Pattern Study

Patterns are an interesting subject to work with, and I thought I might be able to derive some out of pictures I took that wouldn't work as photos on their own.


I like the tesseract-pattern this clip from Qutb Minar displays


This is a building facade in Jaipur


This was a neat door in Jaipur. I blurred the image save for the sideways crosses to give it a little pop.

The annual one-finger salute to the Academy

Another year, another Oscar ceremony and another year for me to vent annoyance at the Academy (even though for the most part, I agree with their choices).

First, lets start with what was good

• The idea of having previous winners introduce each individual nominee was nice, even though it seemed a little self-congratulatory
  
• "A Life In Pictures" was an incredibly moving animated piece, and unlike anything I've seen. It's from Japan, but is a far cry from any anime style. It also outpaces the more CG-heavy shorts with the exception of Presto.
• Finally Werner Herzog receives a nomination for something. Encounters at the End of the World is one of my favorite documentaries, and I'd like to see him win something before he retires
• A reduced number of presenters kept the show moving at a much smarter pace
• On the indie-front, I'm glad that Frozen River and Melissa Leo got some attention for an amazing Oscar performance

And now, a large enumerated list of things I didn't like

• This nonsense about "Best Animated Film" needs to stop. For one, it's going to wind up as the "Give Pixar an Oscar" award for most years. Generally speaking, Pixar produces one high-quality product a year. Dreamworks produces one decent animated film a year. And somewhere, another film is squeezed out like toothpaste. In addition, the creation of this category seems to imply that animated films do not deserve to compete with live action films. I don't know if this is paranoia from the Actors Guild concerned about the fact that a trash-collecting robot can induce more emotion than some of it's members, or if it is some snobbery about animation not being "serious work." Either way, it has to stop. WALL-E was a high quality product, but let's also not forget that Waltz With Bashir was a great animated piece that was good enough to compete in the Best Foreign Film category.
• Once again, the Best Original Song category is a waste of time. In the entire industry, you could not come up with more than 3 songs? Not to mention that two of them were from the same movie. It's a minor improvement from last year, where Enchanted had three nominations in this category, but not by much.
• Too often, the Academy gives the impression that there is a certain kind of film that gets nominated (and wins) and certain kinds that don't. I don't know if that is true, but there's no way in hell Toyland wins best live action short if it wasn't about the Holocaust.
• No love for The Fall? I find it difficult to take categories such as Costume Design seriously when rich and creative work like The Fall goes unrecognized while someone gets a nomination for making a bunch of California actors look like they live in San Francisco about 30 years ago.

Finally, I suppose I should make a top ten list for things I saw in 2008. In no particular order, they are

• WALL-E
• The Fall
• Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad: This awesome film about Brazilian Police Commandos)
• Encounters at the End of the World
  
• The Dark Knight
• Slumdog Millionaire
• Gran Torino
• Frozen River
• Quantum of Solace
• Burn After Reading

All in all, I suppose it's a conventional list. Mad props to SIFF, without which I would never have seen The Fall, Elite Squad and Frozen River.

And Academy: I expect results next year. But I'll settle for some more thought put in to the Best Soundtrack award.

More photos from India

I'm managing to do a little more editing these days.



These are some stone pillars at Qutb Minar, a giant minaret located in Delhi. I liked how all pillars were unique and how they formed an unusual vanishing point. I didn't think I could get detail for all of them, though, so I just focused on the nearest one and shot away. Apart from some darkening on the right hand side, I didn't have to do that much serious manipulation. The stark shadows on the left of the pillar serve to bring out the detail in the front.

I'm pretty happy with this shot and it might get printed in a few days.

The patterns on the wall made for nice tesseract-like shots


And, apropos of nothing, here's a parakeet

I haven’t blogged about photography in a while, so here goes again. I’m writing this while on vacation in India. We just saw the Taj Mahal today and I shot about 5 gigs worth of photos. Here’s about some adventures I had with one.

Aside: The Taj Mahal is big. I know it sounds silly to say that, since it’s a monument of great renown, but you don’t realize how massive it is until you enter the complex. I could give you it’s height, but that’s just a number. I could compare it with the other buildings in the complex, but they are all puny compared to the Taj. The best way to describe it to those who have never seen it is this.
1. Picture the Taj Mahal in your mind
2. Make it twice as big
3. No, bigger than that.
4. Make the top bulb larger. That thing is huge.

Anyhow, on to the photos—err, photo. When I walked through the entrance gate, I managed to get the entire complex framed by the archway, looking like this.




It was about 7:45 in the morning. The good light had long since gone, and the pollution that is Agra’s second most prominent feature had created plenty of haze to disrupt good shooting. The Taj faces south, so the right side is illuminated. There’s already a bunch of people in front of the Taj, two haircuts sticking in the picture and a crow that need to be edited out. Clone Stamp tool, I chose you!



