Such a simple way of entertaining!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Cinemagraphs Photos in Movement
Cinemagraphs are still images that contain within themselves living elements allowing a glimpse of time to be experienced and preserved. Cinemagraph is a technique of blending the effects of images and videos. It was introduced by a New York fashion photographer Jamie Beck, in collaboration with motion graphics designer Kevin Burg. Since then, many other designers have created similar forms of cinemagraphs. Cinemagraphs are typically simply created as animated .gif files making them easy to use on a web page. In this article, I feature stunning examples of cinemagraphs for your inspiration. Don’t scroll too fast if you want to experience the Cinemagraphs and look carefully – elements you don’t expect to move may do it…! Source of text: Tripwire Magazine. Article by Justin Betonio
In order to make a cinemagraph, first of all, we must focus on one element so that we can create a coherent movement once or several times. Likewise, it is essential that the color schemes of the image that we record on video are not too many otherwise we will obtain results that will look like drawings instead of photographs.
Two simple ways of making a cinemagraph
1. With the use of the iPhone Cinemagram. In the App Store, we have found Cinemagram, a program that allows to create a cinemagraph in less than a minute with an iPhone. We only have to record a secuence on video, or choose any saved previously in the phone, select the repeat time of the final image, indicate the area that we want to maintain as animated, apply a filter to the animation like those of the Instagram and we will obtain a cinemagraph similar to the above. It cannot be any simpler.
2. With the Use of Cliplets in Windows. This second option recommends the use of a free program called Microsoft Cliplets. Although we have not tried this, we have seen the help videos that are published in their web page and it does not seem complicated to use. The only problem is that the result is not a gif file, but a video. It seems that to maintain a link in movement in a web is not too easy.
Source of Previous images and text: El País.com
Source of last two images: Trip Magazine
In order to make a cinemagraph, first of all, we must focus on one element so that we can create a coherent movement once or several times. Likewise, it is essential that the color schemes of the image that we record on video are not too many otherwise we will obtain results that will look like drawings instead of photographs.
Two simple ways of making a cinemagraph
1. With the use of the iPhone Cinemagram. In the App Store, we have found Cinemagram, a program that allows to create a cinemagraph in less than a minute with an iPhone. We only have to record a secuence on video, or choose any saved previously in the phone, select the repeat time of the final image, indicate the area that we want to maintain as animated, apply a filter to the animation like those of the Instagram and we will obtain a cinemagraph similar to the above. It cannot be any simpler.
2. With the Use of Cliplets in Windows. This second option recommends the use of a free program called Microsoft Cliplets. Although we have not tried this, we have seen the help videos that are published in their web page and it does not seem complicated to use. The only problem is that the result is not a gif file, but a video. It seems that to maintain a link in movement in a web is not too easy.
Source of Previous images and text: El País.com
Source of last two images: Trip Magazine
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The Pancake Race
And the winner is..........MELISSA!!!!
This is Mel's story on how she won the pancake race competition in Bournemouth held last February 21.
"I invited my Japanese friend Reina and a Japanese student from EF Language school (it's only her second day in Bournemouth) to come and join me on yesterday's Pancake Race. I've never heard of such an event but apparently it's a common thing to do here in the UK on Pancake Day so I thought about giving it a go...why not?.
We only had to bring our own tossing pans to Bournemouth Pier's restaurant (KEY WEST), the pancakes were provided by the restaurant's chefs, each runner had to run around the pier holding the pan (with the pancake in obviously!) and toss it twice at each "Flip Markers".
The Rules: If a pancake is dropped at any time(I dropped it once!) the runner must pick the pancake up, place it back in the pan (without any assistance from spectators) and continue the race until the finishing line. I was ahead from the very beginning until the end. It was a piece of cake!. Only 10 runners joined though...ha ha!
I won: two fish & chips meals at the Ket West Restaurant, two tickets for any show at Bournemouth's Pier Theatre, 2 weeks free membership at The Club (leisure centre with spa and swimming pool!) and an electric pancake maker!
