Focus Testing - photo.net

Is auto-focus a real problem? I’m not sure, but I have an XSi which seems to work pretty well. A friend has a D90 and some of the shots taken with his camera (on auto-focus) look blurry. Maybe it’s time to try the steps laid out in Photo.Net’s Focus Testing article. Or even try AutoFocuX???

World Wide Photo Walk: Maybe next year

I’m bummed – I won’t be able to make the WorldWidePhotoWalk this weekend in Annapolis –see 27,000 photographers to “walk” this weekend - Technology Live - USATODAY.com for more info. Looks like a blast! I’ve passed this on to a friend, hoping he’ll get some good pictures of downtown and the Academy. Forecast looks pretty good (if you like heat ;) too.

Jason Bell | Photographer

Through an article on Smashing Magazine’s website, I found a link to Jason Bell’s website: http://www.jasonbellphoto.com/. I’m still a real beginner with photography and recognizing photographers' names, but I really enjoy Jason’s work. Check out his website to see portraits and landscapes, all well done and very attractive. Although I’m not myself keen on portrait work, his is what I would like to emulate.

NYT Magazine Withdraws Altered Photo Essay [PDNPulse]

PDN Pulse published a report that the New York Times Magazine Withdraws Altered Photo Essay after finding several indications that the photographs had been digitally altered. MetaFilter also published an animated graphic showing how one photo was too perfectly symmetrical. The NYTimes has even published an article describing the manipulation and clarifying why the essay was withdrawn (correcting the introduction to the photo essay which asserted that the photographer “creates his images with long exposures but without digital manipulation.

Infographic: History of the American Flag

Mike Wirth has posted a beautiful infographic on the history of the American Flag – how it became what it is today, complete with colonies for the red and white stripes and states for each of the stars. Fantastic, and just in time for July 4th! [Thanks to CoolInfoGraphics for the link!]

Glastonbury 2009 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Glastonbury 2009 - The Big Picture - Boston.com – Stunning images from Glastonbury this year. My favorite has to be the second (above) – almost magical in its appearance.

Jackson’s Billboard Rankings Over Time - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com

The team (including Amanda Cox) at NYTimes.com has done it again: a clear and engaging info graphic showing [Michael] Jackson’s Billboard Rankings Over Time. Whatever you think of his music, the data are pretty engaging.

LOESS in Excel: Big deal?

While I’m no statistician, I’ve enjoyed dabbling in R and appreciate its simplicity and power. Take the LOESS function, for example. It’s built in to R. Excel needs a plug-in. Wow. Gotta love R. Used to love Excel, then I grew up (just a little :)

What happened to #80?

What happened at LeMans to the Flying Lizards #80? Around hour 15, the car crashed into the wall but details are scant – even the Lizards' own website has precious few details. Anyone? Ferris?

Running the Numbers II by Chris Jordan

Shark Teeth, 2009 by Chris Jordan. Chris Jordan reveals a new perspective of scale in his Running the Numbers II art online. Subtitled Portraits of global mass culture, the pieces depict the scale of our world around us – and how we mistreat it. Take a look, making sure to look at the zoom/detailed samples.