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History has proven that problems have always led to new ideas and innovations. Here is a preview of my recent idea which helped me to resolve my problem.

Problem is very simple, I am in the middle of nowhere. I have nothing to hold my smart phone so I can take a stable video. Hand holding is going to be very shaky. What to do?

Solution was to think quickly and find some thing that can hold smart phone in horizontal position. How about a tripod? Yeah, good idea take some sticks from the forest and build a tripod. (very funny). How about a paper cup? Visualize an inverted cup and cuppod is ready for some action. Very cheap, durable and does what it needs to do.

Here is a small video consist of 422 frames taken during my recent visit to Yosemite National Park. Very common vista point however this particular one is little bit peculiar than others. Experimented with my initial prototype. Enjoy the fast paced slow motion.


I know there are many blind folds, like what if there is too much of wind, what if i want a different angle. Well, this was just a prototype and I think it just did fine. What do you think?

Rendering few pencil sketch from top, side, full view.

I am glad I made some right decision in past. When I had built one of my virtual machine which I use regularly, I opted to work with Logical Volume Manager with Ubuntu. Well all the hard work then paid off today.

Just think of this scenario, you have a nice laptop with ample of hard drive space at one point of time. As it grows old, technology consumes more and more disk space. And few months/years down the line you need more space. If it were a laptop, one idea to resolve the space problem will be to buy new high capacity drive and replace it.

Its like having a 5 gallon water tank. Get a new 10 gallon water tank and fill it with 5 gallon tank water. And replace it. Simple.

If one of the constraint is that you cannot remove 5 gallon from its original location but extend by additional 5 gallon. Won't it be Interesting.

That's exactly LVM allowed me to do. I was able to "add" new additional hard drive while my virtual box was running and extend the existing one to seamlessly integrate. Beautiful.

Followed are some steps to remember:

a) Add new hard drive to virtual machine (vmware)
b) LIFE SAVER: Re-scan the new drive that was attached
"echo ""- - -"" > /sys/class/scsi_host/host#/scan
# - is the host number
c) fdisk -l
d) fdisk /dev/sdb
create new partition.
select as primary partition - enter/enter
8e linux lvm partition - enter/enter
preview
write to disk

e)lvdisplay
f) pvcreate /dev/sdb1
g) vgdisplay
h) vgextend VolGroupName /dev/sdb1
i) lvextend -L +10G /dev/VolGroupName/Name
j) resize2fs /dev/VolGroupName/Name

This picture was take at Global Winter Wonderland, CA

Here is what it took:
I started with capturing multiple windmills in one frame. The way in which it was setup, it was really difficult to capture all, unless you have a wide lense. I was primarily experimenting with my 70-200mm, and tried from different angles. And finally tried to capture a portrait closeup.

And it looked good, however wanted add some x-factor, hence took few long exposures for 10-15 sec. And tried until I got a nice motion blur of its blades. But the angle at which I was trying to shoot it seemed that there were those huge bright parking lights in the backdrop which were quiet annoying.

Now the challenge was how to convert the background more interesting. Its like converting your weakness into your strength. Quickly reviewing different shots, I found that longer exposure were converting those bright light into a star like effect. Hence, re-composed and re-positioned to isolate my background in such a manner that only one light on the background was visible at the lower right edge of the windmill. Thereby adding additional effect to its beauty. In post processing I did a little tuning and sharpening.

I know what you are thinking. Don't go and watch movies just by titles :)

Ever imagined how the lakes turns into desert? And what happens then after? Will they reemerge?

Lake Manly is one of the good example. But how did it disappear, well, simple phenomena vaporization. It turned into what is now known as Death Valley and left behind is the remarkable legacy. A lowest, hottest and driest landscape are its repercussions or is it? In either case, death valley has became a home to rare desert wildlife with an extraordinary power of adaptation and its untouched wilderness. Its unique salt pans and ever-changing pristine sand dunes writes a new history every day. No wonder why it’s a magical place and a photographer’s dream to capture these extremes. Wide variety of colorful rocks and canyons really rocks human world.

Sojourn Zabriski Point at the dusk or dawn and you might travel back in time with the breathtaking landscape and beautiful rock formations left behind by Lake Furnance.

Unlike Dinosaur, these lakes might reemerge. In fact Lake Manly did reemerged in recent years and receded. In all, it’s the desert grace that allows one to explore clay hills, reflective pools and the mysterious race track. This unique geological formation will always resurrect the Ice Age at Mojave.

Yes, up in the air literally. I have been trying to stimulate the heart-rate, contracts blood vessels, dilates air passages. Of course, by staying on the grounds. Not all are great shots but really learned a lot over a year. Primarily, I have been focusing on capturing shots with high adrenalin sports. Anything up in the air and in motion has been attracting me.

Hang gliding, Para gliding, Hornet, F16, Monster trucks, Fireworks, Hot Air Balloons even KITES...

Just adding my photography link on the top menu of this blog if you want to see what I have been onto recently.

Wahweap, very difficult to pronounce, isn't it. One of the most beautiful and sacred place on earth. Man made blue-lake surrounded by sandstone wall and the hidden rainbow bridge. Life never looked as peaceful as it did. No more words to describe, just visualize. Truly awe-inspiring treasure.

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