Some rotating and centering gets us this. I think the framing walls are asymmetrical in the shot, and need to fix that some other time. The left and right side have no interesting detail, so I decided to crop out early on and go for a square image.

Now for the curves layer. Curves layer is where I do most of my work. There are no highlights in the picture. The Taj and the sky are very similar in color, but the outer part of the Taj is different enough from the sky that the curves layer can do some good work. Once I made the contrast, I darkened the sky and did some adjustment layer blurring to get this.

That’s somewhat better. Individual marble slabs are now more visible and the monument pops out from the sky a little bit. The top bulb has a little halo, but that's no big deal.



Sadly, this isn’t good enough. Now, it’s time for the Hue/Saturation layer. I’m too much of a snob to use Hue/Saturation most of the time, except for adjustments of 5%. I get annoyed when I see photos where someone turned the saturation up by 40%. A lot of people seem to think that the more colorful something is, the better it is. A quick glance at a hooker's eye shadow should correct this belief.

So I open up the tool and turn up to 5%. Nope, no effect. 10%? Nothing. 20%? Nothing. I edge the slider in to hooker territory at 50% and still see no effect. Man, the colors are extremely dull. In mild annoyance, I turn it all the way up to 90% and get this.



Well…that was a little unexpected.

Let’s get something straight. I’m a photographer, not a digital artist. If I have to invest a lot of work to "fix" an image that was poorly composed or shot, I’ve failed to create a good photograph. The end product, no matter how realistic-looking is digital artwork, is not a photograph. I’m not implying that digital artwork is inferior, only that it’s not what I do.

Still, I have to admit I kind of like what happened here. Some less-than-perfect work when painting the curves layer now shows up as bright illumination provided by the rising sun on the right side of the dome. Anyone who’s read the Odyssey will appreciate "Dawn showing her rosy fingers" in the background, now that the trace amounts of red in the bottom of the sky are getting expressed. The noise generated makes this seem more like a pointillist painting, with the imperfections akin to dabs of a brush stroke.

Very well, I said to myself and took off my photographer hat.

Since it was a lot of fun ruining the image by adding color, I figured it would be nice to ruin it by removing all color. A lot of beginners convert to black and white by selecting the "Desaturate" option, but I prefer to use the Channel Mixer adjustment layer.



Again, the slopping work with adjustment layer painting proves to be a bit of a blessing in disguise. Now, the top bulb appears to have something of a halo. A lot of the realism has been sucked out of the ex-photo, leaving something I’d expect to see on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

That’s not bad, but let’s see if we can get something older looking. I revisited the channel mixer layer, then turned down the halo. I then added noise to the background, opened the sharpening tool and turned it up. Way up.



I think this way makes the script on the archway pop a little more, and makes the silhouette have a little more character.

And since I had gone this far, I figured I might as well try some sepia action. First time for everything.



Yeah, also a last time for everything. Sepia images need a lot of contrast, and this photo doesn't have it. It's alright, but interesting detail is lost. The west side of the Taj is getting sucked in to a brownish-yellow noise cloud. Now that I think about it, that’s a pretty good metaphor for the pollution from Agra that’s damaging the Taj also.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share what I’ve been finding on this trip. I may make this set of Taj photos in to a little 4-piece set, though I’m unsure how well these will print. It’s worth a try.

On Giving

Everyone feels a little more generous around the holidays, and I'm no exception. I think I made some generous trades the last time I played Settlers of Catan which is very out of character. But I'm going to try and do something a little more substantial this coming year if I can convince the gift recipient that I'm willing to make this donation.

I'm a big fan of the TV Show "Sports Night." In one episode, Dan (an anchor) is having a bit of a crisis. He wants to give money to some charitable cause, but there are so many to chose from. He tries to rank charities in terms of importance. Animal welfare is more important than music education but less important than cancer research, etc. Eventually, his partner sets him straight.

Casey: "You're not going to solve everyone's problems. In fact, you're not going to solve anybody's problems. So you know you should do? Anything! As much of it and as often as you can."

I like that sentiment. If everyone gave to only the most important cause in the world, not a single dollar would go towards my public radio station, the animal shelter down the street or maintaining the local park. Sure, the dollar that I'm donating to these causes would generate more good trying to cure disease, but you shouldn't think of opportunity cost here. The point is, are you doing some good? Are you making someone's day just a little bit better? With that in mind, I'm calling on the University of Pennsylvania engineering school to accept my donation. Here it is.

