Ricoh GXR

ricoh_gxr_wechselkamera

Originally uploaded by techfever.

 

Well, I think it’s a brillian idea. The sensor should be coupled with the lens. It makes sense if it’s going to be digital. The sensor won’t get dirty this way. The bw back is a nice idea. The leading companies like Leica, Canon, and Nikon have a legend of lense that seems to hold back camera designs. The Leica M9 is a good example. Ricoh has some heritage in older equipements but is not hold back by it. In the future when sensors improved, the body still works and if you want to shoot with older sensor for a retro look that’s cool too. It’s like going back to the film cameras of the 80s or 70s.

In fact this should have been the very first design of the digital camera because as we see the sensor technology has improved increasingly, this would have save us some money and let us upgrade only the lens and sensor and allow us to get used to the body and it’s menus and buttons. It seem a little bit too late in the game because sensors are so superb now. Ideally, the new camera should have interchangable sensor separte from body and lens like a Hasselblad. This is when it’s possible to shoot with a 50’s Hasselblad with the new digital back. It’s a good start to move away from film based camera of the SLR. But this move seems like it could harken back to the medium format cameras.

I would think that the next progression it for an interchangable sensor.  It doesn’t seem far fetch.  It makes sense to have the body separated because the digital technology has maxed out at 3 inch for the display screen.  Any bigger would be bulky and 3 inches seems the right size to view images.

The digital view finder also flips to 90 degrees which is like the medium format style of shooting at waist level.

Journal Screw Binder

_VPS0023

Originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

I thought the binding on this journal is unique. The screws are removable. The color of this leather is rich.

Fax

fax

Originally uploaded by simper&smirk.

Are your faxings this hot? If not then you are doing something wrong.

Virgo & Pisces

Last weekend, I went to a benefit Happy Hour for Breast Friends.  It’s a local Portland group that helps women. 

Here’s the link: http://www.meetup.com/Portland-happy-hour-group/calendar/11245211/

Board Games

 Here’s my “screen shot” taken with a Fuji Finepix E900.  This picture shows my less then 10 year old nephew’s little Empire!  Settlers of  Catan can be played by all ages. 

Settlers of Catan first gained popularity in Europe then spread to North America and the world.  Thus a lot of similar game have been called Eurogames.  (Look it up on wikipedia for more information.)  These games can cost up to $50 USD.  They contain many pieces and designed to be visually stimulating.  They can be played by many people, 2-8.  There are groups that play on line or with the Xbox 360.  But playing it on a board is much more fun!   I joined a Meet Up Board game of Portland.  We met at the Lucky Lab on Thursday night to play games. Board games has made a resurgence. They are well designed with great graphics. Tannhauser is particularly impressive. I passed by one of the boards with miniture figures. It looks to be a WWI strategy game.

Another ‘Screen Shot’ of Agricola taken with Sony Ericson Camera Phone.  It is a Medival agricultural game.

Naked Binder Arrival

Just in time for back to school.  Ken sent me a few samples of their binders.

I love how simple the design is.  There not one drop of ink.  The board is branded like leather with an impression.  There’s not much glue either which means it’s less toxic.  One thing that happens with plastic cover binder is that they melt in the hot sun and release a plastic smell.  Also the plastic tend to get wrinkled. 

I like the architect version for long landscape orientation drawings.  When I was working at an architectural office we had 11 x 17 size drawings which we had to fold to fit the 8 x 11 three ring binders.  Not any more.  There is a line geared towards the architect or any one in need of this size and proportion.  The name comes from binders that are not wrapped in plastic or cloth or leather.  It is made of recycled material which I really like.  The covers look like the chip boards architects and designers use to make building models from.  It is also raw surface for kids to draw on and personalize.  I also like the design of wrapping to caress the three metal rings.  It can still received the labels and seems to be nicer on backpacks (without the sharp corners).

 

http://twitter.com/nakedbinder

Chelsea Gallery Second Life.

Postcard from Second Life.

Originally uploaded by Duc N. Ly.

