High Technology for Low Fidelity

I avoided cameraphones for a while. I’d rather have a device that worked exceptionally well as a phone without a lens than a mediocre phone that takes mediocre, low-resolution digital photographs. Eventually, I relented and purchased the original Motorola DROID. The phone comes with a mediocre camera, bust most of that mediocrity can be hidden using applications that process the photograph. There is a subset of applications that attempt to mimic the classic toy-camera look.

Plastic “toy” cameras, like the Holga and Diana, incorporate unpredictability into the art of photography. In general, photographers seek to control everything about their images, particularly lighting and composition. Much of this is left to chance when using toy cameras. Their imprecise construction allowed light to leak onto the film, adding streaks of color or light at locations. Focusing is imprecise, and vignetting is a virtue to be appreciated, not avoided.

Modern apps like those available for the Android operating system and the iPhone allow precise customization over these random imperfections, but that takes the fun out this particular type of art. Even when choosing a “random” setting in these applications, you are left with the knowledge that the image is a lie. The phone, despite not being the best digital camera available, is capable of better photographs. Real plastic Holgas and Dianas produce these images as a result of the only type of image processing they are capable of — the photograph you take is their best work. They are low-fidelity, not just “slumming it.”

The problem today is that despite the fact that these toy cameras can be found for just about $20, it’s still less expensive in the long run to fake the look with your phone, a decide you might have anyway. The costs of buying and developing film add up quickly. The cameras once designed as an affordable option for kids is now out of reach for many photographers. One can’t forget that with digital photography, photographers have the luxury of instant review and retake.

With the added complication of processing film, I’ve only been slowly working with my Holga so far. Amy shot the first roll (black and white) with the Diana today; it will be a few days before I see the resulting negatives. Here is a selection from the Holga. More are available in the Toy Camera set on Flickr. I should point out that the pattern of white dots seems to be a result of the developing process. I’ll speak to the lab about this when I go to pick up the next rolls of film they’re currently developing. Keep reading for some of my recent photographs using the Holga.

Read more

Holding Myself Accountable For My Physical Activity

One of my resolutions for this year is to get in shape, like I mentioned earlier. It may be one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, and perhaps the resolution most likely to be abandoned with a month, but with more time on my hands, I have some freedom to make it happen.

I’m a fan of technology, so I was excited to see that there’s an Android app that seems to be perfect for what I need to keep me organized and motivated while giving me the ability to evaluate my progress over time. This is what worked for me in other areas of my life, so I think I have a good chance of being successful.

With RunKeeper, I downloaded a routine that should, if I can handle it, have be completing a 5K within seven weeks. After applying the routine to the app on my phone, I run with my phone with guidance about when to slow down or speed up in accordance with the routine.

Like most modern applications, the information can be linked to Facebook; my friends have already seen my progress. One thing missing is the ability to add widgets to websites. I’d like to be able to track my progress here as well.

On my RunKeeper profile, you can see the statistics for each outing, including distance, calories burned, and pace. I’m still slow now, particularly when running in this cold weather, but if I keep it up I’m sure my stats will improve. The current routine I’m following, 5K training for beginners created by Olympian Jeff Galloway, calls for outings consisting of alternating running and walking periods three days each week. I finished my second outing yesterday and I survived. On Saturday I’ll venture outside, perhaps in the snow, for the final outing of the week.

The key for me will be holding myself accountable and not letting myself get lazy. When I post something publicly, it becomes real. If I don’t keep it up, I will feel like a liar. This is the process that has worked for me in other areas of my life, so I’m hoping that this type of self-motivation will work for me.

Yet Another Season of “Volunteering”

Somehow, I once again agreed to run marching band competitions this fall for your favorite organization and mine. They also want me to stop by their “new” office in Allentown, Pennsylvania — they moved several years ago, so it’s not really that new, but I haven’t been there — to teach the newest incarnation of the revolving staff how to use a database program I designed in 2000 or 2001. Transmission of communal knowledge is like a game of telephone, and by now, the connection seems to have become pretty bad. I haven’t seen the software in years, and I bet people have tried changing tables, queries, and other stuff they shouldn’t have been touching.

Apparently, I’ll be visiting the office during one of the weekends I’m not already signed up for a marching band show. I’m not taking off a day from my real job to visit them, although that is what they requested. Yeah, right.

Windows XP Reboot Nagging

If Windows XP Professional is bugging you to reboot after an automatic update download, clicking “later” only gives you ten minutes before you’re bugged again. Here’s how to stop the nagging, and the solution is not to turn automatic updates off; it’s all ready too late for that. If you have Windows XP Home Edition, you’ll have to follow these instructions instead.

The First Day of Summer

It’s officially summer. Therefore, it is hot. I know this because my computer has begun acting the way it does when it’s hot. Although my box is well ventilated, hot weather causes my desktop CPU to spontaneously reboot (or get the BSOD, depending on my settings). Coupled with the fact that my notebook computer is eleventy years old, that is to say I purchased it generations ago on or around October 16, 2001, it may be time to upgrade my equipment.

My former coworker tipped me off to the fact the prices on the next-to-latest generation AMD chips are going to drop by the end of the month. Yeah, he’s got inside connections… or a lot of techie friends.

But I have to sort out my apartment situation first. After skimming the craigslist listings, I wrote to a guy who’s advertising a place in Sayreville. It’s a good price, but there weren’t many details. We shall see.