Alternate realities: HDR images

I'm not really sure how they work, but HDR (High Dynamic Range) images are enthralling and a little spooky. They remind me in a way of the old stereoscopic photographs or hyper-real paintings in the way that the "pop" you into another reality.

Take a look at the collection of them on Flickr. I read about this a while ago on Lifehacker and have been meaning to post because they're so surreal.

The image here is from "the Grotto" from "Stuck in Customs" flickr photostream.

Speaking of our Potter party...

Thania and Steve sent their photos to me and so now I have a complete set of photos from this year's Harry Potter party. Gosh, it was fun! If you spot a Molly Weasley (wearing an apron) in the photos, that's me.

Delightful new photo in family gallery

My aunt Margie sent me a delightful photo of my great-grandfather that I had never seen before. He is dressed up and equipped just as he was in 1879 for his prospecting surveys across Arizona! His comments, written to my uncle on the back, are quite droll:
"Three old prospectors in the Tombstone celebration of October 1929.

At left, Mr. Reeves, Center your grandfather, whiskers and all.

The burros are packed just as he traveled on a four hundred (400) mile trip fifty years ago. The rifle he carries is a Sharps 45-70" purchased in 1879 and a splendid shooter yet it has been used on nearly everything that walks in Arizona except human beings. Come out sometime and try it."

If you want to view the photo in more detail it is on my flickr account. Click on "all sizes."

Public libraries as local image archives

I noticed something cool on the Ann Arbor Library website, and the more I think about it the more I like the idea. I would go so far as to say I had an "Aha!" moment.

What they've done is created their own photo gallery that community members can upload to, up to 10 photos per week.

What do they show? Street fair and parade pictures, Ann Arbor-related ephemera, old postcards, theatrical productions, etc.

They are using Gallery 2.o software, a free opensource gallery system that is housed on Ann Arbor's servers, though I can see several advantages to having a Flickr account instead.

I love this idea because it works on so many different levels:

• The library is *creating* content
• The content is unique to the community
• Uploaders and viewers are investing a bit of themselves in the library
• Historical, documentary value, not just entertainment

Link: Picture Ann Arbor

"Brainstorm Trust"

I uploaded a lot more family photos and ephemera today, including some political doggerel (c. 1934) I found when we were going through papers at my grandparents' house in 1976. Grandpa was a staunch Republican so most of it is devoted to skewering F.D.R. There are also some really sweet pictures of my dad as a kid.