I think showing in Second Life is a whole new experience because I can meet people and view the work together instead of just the one reception night on Real Life Galleries. I also like showing my friends work this way.

 

 

http://virtualhotelchelsea.blogspot.com/2009/08/art-by-any-other-name-is-still-art-aka.html

The Rabbicorn story

The Rabbicorn story

Originally uploaded by Bryn Oh.

 

Here’s some photos from  the IBM installation by Bryn Oh.

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryn_oh/sets/72157621938175226/

Bryn Oh

Couple nights ago, Austin Ellison invited Maddie and I into Bryn Oh’s installation in Second Life (SL).  IBM approached her (Bryn Oh) to install the narative piece.  I have formed some sensations about it and want to share them here.  The narrative is similar to a hyper text of the internet.  In Second Life, the link is call a teleport.  Usually these orbs are circular spheres of a garish color.  Oh’s teleport orb are sparkly filaments, the the ass of a firefly.  I find all of the tones muted and easay on the eyes.  I had a chat with her last night about some of her work.  She has a theory about immersive art and environment which is intriquing.  Her believe is that SL allows one to enter into a painting and controls the perspective as to have an other body experience.  She likes to execute the concept according to the medium.  For those who are not in SL, you can google her work and read about the process of constructing the work and how her work has evolved.  It’s impressive because it seems to combine all of the discipline of art: installation, video, performance, painting, music, book, poems, writen words into an imaginative narrative.

Here’s our unedited conversation:

[2009/08/03 18:15]  Bryn Oh: (Saved Mon Aug  3 17:10:49 2009) why not?

[2009/08/03 18:16]  Ducce Lykin: thought u were busy.

[2009/08/03 23:03]  Ducce Lykin: are you intsalling?

[2009/08/03 23:04]  Bryn Oh: just chatting

[2009/08/03 23:04]  Ducce Lykin: cool

[2009/08/03 23:04]  Ducce Lykin: so it took u long time to build?

[2009/08/03 23:04]  Ducce Lykin: to learn i mean

[2009/08/03 23:08]  Bryn Oh: well i began in my first week

[2009/08/03 23:08]  Bryn Oh: and i guess 6 months

[2009/08/03 23:08]  Bryn Oh: but it is the way to go

[2009/08/03 23:08]  Bryn Oh: from an art perspective

[2009/08/03 23:08]  Bryn Oh: if thats your interest

[2009/08/03 23:08]  Ducce Lykin: has any one done an interview with you for a blog?…

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Ducce Lykin: yeah that’s my interest

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Bryn Oh: sure tons

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Ducce Lykin: how did u find out about sl

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Ducce Lykin: oh okay then i won’t do one lol

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Bryn Oh: lol

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Bryn Oh: well think of it this way ducce

[2009/08/03 23:09]  Bryn Oh: in 5 years what will this medium be remember for?

[2009/08/03 23:10]  Bryn Oh: it wont be remembered for jpegs on a prim

[2009/08/03 23:10]  Bryn Oh: but for other things

[2009/08/03 23:10]  Bryn Oh: think of it as a medium

[2009/08/03 23:10]  Bryn Oh: what are its strengths

[2009/08/03 23:10]  Ducce Lykin: yeah true

[2009/08/03 23:11]  Ducce Lykin: what do u think is the strengths

[2009/08/03 23:11]  Bryn Oh: well for me i am in a movement i call Immersiva

[2009/08/03 23:11]  Bryn Oh: its where you draw ones attention away from rl

[2009/08/03 23:11]  Bryn Oh: completely

[2009/08/03 23:12]  Bryn Oh: but it will be far more than this

[2009/08/03 23:12]  Bryn Oh: as time goes on

[2009/08/03 23:12]  Bryn Oh: so for example

[2009/08/03 23:12]  Bryn Oh: i am a painter in rl

[2009/08/03 23:12]  Bryn Oh: my work is a 2d image on a wall

[2009/08/03 23:12]  Bryn Oh: and people look at it and in some cases can be drawn into it

