lights

See The World Through My Eyes

June 2, 2015 — 8 Comments

eye lenses

F/16.0, 1/60, ISO 100.

Day 153 / 365

These are the lenses the doctor prescribed to me.  Now, let me show you the world!   🙂

Interesting Fact: The invention of the camera in the early 19th century has led to a large array of lens designs intended for photography. The problems of photographic lens design, creating a lens for a task that would cover a large flat image plane, were well known even before the invention of photography[1] due to the development of lenses to work with the focal plane of the camera obscura, a device for projecting images used as a novelty and an artist’s drawing aid that had been around for hundreds of years. Since the invention of photography many types of lenses have been tried. The succession of designs was never uniform since an older design that performed a task the photographer needed (such as working better portrait versus landscape, working at the wavelength of light the film collected, etc.) would still be used in unison with newer designs. Even today the job the lens needs to do, the laws of physics, the limits of engineering, as well as the practical considerations of size, weight and cost, means there are many designs available. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_photographic_lens_design )

Challenge Yourself.

May 26, 2015 — 20 Comments

Rubik’s Cube

F/5.0, 1/60, ISO 100.

Day 146 / 365

All problems can be solved!     🙂

Interesting Fact: Invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Erno Rubik, the Rubik’s cube has challenged and frustrated countless numbers of players who have ever picked up the 3-D toy puzzle. While the Rubik’s Cube reached its peak popularity in the 1980s, the more than 350 million cubes sold since then make it one of the best-selling toys of all time. ( http://www.ibtimes.com/rubiks-cube-40th-anniversary-9-facts-behind-famous-3-d-toy-puzzle-1576562 )

This Is Where The Magic Happens.

May 22, 2015 — 22 Comments

book

F/5.0, 1/60, ISO 100.

Day 142 / 365

Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.

Interesting Fact: The most expensive printed book in the world is the 1640 Bay Psalm book from America. It sold in November 2013 for $14.2 million. ( http://interestingliterature.com/2015/03/05/30-interesting-facts-about-books/ )

The Magic Bus!

May 16, 2015 — 14 Comments

Volkswagen Van Samba

F/5.6, 54.0, ISO 160.

Day 136 / 365

Let’s take a trip somewhere.     🙂

Interesting Fact: The Volkswagen Van Samba, in the United States also known as Sunroof Deluxe, was the most luxurious version of the Volkswagen Transporter T1. Volkswagen started producing Sambas in 1951. In the sixties this version became popular as a hippie bus. Originally Volkswagen Vans were classified according to the number of windows they had. This particular model had 23 and later 21 windows including eight panoramic windows in the roof. To distinguish it from the normal 23 or 21-window Volkswagen van the name Samba was coined. Instead of a sliding door at the side the Samba had two pivot doors. In addition the Samba had a fabric sunroof. At that time Volkswagen advertised with the idea of using the Samba to make tourist trips through the Alps.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Samba )

April Showers Bring May Flowers, But In The Month Of May I Bring The Flowers Home…

May 4, 2015 — 7 Comments

peonies

F/1.8, 1/60, ISO 160.

Day 124 / 365

People used to believe that peonies protected them from demons.  And what protects the demons from peonies?     🙂

Interesting Fact: Peonies are available in every color but blue. ( http://www.birdsandblooms.com/blog/flower-garden-little-known-facts-peonies/ )

Make A Wish! 

April 24, 2015 — 12 Comments

Fountain

F/22.0, 30.0, ISO 250.

Day 114 / 365

What did you wish for?

Who cleans all the coins out of fountain?

Interesting Fact:  Ancient civilizations built stone basins to capture and hold precious drinking water. A carved stone basin, dating to around 2000 BC, was discovered in the ruins of the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash in modern Iraq. The ancient Assyrians constructed a series of basins in the gorge of the Comel River, carved in solid rock, connected by small channels, descending to a stream. The lowest basin was decorated with carved reliefs of two lions.[3] The ancient Egyptians had ingenious systems for hoisting water up from the Nile for drinking and irrigation, but without a higher source of water it was not possible to make water flow by gravity, and no Egyptian fountains or pictures of fountains have been found. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain )

It’s Always Tea Time!

April 9, 2015 — 8 Comments

tea pot

F/4.2, 85.0, ISO 100.

Day 99 / 365

Why did the tea get away?

Because it was loose…

Interesting Fact: Early teapots are small by western standards because they are generally designed for a single drinker and the Chinese historically drank the tea directly from the spout. The size reflects the importance of serving small portions each time so that the flavours can be better concentrated, controlled and then repeated. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teapot )

Music For My Ears

April 7, 2015 — 16 Comments

Violin

F/10.0,113.0, ISO 100.

Day 97 / 365

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”  – Albert Einstein

Interesting Fact:  The violin can trace its history back several thousands of years ago to stringed instruments known as the ravanstron, the rebec, and the rabab. In the 16th century the Medici family of Italy commissioned the famous lute maker, Andrea Amati, to build a small wooden stringed instrument that was as melodious as a lyre but was easy to carry around. ( http://www.theviolinsite.com/violin-facts.html )

Evil Helmet

March 27, 2015 — 4 Comments

helmet

F/5.6, 58.0, ISO 100.

Day 86 / 365

Evil comes out at night.

Interesting Fact: The origins of the crash helmet date back to the Brooklands race track in early 1914[5] where the medical officer, a Dr Eric Gardner, noticed he was seeing a motor cyclist with head injuries about every 2 weeks. He got a Mr Moss of Bethnal Green to make canvas and shellac helmets stiff enough to stand a heavy blow and smooth enough to glance off any projections it encountered.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet )

Das Auto

March 25, 2015 — 19 Comments

vw beetle

F/5.6, 48.0, ISO 100.

Day 84 / 365

Beetle still puts a big smile on my face.     🙂

Interesting Fact: The Beetle will float: The Beetle may have been inexpensive, but it was never cheap. Gaps were tight and doors sealed well. Additionally, it was a unibody car with a very flat floor with few openings. All of this meant that the car would actually float for at least several minutes after hitting the water before turning into a small U-boat.  ( http://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2013/01/25/Secrets-of-the-Volkswagen-Beetle )