Notes on life, art, photography and technology, by a Danish dropout bohemian.
When you drink the water, remember the river.
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Thursday, August 16, 2007
Ne plus ultra
Here is the ne plus ultra of the maxim that the bigger a camera is, the less portable it is. This camera only deals with one subject, unless you move other subjects in front of it. And then it will have to be a patient subject.
It seems it's two slightly different things. According to the dictionary:
Nec Plus Ultra Earl Rosenthal, author of The Palace of Charles V in Granada (1985), has researched the origin of the of the motto. It is closely associated with the Pillars of Hercules, which according to Roman mythology were built by Hercules, near the Straits of Gibraltar, marking the edge of the then known world. According to mythology the pillars bore the warning Nec Plus Ultra (also Non Plus Ultra, "nothing further beyond"), serving as a warning to sailors and navigators to go no further.
ne plus ul·tra (nē' plŭs ŭl'trə, nā' plʊs ʊl'trä) n. The highest point, as of excellence or achievement; the ultimate. The most profound degree, as of a condition or quality.
In my dictionary, they're both the same, "nec plus ultra" being used in a symbolic way for "the best stuff". But if you have a source that says you're writing correctly in English, you also have my generous consent to proceed. (I know, I'm a great guy. No need to thank me. ;-)
Regarding the camera (the camera obscura, more aptly): Some people really have lots of free time on their hands, don't they?
It's clearly a pinhole camera. But I guess at this scale (I'd hate to sit on that pin!), you can peep through it. A few seconds over 10 days, who will notice? ;-P
It would be interesting if there were light leaks in the building, they may act as other lenses. Also the light source would be continuously moving, I wonder how that would be, or did they shoot only for a half hour each day.
Have you ever looked at the ground under a tree while there is a partial eclipse of the sun? The gaps between the leaves act as lenses and you get multiple projections of the sun.
"Have you ever looked at the ground under a tree while there is a partial eclipse of the sun?"
Yep. Seen it twice. The light spots become crescent-shaped. Very... islamic! Technically, you can consider it's a natural kaleidoscopic pinhole camera. Try using a strainer for a very cool effect.
Over here, many people who couldn't get protective glasses to watch the eclipse use the age-old dark chamber principle. A piece of cardboard pierced with a pin works quite well, and your retinas take no risks staring at the projected image on any blank paper. It could even be a superb introduction for an optics lesson in school afterwards. This is how you get children interested in science.
What's with this world. I pass through Pasedina next week. I'm always missing these things.
ReplyDeleteThey say peephole, was this a pinhole camera, or did it have a lens?
If I had built it, I would have used a lens. But I think they would have mentioned it if it had one.
ReplyDeleteThat's "nec plus ultra", meaning in latin "there's noting beyond/better". Unless there's a pun I didn't get. Like the Knights who say "Ne!"? ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt seems it's two slightly different things. According to the dictionary:
ReplyDeleteNec Plus Ultra
Earl Rosenthal, author of The Palace of Charles V in Granada (1985), has researched the origin of the of the motto. It is closely associated with the Pillars of Hercules, which according to Roman mythology were built by Hercules, near the Straits of Gibraltar, marking the edge of the then known world. According to mythology the pillars bore the warning Nec Plus Ultra (also Non Plus Ultra, "nothing further beyond"), serving as a warning to sailors and navigators to go no further.
ne plus ul·tra (nē' plŭs ŭl'trə, nā' plʊs ʊl'trä)
n.
The highest point, as of excellence or achievement; the ultimate.
The most profound degree, as of a condition or quality.
"Um, yeah. That's a nice photograph. Can I get it in wallet sized?"
ReplyDeleteIn my dictionary, they're both the same, "nec plus ultra" being used in a symbolic way for "the best stuff".
ReplyDeleteBut if you have a source that says you're writing correctly in English, you also have my generous consent to proceed. (I know, I'm a great guy. No need to thank me. ;-)
Regarding the camera (the camera obscura, more aptly):
ReplyDeleteSome people really have lots of free time on their hands, don't they?
It's clearly a pinhole camera. But I guess at this scale (I'd hate to sit on that pin!), you can peep through it. A few seconds over 10 days, who will notice? ;-P
It would be interesting if there were light leaks in the building, they may act as other lenses. Also the light source would be continuously moving, I wonder how that would be, or did they shoot only for a half hour each day.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever looked at the ground under a tree while there is a partial eclipse of the sun? The gaps between the leaves act as lenses and you get multiple projections of the sun.
"Have you ever looked at the ground under a tree while there is a partial eclipse of the sun?"
ReplyDeleteYep. Seen it twice. The light spots become crescent-shaped. Very... islamic!
Technically, you can consider it's a natural kaleidoscopic pinhole camera.
Try using a strainer for a very cool effect.
Over here, many people who couldn't get protective glasses to watch the eclipse use the age-old dark chamber principle. A piece of cardboard pierced with a pin works quite well, and your retinas take no risks staring at the projected image on any blank paper.
It could even be a superb introduction for an optics lesson in school afterwards. This is how you get children interested in science.