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: but sl is a painting you can go inside

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: and explore

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Ducce Lykin: aha yes

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Ducce Lykin: nice idea

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: the problem is

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: our peripheral vision

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: we see past the outside of our screen

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: and see things which draw us back into rl

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: such as a bill on the desk

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: or perhaps the phone rings

[2009/08/03 23:13]  Bryn Oh: etc

[2009/08/03 23:14]  Bryn Oh: they break immersion

[2009/08/03 23:14]  Bryn Oh: what i will do one day

[2009/08/03 23:14]  Bryn Oh: is to custom build someones fantasy

[2009/08/03 23:14]  Bryn Oh: perhaps their favorite place

[2009/08/03 23:14]  Bryn Oh: a beach.. their grandmothers home etc

[2009/08/03 23:15]  Bryn Oh: and when they come home from work all exhausted

[2009/08/03 23:15]  Bryn Oh: they can plug into this custom paradise

[2009/08/03 23:15]  Bryn Oh: with rl friends or with generated ones

[2009/08/03 23:15]  Bryn Oh: a custom lover perhaps

[2009/08/03 23:15]  Bryn Oh: who is exactly what they find attractive

[2009/08/03 23:15]  Bryn Oh: etc

[2009/08/03 23:16]  Ducce Lykin: interesting

[2009/08/03 23:16]  Bryn Oh: this is what the medium can do

[2009/08/03 23:16]  Bryn Oh: eventually

[2009/08/03 23:18]  Ducce Lykin: how did u find out about sl?

[2009/08/03 23:19]  Bryn Oh: i read an article about a man who spent all his money on a condo in a place called second life… i had to see this for myself.

[2009/08/03 23:19]  Ducce Lykin: hehe

[2009/08/03 23:20]  Ducce Lykin: and u got immersed

[2009/08/03 23:20]  Ducce Lykin: so painting is dead

[2009/08/03 23:20]  Ducce Lykin: how do u get ur muted tones?

[2009/08/03 23:24]  Bryn Oh: painting is not dead

[2009/08/03 23:25]  Bryn Oh: its just not the best use of sl

[2009/08/03 23:25]  Bryn Oh: what does it do here?

[2009/08/03 23:25]  Bryn Oh: a jpeg is a very very poor substitute for a painting

[2009/08/03 23:25]  Bryn Oh: and it uses none of the tools sl gives us

[2009/08/03 23:26]  Ducce Lykin: aha right

[2009/08/03 23:26]  Ducce Lykin: what’s ur opinion on sculpties?

[2009/08/03 23:27]  Bryn Oh: i dont use them but I appreciate them.  I was trained in softimage.

[2009/08/03 23:27]  Ducce Lykin: what is softimage?

[2009/08/03 23:27]  Bryn Oh: i thought you were not doing a blog post

[2009/08/03 23:28]  Ducce Lykin: lol

[2009/08/03 23:28]  Ducce Lykin: just chatting

[2009/08/03 23:28]  Ducce Lykin: how do i access saved chats?

[2009/08/03 23:28]  Bryn Oh: i am not sure

[2009/08/03 23:28]  Bryn Oh: i have not tried to do that before

[2009/08/03 23:30]  Ducce Lykin: i found it

[2009/08/03 23:31]  Bryn Oh: you are part of the long now foundation?

[2009/08/03 23:31]  Ducce Lykin: yes

[2009/08/03 23:31]  Bryn Oh: is that how you found me?

[2009/08/03 23:31]  Ducce Lykin: i blog post the entire interview with andrew

[2009/08/03 23:31]  Ducce Lykin: i found you through austin ellison

[2009/08/03 23:32]  Ducce Lykin: i used to film me dancing on blip.tv hehe

[2009/08/03 23:33]  Ducce Lykin: that was my machina practice

[2009/08/03 23:33]  Bryn Oh: ah yes i remember austin

[2009/08/03 23:34]  Ducce Lykin: good

[2009/08/03 23:35]  Ducce Lykin: do u see sl as an artist residency>?

