Monthly Archives: February 2013
“You can’t just…
“You can’t just dare to be different, you have to be better…..” PoppaZ
Apple seeks patent to eliminate lousy photos
A patent application filed today by Apple could see smartphones capture a series of images of the same scene and then automatically pick the “best” one.
(Credit: CNET)Snapping bad pictures with your iPhone could become a problem of the past if a new Apple patent ever sees the light of day.
Published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent application dubbed “Image Capturing Device Having Continuous Image Capture” envisions a process in which your smartphone camera captures and processes a sequence of quick images of the same shot.
That by itself may not sound too innovative. But taking it a step further, your smartphone would then automatically pick the best image of the bunch based on exposure times and other factors.
The idea behind the patent is to work around a frustrating flaw of many smartphone cameras — shutter lag. There’s a delay between the time you press the button to take the photo and the time the photo is actually taken. Such a lag can result in blurry or poorly composed photos, especially if you’re trying to shoot a fast-moving object.
Human errors, such as a shaky hand on the camera, can also lead to bad photos.
The process described in Apple’s patent would allow you to keep your finger on the camera button to quickly snap a series of shots in succession until you release your finger. Those images are stored in a buffer. The technology would then review the buffered images, choosing the best one based on a variety of factors. You’d then have an opportunity to review that choice to see if you agree with it.
As the patent explains it:
The method can automatically select one of the buffered images based on one or more parameters. For example, the selection may be based on an exposure time of one of the buffered images and optionally an image quality parameter (e.g., image contrast). Alternatively, the selection may be based only on the image quality parameter. The sequence of images can be captured just prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request. The method can include automatically displaying the selected image on the display of the image capturing device.
So my big question is: Do you want the camera to decide your best photo? Will this affect or eliminate your “arty” work? Next will be a patent to tell you when to take the photo.
Is Nikon in trouble?
One of the big stories in the business world Sunday was that Nikon’s stock took a historic fall of nearly 19%. The company is weighted so heavily in the Nikkei Stock Average that the news had a rippling effect across the market, causing most Asian shares to drop.
Businessweek writes that the price drop was the largest single day decline in Nikon’s stock since 1985. It happened after the company cut its profit forecast due to decreasing demand and plummeting prices.
For the fiscal year ending in March, Nikon now predicts that it will pull in roughly $407 million in net income, down from the ~$643 million it had previously forecast.
Rare Nikon Lens Deals
Just one example: the AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80–400mm—$350 off.
There are more lenses in the sale—18 in all.
Nikon is having an unusual sale on some of its very best lenses. Nikon very seldomly offers significant discounts on its premium lenses—especially its best fast primes—when they’re not bundled in a package. This is the first such sale in a number of years. If you’re in the market for new equipment or want to expand your selection now is the time.
Nikon “buy together and save“
Image credit: Photo illustration based on Tokyo Stock Exchange by Dick Thomas Johnson
Pajolie’s Opening Day
Today was not only Pajolie’s Opening Day in her first season of T-Ball but the first opening day for our family. Pajolie, aka Payton Jo, is my oldest granddaughter. Although she has tried dance lessons this is her first softball experience. In organized softball the first weekend of the season is accompanied by the league’s pomp and circumstance ceremony. You can tell the newbies. They are the small young girls that are wondering what this is all about, what they should do. Next year they will be the veterans.
Payton’s sister and dad were there to experience it along with her. Three year old Parker, had big eyes, it was hard on her as she has always been her sister’s companion, now on the sidelines, a spectator. I could sense it, watching her stare at the scene and all the older multicolored uniformed girls.
Four o’clock, game time. Actually more like 4:20, and the Blue Diamonds were ready to play. In the crowd were her Mom, Dad, sister, Patti and even Zoey (our Frenchie) there to see the action. Along about the third inning her Uncle Joe and cousin Jameson came to participate.
A great day to start a career, a great day to enjoy the family. Keep your head down when swinging Pajolie and run hard……. and enjoy every inning of the game.
The techy stuff: Shot with the Nikon D600 and D800. Images processed in Adobe Lightroom.
Team Sponsor: Zwink Photography www.zwink.com
Take the Road less Traveled
I was coming home from a two day job in Santa Maria the other day by myself. It’s a 300 mile drive. One thing you quickly notice is not only how tired you get but also how beautiful and different the area is than southern California. My original intent was to drive straight through. Counting LA traffic nearly a 6 hour drive.
Then something wonderful happened. I remember seeing an old steel structured bridge spanning a valley along the coast near Gaviotas. So, I decided to become an explorer and see what surprised awaited. A short drive down a narrow winding road opened up and I found myself at the Gaviotos State Beach parking lot and the structure I had seen the other day. An added treat was that right between the iron and steel beams was a pathway to an empty beach.
After shooting for a half hour and enjoying my new found subject I remembered I still had a long trek home. I reluctantly left but content with my discovery, refreshed to continue the drive and the desire to look for new places to explore.
techy stuff: Iphone5, capture in Hipstamatic app and processed in Snapseed.