An example of colour correction

Since this seems to be a topic of interest, I thought I'd post an example of some colour correction that I was working with earlier. I am by no means proficient at this, seeing as photo correction is almost an art form all by itself, but I was able to drastically improve one of my pictures in a few minutes. Here's the original photograph:


And here's the image post-adjustment:


The colours are a whole lot better in the second image, and it's closer to the tones that you'd actually see in real life. Since cameras can't always get colours 100% correctly, colour adjustment is one way to make your images look a lot better. Hopefully, I'll get better at this, I'm sure I could've done a much better job.

Another HDR image...

Here's a picture that I took while in Fredericksburg last night...

And this is the original image, without the HDR technique...

I've also been trying out colour correction on the pictures I've been taking. It really makes a difference... Of course, it takes practice to make the photos look completely natural, but I'm working on it.

"...and then I remembered that I'm a genius."

A YouTube comment, left on a video about Father's Day, written on Father's Day: 

"Lol nice, But fathers day insant until September :s"

WHAAAAA?

"I turn my camera on..."

I have discovered yet another sort of digital medium for me to delve into, and that is High Dynamic Range(HDR) photography. HDR is a technique which uses multiple images, all taken with different exposure levels. These images are then combined into a single image. The resulting photo has a higher level of detail, a greater variety of light, and it closer to what the human eye can perceive. It's really quite fascinating. At any rate, I've been experimenting with this technique. Our camera is by no means professional quality, it's just a simple Sony point and shoot model, but I've been able to get some pretty good results.

Here's one of the more interesting ones. It's just a view down my street...


I like the effect that you can get with the HDR, I was able to achieve a surreal, almost painting-like quality with this photo. Of course, HDR can also produce very detailed, natural looking images as well. It's really good for landscapes and wide panoramic shots. I plan to continue messing around with this, so I should have some more shots to post later on.

"Some kind of employment..."

Well, good news. I have at last procured a job. It took me long enough. I'll be doing more or less the same sort of work I was before, bussing, running and the like. I might also get the chance to do some hosting as well, so that might be cool. The work atmosphere seems relatively laid-back and relaxed, so hopefully it won't be overly stressful. Also, the manager I spoke with seems willing to work with my schedule for the show, so that's a plus, too. I'm scheduled to go in for orientation next Wednesday, so I'll probably have more information then. I've got to get certified by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, but that shouldn't be too much trouble, since I can get it done online. More details as things develop. I'm just glad to be employed again...

I give up.

Well, this is the end, folks. Hillary Clinton is out, Barack is in. I've already presented my views on Obama, so if you'd like to revisit that, see this post. I'm not terribly optimistic about the political future of America. I'd like to say that I could just shut my eyes for the next 4 years, but that's really not going to happen. So, I give up, I really don't have much more to say about that situation. Although, I'm certain I'll go back in my word here in a few months when the campaign starts to heat back up.

On a side note, I absolutely despise modernity and all of the worthless ideologies that have crept into our thinking because of it. Most of the time, we don't even realise exactly how much post-modernism has changed the world, our society and the way we think. 

I think it's safe to say that I am becoming an amateur videographer. My camcorder and my MacBook make me a travelling movie studio. I really enjoy taking footage, editing it and producing a final product, it's really fun. I imagine this will become an even bigger hobby as I get better at it. Fun, eh?

Right to Life, Right to Multiply...

I found this article via my BBC world news RSS feed. It's absolutely atrocious. Here's the article. Basically, the Chinese government has carried out sterilisation operations on their citizens as a part of their one child per family policy. I don't know how mandatory these procedures were, but they are obviously sanctioned and executed by the government. Now, since so many of these families who fell victim to this earthquake have lost their only child(approx. 7,000 children were killed), the government is going to graciously send medical teams to reverse the sterilisation so that these families can replace their lost child. 

