Author: Ian

Sunset in The Broads

Ian

A few days away up Norfolk way and this is tonight’s sunset, this time lapse was taken on my Google Pixel phone using the DJI Osmo 2.

As I have not taken my laptop the video was editing using Adobe clip with the music being added and the watermark all on the phone, it it quite impressive that all of this has been done on a phone without any expensive software you can download from the play store.

DJI Osmo Mobile 2

Ian

So time for a new toy I think, I have just had a DJI Osmo Mobile 2 delivered to help me with some time lapsed photos and videography.

This is the first two time lapsed videos, one with and one without motion, just setup on a tripod in the back garden, next time I will be out and about.

DJI Osmo Mobile 2 time-lapse test

The first outing of the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 time-lapse test taken with a Google Pixel phone with the video being captured at 4K.
A single image every 5 seconds to make the video.

 

DJI Osmo Mobile 2 time-lapse with motion test

The first outing of the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 time-lapse with motion test taken with a Google Pixel phone with the video being captured at 4K.
A single image every .5 seconds to make the video.

Leather project 1 – Coin purse

Ian

My first leather project is a coin purse that can be hooked over a belt keeping the change out of your pocket so it does not cause any rips in the pocket lining.

The step by step process is detailed in both the video & the photos below.

You can donwload the template from this .PDF file >> Leather Project 1 Coin Purse Template

 

 

 

 

Web Widget 1st Cut

Ian

BloomSky Dashboard – Unofficial Web Widget 1st Cut

The first attempt looks like this:

To add this into your page please take the following code inserting your BloomSky API Key:

Change this line:

GetBloomSkyHTML('<YourAPIKey>', '1');
<script src='http://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.min.js' type='text/javascript'></script>
<link href="http://pcst.co.uk/BloomSkyUnofficial/style.css" rel="stylesheet">
<script src='http://pcst.co.uk/BloomSkyUnofficial/BloomSkyUnofficial.js' type='text/javascript'></script>
<div id="BloomSkyUnoffical"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
    GetBloomSkyHTML('<YourAPIKey>', '1');
</script>
    
       

We will be adding more refinements into the widget over the coming days.

BloomSky Dashboard – Unofficial

Ian

Welcome to the BloomSky Dashboard – Unofficial project pages.

After my weather station gave up the ghost I decided to try a BloomSky from https://www.bloomsky.com and while I love the photos I was not too impressed with the ability to store data and serve up the information on personal websites so I have decided to use the APIs that they provide to fill the gap.

This following pages will detail the project & progress.

If you would like to get involved please let me know.

Enjoy.

PowerShell Arrays and that annoying number on the screen

Ian

When you create an array and populate it in PowerShell the number of elements is written out to the screen, very annoying.

e.g.

function Array-Error() 
{ 
    $Array = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList 
    $Return = "ReturnValue" 
 
    $Array.Add("Value1") 
    $Array.Add("Value2") 
    $Array.Add("Value3") 
    $Array.Add("Value4") 
 
    return $return 
}
 
$display = Array-Error 
write-host -ForegroundColor Red $display

Output

0 1 2 3 ReturnValue

So how do we stop the numbers from being displayed to the screen, while Fix 2 is the proper way I like fix 1 as it reminds me of passing things over to “/dev/null” when I was a UNIX chap. 

function Array-Fix1() 
{ 
    $Array = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList 
    $Return = "ReturnValue" 
 
    $Array.Add("Value1") > $null 
    $Array.Add("Value2") > $null 
    $Array.Add("Value3") > $null 
    $Array.Add("Value4") > $null 
 
    return $return 
} 
 
$display = Array-Fix1 
write-host -ForegroundColor Magenta $display

Output

ReturnValue

or

function Array-Fix2() 
{ 
    $Array = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList 
    $Return = "ReturnValue" 
 
    $Array.Add("Value1") | Out-Null 
    $Array.Add("Value2") | Out-Null 
    $Array.Add("Value3") | Out-Null 
    $Array.Add("Value4") | Out-Null 
 
    return $return 
} 
 
$display = Array-Fix2 
write-host -ForegroundColor Magenta $display

Output

ReturnValue

Gary Numan – 24 September 2016

Ian

Today I got to go to a Gary Numan gig in Portsmouth and t was fantastic.

