Snake photo likely trick photography

Print Create a hardcopy of this page Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 10:49 pm | Updated: 9:15 am, Wed Feb 27, 2013.

Snake photo likely trick photography By Catherine Dominguez Houston Community Newspapers

After researching a photo of what appears to be an unusually large rattlesnake, local game wardens say they are unable to find the origin of the photo that appeared on a local resident’s Facebook page.

While Brannon Mein-kowsky, a game warden with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, did not call the photo a hoax, he said there was likely a little trick photography involved.

“The picture is misleading,” he said. “It looks like a giant snake, and it might be a big snake, but it’s not out of range for that type of snake. You put something on a stick and hold it close to a camera it will look a lot bigger than it is.”

Meinkowsky said officials originally thought they might have known who the man was in the photo, but he said they were unable to actually identify him.

“We followed it from Facebook page to Facebook page and from person to person and we haven’t come up with anything,” he said.

Meinkowsky added if the man in the photo was a local resident, it is likely that someone would have come forward to identify him and as of press time, no one has.

The Courier, which received several inquiries on the authenticity of the photo, learned the photo has appeared on several different sites with different descriptions and locations. Meinkowsky said he was told the photo was taken on the north side of Lake Conroe.

“It is my opinion that it wasn’t killed on the north end of Conroe,” he said. “Just based on the story and the photo, it just didn’t add up. In the background of the picture, there is a tree with a lot of Spanish Moss and I haven’t seen any tree covered in Spanish Moss like that around here.”

Another indication the photo might not be local was that the snake in the photo appears to be an Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which aren’t native to this area of Texas, Meinkowsky said.

“They are definitely not common around Conroe,” he said.

However, the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America, with some reaching up to 8 feet long and weighing up to 10 pounds. The Eastern diamondback is commonly found in southern North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana. They typically are not found in Texas.

The timber rattlesnake, which is listed as “threatened” in Texas according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, is typically only about 3-4 feet long and can be found in the eastern United States as well as some eastern parts of Texas.

The Western diamondback rattlesnake averages about 4-6 feet and is found in the southwest region of the United States, including parts of Texas, according to National Geographic’s website.

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The Star pixman wins trick art photo competition

Interesting shot: Guan with his winning photograph.

I-CITY’S “It’s Real, It’s Trick Art Real” photography challenge, organised in conjunction with the opening of Trick Art Museum@i-City, received overwhelming submissions from photography amateurs and professional enthusiasts nationwide.

I-Berhad director Monica Ong said the photo challenge was organised to ignite creativity and an interest for photography by allowing one to explore various poses and angles to capture the most “real” photo pose.

“We noticed that this is another interesting way for families and friends to communicate and bond.

“For example, two or three people can participate together in one trick art piece where everyone explores their own creativity but at the same time work together to achieve a ‘real’ trick art,” she said.

The Trick Art Museum at i-City, the first of its kind in the country, spans over 8,000 sq ft. It features six themes from famous masterpieces such as the Egyptian Lost Tomb adventure, animal kingdom, marine life, selected modern classics and superheroes.

Trick art is a new tourism product for Malaysia. Since its opening in mid-November last year, the museum has received an average of 5,000 visitors daily.

The first prize for the challenge went to The Star photographer Glenn Guan.

His prize was a 12-day Mediterranean cruise on the Queen Elizabeth, inclusive of return flight tickets for two.

Guan said he submitted about three to four photographs, adding that his winning picture was “unusual” and among the best of his submissions.

“It took me more than five times to get the model to jump in order to snap the right shot,” said the overwhelmed Guan after receiving his prize from I-Berhad executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong.

The second and third prize winners received an all-expenses-paid trips to Alaska and South Korea respectively.

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Fotodiox brings 140-megapixel images to your NEX, medium format lens not included

RhinoCam from Fotodiox Puts the Power of a Full Size 645 Medium Format Back into the Hands of Any Photographer

RhinoCam connects a low cost camera sensor with a Medium Format lens for astonishing medium format photography at a fraction of the normal price.

Waukegan, IL (PRWEB) March 06, 2013 - Fotodiox (http://www.fotodioxpro.com), a leading lens adapter and accessories manufacturer and distributor, today introduces the RhinoCam, a camera system that, for the first time in the digital age, puts the power of a full-size 645 medium format back into the hands of virtually any photographer. Utilizing the Sony NEX camera sensor, RhinoCam enables photographers at any level to capture the dramatic detail and sharpness only available with a sensor three times larger than even a high-end full-frame 35mm sensor. The first release from Fotodiox's new Vizelex line of premium high-end camera systems and adapters, the RhinoCam delivers stunning 140+ megapixel images while offering photographers their choice of low-cost sensor options and classic lenses.
Capable of creating the dramatic panoramic and full 645 medium format images previously reserved for photographers working with expensive medium format back cameras, RhinoCam is ideal for landscape, commercial and architectural photographers seeking remarkably high resolution at a fraction of the cost. Via an interchangeable lens mount, RhinoCam couples either a Pentax 645, Mamiya 645, or Hasselblad V medium format lens with a Sony NEX series camera. The built-in Composition Screen enables photographers to preview the composed shot. The lens remains firmly in place while the RhinoCam's moving platform positions the NEX sensor for multiple precisely-positioned exposures. RhinoCam also mounts directly onto a 4x5 board to open up additional possibilities with wider angle lenses, tilt shifts, bellows systems and more.

