And now for something different...with cars.
This is a type of shot called
"Panorama."
A very wide shot that can be made easily in modern cameras.
Panning from left to right, snap a view, then another to the right, with a little overlap.
Then you "stitch" them together into one shot. Unfortunately, this was done many years ago.
I just taped two photos together.
Very LOW tech.
More recently, I realized NOT having a garage is bad sometimes.
As when hail is predicted.
I enjoy my deck upstairs and downstairs.
(The hail did not materialize. Whew.)
Some will have noticed my heavy use lately of a Fisheye Lens effect.
Maybe even OVER use.
I will try to get through this posting without doing that.
These cars are an example of the
Tilt-Shift effect.
A narrow band will be in sharp focus while
either side is diffused. Or at the top and bottom.
Then, crank up the contrast and color saturation.
The usual result looks like miniatures.
Tiny models of real cars, er, I mean subjects.
I looked but can't find any other Tilt-Shift examples
that show cars.
But, here's a shot looking down from the top of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
Too bad there's no cars in the scene.
But...there's no Fisheye lens shots either.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
Had to dip into my files to resist showing more fisheye lens shots.
That effect is addictive.
I'm hooked.
Labels: Ben Sawyer bridge, cars and decks, fisheye lens effect, hail no, London, Panorama view., St. Paul's Cathedral, Sullivan's Island, Tilt-shift effect
Light Up The Sky.
Be sure to click on the link to enjoy the
London New Year's Eve fireworks show. WOW!
It's like having a spectacular finale all the way through the booming, flashing and intricate 11-minute aerial celebration.
Last time I saw something that memorable was an indoor display at the Paul McCartney concert up in Charlotte. Indoors!
The Chinese really started something with that gunpowder thing didn't they?
I stood for several minutes on my front porch Saturday at midnight, watching MUCH smaller explosive displays in my portion of the sky.
I know that fireworks are banned in my little town of Hanahan yet, scant yards away, over the boundary into North Charleston, sale and use of such dangerous - but beautiful sights - are legal.
My older daughter is a police officer in northern California and says her real worry is people firing guns into the air.
A falling bullet coming back down is moving as fast as when it was fired.
One particular nearby celebrant had apparently paid big bucks for big booms. He/she set off a steady barrage of chest-thumping aerial bursts.
One after another, a long, long light show tore into the sky, sending colorful fragments screaming through the night.
As we remarked on the fiery display, a Hanahan police car - with its lights turned off - quietly coasted by and made the turn at the corner, heading up to the source of the rockets.
The loud and bright shots continued to soar skyward so I assume the yard of the launching pad was across the city limits line and my local lawmen had to sit and watch the show.
(Click on the photo - twice - for more details.)
Indoor pyrotechnics are startling. In the 5th row, I heard the booms, saw the flash and felt the heat. Yikes.
Labels: aerial bombs, Chinese gunpowder, city limits, fireworks sales, Hanahan police, indoor fireworks, London, New Year's Eve celebrations, North Charleston, NYE, Paul McCartney, pyrotechnics
Happy 4th...etc.
Quite a few years ago (not as far back as this picture), my older daughter was with me on a flight to
London.
I was on Missouri Tourism business because now there was a direct non-stop from St. Louis to London. And, of course, seats to fill from England to Missouri.
The airline flew several of us travel planners back and forth for a series of meetings.
It was early summer, about this time of year, and my 16-year old was able to accompany me while I was there for several days of face-to-face sessions. She would be entertained during the day while I was busy and we'd meet each evening for dinner.
Amy leaned forward in her seat and asked
"Dad, do the British have the 4th of July?"
I laughed and said
"No, no, of course not. That's the day we celebrate our breaking away from the English and establishing our own separate country."
OK, I know everyone is way ahead of me on this...
She smiled as she picked up an inflight magazine and settled back.
"Actually Dad, they DO have July 4th.... and July 5th .... and the 6th and the 7th."
I think about this every year.
Labels: Amy Boyd, daughter's question, Independence Day, July 4, London
A Travel Movie ....
My last visit to
England was back in the 1980s and the exchange rate was one pound for $2.64. Actually, right now is a little bit better.
I think it's time to go back to the United Kingdom for a visit .... and even pop over to Europe.
Well, it
IS very, very close and the dollar is slightly stronger against the Euro.
Individual countries still had their own money like Francs and Deutsch marks my last time there.
I was aware that
BENELUX stood for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg - and I have never been there - so
Amsterdam was added to the list as was
Belgium.
They say the coffee is so good there, it's more popular than Starbucks. I plan to check out that claim. I enjoy a good brew that whets the appetite.
After seeing the movie
"In Bruges" a few months ago, Belgium was an obvious choice. In the film two London hit men hide out in this beautiful 16-17th century city for several weeks.
The movie is a Chamber of Commerce visual treat of art museums, canals and historic buildings.
There were a lot of guns and shootings and bodies falling from church towers but that was just movie magic amidst a tranquil setting.
So that's my travel plan.
Guess it's a good thing that I didn't just see
"Around The World In 80 Days."Labels: Belgium, BENELUX, Brugge (Flemish), deutschmark, England, In Bruges, London, Luxemburg, Starbucks, The Netherlands