I, Mehal Shah, would like to donate sufficient funds to the School of Engineering at The University of Pennsylvania to provide all bathroom stalls with double-ply toilet paper in order to operate for one full year. I would like to know how much toilet paper the engineering school uses and pay for the upgrade to the double-ply. I feel this donation will, in some small way, improve the lives of every SEAS student through their studies.

Trivia

So my team wrote trivia for OP yesterday. Here's the questions. You can e-mail me for the answers or leave them in the comments.

Round 1: Geography
1. In what country will you find Gangkhar Puensum, the world’s highest unclimbed mountain?
2. Only one state has a king on the back of its state quarter. Which state is it?
3. What country produces almost 25% of the world’s banana crop but barely exports any of them?
4. There are two recognized flags that are non-rectangular. One belongs to a country in Asia. The other belongs to a US State. Name them both.
5. When Herodotus composed his list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, he placed two in what is now Greece, two in Turkey and two in Egypt. In what modern country will you find the site of the last one?
6. The National Three Peaks Challenge is an endurance test that requires participants to climb Ben Nevis, Scafel Pike and Snowdon in one day. On what island are these peaks located?
7. What is the most populous country in the world that has an official monarch?
8. The only penguins in the Northern Hemisphere can be found on what Island Group that is also famous for tortoises and finches?
9. In “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” Slartibartfast takes great pride in designing these natural formations which can be found all along the coasts of Norway or the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
10. What is the highest mountain in Washington that is not a volcano?

Round 2: Sports and Games
1. Pierre de Coubertin invented this sport for the 1912 Olympics to simulate the skills needed by a cavalry officer trapped behind enemy lines.

2. Klaus Teuber invented this board game in 1995, which gave us the wonderful phrase “I have wood for your sheep.”

3. A Salchow, Toe Loop, Flip and Lutz are all jumps featured in what sport?

4. Two NFL players have kicked 63 yard field goals. Name both for a half point each.
5. Alphabetically speaking, what’s the first word in the official Tournament Word List for Scrabble?

6. Penhold, Shakehand and Seemiller are grips that are talked about in the context of what sport?

7. A chapter in Freakonomics is devoted to match fixing between Juryo and Rikishi participants of this sport.

8. If you are a cruciverbalist, what are you spending your time doing?

9. What is the largest United States city by population that does not have an NFL, NHL, NBA or MLB team?

10. Who holds the record for most appearances on the Wheaties box, with 18?

Round 3: Biology

1. About 25% of all species on earth belong to what biological order that the ancient Egyptians considered sacred? (Either the scientific or common name will be fine).
2. Which of the following fruits is a berry according to the scientific definition: Gooseberry, Cranberry, Blackberry, Strawberry?
3. An argument in 1951 between two men in an Irish Pub over European game birds gave rise to what famous book?
4. According to a recently passed Washington law, it is now illegal to come within 100 yards of what animal?
5. Two species of primates are native to Europe. Name them both.
6. Anthropopedies Ameriborealis is the official scientific name for what somewhat mythical creature?
7. Earl, Fran, Robbie, Charlene and Baby were the main characters in what biologically inaccurate sitcom?
8. If you have a heavy burden, you may have tied what bird around your neck?
9. Mastodon skulls are believed to be the inspiration for what creatures from Greek mythology?
10. What is the largest animal ever to live on earth? (IE, including extinct species).

Tiebreaker: In miles per hour, what is the average air speed of an unladen European Barn Swallow?

Round 6: Acting Work – Name the character that all three actors have portrayed. Example, Mark Hamill, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger = The Joker

1. Aran Thomas, Anthony Hopkins, Brian Cox
2. John Cleese, Bruno Ganz, Alec Guiness
3. Mel Gibson, Ethan Hawke, Richard Burton
4. Cary Elwes, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery
5. Jason Widener, Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen
6. George Burns, Morgan Freeman, Groucho Marx
7. Ciaran Hinds (pronounced Ki-ar-an), Karl Urban, Rex Harrison
8. Joan Woodbury, Jill St. John, Brooke Shields
9. Graham Chapman, Clive Owen, Tim Curry
10. Michael Caine, Kelsey Grammar, Patrick Stewart

Round 7: Movies

1. This 1982 biopic holds the record for most extras in a movie scene, with approximately 300,000 people appearing in the opening funeral scene.

2. This 2001 film about a little girl who loses her name is the highest grossing film in Japanese history

3. Marlon Brando had several scenes in this 1980 sequel, but they were all cut when he sued for a percentage of the profits from the first film. His lines were reused 26 years later when this series was remade.

4. Bill Murray was slated to be in this 1995 animated film but lost the producer’s phone number, forcing the makers to go to Tim Allen. Bill Murray deeply regrets this mistake.

5. Christina Ricci and Doug E. Doug team up to solve a kidnapping in this 1997 piece of crap Disney remake.

6. Randy Newman was nominated for 15 Academy awards and lost every single time until 2001 when he was nominated for this film.

