think that when I venture much beyond naming a photograph “Tree One” or “Market”, my first refuge is to give the viewer even less help with titles inspired by songs, which can be quite cryptic.

    A pop tune which was in my mind when I shared this photo.

    “Isn’t she …”

    In a nod to Stevie Wonder, I titled it “Isn’t she …”. In fairness, that is not such a bad title, because it invites the viewer to engage. Of course, Stevie finished the phrase with “… lovely”. However, the idea is that if you are trying to narrow the gap between the viewer’s perception and your own, there are a whole range of possibilities that would be more helpful than that. Perhaps, “Black and white study of the beauty and shapes of an Asian girl”?

    35 up

    When I shared the photograph above, I called it “35 Up”. If viewers gave it some thought, they may realize that it means that the photograph was taken from the 35th floor. I think it is possible to be more helpful, to reduce the gap between photographer and viewer. I might have simply extended it to read, “35 floors up in Manila”.

    Viewers would have made various degrees of movement towards my knowledge of the photograph. I could have become even more descriptive and titled it, “Tropical storm clouds gather with the sunset over the Philippine capital city”. I could have said all sorts of things which would have narrowed the gap between the viewer’s perception of the image and my own.

    Suggestion Three – Give Them Even More of a Clue

    Have you been to photographic exhibitions or looked at fine art books? Have you ever read an artist’s statement?

    An artist’s statement

    And so on, and on and on. This was taken from a site which is a random artist’s statement generator. Incredibly, there appear to be a lot of these sites. And, the above statement is not the whole thing, it’s just a selection from what was generated.

    Personally, I would be inclined to the more prosaic. Remember when you first looked at the photograph of the climber near the top of the article? Now that you have read the story and his artist’s statement, doesn’t the story change the way you view the photograph? I think it is a great shot to start, but I believe that anyone reading the story will have an even more positive view of the photograph afterward.

    Story = popular

    As some affirmation of what I am saying, on a recent visit to Instagram, I noticed many of the photographs that had a huge number of likes, also had a story attached to them, some quite substantial. It seemed that often, the successful shots had a paragraph of explanation which, frankly, in this age of emoticons, grunts, and butchered vocabulary, seemed remarkable.

    We all bend reality to fit our own perceptions, and I am going to take this informal survey of Instagram to mean that people like photographs more if they know more about the story behind them. The viewers have moved closer to the photographer’s perception.

    Suggestion Four – DO NOT PANIC!

     

    Our man in Jakarta.

    This photograph has been used as an example in public talks on several occasions. That means that I have gained a lot of evidence about how others react to it. In response to the direct question, about 80% prefer the shot above. I prefer the version below.

    My Photographer’s Metadata is that this photograph was taken at three in the morning, near the docks in Jakarta, Indonesia. How can I put it to you? That location, at that time, is not going to appear in any Lonely Planet suggestion of an itinerary. It is probably because of my Photographer’s Metadata that I prefer the shot with the light bulb.

    Our man in interrogation.

    Even though literally hundreds of people have indicated that they prefer the version without the lightbulb, I am happy to do nothing about that, as I prefer the photograph as it is. I think that the light bulb tells more of the story of the risk which was present, and it makes me think of an interrogation.

    I am aware of my Photographer’s Metadata, and how it affects the way I see this photograph. What do I need to do about it? The answer is simple. NOTHING! It is completely okay to decide that you are happy with the photograph as it is, you do not need to explain anything, nor do you need to attempt to close the gap in perceptions.

    The above suggestions are about helping the viewer move closer to the photographer’s version of the reality of the photograph. What about moving yourself, the photographer, in the direction of the viewer?

    Suggestion Five – The Way I Dance

    It’s not for me to judge.

    Consistent with what I have suggested, if you are able to accept that you know things about a photograph, and those things have degrees of effect on your judgment, it is a good start. I know that I have a huge prejudice when looking at a photograph of one of my daughters. Knowing that helps me to accept that others will not see the photograph in the same way. With this situation, it is my prejudice which is getting in the way. My Photographer’s Metadata is on overload. Objectivity is a very distant country.