[2009/08/03 23:35]  Bryn Oh: i think artists stay

[2009/08/03 23:35]  Bryn Oh: many come here but artists stay

[2009/08/03 23:38]  Ducce Lykin: hehe

[2009/08/03 23:38]  Ducce Lykin: there have been some article on artnews

[2009/08/03 23:38]  Ducce Lykin: but i was disppointed in them

[2009/08/03 23:39]  Ducce Lykin: i think ur work is more powerful then their conceptual sexual things

[2009/08/03 23:39]  Bryn Oh: which article?

[2009/08/03 23:40]  Bryn Oh: i dont know them

[2009/08/03 23:41]  Ducce Lykin: i can’t  remember

[2009/08/03 23:42]  Ducce Lykin: but their art was reallly terrible that i saw

[2009/08/03 23:42]  Ducce Lykin: just suxed…i can’t believe it was in artnews

[2009/08/03 23:42]  Ducce Lykin: but at least art news give sl a nod

[2009/08/03 23:43]  Bryn Oh: oh filthy fluno?

[2009/08/03 23:43]  Bryn Oh: oh that was ny times

[2009/08/03 23:43]  Ducce Lykin: there was on in artnews too

[2009/08/03 23:43]  Bryn Oh: well i am not sure the article you mean or the artist

[2009/08/03 23:43]  Bryn Oh: but rl publications

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Bryn Oh: they dont understand sl yet

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Ducce Lykin: yeah?

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Bryn Oh: so when a rl reporter comes into sl

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Bryn Oh: who doenst normally come here

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Ducce Lykin: i know i think we understand them better and bloggers do a better job lol

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Bryn Oh: they try to link rl art to what is happening

[2009/08/03 23:44]  Bryn Oh: they do

[2009/08/03 23:45]  Ducce Lykin: right and they don’t think ahead.

[2009/08/03 23:45]  Bryn Oh: they dont yet see it as its own medium

[2009/08/03 23:45]  Bryn Oh: they see it as a means to market rl art

[2009/08/03 23:46]  Bryn Oh: but its value is far greater than that

[2009/08/03 23:46]  Bryn Oh: here look at this…

[2009/08/03 23:46]  Bryn Oh: and think of the technology

[2009/08/03 23:46]  Bryn Oh: and then place milo in sl

[2009/08/03 23:47]  Bryn Oh: http://brynoh.blogspot.com/2009/06/milo.html

[2009/08/03 23:47]  Ducce Lykin: but not all of us are as good as u to build lol

[2009/08/03 23:47]  Bryn Oh: it takes work just as any other medium does

[2009/08/03 23:47]  Bryn Oh: and commitment

[2009/08/03 23:48]  Bryn Oh: and there are many works in sl that dont rely on technical skill

[2009/08/03 23:48]  Bryn Oh: but on concept

[2009/08/03 23:48]  Ducce Lykin: really wow

[2009/08/03 23:48]  Ducce Lykin: i’ll have to find that

[2009/08/03 23:50]  Ducce Lykin: so do u get sponsor ship to build

[2009/08/03 23:50]  Ducce Lykin: because the land is expensive

[2009/08/03 23:51]  Bryn Oh: yes immersiva was given to me by dusan writer

[2009/08/03 23:51]  Bryn Oh: pathfinder linden gave me a place for my helen keller build

[2009/08/03 23:51]  Bryn Oh: which is permanent

[2009/08/03 23:51]  Bryn Oh: IBM gave me a sim temporarily for the Rabbicorn story

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Bryn Oh: IBM actually are becoming interested in sl art

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Ducce Lykin: so if it’s taken down it is destoyed?

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Bryn Oh: no its in my inventory

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Ducce Lykin: i hope so

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Ducce Lykin: ur inventory must be massive

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Bryn Oh: you can now bring them out of sl too

[2009/08/03 23:52]  Bryn Oh: and into open sim

[2009/08/03 23:53]  Bryn Oh: its pretty big yes lol

[2009/08/03 23:54]  Ducce Lykin: omg but still it’s the work installing it

[2009/08/03 23:54]  Bryn Oh: yes the rabbicorn story took a month

[2009/08/03 23:54]  Ducce Lykin: have u thought of making a book out of it?

