Idée Multicolr Flickr Search
Published on 29 October 2008

I've seen quite a few Flickr API mash-ups, but this has got to be one of the most creative. Idée Inc. has created the "Multicolr Search Lab" that uses a collection of 10 million Creative Commons licensed images on Flickr to match photographs to a user-selected color palette.

As the user selects up to ten colors from the palette on the right, the mash-up searches an index of matched colors and pulls up results in the form of thumbnails, each linked to the image's Flickr page. Not only is this just plain fun, but because of Creative Commons licensing, an artist can quickly find images to use in a project (as long as he/she gives credit and shares alike). Idée's Piximilar, the engine behind this app, seems to be a very powerful and groundbreaking image analysis system. It will be interesting to see how this algorithm is incorporated into future projects. For now, you can check out Multicolr at http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/.

Poladroid Simplifies Retro Photography
Published on 25 October 2008

Veronica Belmont wrote on her personal blog yesterday about a new application called Poladroid. The software, a simple program offered in French and English, is currently available in beta for Mac OS 10.4 or later on www.poladroid.net. So what does this little 10mb program do? One thing, and one thing only. Polaroid.

Polaroid Corporation, makers of the retro instant-developing photo products we all love[d], actually filed for bankruptcy in 2001. Since then, all products branded "Polaroid" have merely licensed the name, and were most likely cheaply made in China (read: avoid anything with the name "Polaroid" on it). With the advent of digital photography, Polaroid cameras and film slowly entered into obscurity. Their simple nature and slow shot-to-shot speed made them a staple of urban street photography and contemporary vintage art movements. With digital, though, consumers could take shot after shot without much thought (rhyme zing!). Poladroid's purpose is to take those shots and turn them into the much-loved Polaroid-esque images of the past.

So why not just use a Photoshop plugin or batch script? Well, Poladroid is free, simple and fun. In order to process an image, all you do is drag the jpeg onto the program. A few seconds later, the "undeveloped" Polaroid is spit out, and begins slowly developing. Then you wait. And wait. And even though there's absolutely no reason for you to wait, you wait some more. And this is what makes Poladroid so charming. It's just like using a Polaroid camera, in a sense. You can only process up to 10 images too, just like a Polaroid film cartridge. And if you ask me, the results look pretty cool.

You can check out some of the images I've processed below, or you can find more on the program's official Flickr group.

The Darién Gap Is Taunting Me
Published on 24 October 2008

As much as I love the city and all its urban goodness, I have an immense longing to explore the natural world. I dream of someday photographing the untouched natural beauty of places like Guyana, Borneo (what's left of it), and the Patagonia ice fields. But a new location caught my attention a few days ago, when I came across this article on Dark Roasted Blend.

Photograph by Flickr user Student Charity

The fact that I can barely find any suitable photographs of the Darién Gap for this post is a good indicator of its remoteness. The Darién Gap is a 160km long by 50km wide area of undeveloped land separating Panama from Columbia. It is a geological barrier between Central and South America, and is a land entirely devoid of roads. Because it is the only way to pass between the two Americas by land, the Darién Gap serves as the single missing link in the Pan-American Highway. Because of environmental and disease-related concerns, government attempts at completing this last stretch of highway have failed time and time again. Thus, transcontinental journeys have been forced to use four-wheel-drive trucks and similar vehicles to complete their passage.

Photograph by Flickr user Student Charity

Though the gap itself lacks any roadways, life still exists within its boundaries. The Embera-Wounaan and Kuna Indians live within the region, often traveling by dugout canoe. Geographically speaking, the gap is divided. On the Colombian side, a flat marshland and swampland dominates the scene. Panama's share, however, is a lush and green mountainous rain forest. At one time, the gap's forests had immense cedrela and mahogany cover, but logging efforts have all but removed these trees.

It is the prospect of largely undeveloped geographical contrasts that draws me to this region, but because of external conflicts, I doubt I will ever be able to experience the gap's offerings. Kidnappings are common in the region due to the heavy presence of three Colombian rebel groups. Travelers and explorers, if lucky, are released within a reasonable amount of time. But ten documented murders of U.S. citizens exist, which is enough to deter me for now.

Streaming TV With Livestation
Published on 23 October 2008

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I'm not a fan of American news outlets. Television news coverage in the US is fueled by commercials and profit rather than quality reporting, and many stories often hinge on being absurd at best. It is impossible to get a true grasp of the country's place in the world when your news information is filtered and censored to such a degree that we're almost always "seen" as the sole valiant source of good in the world. But unfortunately, accessing international television news stations has always been difficult, if not impossible, for most Americans. That is, until now.

Livestation is a somewhat new piece of software that aims to simplify and enhance the live online video experience. Streaming video has existed for many years now in various forms, but accessing feeds and maintaining a stable image hasn't always been easy. Livestation challenges this by offering a simple player with a direct channel lineup and an easy system for adding new feeds through a web-based user account interface. The real beauty comes in the form of partner channels. Livestation hosts a series of global news channels that are "officially sanctioned," so to speak. Though the channel selection varies from country to country, users in the United States can access two of my favorite international stations: Al Jazeera English and Frace24. Yes, feeds of these stations can be found elsewhere, but from what I've experienced, Livestation by-far is the easiest to access and carries the best quality. Though I wish Livestation offered a full spectrum of channels (aka, not just news), licensing problems most likely prohibit it. It's closest relative, Zattoo, offers a wide range of programming, but it's only available in a handful of European countries.