    Time for a song:

    By taking some time, adding a descriptive image title, some kind of statement will help to narrow the gap, will bring the viewer closer to your perception of the photograph. But you can also move your own position, so try to be aware of some of your prejudices. I think it is possible that being aware of yourPhotographer’s Metadata might help you to accelerate through the period of time before you become sufficiently dispassionate, and more objective, about the photograph.

    Suggestion Six – We All Dance in Our Own Way

    We each have our prejudices, others have theirs.

    Cheeky.

    I knitted my brow when another photographer commented on this photograph, “good texture to the hair … nice even light on the contours of the face”. It seemed like a very strange thing to say about the photograph of a 1-year-old child. Then I realized that the person making the comments was almost exclusively a landscape photographer and that they were still applying landscape criteria. So I was able to move myself a little in their direction.

    Advice about writing, or public speaking, tends to include an early emphasis on the consideration of your audience. I am not sure that it’s something which we give much thought to photographers.

    The thinker.

    I am conscious that so many of the points I am making here, could be expanded to chapter length. To keep it to a manageable length, let me give you just one example.

    When I shared this photograph below, I knew that the audience tended to be conservative in their tastes. By being aware of my audience I had taken a step towards reducing my Photographer’s Metadata and understanding their reaction, before I even showed it to them. I knew that this was pushing the limits of what they would find to be acceptable framing.

    Who are you?

    I was right that the framing was not loved, and that was confirmed by showing a different, more conventional photograph.

    Ah! That girl!

    By understanding the audience and making a little movement myself, I had reduced the gap between our perceptions. My Photographer’s Metadata included ideas about how the framing emphasized the haughty, aloof look. Others were not so inclined to see it that way.

    Suggestion Seven – No New Prejudices, Please

    Obviously, if you took the photograph, you’ll have at least some idea of the technical aspects. To take specific items, how much do you think the camera and lens combination should influence your judgment of the photograph? You are, of course, very entitled to your opinion. Me? I think it should matter approximately zero percent. Bambi Cantrell’s statement that “Expression beats perfection” should not be so difficult to fully embrace. It is though, isn’t it? We cannot help it, and there is something to be admired about a technically good photograph.

    Bambi Cantrell’s statement that “Expression beats perfection” should not be so difficult to fully embrace. It is though, isn’t it? We cannot help it, and there is something to be admired about a technically good photograph.

    I’ve used this photograph on dPS before, but I do not apologize because it is technically a little short. However, most viewers seem to be captivated by the expression of joy.

    Slightly blurred laughing girl.

    When publishing your own photographs, or looking at those of others, try not to introduce another layer of prejudice. Try not to be overly concerned with the technical aspects, it is likely to get in the way, in effect, add to the Photographer’s Metadata. Removing the EXIF is a step you can make towards moving you nearer to the viewer’s position.

    Balance

    It is probably another one of those questions to which the answer is arriving at a balance. Some sort of balance between your Photographer’s Metadata, and what you feel the viewer needs to know to appreciate the image in the way that you wish. You can move towards that balance in various ways.

    The post Practical Advice for How to Use Your Photographer’s Metadata by Richard Messsenger appeared first on Digital Photography School.


    Digital Photography School

  • Panda Power Plant: Shaped Solar Panel Array Forms China’s National Animal

    [ By WebUrbanist in Drawing & Digital & Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

    The world’s largest solar power-producing nation is showing off its record-setting green energy production through an adorable new array shaped like a giant panda bear, the national animal of China.

    This Panda Power Plant in Datong, China, is the brainchild of Panda Green Energy in partnership with the United Nations Development Program. And this first sections of this huge creature-shaped station mosaic have just been hooked up to the grid.

