Open Source Organiser

Just found this - it's an open source planner for paper-based people!

http://www.diyplanner.com/templates/official/beginner

Quote for later

'The data storage model is clean, simple, and easy to learn, as is the programming model. SimpleDB excels at storing semi-structured data where the items (rows) are similar but not necessarily identical to each other."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0980576830

Computer rental - £0.20 per day!

Another novel solution to running Windows applications when you are primarily Mac based - simply borrow someone else's computer. Only this computer was located in America, and I was in the UK.

The solution lies in using Amazon's suite of web services, appropriately enough called "Amazon Web Services". By loosely following this guide, I was able to boot a Windows 2008 server, remotely connect to it using CoRD, carry out the work I needed to do and then return the server resources to the cloud, for others to make use of.

A quick calculation suggests that typical running costs could be as low as 20p a day, or one pound a week, and I have no extra hardware to look after. A very cost effective solution for small jobs, or one-off tasks.

DIY easel

Just found this - no time or space or tools to make one at the moment, but worth a try I think.

http://bengrosser.com/easel/index.html

ISO standards for Museum Imaging

http://www.cdiny.com/ArticlesWhitePapers/ISO%20Standards%20for%20Museum%20Imaging_cdi_v1.0.pdf

Still to read this in full, so will comment on it more later.....

Photographic scales

Quite often, I need to use a scale in an image. I have a few that I have designed myself, but I always like to know what is out there, so here are my "notes to self" on the subject:

I found the best results were to be had on archaeological suppliers websites, and also, which shouldn't really have come as a surprise, forensic scene of crime websites.

I particularly like these engraved plastic scales
And there are also some self-adhesive scales available too
These scales are mostly for archaeological use
Here is a blog post to some simple scales
And here is another post to a nice scale, complete with instructions for perspective correction

Photographing bugs.....

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2010/05/lighting-bugs-with-layers-of-genius.html

Strobis carries an article today about Charles Krebs and his microphotography - nice to see incredible results coming from modest equipment. Note the use of focus stacking software in the later part of the clip.

Also, his own website is at:

http://www.krebsmicro.com/

with loads of information.

And here's my bug photos:

Fimomouldensis goggleyeyedun

Calymene blumenbachii - taken with focus stacking software - not bad for a first attempt!