He was revisiting the Replicas, The Pleasure Principle & Telekon albums bringing them bang up to date and he did a fantastic job, I also get to see the same just up the coast in Bexhill on Monday evening as well, I was able to get a few shots tonight but with a bit of luck on Monday I should be able to get some better ones.

Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016
Gary Numan – 24 September 2016

Luna photography – second attempt

Ian

So way back in 2014 I tried my hand at taking some photos of the moon take a looa at: Luna photography for an idea of what I was doing.

Tonight I thought I would give it a second attempt and I think the photos are much much better with quite a bit more detail to show.

To see a larger version of the image please click on the photo.

11 September 2016 – 1
11 September 2016 – 2
11 September 2016 – 3

Hallvik – Dive site

Ian

This is Hallvik in Iceland, not too far from the Silfra fissure and just as stunning, the photos do not do the viability and blues justice, the best things is the water was quite warm rangeing from 3 – 9 degrees.

We where guided by Dave from http://magmadive.is a guide that I could not recommend highly enough so if you are looking to go over then look them up.

Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving
Hallvik – Diving

Silfra – Dive 2

Ian

After the first dive my wife being the sensible woman she is decided to get out of her diving kit and get warm me on the other hand could not help but go back in, this is the second dive.

We where able to dive the Silfra fissure crack between the North American and Eurasian continents where the continental plates meet, one truly unique place.

We where guided by Dave from http://magmadive.is a guide that I could not recommend highly enough so if you are looking to go over then look them up.

Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2
Silfra – Dive 2

Silfra – Dive 1

Ian

I had the absolute pleasure of diving on my wedding anniversary with my wife in Iceland this weekend.

We where able to dive the Silfra fissure crack between the North American and Eurasian continents where the continental plates meet, one truly unique place.

We where guided by Dave from http://magmadive.is a guide that I could not recommend highly enough so if you are looking to go over then look them up.

 

Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1
Silfra – Dive 1

Woodturning project #7 – Burning and ebonising

Ian

Well this weekend I have been playing with a couple of news items, a blow torch & ebonising spray and the results are below.

They are not too bad for a first attempt but I should have built up the ebony  layers much slower and a lot thinner.

 

Ebony and burning
Ebony and burning
Ebony and burning

Today’s inspiration has come from both Mike Waldt and Martin Saban-Smith both have fantastic videos to go through and gain some inspiration.

 

I am in Turner’s Rest

Ian

It looks like two of my turnings have been included in Turner’s Rest.

Turner’s Rest is a paper.li content aggregator run my Martin Saban-Smith and it has picked up on two pieces of work that I did last weekend, quite exciting.

Pop over to www.turnersrest.com and take a look and subscribe it hits your email inbox on Friday’s.

Turner's Rest 16 April 2016
Turner’s Rest 16 April 2016

Woodturning project #4 – A wooden box

Ian

This weekend I have had the pleasure of being taught how to turn some wood.

I spent two days with Tom Pockley and have learned so very much that I hope I don’t forget. I guess the best way is to get some more practice in during the week all I need to do is finish work on time so I can play in the garage / wood shop.

This is project number 4 a wooden box from cherry wood, it box is 90 mm high with the lid being 50 mm high.

Wooden box – Cherry
Wooden box – Cherry

Woodturning project #3 – A wooden bowl

Ian

This weekend I have had the pleasure of being taught how to turn some wood.

I spent two days with Tom Pockley and have learned so very much that I hope I don’t forget. I guess the best way is to get some more practice in during the week all I need to do is finish work on time so I can play in the garage / wood shop.

