Nerdliness

Panoramic Images

Panoramic Image of Our House

Earlier this month, I retired my venerable Canon Powershot A710IS Camera and started using my newer Kodak PIXPRO FZ152 Camera. The older camera had roughly 18 years on it and after it got retired, I started using the newer camera. The newer camera, it turns out, had more features that I didn’t know about because I used it so seldom. Lo and behold, there is a “panoramic image” mode.

To make panoramic images using the FZ152, one must select the proper mode and shooting left to right (other direction optional) snap three or four images as you move the camera. There is a “ghost” image of the preceding image that helps the user to align the camera. When done, select the “SET” button and the camera begins to “stitch” the images into a single elongated image — a panoramic image.

I am still learning how to use the panoramic image mode, although some of the image results from following the procedure have been disappointing, with visible disconnects in the continuity of the image. I thought I was using the proper procedure and got the result seen below:

Discontinuity example

As you can see, the right half of the panned image jumps from a place in the middle of the house to repeating (in a distorted fashion) the same image segment going to the right. The image is not useful except to demonstrate the problem.

I guess I am spoiled by having had a really good Canon Utility in the past that would render panoramas from several images with very good results, even with marginally acceptable images. Unfortunately, that utility stopped being supported and did not work with later versions of Windows subsequent to about seven years ago or so.

I will keep trying to get panoramas with the Kodak Camera in the future, but I may opt for a Photoshop ($$$) utility to do the things I used to do with ease and for free with the Canon App.

Sliver Moon

After the new moon phase Wednesday (01/29/2024), I managed to get this photo of first lunar light in the waxing crescent phase just after sunset last night. The first quarter Moon is about a week away when it looks as it does in the image above — just a tiny “sliver” of light visible.

My camera is a Canon EOS Rebel SL3 using a Canon EF 55-250mm zoom lens set to 250mm focal length. Click on the image to open the viewer.

Winter Solstice

Today marks the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. It is also the shortest day for us with only nine hours and fifty-six minutes of daylight.

In Wickenburg, we’re enjoying a nice sunny day and expecting a high temperature today in the mid-70s Fahrenheit. It is also The Sabbath, God’s Day of Rest. We will be preparing our feast of “Gumbolaya,” which is a combination of Gumbo and Jambalaya, two very favorite Southern (Cajun) stews. If we add okra to the Jambalaya, it becomes Gumbolaya.

Tomorrow, for Sunday Dinner, we will be having Crockpot Roast Top Round of Beef. Check the Food Blog for photos of the eats.

Image above: Waning Gibbous Moon over the big Saguaro Cactus in front of the Garage.

Portuguese Bend in 3D

This is a repost of an old 3D photo that has been recaptured to get a better and larger view of the image. Both the 3D and 2D images shown below were taken from Google Earth™ and processed to produce the 3D and 2D images here.

It is tragically interesting to note that the landslide at Portuguese bend has taken out many homes and other properties in the area, most notably the Wayfarer’s Chapel which will be restored pending several complicated moves to another location.

Here’s the 2D image of the aerial view of Portuguese Bend:

Click on either image to enlarge.

December 22, 2024 update: The description of the bell tower removal and other progress information is available on the Chapel’s Instagram Account — https://www.instagram.com/p/C9jJ1vJNSzy/

Halloween 2024

Verna has the Halloween decorations up in our little house for us to enjoy. Since we’re located on a dirt road in a semi-rural area with no street lighting and the potential for nocturnal critters like Javelina and Coyotes to be present, we get exactly zero trick-or-treaters. So, the decorations are for us alone.

The (clickable) image above came from the Bing® AI Image Generator with the Halloween lettering overlaid with Irfanview™. I suggested that the AI generate an image that was “dark and sinister,” and this was the result. I assume it figured out that Halloween was nigh and this seemed appropriate.

So, for all who celebrate “All Hallows Eve,” we wish you a happy time of it. And watch your six. Be safe in these “dark and sinister” times.

Train Siding in 3D

This is another case of “accidental stereo photo” when Verna’s camera captured a couple of photos while the truck was in motion, this time crossing the local railroad tracks near downtown Wickenburg. The train in the photo is stationary on the siding next to the main track to the right of the siding.

You will need to use your 3D glasses to view the above anaglyph (stereoscopic) photo. For your convenience, the 2D photo is shown below in case you don’t have your red/cyan glasses handy.