    The plant also going to grow — currently at 50 megawatts, the installation will have a capacity of 100 MW upon completion. Over the next 25 years, the array is estimated to provide as much power as a million tons of coal and to reduce CO2 emissions by over 2.5 million tons.

    The whole panda figure is part of the power production process: darker parts of the animal shape (like legs and arms) are made up of monocrystalline silicone solar cells — gray areas (face and torso) are thin-film solar cells.

    An educational center alongside the Panda Power Plant aims to teach children about the advantages of solar power and other forms of sustainable energy. Meanwhile, more panda plants are in planning phases as well across China, and some may also end up outside the country.

    Only in Russia: World’s First Floating Nuclear Power Plant

    It sounds at best far-fetched and at worst frightening, at least at first, but this unique water-based energy station is already under construction and is designed to (safely) generate power and …

    Course Correction: Deserted Golf Greens into Solar Power Plants

    Derelict putting greens will be put to greener uses in Japan, where an abandoned golf course near Kyoto is being converted to the area’s largest solar energy-generating facility.

    Solar …

    Solar Socket: Portable Plug-In Creates Free Energy to Go

    With batteries running low, your eye roams the room for a place to plug in, but then you remember: you brought your own power supply – all you need now is a window. Portable, easy and green, this …

    Share on Facebook



    [ By WebUrbanist in Drawing & Digital & Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

    [ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


    WebUrbanist

  • Lighting 103: Avoiding Cross Contamination

    Abstract: When complementary-gelled lights are falling on the same plane, they can easily rob each other of color. So it is important to make sure your lights are hitting different areas, with minimal overlap.

    Above is a two-speedlight portrait against a white wall. White walls are the natural enemy of a gel, and practically live to wash out your color. Especially when using two flashes with dense, complementary gels. Knowing how to keep your multi-colored lights operating on different planes will help you retain more saturated color.

    Let's walk through the portrait above to get a better look at how our two lights are working separately—and together—in a variety of ways.Read more »
    Strobist

  • You mean they made cameras, too? A tribute to the Samsung NX10

    When Samsung left, it left quietly. I was reminded recently by a senior executive that the company never announced that it was officially exiting the camera industry, but even so, right now the chances of us ever seeing an NX2 seem pretty slim. Which is a shame, because the NX1 was a great camera, and a rumored full-frame NX2 might have been just the shot in the arm that the camera industry badly needs.

    But there’s no point wishing on what might have been. Samsung may only have been in the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera business for a little over five years, but it achieved a lot in that short time. And it all started with the NX10.

    Traditionally, the camera industry has been a bit dismissive of Samsung. Even after the premium-priced NX1, the company never entirely managed to shed its ‘they make fridges, don’t they?’ image. A slight hint of cynicism towards Samsung’s attempts to be taken seriously as a camera maker can even be detected in DPReview’s coverage of its first mirrorless model, the NX10. In retrospect, that tone is hard to justify.

    The NX10 was the first mirrorless model from any manufacturer to offer an APS-C sensor (Sony’s NEX system was launched later the same year), and the ~50% increase in sensor area compared to Micro Four Thirds was a pretty significant technical achievement. The NX10 also offered a fairly high resolution (for the time) electronic viewfinder, a fixed OLED rear screen, and excellent build quality. This – ahem – ‘little Korean camera’ (in the words of our announcement coverage) packed a lot of technology into its impressively compact body.

    Samsung NX10 Samples Gallery (2010)

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5616261218″,”galleryId”:”5616261218″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

    The NX10 was announced immediately before CES 2010, and we took a working sample to the show. I had recently joined the DPReview team, and Richard, Lars and I added a couple of days of vacation in LA’s Koreatown to the trip.1

    Our plan was to get some sunshine, enjoy some of the area’s famous food, and shoot enough images on the NX10 to create a samples gallery.2 During that time, the NX10 was mostly in my possession, and I ended up really liking it. Samsung’s lens lineup was paltry at the point of announcement, but the tiny 30mm F2 pancake was (and remains) a lovely lens for casual everyday shooting with such a small camera.