"RhinoCam offers a cost-effective alternative to full size medium format back options which cost 20 to 30 times more than the Sony NEX," said Drew Strickland, vice president of marketing for Fotodiox. "This innovative system makes it possible for photographers to achieve the high quality resolution, detail and sharpness found in images taken with medium format cameras, but for under $1,000."

After the capture process, it takes seconds to merge the multiple exposures into one larger images using automated stitching functionality built into recent versions of Adobe® Photoshop® and other software offerings. RhinoCam images are finalized using the more accurate flat stitching method, avoiding the perspective errors and curvilinear distortion present in images joined via spherical stitching often found with motorized systems that move both camera body and lens. The result is a panorama or 645 medium format photograph that is well over four times the normal resolution of a high-end full-frame 35mm camera sensor. The finished result using a Sony NEX-7 is a 140+ megapixel image with incredible detail and sharpness.
RhinoCam features include:

- Compact and lightweight construction ideal for backpack photographers who would otherwise need to transport much heavier gear to photograph large vistas
- Connects a low cost camera sensor with a medium format lens for astonishing medium format photography at a fraction of the normal price
- Preview the composed image before taking the first shot with the built in Composition Screen
- Mount a modern camera sensor onto 4x5 equipment using the RhinoCam system
- Multiple exposures are in a linear array, perfect for flat-stitching to reduce distortion errors inherent in spherical stitching
- When the user upgrades their camera, the RhinoCam delivers even higher quality pictures
RhinoCam is currently compatible with all Sony NEX mount cameras and the following interchangeable lens mounts: Pentax 645, Mamiya 645, and Hasselblad V. The RhinoCam precision system is priced at $500 and available for order today from http://www.fotodioxpro.com.

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Trick -art photo contest winners get to travel

First prize winner Glenn Guan Mun Hoe will get the chance to travel on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise on the Queen Elizabeth.

Second prize winner Sheiron Akmal Ismail will enjoy a seven-day Alaska cruise while third prize winner Rohayu Abdullah will be travelling to Korea on a seven-day trip.

I-Berhad director Monica Ong said the contest was organised to ignite creativity and allowed participants to explore various poses and angles to capture the most realistic photo poses.

"We noticed that this is another interesting way for families and friends to communicate and bond, where two to three can participate together in one trick art piece, where everybody explores their own creativity and works together to achieve a real trick art pose."

Ong added that, since its opening in November last year, the museum has received an average of 5,000 visitors daily.

The museum, the first of its kind in the country, occupies an area of 743sq m.

It features six themes -- famous masterpieces, Egyptian Lost Tomb adventure, animal kingdom, marine life, selected modern classics and superheroes.

Ong said i-City would continue to make efforts to introduce new and exciting attractions.

"In the past, i-City organised a photo challenge for its digital lights and Snow Walk.

"Maybe the next photo challenge will be for our newly opened WaterWorld," she said.

I-Berhad executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong (second from right) with the winners, Glenn Guan Mun Hoe (second from left), Sheiron Akmal Ismail (right) and Rohayu Abdullah. Pic by Roslin Mat Tahir

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20. The Star pixman wins trick art photo competition

Interesting shot: Guan with his winning photograph.

I-CITY’S “It’s Real, It’s Trick Art Real” photography challenge, organised in conjunction with the opening of Trick Art Museum@i-City, received overwhelming submissions from photography amateurs and professional enthusiasts nationwide.

I-Berhad director Monica Ong said the photo challenge was organised to ignite creativity and an interest for photography by allowing one to explore various poses and angles to capture the most “real” photo pose.

“We noticed that this is another interesting way for families and friends to communicate and bond.

“For example, two or three people can participate together in one trick art piece where everyone explores their own creativity but at the same time work together to achieve a ‘real’ trick art,” she said.

The Trick Art Museum at i-City, the first of its kind in the country, spans over 8,000 sq ft. It features six themes from famous masterpieces such as the Egyptian Lost Tomb adventure, animal kingdom, marine life, selected modern classics and superheroes.

Trick art is a new tourism product for Malaysia. Since its opening in mid-November last year, the museum has received an average of 5,000 visitors daily.

The first prize for the challenge went to The Star photographer Glenn Guan.

His prize was a 12-day Mediterranean cruise on the Queen Elizabeth, inclusive of return flight tickets for two.

Guan said he submitted about three to four photographs, adding that his winning picture was “unusual” and among the best of his submissions.

“It took me more than five times to get the model to jump in order to snap the right shot,” said the overwhelmed Guan after receiving his prize from I-Berhad executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong.

The second and third prize winners received an all-expenses-paid trips to Alaska and South Korea respectively.

