Using your phone as a security device.
First off, a quick apology. I'm only a week into the blog and already I have missed my daily update. Unfortunately due to a faulty router I had none, or intermittent net access for the last few days. For this reason this post will be a double header.
If it's to be believed, we in the UK are living with the highest density of security cameras in Europe. So we are always being watched and recorded, even if we don't know it, or care. This means that those of a shady character and up to no good are ever mindful that they are being watched. This inevitably means that they will move into areas that have no camera coverage. Having a camera in your pocket as part of your cameraphone means that you can now be a mobile recording unit. Having a ready accessible camera means that you are also able to get grab shots that you take your fancy, like when I visited a Chinese noodle bar. For the missing posts, please read on.
If it's to be believed, we in the UK are living with the highest density of security cameras in Europe. So we are always being watched and recorded, even if we don't know it, or care. This means that those of a shady character and up to no good are ever mindful that they are being watched. This inevitably means that they will move into areas that have no camera coverage. Having a camera in your pocket as part of your cameraphone means that you can now be a mobile recording unit. Having a ready accessible camera means that you are also able to get grab shots that you take your fancy, like when I visited a Chinese noodle bar. For the missing posts, please read on.
Having been busy at home most of the morning editing images on the computer I was begining to get some eye strain, so it was time for a break. I decided to pick up some items for the evening dinner, yes I can cook too. On the way home I passed along a street not too far from me and seen that it had some old furniture and bags lying on the pavement. My other half mentioned that when we passed along here an hour ago, she didn't notice it, so the furniture must have been recently dumped.
#39 Dumped
Shot on 7th Feb 13
Shot on 7th Feb 13
This sort of dumping happened in my street not long ago. I decided to go round and catch a few images of the dumping as way of informing my local council. On getting there I came acoss an old gentleman and a council officer. I eventually got talking to them. It turns out that the old gent had reported the dumping. He said that he lived across the street and although he couldn't identify anybody he did see a van stop opposite his window for a few minutes then drive off. When he got up later to look out his window he seen the furniture on the pavement.
I continued to take some images of the furniture scattered along the pavement. I described to the council officer my project and was a bit surprised at his reaction. 'If we all used our phones to record or capture incidents like this there would be a lot less of them'. He informed me that this type of dumping occurs because there is a charge for commercial vehicles to dump at official dumps. So if anyone turns up with a van they would be termed commercial and would therefore have to pay.
This means that to avoid the payment people just dump where they are least lightly to be caught. As this location is built up and in a largely student let area most people don't notice any dumping, as on first appearence it may look like it is a landlord loading or unloading for his rented property. The streets also have limited security camera coverage. Both reasons have resulted in increased calls about dumping or as its more commonly called "fly tipping'.
The officer informed me that a good description as well as a van license number helps in the capture of the culprits. The best though, would be photographic or video evidence. I asked about images sent to them. As long as they can identify persons in the act and or see license numbers on vans they can use them in convictions.
Safety is of the utmost importance so he advised not to go rushing up to catch them in the act. They will also use any evidence anonymously. The old gent didn't have any means to do this or manage to get a license number, so on this occasion the dumpers got away with it.
The original image as shot is what is required. The authorities will deal with any enhancement to bring out details in the images. The weather took a turn for the worse later on in the afternoon so I decided to work on this as my shot of the day. For myself and for the purposes of this blog I cropped the image to remove the street name and I also thought as a social documentary image it would benefit from being black and white.
I converted the image on the phone using the Pixlr Express App with settings of
So depending on your feelings on this and as we nearly all have a camera phone with us we can all be community watchdogs or reporters. I would welcome any comments on this issue. Do you think its appropriate that the government so rely on you to help?
I continued to take some images of the furniture scattered along the pavement. I described to the council officer my project and was a bit surprised at his reaction. 'If we all used our phones to record or capture incidents like this there would be a lot less of them'. He informed me that this type of dumping occurs because there is a charge for commercial vehicles to dump at official dumps. So if anyone turns up with a van they would be termed commercial and would therefore have to pay.
This means that to avoid the payment people just dump where they are least lightly to be caught. As this location is built up and in a largely student let area most people don't notice any dumping, as on first appearence it may look like it is a landlord loading or unloading for his rented property. The streets also have limited security camera coverage. Both reasons have resulted in increased calls about dumping or as its more commonly called "fly tipping'.