    The Getty Center, in the hills overlooking Los Angeles. It’s worth visiting LA for the Getty Center alone. I certainly wouldn’t go back for the breakfasts.

    Flashback to the mid 2000s: Back when it was still rebadging Pentax DSLRs, Samsung used to run private brainstorming sessions in the UK (and I assume elsewhere) with technologists and industry journalists to come up with ideas for the future of camera design over dinner. It also used to sponsor competitions in design schools, to the same end. Possibly as a result of the prodigious consumption of free booze3 the results of these consultations and design experiments invariably ended up looking something like the famous Luigi Colani concepts for Canon, which eventually became the delightfully curvy (but still basically SLR-shaped) T90 in the early 1980s.

    Another shot from the Getty Center. I really like the Getty Center.

    Having attended a couple of those brainstorming sessions in 2007/8 (hey – I enjoy a free dinner as much as anyone) I remember being a bit surprised that the NX10 ended up looking so conventional. Like the contemporary Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, it looked and handled like an unusually small DSLR. That said, the NX10 was a perfectly pleasant camera to use, with very few significant frustrations.

    Overall, the NX10 offered very good image quality, fast, responsive AF (‘DSLR-speed’ as we admitted in our review) and for the time, an excellent rear display. We complained about its Auto ISO implementation and aggressive noise-reduction4 and the video mode had some kinks that needed to be worked out, but for a first attempt, it must be said that Samsung got a lot right.

    In pretty short order, the NX10 became the NX20, which became the NX30. Then in 2015 came the NX1. And the rest is (sadly) history.

    Read our Samsung NX10 review (2010)

    1. I’m pretty sure the location was just a coincidence, but Richard’s boundless enthusiasm for puns may have extended to the trip planning – my memory is unclear on this point.

    2. Barring one memorably unpleasant Denny’s breakfast, we succeeded in all three aims, despite what sounded like a near riot in the early hours of the morning at our very cheap and not at all secure hotel.

    3. On the part of the industry insiders, I mean, not the design students. Although let’s be honest, we’re talking about design students here – they were probably even more hammered than we were.

    4. Remember that we’re talking about DPReview in 2010 – when complaining about Auto ISO systems and noise reduction represented a large portion of our total site output.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Underground Illusions: Anamorphic Parking Lot Turns Flat Paint into Sculpture

    [ By SA Rogers in Art & Installation & Sound. ]

    You’re driving through an underground parking garage when suddenly, the colorful geometric shapes splashed all over every surface pop out into three dimensions. Try not to crash your car! When optical illusions line up right, they can be really disorienting, and it’s always cool to see them carried out on a large scale. Argentinian artist Elian Chali got to take over an entire parking lot in the Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc region of France, transforming it into a trompe l’oeil canvas.

    “This artwork, which uses basic geometry and primary colors, makes use of the architectural factors where it inhabits,” says Chile. “Each element adopts a new function and the space becomes a huge sculpture. The relationship with the environment is not easy to achieve, therefore not only the walls will be intervene, but the painting will invade everything that you find in your way in order to offer to the users of the parking, the possibility of breathing inside a work of art.”

     

    It’s a pretty cool effect, with some triangles stretching dozens of feet and crossing ceilings, support pillars and walls to end on the floor. Presented by 2KM3 Contemporary Art Platform and curated by Hugues Chevallier and Zoer, the piece comes together as an optical illusion when you hit just the right spot while driving through.

    Chali is known for applying his signature vivid style to buildings around the world in the form of massive murals, often taking up entire multi-story facades. Each one takes its respective environment into account in its composition, paying homage to the history of the building and its setting, the materials it’s made of, and the ways in which it has aged or weathered. Keep up with his work on Instagram.

