Archive for the 'Photos' Category

Text Snippets Circling Around

Published 11/11/2008 in Photos, africa, tech and ubuntu. 0 Comments

Pêle-mêle off the top of my head:

Learnt yesterday:
The number of English-speaking Internet users is decreasing, currently at about 35% of total number of Internet users.

Shared yesterday:
Who writes about African technology developments? From the list, I follow White African, Afrigadget, and sometimes Google Alert points me to IT News Africa.

Photo processing software for Ubuntu:
I’m currently MacBook-less (there are plans to change this very soon), but in the meantime I’ve installed Ubuntu 8.04 on an Acer Aspire 5920. I tried upgrading to Intrepid Ibex, but I couldn’t get my LAN connection to work. Something to do with the MTU count. And I encountered 2 bugs during the install:

  • package update-manager 1:0.93.32 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: SystemError in cache.commit(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
  • package ubuntustudio-menu 0.9 failed to install/upgrade: there is no script in the new version

So I went back to Hardy Heron. Cost: most of my Saturday. Learning effect: priceless.

I’ve been scanning the Internet for Linux photo processing software, besides Gimp, Picasa and F-Spot. ‘Cos so far Canon’s DPP has not been ported to Linux. I guess I could use it via Wine. But between you and me, I’m just looking for a good excuse to get a new MacBook. Beyond that DPP (still) lacks a good straightening tool.

I tried BlueMarine ‘cos it sounded promising, but I quickly gave up. Not usable.

There are a couple of commercial tools to consider:

In the end I tried Raw Therapee and downloaded Qtpfsgui for HDRs. Both of which are free and look promising at this stage.

Screenshot

BTW, this blog post is good example how I can trick myself into writing a longer text. Initially, I just wanted to write a few Tweet-like text snippets, a summary of various small items circling around in my head. Pêle-mêle off the top of my head.

Please feel free to comment. I would be very grateful for any Ubuntu tips and tricks, etc.

Blogging is so 2004

Published 10/23/2008 in General, Photos, blogging and flickr. 4 Comments

LOL at this Wired article!

Thinking about launching your own blog? Here’s some friendly advice: Don’t. And if you’ve already got one, pull the plug.

I agree with the author. Blogging is so 2004. For the record: I installed WordPress on this server in September 2004. Time to pull the plug.

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr instead.


(BTW I’m still the top entry at Google for Boring Flower Snapshot)

be bold, be strong!

;-)

Architecture Tour “Birsstadt”

Published 10/5/2008 in General, Photos and architecture. 0 Comments

As seen previously on my Flickr stream, I stumbled across this poster:

quoi de neuf

I took part in two architecture tours this weekend organized by Architektur Dialoge as part of the Les Journées de l’Architectures.

Birsstadt

I’ve uploaded a couple of snapshots of yesterday’s tour through Basel-Land. It was “off the beaten track” and lots of fun. During the tour we got a sense of the upcoming challenges as the various municipalities continue to grow and expand from a city planning point of view.

Today’s tour will have to wait til tomorrow…

Tagaroo and other links

Published 10/2/2008 in General, Photos, blogafrica, flickr and tech. 0 Comments

Pêle-mêle off the top my head:

In my daily reads, I stumbled across a Wordpress plugin called Tagaroo. It reminded me of Zemanta. I haven’t tried it out. But I guess the interesting part is that it is being sponsored/developed by media giant Thomson Reuters as part of the Calais project.

As usual I’ve been taking lots of snapshots. Faves of the week include:

peek

the wiring

Oh and yeah, I know what this year’s Christmas card will look like:

christmas card 2008

I tried out some night photography which was a lot of fun. Found out that I’ll need a good, lightweight tripod to pursue this more seriously.

The Swiss consumer magazine K-Tipp published the results of a chocolate degustazione.

Resultate der Degustation

I downloaded hours of video podcasts on CSS.

African bloggers in Amsterdam:

Picnic 08 (an annual tech. conference held in northern Europe) had a special Africa track called “Surprising Africa“. There’s a short video featuring the speakers here (via tweet).

