Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Mavik

Shootfest 2009

Mavik — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:41:02 +0800

Hi everyone,

Would like to announce an upcoming event on the 6th and 7th of June 2009 called Shootfest which is an unconference.

What in the world is an unconference?

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Basically its a conference that is participant driven.

A little bit info about Shootfest 2009

ShootFest 001 Unconference Overview

QUOTE

What on earth is an unconference? And what’s this ShootFest about?

These are most likely the first 2 questions on your mind. An unconference is an informal gathering of likeminded people with a common interest. It’s a participant-driven conference, meaning everyone must participate in some way or another. We encourage everyone to present a topic or engage in a discussion during the 2-day sessions.

Each ShootFest is a media unconference primarily for photographers and videographers. This first one that is organised is themed The Wedding and is meant for professionals, freelancers and anyone interested in wedding photography and videography.

The benefits of ShootFests are knowledge-sharing, networking and raising the bar for the industry. If you feel you don’t want to share any of your kung-fu, then the unconference is probably not for you. We want to breed improvement for everyone, and need you to share your thoughts too.

When, Where, What???

Date: 6th & 7th June 2009 (Saturday & Sunday). We start at 10am. Register at 9am on Saturday.

Venue: Integricity office, Centrepoint Bandar Utama

Dress code: Casual. Do bring a jacket or scarf if you’re prone to get cold in air-conditioned spaces

Fees: RM50. And you’ll get a limited edition, never-printed-before T-shirt!

What should I bring?

* A water bottle. We are going green, and will not be providing paper or plastic cups.
* Name tag from a previous conference or talk. If you REALLY don’t have one, we’ll provide you with one.
* Notebook, if you have one.
* If speaking, bring the necessary VGA connector to hook up your notebook to the projector.
* Equipment (camera, camcorder - do take care of your own equipment, we will not be held liable for anything whatsoever)
* Namecards, bringing more is better than less.

FAQs

* Yes, wifi will be provided free.
* We are opening the conference to 80 participants.
* Lunches and dinners will be at your own expense. Light refreshments will be provided.
* We want to save the environment, and as such notes from sessions will not be printed. Slides will be uploaded online.
* If you’re coming from overseas and need accommodation, let us know, we’ll try to place you with someone (yes, someone nice).

Tagging

To reference anything about the ShootFest, we suggest we standardize and use ShootFest to tag content on Flickr, Slideshare, Facebook. For Twitter, do use the hashtag #ShootFest.

For more information, check out this site.
http://shootfest.org/

If any of this doesn't provide enough information or if you still don't get what it means, do drop me a PM and I will be more than happy to help explain

Remember this is open to anyone who is either interested in wedding photography/videography, already an active freelancer or professionals, its open to all who are interested and who want to learn, network and just have fun!

Perth Australia

Mavik — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:13:13 +0800

Some shots I took at my recent trip to Perth.

More shots at my Flickr set

Swimsuit Photography

Mavik — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:36:10 +0800

QUOTE

Swimsuit Photography is a unique yet challenging branch of modeling photography. While it may seem simple to the uninitiated, but to produce professionally stunning photos of these beautiful models in bright sunlight and during sunset, nothing is simple.

Just a heads up for those Nikon users who are interested in participating in a swimsuit photography session/workshop this coming Sunday.

COURSE INFO:
VENUE: an infinity swimming pool in KL
(exact location to be confirmed by early April)

DATE: 13th April 2008 (Sunday)
TIME: 3pm to 8pm (5 hours)
MODELS: 4 professional swimsuit & bikini models

For more detailed information, check out this site.
http://www.nikonian.com.my/default.asp?contentID=637

To sign up, go to the site below.
http://www.nikonian.com.my/default.asp?contentID=530

Wish I was around this weekend to attend the workshop

Anyone read this month's DCM?

Mavik — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:06:08 +0800

If you have this month's edition of DCM, check out the "Letter's to editor" section.

It was a letter between Yvonne and the Editor.

Editor's explanation here.
http://www.velocity-media.net/forums...dpost&p=394114

What are your thoughts and opinions?

No flaming of anyone or any party and no fan-boyism.

Let's keep this a clean and open-minded discussion here.

Closed

Mavik — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:03:31 +0800

Closed as space was taken up

Adobe Lightroom

Mavik — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:37:58 +0800

Hi everyone,

Anyone here knows where I can get Adobe Lightroom for Mac? I find a lot of PC versions but I want to get one for Mac.

I am open to ALL "options" if you know what I mean

Adobe Lightroom

Mavik — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:35:45 +0800

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know where I can get the Adobe Lightroom Mac version? There are plenty of PC versions out there but I can't seem to find the Mac version.

Is it true?

Mavik — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:54:11 +0800

I was browsing through this site (http://www.applemalaysia.com.my/ - click on the Macbook Pro link) and at the bottom the advert says MacBook Pro starting at RM5799. Any retail shops selling the lowest spec MBP at that price?

Apple MacBook

Mavik — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:48:40 +0800

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question if anyone had any problems using Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Lightroom on their Macbook? Currently my budget is only around less than RM5k so I am thinking of getting either a Macbook or a Dell XPS (both around the same price).

Also anyone know when the new Penrynn Processor Macbooks are arriving in Malaysia?

Some photos to share

Mavik — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:57:11 +0800

An afternoon with Nadia somewhere in Bukit Jalil. C&C appreciated as I really believe I have a lot more to learn from all the sifus here

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

Thanks for viewing

PC Monitor Calibration services

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 07:30:00 +0800

PC Monitor Calibration services

Mavik — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:48:02 +0800

Hi everyone,

I am offering some PC monitor calibrating services here for a small modest fee of RM30 (depending on the location).