    Not Photoshopped: New Optical Illusions by Felice Varini

    As you approach a curve in a parking garage, suddenly a large abstract object seems to float in space just ahead, as if overlaid on top of a static image rather than a three-dimensional setting. …

    Body Paint Illusions Transform Human Models into Animals

    Intricately painted and carefully posed, the human bodies serving as canvases for artist Gesine Marwedel are virtually unrecognizable as they morph into swans, flamingos and iguanas. The …

    2D or Not 2D? Body Paint Illusion Makes Faces Look Flat

    Three-dimensional human bodies are transformed to look like paintings on a flat surface in this curious collaboration between a makeup artist, a photographer and a retoucher. In his series Art of …

    Share on Facebook



    [ By SA Rogers in Art & Installation & Sound. ]

    [ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


    WebUrbanist

  • Hiking Cameras Compared

    If you’re looking for the best hiking camera to take with you on your future treks, then you’re going to need one that’s fit for hiking. There’s a difference between a good camera and a good camera for hiking, and this is what this guide is going to be able to answer for you. First, we need to look at Continue Reading

    The post Hiking Cameras Compared appeared first on Photodoto.


    Photodoto

  • Motorola shows off ‘DSLR’ and 360° camera Moto Mods at Ghana event

    Motorola has big plans for Moto Mods—the company’s snap-on accessories for the modular Moto Z smartphone. The company recently showcased some new Moto Mods at an event in Ghana, and according to TechDroider they included a 360-degree camera mod and a ‘DSLR’ mod with interchangeable lens support.

    Popular leakster Evan Blass also recently tweeted a photo showing the alleged 360 camera Moto Mod unveiled in Ghana:

    Assuming the 360 camera mod leak shows the actual product, the Moto Mod will feature a dual-lens camera module attached to the top of the Moto Mod, which itself attaches to the back of the Moto Z smartphone. The ‘DSLR’ mod is a bit more of a mystery, appearing in one very rough photo from TechDroider as a Moto Mod with a mount for attaching removable lenses.

    No further information about either mod—including specs, pricing or availability—are known at this time, but we’ll keep you updated. Chances are good the products won’t stay exclusive to the little country of Ghana.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Tread Lightly: 16 Clearly Stunning Transparent Floor Designs

    [ By SA Rogers in Drawing & Digital. ]

    Glass floors give us a glimpse at what’s beneath our feet – whether that’s the historical bones of a building, a swimming pool on the next floor, the city streets or the bottom of a canyon – while freaking us out over the potential of breakage. And yes, sometimes these glass floors really do crack, no matter how ‘unbreakable’ they’re supposed to be, including those situated hundreds of feet above the ground.

    2 Glass-Bottomed Bridges in China

    You’d better not be afraid of heights if you’re gonna cross this glass-bottomed bridge in China, suspended a stomach-turning 590 feet above ground level in China’s central Hunan Province. Known locally as Haohan Quiao, the bridge features glass panels measuring 24 millimeters thick, which are supposedly 25 times stronger than regular glass. But this isn’t the only such bridge in China. The second is the structure hanging 1350 feet over the bottom of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon – and this bridge really did crack at one point under an unexpected volume of visitors, forcing its closure. This one is officially the world’s longest glass bridge.

    Office in Oslo by Reiulf Ramstad

    A 19th century villa gets a modern update by architect Reiulf Ramstad, while this transparent section of floor reveals the old beams hidden beneath the newer materials for a reminder of the building’s history.

    Hotel Les Cols Pavellons

    You’d never guess that just beyond the traditional-looking 13th century farmhouse at hotel Les Cols Pavellons in the Catalan town of Olot is a series of ultramodern glass pavilions. These ‘zen’ hotel rooms are like crystal cubes housing almost nothing but a bed, a glass table and chairs and a bath for a minimalist experience that’s all about experiencing the design.

    Glass-Bottomed Sky Slide in Los Angeles

    More than just a glass-bottomed observation deck, which is becoming more common all over the world, this attraction at the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles is a fully functioning slide that chutes guests 45 feet from a window on the 70th story to a terrace on the 69th.