Mulanje

Published 9/16/2008 in Malawi, Photos, africa, blogger, flickr and wordpress. 2 Comments

I just surfed through lots of cool new photos in the Malawi group on Flickr.

Including these photos of Mulanje mountain by Lisa de Vreede:

Mulanje

Mt Mulanje

Swiss Peeks

Published 9/6/2008 in Photos. 0 Comments

Just a link to support a great Flickr project:

Swiss Peeks is a series of books of photographs taken in Switzerland. The books, published twice each year, contain photographs by amateur and professional photographers alike, which have been shared online and submitted specifically for inclusion in the books.

Orchard of old varieties

Published 8/17/2008 in General, Photos and basel. 0 Comments



i went a-photowalking and learned about a project that is collecting and growing old varieties of fruit.

alte obstsorten

berner rose

The Summer of 08

Published 8/11/2008 in General and Photos. 0 Comments

As a gentle drizzle sets in, I’d just like to dump a couple of carefully composed poetry text snippets here at Chiperoni headquarters.

So far this summer of 08 has treated me well. I’m spending every weekend with my latest gadget: Shooting photos with my Canon 40D. There’s a lot to learn. And try out. Especially regarding lenses and post-processing. I’m still very much of a snapshotter.

I have noticed something:

The memory aspect of photos has become important to me. A couple of years ago before I started blogging and flickring, I joked that I’m taking photos with my retina and one day I’ll just download the contents of my brain (bioware, wetware). But as I proceed through life, more and more of my life pictures are moving to the back of my brain. I can still access them if I want, but they are moving further back as I take care of the daily clutter. But I don’t know if the pictures will disappear one day.

I like the way I can document one moment. With one shutter click.

Yesterday I went to see the Fotomuseum in Winterthur. I enjoyed it immensely. The show that I liked the most was the one on Theo Frey.

See this Wikipedia page for more infos on his biography.

The show reminded me of a Hernando de Soto interview I read. Not so long ago, many people lived in abject poverty here in Switzerland. The Frey photos brought this time closer.

Throughout the past weeks I’ve continued my low key fitness and jogging program. I haven’t run any races or lost any weight, but it helps to deal with stress. And the side effects of sitting hunched up in front of a laptop.

The Summer of Ohhh Eight…
Did you realize? This is the second last year of single digits. I didn’t know that 08 is a lucky number in China. But I feel that this summer is special. A time to remember. Dobbiamo profittare.

Coca-Cola Ad in Blantyre

Published 8/9/2008 in Malawi and Photos. 0 Comments

malawi holidays

See also this previous entry on the Coca-Cola Index.

Basel Rhyhafen

Published 7/27/2008 in General and Photos. 0 Comments



i went a-photowalking again

Workspace of an artist…

Published 7/21/2008 in Photos and basel. 2 Comments

Just a quick note pointing to some snapshots I took on Saturday in Martin Gyger’s studio.

I visited Martin Gyger's art studio

I visited Martin Gyger's art studio

I like seeing other people’s workplaces…

Martin told me that he will be moving into a new workspace very soon, but before he moves out he’ll organize an exhibition. I forget the exact date but this should be some time in early September. And Martin says he’s planning to take part in this year’s Portes Ouvertes on 18th and 19th October.

Martin displays much of his work on Flickr. His work is for sale. Contact him directly if you’re interested in getting an original or a print.

Puzzled

Published 7/13/2008 in Photos, basel and flickr. 3 Comments

This t-shirt text puzzled me this morning…

ZIM
TST
ERN

I figured it out after a while but at first I kept associating ZIM with Zimbabwe.

the window sill

I’ve uploaded two batches of snapshots to my Flickr stream. I’m a snapshotter at heart and I’m not spending much time correcting or editing my work (yet).

Unhindered by talent or technical skills, I hope I can at least convey the fun I’m having. I particularly enjoyed Saturday’s photo tour with Diveangel.

like the colours...

BTW, there’s a Basel Flickr meetup planned for 27th July 2008.

the all-steel bicycle

Working for one week in SF

Published 5/11/2008 in Photos and flickr. 0 Comments

I’ve uploaded my wild snapshots of San Francisco covering smoothies, books, bikers, shopping, browsing magazines, coffee, cars, Ocean Beach, the hotel, buildings, streets, public transport, signs, Lufthansa and waiting.

