3D

While I am getting a drawing ready for Mr. Thomas,I thought I'd post these for you to enjoy. Click on them to make them bigger.



One of my hobbies is 3D photography, including collecting View-Master® reels. I especially love images like these that were made with real sculptures rather than drawings. They really created a magic little world with these. It reminds me of the window displays they use to put up along Main Street in the Disney parks.

I was able to get these images by using a macro lens. They're not great, but they'll suit my purposes. To view them in stereo, you will have to use the "cross-eyed" method. That is, cross your eyes until you can see three images instead of just two. Then the center image, should pop out in 3D. It takes some practice if you've never done it before.

I've taken a bunch of 3D photos myself. Maybe I'll post some of them eventually. To take 3D photos, I have a Russian Sputnik, the Czechloslovakian Meopta as well as mounting two disposable cameras side by side.

Contest Winner

WOW! That was fast. Eric S. Thomas of Orlando, FL figured it out. I shoulda known somebody familiar with theme parks would nail it. (Eric designs rides and attractions for Universal)
Yes, my photos were taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom, in the Asian section of the park. Here is the Google Earth view:

If you click on the camera icon, you will find that somebody else also found this a photographic opportunity:

I was looking forward to dropping hints over the next few days. I was going to mention that if you look closely, you will see that the Coca-cola case is screwed to the crate it sits on (click on the photo. It's pretty high resolution.)
My friend and co-worker, Neil Gowan, was already translating the text online to find out what country it was located in. He figured it was in Malaysia. I didn't reveal to him that I have never been off this continent... that would have been a later hint.

Next time I do a treasure hunt, I will make it harder. Thanx for playing everybody. And, Eric, I will send a drawing soon. I'll post it here first.

Contest!!

I took these two photos a few years ago. Though rather commercial looking, I rather liked them. I ran across them recently and decided to have a contest to see if anyone could locate where they were taken. The first person who identifies where these photos were taken, within a 5 mile radius, will win a prize... probably a drawing by me.
Both photos were taken within a few feet of each other.


Here are the rules:
1. All rules are subject to change at my discretion, but I will be fair.
2. Contest will last until somebody wins, or I get tired of waiting and proclaim a winner.
3. Contest is open world-wide... but mailing a drawing might get tricky with international postage and all. If the winner is outside the U.S., please be patient.
4. All entries must be posted here or by email to me. You must identify as near to the exact location as possible, either by name, GPS position, Google Earth image or other cool means. The correct answer must be within five miles of the location where I took these photos! Guesses containing only continents, countries or cities will be disqualified.
5. I will drop hints from time to time in the comments, so stay tuned.
6. You may ask questions.

I think that's all. If I come up with a new rule, I will edit the post.

Have fun!

Another Church Doodle

Yesterday I caught our worship leader in action. I was on the back row, so I knew nobody was watching over my shoulder.

I emailed him a copy. He liked it.

Pirate Storyboards

I risked the wrath of Universal and went ahead and posted a couple of drawings... kinda.
I snagged some frames from the trailer, then tracked down the corresponding drawings I did. Just to make sure that they don't find their way around the internet, I put watermarks on them and made them teeny tiny inserts.
As the release date gets closer, I will feel more at ease to show more. But publicity is somebody else's department, and I don't want to jump their gun.

Ratat-Oh Yeah!

Mild Spoilers... read at your own risk.

Well, I took the family to go see "Ratatouille" yesterday. Great film! Made me very hungry... like watching Big Night, or Babette's Feast.
The animation was absolutely incredible!! I love all the subtleties, like when a character would touch his nose while talking and how malleable the flesh was. Or when Linguini was asleep against a mop handle, how his face was all stretched and contorted. Pixar has taken CG to the next level once again.
But I have to say, I loved the label near the end of the credits: A guarantee that the film was 100% animated - no motion control was used! That's what it's all about baby.
I must confess, though, that the story didn't grab me the way The Incredibles or the Toy Story films did. So if I gave those films and A+, this one gets an A- (for story). I know when a film is great, because I find myself buying another ticket to see it again and/or find myself very jealous that I didn't work on it. Well, I've got the jealousy part down. I'll wait and see if I pony up another six bucks next weekend. Gotta get the Art Of book now!
I was trying to remember the last time a character got drunk in a Disney Film.... Dumbo? Pretty bold move on Pixar's part, eh?

Oh... and be sure to keep an eye out for Bomb Voyage!