The officer informed me that a good description as well as a van license number helps in the capture of the culprits. The best though, would be photographic or video evidence. I asked about images sent to them. As long as they can identify persons in the act and or see license numbers on vans they can use them in convictions.
Safety is of the utmost importance so he advised not to go rushing up to catch them in the act. They will also use any evidence anonymously. The old gent didn't have any means to do this or manage to get a license number, so on this occasion the dumpers got away with it.
The original image as shot is what is required. The authorities will deal with any enhancement to bring out details in the images. The weather took a turn for the worse later on in the afternoon so I decided to work on this as my shot of the day. For myself and for the purposes of this blog I cropped the image to remove the street name and I also thought as a social documentary image it would benefit from being black and white.
I converted the image on the phone using the Pixlr Express App with settings of
- contrast +25 (adjustment tab)
- sharpness +30 (adjustment tab)
- Too old effect (effect tab), set to Agnes and faded to 60
- add scrape frame from squared selection (border tab)
So depending on your feelings on this and as we nearly all have a camera phone with us we can all be community watchdogs or reporters. I would welcome any comments on this issue. Do you think its appropriate that the government so rely on you to help?
A trip to the noodle bar
Following on from my social documentary day, my next shot of the day post is much lighter in nature. Out for a bit of lunch the next day and in need of a bit of warmth, I fancied something a little bit spicy and I found myself in a noodle bar. While ordering I noticed a basket with stacks of noodles stored in them. I continued to order and while waiting I took a few quick snaps.
#40 Noodle Bar
Shot on 8th Feb 13
Shot on 8th Feb 13
As I have mentioned before, its about seeing in a different way. When I first seen all the noodles stacked together it struck me how they looked liked wicker fences but in a miniature form. While tucking into my spicy noodles I flicked through the images I had taken.
I wasn't that happy with them so decided to take a few more on the way out the door. The problem for me is that the Nexus 4 doesn't have a macro function so I have to just focus as close as the phone will allow. This is a bit hit and miss because the focus will jump around if it focuses at all.
I eventually got a few more shots. The staff in the shop were very nice and didn't mind me snapping away. On this note if you are in a private business its always a good idea to ask permission to shoot. I was concious of the queue and as it was getting a bit busy I gave my thanks and left with a few keepers.
I didn't get quite as close as I would have liked, and a zoomed in crop didn't work for me, so I lost the abstract effect that I was looking for and decided to go with a straight shot instead. I edited the shot in the Nexus 4 gallery app with the following settings.
You win some and you lose some. This project is not just about using a camera phone and deciding if said camera phones are leading to mediocrity in photography, its also not about getting the perfect shot. Its a daily project that is designed to make me think a little bit differently about what I shoot.
Today is the first day that I'm not 100% happy with the outcome, but then that's more to do with the limitation of the phone. I could have worked on more shots but this turned out to be a busy day for me so I didn't have a chance to get anything else.
If you are doing any kind of prolonged project, you are going to get days that are not your best, don't despair and don't give up.
Any questions, feel free to ask I welcome them all.
See y'all next post.
I wasn't that happy with them so decided to take a few more on the way out the door. The problem for me is that the Nexus 4 doesn't have a macro function so I have to just focus as close as the phone will allow. This is a bit hit and miss because the focus will jump around if it focuses at all.
I eventually got a few more shots. The staff in the shop were very nice and didn't mind me snapping away. On this note if you are in a private business its always a good idea to ask permission to shoot. I was concious of the queue and as it was getting a bit busy I gave my thanks and left with a few keepers.
I didn't get quite as close as I would have liked, and a zoomed in crop didn't work for me, so I lost the abstract effect that I was looking for and decided to go with a straight shot instead. I edited the shot in the Nexus 4 gallery app with the following settings.
- exposure +15
- contrast +30
- sharpness +20
- vignette +10
You win some and you lose some. This project is not just about using a camera phone and deciding if said camera phones are leading to mediocrity in photography, its also not about getting the perfect shot. Its a daily project that is designed to make me think a little bit differently about what I shoot.
Today is the first day that I'm not 100% happy with the outcome, but then that's more to do with the limitation of the phone. I could have worked on more shots but this turned out to be a busy day for me so I didn't have a chance to get anything else.
If you are doing any kind of prolonged project, you are going to get days that are not your best, don't despair and don't give up.
Any questions, feel free to ask I welcome them all.
See y'all next post.