If you are using a laptop, we can meet up at a convenient location and perform the calibration there.

If you are using a desktop, I would need to calibrate your PC monitor at your home (price will depend on location).

Note: Calibration is not done once only but it is a continuous process. Recommended to calibrate your monitor every 2-3 months.

Please PM me for details if you are interested.

Edit: This service is meant for PC monitors and does not include for TV or projectors

iPod Nano 2nd Generation

Mavik — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:31:49 +0800

Quick question here to other iPod Nano 2nd generation users. When you turn off your iPod Nano and slide the lock button, once you slide the button back to unlock, does your iPod Nano turn back on again?

The unlock and lock button slider is the one at the top of your Nano

Amazing story

Mavik — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:38:11 +0800

In 1986, Dan Harrison was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from

Northwestern University .

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant
standing
with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Dan

approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a

large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.

As carefully and as gently as he could, Dan worked the wood out with
his
hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on
its
face, stared at him for several tense moments.

Dan stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled.
Eventually
the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Dan never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Dan was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his

teenaged son.

As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned
and
walked over to near where Dan and his son Dan Jr. were standing.

The large bull elephant stared at Dan , lifted its front foot off the

ground, and then put it down. The elephant did that several times then

trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Dan couldn't help wondering if this
was
the same elephant.

Dan summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way

into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back
in
wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of

Dan's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

DVD Authoring Software

Mavik — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:51:09 +0800

Hi everyone,

Which DVD authoring software would you all recommend? I need one which works fine with Windows Vista. Currently I am using Windows DVD Maker but it isn't too packed with any features at all. Did a lot of Googling and found plenty but are there any particular ones you all have personal experience with?

Regards.

Casio High Speed Camera

Mavik — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:33:37 +0800

Ah thanks Calvin! Video below!

Migrating hard disks

Mavik — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:11:19 +0800

Hi everyone,

Quick question here, I am not extremely familiar with Vista and I just started using it. I took my old PC's SATA2 WD harddisk and used it on my new system but the system can't detect it. I can create it as a basic disk under the Computer -> Management -> Storage menu but I want to keep the files in that hard disk. Is there a program to help me detect this hard disk without reformating the entire HDD? I know the problem is that the address links due to a different motherboard causes it to have this problem. Any sifus here can recommend me a software for that?

My Old system
Windows XP Pro
Athlon 64 3000+

New System
Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel C2D 6420.

iPhone telco carriers announced in Europe

Mavik — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:53:55 +0800

Apple has chosen T-Mobile, O2, and Orange as its European launch partners for the iPhone!!

Check out the report here.
http://news.com.com/8301-13579_3-9763744-37.html

Guitar never seemed so hard

Mavik — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:20:54 +0800

Check this site http://www.glumbert.com/media/mckee out!

Anyone can help embed the video on the board?

Photo tool could fix bad images

Mavik — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:06:20 +0800

Interesting piece of article from BBC news about a photo tool

QUOTE

Digital photographers could soon be able to erase unwanted elements in photos by using tools that scan for similar images in online libraries.

Research teams have developed an algorithm that uses sites like Flickr to help discover light sources, camera position and composition in a photo.

Using this data the tools then search for objects, such as landscapes or cars, that match the original.

The teams aim to create image libraries that anyone can use to edit snaps.

James Hays and Alexei Efros from Carnegie Mellon University have developed an algorithm to help people who want to remove bits of photographs.

The parts being removed could be unsightly lorries in the snaps of the rural idyll where they took a holiday or even an old boyfriend or girlfriend they want to rub out from a photograph.

To find suitable matching elements, the research duo's algorithm looks through a database of 2.3 million images culled from Flickr.

"We search for other scenes that share as closely as possible the same semantic scene data," said Mr Hays, who has been showing off the project at the computer graphics conference Siggraph, in San Diego.

In this sense "semantic" means composition. So a snap of a lake in the foreground, hills in a band in the middle and sunset above has, as far as the algorithm is concerned, very different "semantics" to one of a city with a river running through it.

The broad-based analysis cuts out more than 99.9% of the images in the database, said Mr Hays. The algorithm then picks the closest 200 for further analysis.

Next the algorithm searches the 200 to see if they have elements, such as hillsides or even buildings, the right size and colours for the hole to be filled.

The useful parts of the 20 best scenes are then cropped, added to the image being edited so the best fit can be chosen.

Early tests of the algorithm show that only 30% of the images altered with it could be spotted, said Mr Hays.

The other approach aims to use net-based image libraries to create a clip-art of objects that, once inserted into a photograph, look convincing.

"We want to generate objects of high realism while keeping the ease of use of a clip art library," said Jean-Francois Lalonde of Carnegie Mellon University who led the research.

To generate its clip art for photographs the team has drawn on the net's Label Me library of images which has many objects, such as people, trees and cars, cut out and tagged by its users.

The challenge, said Mr Lalonde, was working out which images in the Label Me database will be useful and convincing when inserted into photographs.

The algorithm developed by Mr Lalonde and his colleagues at Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft Research analyses scenes to find out the orientation of objects and the sources of light in a scene.

"We use the height of the people in the image to estimate the height of the camera used to take the picture," he said.

The light sources in a scene are worked out by looking at the distribution of colour shades within three broad regions, ground, vertical planes and sky, in the image.

With knowledge about the position, pitch and height of the camera and light sources the algorithm then looks for images in the clip art database that were taken from similar positions and with similar pixel heights.

The group has created an interface for the database of photo clipart so people can pick which elements they want to add to a scene.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6936444.stm