This is item project 3 for me and I am quite happy with it, I also turned a box but that will be in the next post.

Wooden bowl
Wooden bowl

Misadventures in wood turning

Ian

So we are in March 2016 and the time has come to begin a new woodworking related hobby I have chosen wood turning.

This section will document my misadventures in wood turning from photos of my first pieces to eventually videos to detail my journey, I am sure I will make many many mistakes but a log of what I am / have been doing should help me get better and if anyone else gets a kick out of my misadventures then all the better.

Woodturning project #1 – 8 inch sycamore bowl

Ian

So I have taken up a new hobby to go with all of the others, and this is my first attempt to make something.

This in an 8 inch sycamore bowl.

I am in preparation of a turning course in two weekends time and thought I should give things a go before I went, this is the first thing I have put on a lathe and the first bit of woodwork in over 25 years.

This is my attempt, sorry about the quality of the photos I was using the camera on the back of a tablet.

Blank in the lathe
Outside turned
Outside turned 2
Inside turned and lathe
Inside turned
Finished bowl
Finished bowl from top

I followed this tutorial from Keith Barrow on YouTube:

Hastings by night

Ian

So some fun tonight in Hastings with long exposures.

I need to bring the time down quite a bit as they are a little too light in places and the images are suffering as a result, I will go back to the spot and play again in a few evenings times and hopefully the outcome will be better.

The nice thing about mistakes is the ability to learn a little more.

Hastings by night
Hastings by night
Hastings by night
Hastings by night

Water droplet photography

Ian

So after an age I have been able to start with doing some water droplet photography, this is my first try and a few lessons learned.

Firstly the boring bits:

  • Shutter speed: 1/250
  • ISO: 400
  • F-Stop: f16
  • Camera: Cannon Eos 700D
  • Post editing
    • With the exception of cropping there was no post editing, so what you see if what you get.

 

Lessons learned

Focus:

I need to work on the focus a little more, the water is fine but the droplets are not as clear as they should be, perhaps I need to move the focus up a little.

Background:

While black is doing the job I may need to have a play with other colours but we will see for next time.

Lighting:

The lighting is not as simple as it appears to be, I need to work on that quire a bit.

 

Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session
Water droplet 1’st session

That x64 setting.

Ian

Today the following error was being thrown by a new SharePoint c# application,

“An unhandled exception of type ‘System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException’ occurred in Microsoft.SharePoint.dll” with the following detail:

“Additional information: Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {BDEADF26-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F} failed due to the following error: 80040154 Class not registered (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040154 (REGDB_E_CLASSNOTREG)).”

The application is being written in Visual Studio 2013, c# for SharePoint 2013 on a Microsoft Server 2012 R2 server.

To get over the issue just change the platform target in the build settings of the project to x64.

 

Diving at Holbrough Lakes

Ian

Went for a little dive over at Holbrough lakes this afternoon / this evening trying out a Liquid Image video camera mask, pleasantly surprised with the video.

We found the bus that was sunk at Holbrough lakes a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

Star trail photography

Ian

I have loved star trail photos for quite some time now so I thought I would have a play.

This image of from a set of images taken last night, not the best night for star trails as there was a almost full moon but I needed to try out the theory.

The image below is a composite image from 55 photos stitched together, each photo was taken with a Nikon D5100 using the inbuilt “interval timer shooting” option.

The camera was mounted on a tripod and set up to take images with the following settings.

F-stop : 5.6

Exposure time : 15 seconds

ISO Speed : 1600

Focal length : 22mm ( I was aiming for 20 but hay ho)

The images where then stacked using StarStaX a fantastic little freeware application.

This is the resulting image:

StarTrail-Try1

Now there is lots wrong with this image, there is too much light pollution from the street lamps but it was able to prove the concept.