Flickr slideshow

BTW, I didn’t see a single Clinton 08 poster, I did see several Obama 08 posters and a guy selling Obama buttons. I guess, it doesn’t say much since the California primary already took place. Just something I noticed.

Obama 08

Pédaler, ça réchauffe!

Published 2/16/2008 in General and Photos. 0 Comments



I liked this velo poster… in Geneva.

Crossroads

Published 2/3/2008 in Photos. 0 Comments

Autobahn, airport or ship?

Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.

Greek version of Nutella

Published 1/22/2008 in General, Photos, flickr, nutella-alternative and nutellaalternative. 0 Comments

added to the Nutella alternatives group.

I am a snow bird

Published 1/10/2008 in General, Photos and flickr. 0 Comments


just got back from one week Southern Florida.

More snaps in my Flickr stream:
http://flickr.com/photos/chiperoni/
or
on black in my Satellite gallery.

Wilhelm Riphahn

Published 12/17/2007 in Photos. 0 Comments

Here’s my snapshot of the Opernhaus:

Köln Opernhaus

And the Bastei:

DSCN7354.JPG

Built by Wilhelm Riphahn

photowalking in Köln

Published 12/16/2007 in General and Photos. 0 Comments



it was freezing but lots of fun and inspiring

More snapshots in my Flickr stream.

uploads

Published 10/30/2007 in Photos and flickr. 1 Comment

i’ve measured my life out in flickr uploads

here’s another life phase

The Nutella Alternatives Group at Flickr

Published 10/16/2007 in Photos, flickr, fun, nutella-alternative and nutellaalternative. 0 Comments

Yay, the Nutella Alternatives group is growing (world dominion imminent…).

Recent additions include:

pseudo Nutella

Duo spread

The question

Why spend so many hours and bytes on Nutella and derivatives?
It’s a web differentiator! And when people wander thru the shopping aisles with their phone cams they need a purpose.

The Flickr group lists all the details:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nutellaalternative/

Childhood memories

As regular readers of Chiperoni know, the author grew up under African skies. Nutella and all subsitutes thereof were unknown. A friendly soul somewhere in Germany sent a package containing a small bucket in brown plastic of Nutella-like bread spread.

At school my Nutella sandwich was commented with a universal “Yuck“. South Africans, Brits, Zimbabweans, Indians, North Americans and Malawians didn’t even try it.

More for us and some classmates from the Netherlands.

I -in turn- never really acquired a taste for Marmite.

Weekend snaps

Published 10/14/2007 in General, Photos and flickr. 0 Comments

turn this lever here

a couple of water drops catch a ride

weekend snaps

Published 10/7/2007 in Photos. 0 Comments

IMG_1566.JPG

Hier nur Plastik-Müll

IMG_1521.JPG

Lego face

Published 9/14/2007 in General, Photos, flickr and fun. 0 Comments

Seen in Martin Gyger’s Flickr stream:

These lego faces are fun!

Just like web icons… you can see the pixels when you zoom in.

Flickriver

Published 9/2/2007 in General, Photos, basel, flickr and mac. 0 Comments

Scrolling Ad Infinitum:

I discovered a new Flickr tool called Flickriver…
It loads all images into one long html page, i.e. you simply scroll down to view all pictures for a tag or group:

My contacts

My faves

Malawi group

Canon ImageBrowser to FlickrUploadr:

BTW, I’ve found a shortcut how to add photos from Canon ImageBrowser to Flickr Uploadr. In the ImageBrowser, open Preferences and add Flickr Uploadr to the list of external editing applications. Once you’ve added it, you can send images to Flickr Uploadr while in preview mode using Edit > Edit with Registered Application > Flickr Uploadr.

Alternative to Satellite:

I stumbled across lumis Gallery. The concept is similar to Satellite, i.e. you can host photos on Flickr and reload them on your own server within your own layout. It seems to have more features…. It requires PHP 5 and a Flickr account.

Today’s personal faves:

helmet required

Bernoulli-Silo

bridge detail

schoggi-kuchen mit lychee glace

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