Sweet shop
Photoshop CS4 has been announced and it looks as though there are some major improvements in the interface, particularly in the way layers can be used. Masking has major improvements too.
In the extended version there is a facility to make 360 degree blends, but looking at the results on the Adobe website, it doesn’t look much to write home about.
There are a couple of very nice introductory videos on the Adobe tv site
These are worth watching just to see how well it is possible to produce a training video!
Spice store
I hate fluorescent lights. This shot should work brilliantly in colour, but try as I might I cannot get a decent white balance. I have resorted to a black and white version. The old man in the photo welcomed me with open arms, all but pushing me into the shop so that I could take this shot. He was tiny, spoke little English and was determined to feed me with nuts.
Talking of nuts … I decided to make a chicken cashew curry this afternoon. The recipe, from my new book – India’s 500 best recipes – suggested chopping the onions into quarters and putting them into a food processor to puree. This I tried to do. The blades span frantically, grazing the surface of the onions but otherwise leaving them unscathed. Usually, I prefer to use my pestle and mortar to beat things into submission, but today I was following the recipe to the letter. I decided to poke the onions into the blender with a wooden spoon. This worked well until I poked just a little too far. There was a loud noise. I am trying to think what it sounded like, but the large globs of onion and tomato puree that exploded into the kitchen, covering my face and the ceiling in equal measures, clouded my powers of observation. Twice.
On the way to Bahrain I stopped to help an old Saudi gentleman whose car was broken down in the middle of the road. He had the bonnet up and a pair of ancient jump leads attached to his battery. I opened my boot. Not sure why, as there is no battery in there, just old magazines and a few climbing holds. Returning to the right end of the car, I popped the hood (what a wonderful language American is) to reveal an engine so covered in dust we had trouble in finding the battery. Nor would the jump leads work, partly because there was only one clip and a bunch of tangled wires. Nothing to do with the filthy state of my engine of course.
Glad I don’t live in an appartment.
Hong Kong architecture by Michael Wolf. Wolf has some interesting projects on the go, including Transparent City.
Gold souk, Manama, Bahrain
A series of nine 360 degree panoramas of Manama Souk in Bahrain. Link
Police harassment of journalists in the UK
A short video on the issue of civil liberties and police surveillance and harassment of working journalists in the UK. Link
Bahrain & Manama
I spent an hour in Bahrain yesterday evening. When my internet connection is working again I will post them. This post comes to you thanks to the Gulf Terrace Hotel in Al Khobar.
I have no idea why my inernet isn’t working. Perhaps the system is overloaded with so many people on holiday at the moment.
Match colour in Photoshop
I have just discovered ‘match colour’ in Photoshop. Why didn’t I find this before?
Eastern Cement Towers
Eastern Cement Towers, originally uploaded by nick_hardcastle.
I drive past these beautiful towers every evening. The way Al Khobar is developing at the moment, I don’t think it will be very long before they lose their splendid isolation.
I wonder if photography is still illegal in Saudi Arabia? When I first flew into the country 9 years ago, the flight attendant read out a message to say that drugs, alcohol and photography were illegal in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. That same year I applied for a permit to take photographs on the street. It was granted, but the conditions were so restrictive I never used it. I had to say when, exactly, and where I was going to take photographs. An explanation of why the photographs were to be taken and how they were going to be used also had to be submitted in writing – each time I went out to shoot. In addition, I had to have a Saudi assistant with me at all times to explain what I was doing, just in case somebody asked.
I think the conditions have improved somewhat, but as I set up my tripod to take this shot, my heart was thumping in my ears and I was scanning the horizon for police cars and angry security guards carrying machine guns.
The light at 5.30 pm is beautiful at this time of year. Even the beat up Toyota Echo looks almost good.
The 360 degree QTVR movie is here http://www.hobnail.com/Pano/Easterncementtowers.html
Current mood
I did a favour for someone the other day. It took several hours. They didn’t even say thank you. This pretty much sums up what I think about it.
