SitRep – Page 10 – Tim Calvin

Fine Tuning.

I’ve been tinkering again.

I bought nothingfuture.com for the next five years or so, and I’ve directed traffic there to this page. Someday I’ll likely split it off as a separate entity, but in the meantime I didn’t want the URL to be bought be somebody else. I picked up one or two other domains while I was at it, but that’s for some other projects.

I’m going to be doing some messing with DNS settings soon for here, since I’ve not been thrilled with the way the internal links on this site have been looking- though, I need to mention, that’s my fault. I’m a very big fan of my hosting/DNS service.

I just helped getting EducatorU.org moved from a custom WordPress.org installation and hosting to a SquareSpace site. So. Much. Better. Especially for what we’re doing with it. It’s slightly more costly to host, but it’s still a very good deal for the service they provide. The site still needs a bunch of graphics work, but that’s all in the works anyway.

More new.

So in addition to my slow-to-launch newsletter service, I’m working on a few other things:

Some new video work. (a couple angles on this for now, but new none-the-less)
Listening to a growing number of podcasts
Getting started on working out a community-driven, offline compatible digital storytelling platform
Custom editing some movies for a teacher
Reading more novels again- I’m on a Warren Ellis kick
Looking into some custom electronics for some in car data handling
Getting back on twitter a bit (for example, I was on #edchat last night (gasp!))

Research #18

Things I’m reading about this week:

Why Microsoft Word must Die
Method of Loci memory technique
Workflow management with CinemaDNG files
iPhone5 tripod mounts
Custom Skagit shooting heads (looking for ~320grn by 16′)
Business card case (that isn’t terrible)
Better source of static line

Research #15

Here’s what I’m reading about (and for the last few weeks):

Ghosts of Sailors at Sea
SHADOW | Community of Dreamers
Hex: A copter that anyone can fly!
Overcast
Leather Double-Soled Wingtips
Ram Mounts for iPhones
Jokerboxes
Selvedge Duck pants (ideally double-fronts- a selvedge version of a B-01)
Straight razors (looking specifically at Hart Steel- but still looking)
Debating a Canon EOS-M (on closeout…)(vs. a GH2/3 or a Blackmagic PCC)
Belstaf jacket

Research #14

What I’ve been researching this week:

3D laser scanning
New tools for projection mapping
Caffeine content of cold-brew coffee
M998

Also- I finally made switchel (which I’d mentioned on a previous Research). It’s pretty good. I’d have to say that it’s something I’m likely (with some tweaking, of course) to make again.

Research #13

Here’s what I’ve been looking at this week:

Mohr Glass Pipettes
Switchel (beverage)
Apple Configurator
Medium (written blogging platform)
Mango (markdown text editor)
Qiviut

Research #12

Here’s what I’ve been researching this week:

Vernier probes and sensor systems for iPads
Internet of Things
Modification of C-Mount lenses
Smartphones used as a biometric sensor
Misfit Shine 3d printable mount for watch band
Book Creator iPad app
Re-soling Troentorp Bastad Clogs (is there really only one place that does this?)
Quick pickling
UV and ND filters

Research #11

What I’ve been researching this week:

Good pre-school iPad apps
Alternative pickling methods
Creating a custom trunk floor for my car
Emerging market boutique camera lenses
Japanese style iced coffee (also, Cory Doctorow’s no-mess method)
Home made seltzer rigs (thanks for the idea, Sarah & Jason)
Remote-camera options (security and whatnot)
Sourcing Century Stands & Grip Hardware

Research #10

What I’ve been reading about this week:

Anamorphic vs standard lenses
Davinci Resolve Lite LUT’s
WiFi enabled outlets and powerstrips
Cutting foam
Re-Upholstering Eames Lounge chairs
Manfrotto Autopole 2
Harris Tweed Plaids
Hunting Jackets sewing patters
Dog Schidt Optiks FF58 lens
Gustin Japanese Oxford in white

Studio Test #3

We’re getting close. First half has some very basic color correction done- the lights are at 5000K, and really, to be neutral, 5500-5600K would be better. So I’ve got to pull a little red out. No biggie.

The second half is color corrected, and then has a filter applied that pushes some blue into the colors, but filters for skin tone and warms those somewhat. I’m not sure it’s my favorite implementation of the effect, and I’m looking into some more fine-control options. For now, it’s getting me the better separation between my subject and the background that I wanted.