The next time I do this there will be no moon in the sky and I will be in a more remote location without street lamps and with a bit of luck it will be a lot nicer.

 

Luna photography

Ian

I thought I would try my hand at Luna photography and after a little messing around with the settings I was able to get a few shots off.

The following are the four that I have selected out of the 9 in focus photos that I was able to take tonight.

Uncropped Luna Photo 2
Uncropped Luna Photo 1

ISO : 400
F-stop : F3.5
Focal length : 23mm
Flash : None
Shutter timing : 1/80 second.

 

Uncropped Luna Photo 3
Uncropped Luna Photo 2

ISO : 200
F-stop : F2.8
Focal length : 23mm
Flash : None
Shutter timing : 1/80 second.

Uncropped Luna Photo 1
Uncropped Luna Photo 3

ISO : 200
F-stop : F2.8
Focal length : 23mm
Flash : None
Shutter timing : 1/125 second.

Uncropped Luna Photo 4
Uncropped Luna Photo 4

ISO : 200
F-stop : F2.8
Focal length : 23mm
Flash : None
Shutter timing : 1/125second.

I then went on to crop with the, with different degrees of success, I think that cropped image 3 is the best one.

Cropped Luna Photo 1
Cropped Luna Photo 1
Cropped Luna Photo 2
Cropped Luna Photo 2
Cropped Luna Photo 3
Cropped Luna Photo 3

 

Fireworks 2014

Ian

It has been a while since I had the time to play with the manual mode of a camera as as the local school was having a fireworks night in my back garden I thought I would have a play.

So I set my Nikon D5100 up on a tripod got out the IR shutter release and had a play.

The base settings are:

ISO : 100

F-stop : F11

Focal length : 18mm

Flash : None

Shutter timing : 1.9 – 5 seconds.

With the exception of some cropping I have not done any post editing at the moment, I plan this week to take one or two of the images and play with them in GIMP / Photoshop and see what I can do with them.

Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014
Fireworks 2014

Virtual box to Hyper-V is one easy step

Ian

Tip of the day, this tip has been shamelessly stolen from Diary of a SharePoint consultant like many others I run Virtual Box and have lots of different environments ready to run to aid development & migration and the thought of re-creating them in Hyper-V has filled me me dread for quite a while now.

I do run Hyper-V on a couple of servers that I use but not on my portable development laptop that I carry around and I have been feeling increasingly hypercritical recommending that people run Hyper-V when I have not been running it on my laptop.

So a few days ago I decided to take the plunge and find a way forward moving over to Hyper-V on my laptop and I came across the posting that has made my life much easier, so I have put it on my blog so I can find it again.

'C:\Program Files\Oracle\Virtual Box\vboxmanage.exe' clonehd 'C:\VMs\VirtualBox\Server2012R2\SP2012r2.vdi' 'C:\VMs\Hyper-V\Server2012R2\SP2012r2.vhd' –format VHD

So far the conversions have gone well, I have converted:

Linux, IIS & MySQL, IIS & SQL Server 2012 / 2014, SharePoint 2003, SharePoint 2007, SharePoint 2010 & a SharePoint 2013 servers.

The only hiccup is that you will need to use Generation 1 hardware to mount the .vhd format disk but that is not a worry to me.

Office 365, ADFS & SSO

Ian

So you have made the move into Office 365, you have ADFS so you can have a single sign on so your user do not need to worry about logging in when they are in the office but it is not working, you check your ADFS setup and it looks good once you users logon in the morning they are good for the day so what are you missing?

There are a couple of setting that you may need to look at.

You will need to add the following into the “Local Intranet” zone in IE:

  • *.microsoftonline.com
  • *.office.com
  • Your ADFS server

You will also need to change one of the settings in the advance settings tab in IE.

Internet Options >> Security >> Click on the Local Internet zone >> click on the “Custom level…” >> User Authentication >> Logon >> Automatic log-on only in Intranet zone.