View the original article here

Unbelievable Close-Ups Of The Sun, Taken From This Guy's Backyard - Co.Design

You’ve never seen photos of the sun like this, but can you believe that they were shot between telephone wires?

Alan Friedman’s backyard is full of cable wires, power lines, and trees. By night, many stars are occluded behind the haze of Buffalo’s lights. And yet he’s taken what may be the most unbelievable photographs of the sun that you’ve ever seen.

Friedman’s trick is to stack the odds in his favor using a technique called “lucky imaging.” With a webcam normally used to photograph passing license plates, he captures stellar black-and-white objects at 120 frames per second (or about five times faster than your average movie camera), picking the one needle in the haystack that’s perfectly sharp, unaffected by the slew of confounding variables in our atmosphere.

When I ask Friedman why his photography is so unique, he argues first that it isn’t, referencing all of the amateur photographers pointing their cameras into space. But he does admit some people see his work as different. “Perhaps the difference stems from my background as a designer and fine artist,” he concedes. “My interest is both scientific and expressive, and the work is a marriage of both."

He continues: “When I began shooting the sun, everyone presented a yellow/orange disk against the black background of space. I began to experiment with different colorizations and reversing the tonality of the image,” Friedman explains. “The first time I inverted the disk of the sun to a negative, I was stunned by how it altered the perspective--how much more visible certain subtle structures became.”

He’s also not afraid to call his work photojournalism, citing that each time he inverts a value or tweaks a color he’s just exploring a new way to tell the sun’s story through a photograph--and as it’s a form of journalism, he also grapples with the debate of how far is too far, and when editing a photo begins to cloud its own truth. But in this regard, Friedman’s internal debates are no different than NASA’s hand-coloring of the mostly black-and-white images they suck in from space, depicting the majesty that our best physicists, armed with the most advanced photographic technologies, can still only see in their mind’s eye.

No doubt, his sun, be it inverted in black and white or painted with a fluorescent purple, feels like a more intimate portrait of our star than any I’ve ever seen. It’s a startling reminder: Even though we owe this glowing orb every morsel of our life, we sure don’t know it very well, do we?

Mark Wilson is a writer who started Philanthroper.com, a simple way to give back every day. His work has also appeared at Gizmodo, Kotaku, PopMech, PopSci, ... Continued

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Oz: 100+ years of movie magic - U-T San Diego

"Oz, the Great and Powerful" is just the latest and costliest interpretation on film of the land over the rainbow.

L. Frank Baum, the author of the 1900 book that started it all, discovered trick photography on a trip abroad in 1908 and developed a show of slides and stop-action animation covering scenes from the first four of his 14 Oz books. He took "The Fairlogue and Radio-Plays" on the road, complete with orchestra, and played the Midwest and East before closing just before Christmas in New York City.

The effort was a financial failure and as a result, Baum turned over his film rights to film pioneer William Nicholas Selig, who produced four silent one-reelers in 1910.

By then, Baum had moved his family to Hollywood, and while writing more Oz books, he founded the Oz Film Manufacturing Co. with friends from the Los Angeles Athletic Club. They underwrote "His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz" in 1914 and several live-action movies.

"These were big lavish productions, far above the usual 'flickers' of the period, each with an original score composed by (Louis F.) Gottschalk," says Michael Patrick Hearn in "The Annotated Wizard of Oz." But they were flops, as well, and the Oz studio was sold to Universal. Baum died in 1919.

Read the UT's review of the new movie and about San Diego's Oz connections.

In 1925 one of Baum's sons tried his hand at Oz-movie making in a silent picture treatment of "The Wizard" starring Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodman.

"It was a dreary hodgepodge of chases and slapstick, totally lacking the magic of Baum's book," Hearn said.

After a few minor cartoons (and a run at the franchise by Walt Disney) came the 1939 MGM classic, the treatment that set in many people's minds the look, feel and story arc of Oz.

At $2 million, it was MGM's most expensive film to date. It had sound, color, "Over the Rainbow" and memorable lines that land on "Jeopardy." It didn't make a profit on its first release but in subsequent showings, annual TV screenings and on videotape, DVD and Blu-ray, it's become a cinematic classic, the most watched movie of all time, according to the Library of Congress.

Still, other producers saw pay dirt down the Yellow Brick Road and followed up with cartoons, spinoffs, TV pilots and mini-series and big Hollywood productions.

"The Wiz" in 1978 was an adaptation of the Broadway all-black urban musical of 1975. Diana Ross was Dorothy, Michael Jackson, the Scarecrow. "Return to Oz" in 1985 was a Disney sequel, based on Baum's second and third books, "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz." Neither movie hit pay dirt.

Since the MGM version is still under copyright, Disney and other movie makers have to steer clear of such iconic inventions as the ruby slippers (they were silver in Baum's book) and Glinda in her pink traveling bubble (the new Disney take is a transparent bubble).

You won't hear reprises of "Over the Rainbow," Judy Garland's signature song. Mariah Carey brings us "Almost Home" and composer Danny Elfman offers, "The Munchkin Welcome Song."

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