7. James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Robert Redford and a whole lot of other famous people take part in the ill-fated Operation Market Garden in this 1977 film.

8. Chef Thomas Keller was called in to create a modified version of the title dish of this 2007 movie, because the original dish looks fairly disgusting.

9. Renowned Sci-Fi author Leigh Bracket wrote the script for this 1980 sci-fi epic. Sadly, she died before it was released. This movie is now the top-rated science fiction movie on IMDB.

10. What actor or actress is common to all 9 of these movies?

SIFF Reviews

Over the next few days, I will post some reviews of films I saw at SIFF

Black and white is fun

Black and white is fun, originally uploaded by darth_mehal.

Droopy flower

Droopy flower, originally uploaded by darth_mehal.

The annual one-finger salute to the Academy

Some of you may say that it's too late to gripe to the Academy, after the awards. Well, you're wrong.

First, let me say that it was a good year for movies. I was happy with all five of the nominees for best picture, and although I was sad that Atonement got no love for anything beyond it's amazing soundtrack, it was understandable.

But, there were a number of faults committed this year that earn you a binary 4 (00100, represent it on your hand if you don't get it).

• Did everybody forget to see Sidney Lumet's masterful Before the Devil Knows You're Dead? One of the best movies of the year, yet not a single nomination? Bah humbug
• Ditch the best song category...or at least don't nominate the same movie 3 times for it. Alternatively, Madonna had a nice performance where she did a medly of all the nominated songs a few years ago. Do something like that.
• With all that time that you have now have, use it to feature "Best Soundtrack." One year, Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman did a nice duet/medly/thing and it would be nice to see it again.
• Documentaries need to get a little more love, especially ones like Ghosts of Citie d'Solei which was one of the best movies of SIFF
• No nomination for Superbad for best original screenplay? I admit, it was nice to give the award to Diablo Cody for her first effort but Superbad's dialogue tops all the hipster talk that was Juno's defining feature.
• Get rid of the best animated film category. Movies like Ratatouille are good enough to compete with live action fair. The fact that there is a separate category for animated films creates 0the impression that animated films are somehow inferior to live action ones.

Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens, originally uploaded by darth_mehal.

Winds at the top

Winds at the top, originally uploaded by darth_mehal.

Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens, originally uploaded by darth_mehal.

Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens, originally uploaded by darth_mehal.

Why I'm in a good mood right now

The annual one-finger salute to the Academy

Dear Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,

I know I said I'd take a break from blogging for a while, but the latest crop of nominees forces me to make one quick post.

First, I'm glad to hear that Mark Wahlberg was recognized for his inspiring performance in The Departed, which was one of my favorite movies this year (in a year filled with many spectacular releases). When you have a cast that includes stars like Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jack Nicholson is playing a supporting role, it takes a lot of effort (and profane language) to stand out.

I'm also glad that Dreamgirls was kept out of the Best Picture category, making room for something else. I'm not sure why it was decided that it was "The Film to Beat" this year but thankfully it no longer holds that title.

However, there are a number of areas where greatness was not recognized, earning you a vicious bird-flipping. In no particular order:

• Why the total snub of The Fountain? I can understand that not everyone understood the movie, and it had pacing issues. But it is undeniable that Fountain had some of the most creative usage of special effects this year. Much of it has to do with the extensive usage of macro shooting. For those who don't know, macro refers to very very close-up photography. Instead of spending a lot of money to get a nice looking CGI giant squid a la Pirates (which was nominated), only $140,000 was spent to produce very creative imagry which is encouraging to smaller film companies with ambitious goals, especially those looking to make action/sci-fi films.
• Why was Science of Sleep overlooked? It had one of the most moving and sad stories of the year and deserves some recognition for creative waking-dream sequences.
• I don't understand why The Queen was so good.
• Come to think of it, lets take out the best picture/best director nominations for The Queen and replace them with nominations for Children of Men and Alfonso Curanon. The 12-minute single-shot sequence towards the end completely sold me on that movie and I believe its the best thing I have seen all year.
• Finally, and this is hardly the Academy's fault, I'm sorry that Conversations with Other Women did not receieve as much attention as it should have. Its small on plot and style, but makes up for it with two excellent acting performances and a soundtrack that fits perfectly. This movie deserved a better promotion effort.

Comfrotably Numb

Greetings,

I'm going to be taking a hiatus from infrequent blogging. There's a number of reasons, but it all comes down to the fact that I need to reorder a fair amount of things in my life. So that'll mean not too many pictures will be posted over the next few months. In the meanwhile, I leave you with this.

Cutest shot of the year

This meadow ain't big enough for the two of us