    Glass-Bottomed Suspended Pool in Houston

    Houston is home to an awesome plexiglass pool that cantilevers 10 feet past the edge of the building, 500 feet above street level. Installed at the new Market Square Tower apartment building by Jackson & Ryan Architects, the skypool offers views of the Houston skyline, and stops passersby in their tracks on the sidewalk below.

    Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
    Tread Lightly 16 Clearly Stunning Transparent Floor Designs

    Living in a Bubble: 15 Privacy-Free Transparent Houses

    Sometimes, beautiful views of your surroundings simply trump the need for privacy. Living in a bubble isn’t so bad when you’re in a remote location gazing at the sea or the forest, but some …

    Arkansas Innovation: Stunning Southern-Style Architecture

    Architect Marlon Blackwell does something with his designs that many architects seem unable or unwilling to do: he takes the building’s environment into consideration when designing a structure. …

    Sky Swimming: Transparent Pool Bridges Two 10-Story Buildings

    Designed to span over 80 feet and connect a pair of apartment structures in London, this remarkable see-through glass pool will give swimmers the ultimate view of the city on all sides. This …

    Share on Facebook



    [ By SA Rogers in Drawing & Digital. ]

    [ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


    WebUrbanist

  • FAA may develop a remote drone identification system for law enforcement

    Despite present drone regulations in the US, identifying the operator of any given drone in the sky is nearly impossible, making it difficult for law enforcement to deal with drones that are being misused. To address this issue, the Federal Aviation Administration has developed the new UAS Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which just recently wrapped up its first meeting.

    According to the FAA, this initial meeting was used to discuss law enforcement concerns related to drones, to present regulations concerning drone tracking and identification, as well as possible legal issues and air traffic drone management. Existing drone ID tech was reviewed, and ‘preliminary…identification parameters’ were created.

    Speaking on the behalf of unnamed sources, Recode reports that law enforcement agencies are concerned about their inability to identify drones from the ground; this concern has reportedly delayed an FAA proposal related to flying drones over people. The FAA is said to be using this committee to develop a system in which law enforcement will be able to identify a drone from the ground, addressing the agencies’ concerns.

    Such a system may involve the drone itself broadcasting its identification to a law enforcement system, enabling police to ID the drone’s operator or, at the very least, its owner. Such an identification system would likely require small non-commercial drones to be registered, however, marking a deviation from current drone regulations.

    At the moment, only commercial drones must be registered with the FAA.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Panono no more: 360-degree camera maker sold after ‘amazing but also exhausting journey’

    Jonas Pfeil demonstrates the size and design differences between the working prototype Panono camera (right) and the design model of the final production unit (left). In a letter to backers he has confirmed that the company is to be sold, after only delivering around 400 cameras.

    It’s official: Panono, maker of an innovative 360-degree camera, is to be sold after only managing to deliver around 400 cameras to its backers. The company filed for bankrupcy in May, but in a letter to backers, co-founder Jonas Pfeil has confirmed that the sale of Panono’s assets is expected to be finalized very soon.

    As he explains, ‘assets’ in this context means ‘inventory, software, the rights to the hardware, almost all employee contracts, IP rights etc., […] but not the obligations towards external parties’. External parties like the Indiegogo backers that funded the Panono camera. In other words: if you backed Panono and you didn’t get your camera yet, you’re officially out of luck.

    Thanking backers for their support and understanding, Pfeil called the experience ‘an amazing but also exhausting journey’. He stressed that, as shareholders, ‘the [outgoing] founders will […] not profit from this sale, as the money will be used by the insolvency administrator to pay outstanding invoices and other debt first.’

    Meanwhile, there’s some good news for the 400 or so backers that did get their cameras – after some initial uncertainty, it seems that the cloud service supporting the device will continue to be maintained.

    We really liked the Panono when we tested it last year, and we’re sorry to see it go. Were you one of the backers? Did you receive a camera? We’d like to hear from you.

    Read our review of the Panono 360-degree camera (July 2016)

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)