I also felt so popular amongst all the spectators, all clapping and taking pictures of me. A university student also recorded video of myself and my Japanese friend Reina for her University project.
Representatives from Heart, the local radio station, also took pictures (see webpage http://www.heart.co.uk/solent/events/going-out/events/pancake-race-bournemouth/)
I was a celebrity for one day!
I made pancakes with my new electric pancake maker last night. I made savoury pancakes filled with Ricotta cheese, spinach and chopped(see photo attached) and for pudding: chocolate and banana! ...Lush!"
That was quite a funny experience for Mel and with hardly any effort from her side, she won the race. An event to remember for a long time.
This is Mel's story on how she won the pancake race competition in Bournemouth held last February 21.
"I invited my Japanese friend Reina and a Japanese student from EF Language school (it's only her second day in Bournemouth) to come and join me on yesterday's Pancake Race. I've never heard of such an event but apparently it's a common thing to do here in the UK on Pancake Day so I thought about giving it a go...why not?.
We only had to bring our own tossing pans to Bournemouth Pier's restaurant (KEY WEST), the pancakes were provided by the restaurant's chefs, each runner had to run around the pier holding the pan (with the pancake in obviously!) and toss it twice at each "Flip Markers".
The Rules: If a pancake is dropped at any time(I dropped it once!) the runner must pick the pancake up, place it back in the pan (without any assistance from spectators) and continue the race until the finishing line. I was ahead from the very beginning until the end. It was a piece of cake!. Only 10 runners joined though...ha ha!
I won: two fish & chips meals at the Ket West Restaurant, two tickets for any show at Bournemouth's Pier Theatre, 2 weeks free membership at The Club (leisure centre with spa and swimming pool!) and an electric pancake maker!
I also felt so popular amongst all the spectators, all clapping and taking pictures of me. A university student also recorded video of myself and my Japanese friend Reina for her University project.
Representatives from Heart, the local radio station, also took pictures (see webpage http://www.heart.co.uk/solent/events/going-out/events/pancake-race-bournemouth/)
I was a celebrity for one day!
I made pancakes with my new electric pancake maker last night. I made savoury pancakes filled with Ricotta cheese, spinach and chopped(see photo attached) and for pudding: chocolate and banana! ...Lush!"
That was quite a funny experience for Mel and with hardly any effort from her side, she won the race. An event to remember for a long time.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Giant Paella in the Philippines
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| GIANT Paella (Spain) PHOTO BY JUAN LUIS PEREZ ALBERT It was Lally Hidalgo San José, executive director of the Sociedad Española de Beneficencia Sociedad (a private charitable institution that provides economic and healthcare assistance to indigent Spanish citizens in the Philippines), who came up with the giant paella fundraiser idea to help subsidize their programs. “The proceeds will directly go to shelter, medical assistance, hospitalization and burial assistance for the elderly, and medical, dental and feeding missions for street children,” said San José. The “amount of ingredients that are going into the paella includes 80 kilos of rice, 40 of chicken, 40 of squid, 40 of shrimp, mussels, peppers, etc. Oh, and about 170 liters of stock! The cooking will be from 3-6 p.m.,” she added. Mikel Arriet, is at the helm of the cooking of a giant paella on a 9-ft-diameter paellera. This proud Basque chef was born in San Sebastian and obtained his culinary education from the Escuela Superior de Cocina y Hosteleria de San Sebastian. He then honed his skills in and around some of the finest restaurants and hotels in Spain and France, including working for three-star Michelin chef Martin Berasategi. He will be accompanied by 8 crews to make this giant paella. PAELLA GIGANTE (Good for 600 pax) 12 liters olive oil 60 k rice 120 liters chicken stock 30 k green and red peppers 10 k onion 5 k garlic 40 k squids 20 k mussels 40 k shrimps 40 k chicken 25 k chorizo 20 liters tomato sauce 1 k colorant 4 k paella seasoning Heat olive oil. Add chicken, chorizo, squid, cook for five minutes. Add bell peppers, onion, garlic. Add shrimps and mussels. Add stock, tomato, colorant, paella seasoning, salt to taste. Let boil, add rice last. Do not mix so rice doesn’t become starchy. This event was for Saturday, February 18th. The main difference between a Spanish paella and the Filipino paella lies in the ingredients. In the Philippines, we add eggs and a native sausage called chorizo de Bilbao. Filipinos do not use saffron but add colorant instead. Likewise, we typically use glutinous rice instead of the Spanish rice " the famous Bomba rice from Calasparra—the grains are big and round, so they need a bigger amount of stock to be cooked. The rice rarely gets overcooked and is very tasty, because it can absorb a big amount of stock.” It is a matter of what you have been used to, but for me having tried both, I would rather order for a Spanish paella in a good restaurant and with a glass of red wine. On the other hand, it is interesting to know that in the Philippines, there is an association that takes care of the welfare of the indigent Spanish citizens. |
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
So It Is Valentine's Day
Valentine's day is a yearly celebration specially among lovers and depending on each one's financial means and creativity, there usually is a gift for everyone. But here is something for a change. How about spending the event in a heart-shaped island? Here are some islands with the form of a heart.