So why not just flip on your television and watch MSNBC/CNN/etc? Well for one thing, their content probably isn't worth your time. You'll be inundated with commercial breaks, and you'll be fed mostly information that is favorable to the United States. But more important is the fact that media delivery is quickly moving from the realm of cable/satellite providers into the hands of the world wide web. Never before has it been so easy for the end user to legally access full-length shows and movies from any broadband-enabled computer. With network sites and mega-providers such as Hulu.com, many consumers are quickly failing to see a need for their cable providers. Livestation, and similar services, are a step in the right direction in this regard.

Livestation is available as a download from www.livestation.com. The software is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux machines, as long as the computer has access to a fairly fast internet connection. Use of the service requires a Livestation account (also free), which allows for easy channel management. Though many improvements can still be made, Livestation is the first streaming television service I've tested that is actually worth using on a daily basis. I highly recommend everyone give it a try.

Street Photography: Motorcyclist
Published on 22 October 2008

I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but street photography is one of my favorite "genres." There's something about seeing individuals in their daily urban lives that I find fascinating. Too bad I live in the suburbs, right? This photograph was taken in Georgetown, Washington D.C. when I spent a few days there this last April. The photograph was converted to black and white, and was burned and dodged in Adobe Lightroom 2 (as usual). I'm not really into cars/trucks/anything with an engine, but I have a soft spot for motorcycles. Not those Harly-Davidson biker gang type motorcycles, but those modern, hip and trendy ones. You all know what I'm talking about, don't deny it. Back to the photograph, it's not really unique from a compositional standpoint. But because it combines elements that I view as interesting, I can't help but like this photo.

Volunteers of Hurricane Ike (Le Monde)
Published on 18 October 2008

I've written about Hurricane Ike in terms of photojournalism before, but I felt this photo collection was worth mentioning. Many times, in cases of natural disasters, the true heroes are the ones that work without any compensation to help restore balance to a community. The French newspaper Le Monde posted a series of photographs on its website taken by Associated Press photographer Nick de la Torre. These photographs highlight the wide range of individuals from a variety of occupations who are dedicated to reconstruction in the southern United States. In addition to the subjects of these photographs, I was drawn by the style and manner in which they were taken. The Strobist-style lighting works to heighten the dramatic feel of the situation, and further casts these individuals in a heroic light. You can view all the photographs from this collection here.

Sunrise in the Desert
Published on 13 October 2008

This photograph is another one of my former rejects. In its original color form, this photo suffered from the awkward lighting of the moment. It was morning in the desert, and the foreground of this image was in shadow due to the mountains behind me blocking the sun. The resulting file looked more like a snapshot than what I had originally seen in my mind's eye. After converting the photo to black and white, I burned and dodged various parts of the image using Adobe Lightroom. I brought out much of what was in shadow before, and intensified the sky. Though most perceive the desert as dull and dead, an entire world of beauty awaits for those who are patient enough to find it.

Stunning Press Photographs From Afghanistan
Published on 10 October 2008

I absolutely love great photojournalism. I've always believed that photographs should tell a story, and photojournalists are often masters of this skill. Most individuals only know photojournalism as the photos that appear alongside news stories. In reality, a larger, and much deeper, world of phenomenal photography exists beyond this realm. Often times, truly remarkable photography is displayed by major magazines and news agencies in the form of photoessays. The Big Picture, however, brings to light wonderful works of photojournalistic art that otherwise might have gone unnoticed. I've written about The Big Picture before, and their content never fails to impress me.

A pair of ISAF soldiers stand on a hillside overlooking Kabul, Afghanistan on the night of January 11, 2008 (ISAF Photos)

In one of their most recent postings, The Big Picture highlights photographs taken by and of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is the UN Security Council's mission in Afghanistan that works separate from the United State's "Operation Enduring Freedom." The task force is "presently made up of over 53,000 troops from 43 different nations," which represents a large cross-section of world cultures. Living in the United States, one usually only hears about American troops overseas, which is a direct result of domestic ethnocentricity preached to the nation on both a local and national level. It is great to see these foreign troops appreciated, especially through these wonderful photographs. One thing that really jumped out at me in the image above is the landscape of the city at night. Anyone familiar with San Diego county knows that the climate and landscape of East County has much in common with the geography found in the Middle East. This photograph, complete with the illuminated antennas on the distant mountaintop, could have easily been taken in El Cajon or Santee.

German Bundeswehr army soldiers of the ISAF monitor a valley during a mission near Kunduz, Afghanistan on September 26, 2008. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)

Though I am not an advocate of war, and I strongly believe in peaceful diplomacy abroad, a large part of me wishes to become a war photographer. The emotional intensity involved with any conflict or war provides many opportunities for great photography and storytelling. As with any art form, I have seen many lackluster war photographs. But truly great photojournalists can take a simple subject--such as a soldier standing on a hillside--and create a feeling of wonder and awe. In addition to this, war photographers stand alone in their ability to truly capture the human side of war. Through their work, direct human emotion can be conveyed. Stories can be told, and lives can be touched. Photographs can inspire hope, and alternately fuel sadness and rage. The images I have posted here are only a sample of the truly great works of art found in The Big Picture's post on the ISAF efforts in Afghanistan, and I encourage everyone to click through explore this great photojournalism resource.

Photographs courtesy of The Big Picture, posted without commercial intent and solely for the purpose of increasing awareness of their blog.