[2009/08/03 23:54]  Ducce Lykin: did ibm come to u?

[2009/08/03 23:54]  Bryn Oh: yes that is the plan

[2009/08/03 23:54]  Bryn Oh: yes IBM offered the space

[2009/08/03 23:55]  Ducce Lykin: wow they hear alot about u nice

[2009/08/03 23:56]  Ducce Lykin: wow a book

[2009/08/03 23:56]  Ducce Lykin: here i am making book on blurb

[2009/08/03 23:56]  Bryn Oh: on what?

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Ducce Lykin: my photographs

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Ducce Lykin: and nine paintings

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Bryn Oh: nice

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Bryn Oh: but have not used it yet

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Bryn Oh: i have that downloaded

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Ducce Lykin: i see

[2009/08/03 23:57]  Ducce Lykin: u’ll like it

[2009/08/03 23:58]  Ducce Lykin: i been thinking about building architecture..

[2009/08/03 23:58]  Ducce Lykin: that’s my degree

[2009/08/03 23:58]  Ducce Lykin: to do something in sl with archit

[2009/08/03 23:59]  Bryn Oh: oh well then you need to meet the sl architects

[2009/08/03 23:59]  Bryn Oh: scope cleaver

[2009/08/03 23:59]  Bryn Oh: db bailey

[2009/08/03 23:59]  Bryn Oh: keystone bouchard

[2009/08/03 23:59]  Bryn Oh: those are the top ones

[2009/08/04 0:00]  Ducce Lykin: okay thanks

[2009/08/04 0:00]  Ducce Lykin: i do autocad

[2009/08/04 0:01]  Ducce Lykin: they are too good

[2009/08/04 0:01]  Ducce Lykin: i’m just begining

[2009/08/04 0:03]  Ducce Lykin: geee

[2009/08/04 0:05]  Bryn Oh: you just need to practice

[2009/08/04 0:05]  Bryn Oh: thats all it is

[2009/08/04 0:05]  Ducce Lykin: true true

[2009/08/04 0:06]  Ducce Lykin: but u must have a concept before the execution no?

[2009/08/04 0:06]  Ducce Lykin: how did u do it?

[2009/08/04 0:06]  Bryn Oh: well i am always full of stories and ideas

[2009/08/04 0:07]  Bryn Oh: so i try to make the stories into poems

[2009/08/04 0:07]  Bryn Oh: then i build them

[2009/08/04 0:07]  Bryn Oh: and film

[2009/08/04 0:08]  Ducce Lykin: wow

[2009/08/04 0:08]  Ducce Lykin: patients

[2009/08/04 0:08]  Ducce Lykin: i need to find a natural way in

[2009/08/04 0:09]  Bryn Oh: i need to go to bed

[2009/08/04 0:09]  Bryn Oh: its late here

[2009/08/04 0:09]  Ducce Lykin: okay thanks for chat

[2009/08/04 0:10]  Bryn Oh: bye ducce

[2009/08/04 0:10]  Ducce Lykin: bye for now

Making a Blurb book

I got the copy and I was surprised at the quality of the book.  It’s high quality paper and binding makes it a gem.  You should make one yourself. I want to make a few more. The Next one is a paper back. The paper back is cheaper and for my thin book it makes sense to do it.  However, I choose to do the biggest size Blurb has and that’s not available in paper back. I need a faster computer so the work is not so labored but I find it good to have the time to think about what I’m doing too. I’m still getting a hang of it. It’s not the best program to make book because I can’t learn how to direct the program to look for it on my portable drive etc. I change location of where the book is to be saved too often.  It would be nice to convert quickly different versions of the book.  For example, I would like to convert my hard back to paper back quickly with one push of the button.  This is not to be so easy.  I would have to re-assemble the whole book again.  These are just some of the notes I thought about as I made this book.