1. Galešnjak (Croatia)
In the "Island of Love" there lives only one colony of rabbits and and some eagles that go for them as a prey. Its real name is Galešnjak and is located in the Adriatic, near the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Although its peculiar heart shape has been registered since 1806, as acknowledged to the cartographers of Napoleon, it was Google Earth who gave it world fame. When its romantic geography was highlighted by a virtual map, it was converted as an attraction for lovers who were enthusiastic to celebrate their Valentine's Day there. Its owner, Vlado Juresko, gave his consent so that some couples can get married in this island.
2. Heart Reef (Whitsundays Island, Australia)
Heart Reef is a coral formation in Whitsundays, Australia, probably physically small in size, but the archipelago uses it as a symbol for its tourist logo. Whitsundays is an attraction for deep sea diving and weddings, including some weddings are celebrated under the water.
3. Tavarua Island (Fiji)
In the middle of the Pacific, within the archipelago of Fiji, Tavarua is a private island of 29 hectáres that lodges a tourist resort. It accommodates 36 persons and can be rented totally as for a wedding for example, where second cousins can no longer fit in.
And to end, here is Elvis Presley's Island of love song.
Source of images and text: Turistario
By: Patricia Gosálvez
Love comes in different sizes and shapes, and anyone can have his own imagination to make any day a special one. But the richer one is, the more can one afford to make his imagination fly.
Happy Valentine's Day to all, lovers or non-lovers since love is for everyone and makes no distinction.
1. Galešnjak (Croatia)
In the "Island of Love" there lives only one colony of rabbits and and some eagles that go for them as a prey. Its real name is Galešnjak and is located in the Adriatic, near the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Although its peculiar heart shape has been registered since 1806, as acknowledged to the cartographers of Napoleon, it was Google Earth who gave it world fame. When its romantic geography was highlighted by a virtual map, it was converted as an attraction for lovers who were enthusiastic to celebrate their Valentine's Day there. Its owner, Vlado Juresko, gave his consent so that some couples can get married in this island.
2. Heart Reef (Whitsundays Island, Australia)
Heart Reef is a coral formation in Whitsundays, Australia, probably physically small in size, but the archipelago uses it as a symbol for its tourist logo. Whitsundays is an attraction for deep sea diving and weddings, including some weddings are celebrated under the water.
3. Tavarua Island (Fiji)
In the middle of the Pacific, within the archipelago of Fiji, Tavarua is a private island of 29 hectáres that lodges a tourist resort. It accommodates 36 persons and can be rented totally as for a wedding for example, where second cousins can no longer fit in.
And to end, here is Elvis Presley's Island of love song.
Source of images and text: Turistario
By: Patricia Gosálvez
Love comes in different sizes and shapes, and anyone can have his own imagination to make any day a special one. But the richer one is, the more can one afford to make his imagination fly.
Happy Valentine's Day to all, lovers or non-lovers since love is for everyone and makes no distinction.
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