A comparison of two photographs

Creative Spot by Zita Perera Subasinghe

Photography, the Story

 The oldest surviving photograph

Photography is the process of using light or other electromagnetic radiation to capture an image of a subject in front of the observer and recording it in a device using lenses and any other focussing method so that the record of the image is cast on a surface impregnated or painted with a light sensitive substance and where the image which can be fixed and duplicated for the purpose of preserving it for the future and also for spreading the message to others for information and entertainment.

Photography: The word photo came from Greek phos to mean light and graphy the art of ‘drawing’ with light. It is both a science and an art.

History: Long before modern photography, Chinese philosopher Mo Ti (also written Mozi) in and Greek mathematicians Aristotle and Euclid described a pinhole camera in the 5^th Century BC ^[1]. But it was not until 6^th Century AD that the Byzantine mathematician Anthemius of Tralles used a type of camera obscura in his experiments using the observation that some substances are visibly altered by exposure to light. Initially nobody thought of bringing these two phenomena together until around 1800, when Thomas Wedgwood made the first reliably documented although unsuccessful attempt. In the mid-1820s, Nicéphore Niépce succeeded, but several days of exposure in the camera were required and earliest results were very crude.

Niépce's associate Louis Daguerre went on to develop the daguerreotype process, the first publicly announced photographic process, which required only minutes of exposure in the camera and produced clear, finely detailed results. It was commercially introduced in 1839, date generally accepted as the birth year of practical photography.^[2]

Metal-based daguerreotype process soon had some competition from the paper-based collotypenegative and salt print processes invented by William Henry Fox Talbot.

Subsequent innovations reduced the required camera exposure time from minutes to seconds and eventually to a small fraction of a second.

Introduction of new photographic media which were more economical, sensitive or convenient, including roll films was the next advance. This enabled its casual use by amateurs. It was now made possible to take pictures in natural colour as well as in black and white.

The commercial introduction of computer-based electronic digital cameras in the 1990s soon revolutionized photography. As a result traditional film-based photochemical methods were increasingly marginalized and image quality of moderately priced digital cameras was continually improved.

You’ll find below two good examples of how old photos of get-togethers of Batch’62 bring back memories. Talking about it alone wouldn’t be the same!

Sent by Zita PereraSubasinghe

with technical help from Mahendra Gonsalkorale.

References:

(1)http://www.sennhs.org/ourpages/auto/2013/4/1/41446028/The%20Birth%20of%20Cameras.pdf

(2)The BBC radio, Wikipedia, and other Internet sites

Creative Spot by Indra Anandasabapathy

The Harvest

Creative Spot by Srianee (Bunter) Fernando Dias

Srianee had been inspired to write this very short poem while sitting on a beach on the Long Island Sound. The photo is also one she had taken on the same beach in Madison, Connecticut. As you can see, the markings on the rocks are beautiful. This is probably just the second poem Srianee had ever written in her life! She is modest in declaring that she doesn’t consider herself a poet at all, but nevertheless, thought it was worth sharing it with her friends.

Rocks on the Beach

The ocean is life 

At times turbulent and unpredictable

Tossing us to smithereens on its unforgiving waves

Some of us learn to ride the waves with the grace of a ballerina

Others succumb to its merciless fury

Most of us survive like these rocks on the beach

With our rough edges smoothened out over time.

I turned 75 yesterday.....

I turned 75 yesterday. We had dinner with a few friends and close relatives at our Battaramulla home. Some selected pictures from last night.

Immunisation: Experts urge concerted action to build on Lanka’s success story

Click on the following link. Then click on News. Read Sanath Lama's keynote address at the Vaccine Forum


Immunisation: Experts urge concerted action to build on Lanka’s success story

Creative Spot by Indra Anandasabapathy

An Amateur Horticulturist cum Photographer writes:

CURRY LEAF ( KARAPINCHA / KARUVEPELAI )

They were outdoors from late spring till a few days ago. They will remain here through the winter, till next spring. The solarium is kept at 55 degrees F at night, the temperature rising to 90 F often in the day from the sun's heat. So, artificial heat is required only at night on a really cold night (latter half of December, January, February, March) only. Why 55 degrees? The plants, mostly tropical, have over the years adapted to the lower temperature at night. Years ago, the curry leaf plants would shed their leaves by February. I thought they would not make it alive by spring. They did develop new leaves  by spring and they do not shed anymore. I had to get them used to the lower temperatures at night to keep the heating bill down. It is still an expensive hobby and needs work.The plants get watered well twice a week and manured/fertilized once a month. Pruning keeps the curry leaf plants at the current height of about 6 feet.In winter, the vents are all closed and the humidity causes condensation which is good for the orchids .

 The potted plants are indoors as the weather changes in fall

THE BIRD OF PARADISE IN BLOOM. ON ITS RIGHT, THE TEMPLE FLOWER TREE - CUT BACK TO RE ENTER THE SOLARIUM. IN THE FOREGROUND ARE THREE CURRY LEAF PLANTS - 6 foot tall . YOU SEE ONLY ONE IN THE PICTURE. THE ORCHIDS ARE ALL BACK IN EXCEPT FOR ONE - A CYMBIDIUM), WHICH NEEDS TO STAY OUT TILL THE TEMPERATURE DROPS FURTHER TO MAKE IT FLOWER.

ANOTHER TROPICAL PLANT - any   GUESSES?

HINT. GROWS IN THE HILL COUNTRY IN SRI LANKA. 

HERE IS A PICTURE IN BETTER  LIGHTING AS REQUESTED BY NIHAL