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Zhang Shikun, director of the science and technology bureau of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, said: 'The team, comprised of experts on child-bearing, will conduct surgery in the quake-hit areas to provide technological support for those wanting to give birth to another [child].'"

Technological support? Is that what they're calling this? This is human life that you're playing with, not some piece of machinery. 

God has decided to build his church upon the continent of Asia, where there is a great concentration of pain and oppression. The gospel is growing exponentially in Asia, despite the animosity of communist governments. Praise God that Christ is flourishing in that part of the world. 

Pastor of Muppets

I've got another post topic, but I didn't really feel like going back and putting it into the other post, so this'll be a quick one.

I was listening to the radio the other night, when "Master of Puppets" by Metallica came on. If you know anything about my taste in music, metal is not on good terms with me and I usually despise it in all its forms. But I was struck by the fact that this particular song is actually an effective portrait of what sin does to a person. Now, I do not think that this interpretation was intended by the members of Metallica, but I gained a new appreciation of this song after viewing it in that light. It's a good reminder of what I've been saved from, regardless of the intentions of the song's authors.

"End of passion play, crumbling away,
I'm your source of self-destruction.
Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear,
Leading on your death's construction.

Taste me, you will see,
More is all you need.
You're dedicated to
How I'm killing you.

Come crawling faster,
Obey your master.
Your life burns faster,
Obey your master,
Master.

Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings.
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams.
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing.
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream,
Master, master.
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream,
Master, master.

Needlework the way, never you betray,
Life of death becoming clearer.
Pain monopoly, ritual misery,
Chop your breakfast on a mirror.

Taste me you will see,
More is all you need.
You're dedicated to
How I'm killing you.

Come crawling faster,
Obey your master.
Your life burns faster,
Obey your master,
Master.

Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings.
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams.
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing.
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream,
Master, master.
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream,
Master, master.

Master, master,
Where's the dreams that I've been after?
Master, master,
You promised only lies.
Laughter, laughter,
All I hear and see is laughter.
Laughter, laughter,
Laughing at my cries.
Fix me.

Hell is worth all that, natural habitat,
Just a rhyme without a reason.
Never-ending maze, drift on numbered days,
Now your life is out of season.

I will occupy,
I will help you die,
I will run through you,
Now I rule you, too.


Come crawling faster,
Obey your master.
Your life burns faster,
Obey your master.
Master.

Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings.
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams.
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing.
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream,
Master, master.
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream,
Master, master."

"We don't got the news..."

It occurred to me just now that I don't pay enough attention to the news. Being the quasi-intelligent, contemplative man that I am, I should probably be more informed about the world at large. The selection of new downloads on the Apple website does not really count as news, I've found.

I found something that could come in handy. After reading Cassidy's article in "This Week" at church, I decided it might be useful to have a copy of the Book of Common Prayer. So, I went and I found a PDF version of the 1662 edition of the BCP. To a history buff such as myself, this was a pretty cool find. It can be found here, simply click on the picture to the right to download. The psalms are divided up quite nicely into morning and evening prayer, so perhaps this will serve as a vehicle for a more prayerful existence. Everyone could stand to pray more, right?

I've resolved to start using my Moleskine again. It fell into deep disuse when my schedule all but disappeared after the first semester of the school year. But now with rehearsals and such for the musical, it may become necessary to impose order once again. Besides, if/when I start working(the future of Andrew as a working man is still very much in doubt, much to my chagrin), I'll need to coordinate shifts and such, so it will perhaps become more useful. Not to mention next semester. I am sure I'll be kept busy at university, a concept which makes me tired at the mere thought. 

My YouTube video on English Accents keeps getting more and more views. It was at 443 last time I checked. That's the most views I've ever gotten on anything, so that's cool, I guess. According to YouTube demographics, the viewership of that video is 68% female. It's gotta be the hat.

Bono is an Evil Bastard

Here's something amusing that I found:

I knew Bono held a lot of influence, but I didn't think he had *that* much power.