DNGMonochrome - the next release...

It's not there yet, but currently after a short break, I'm back at it.

It's still Experiment I (for a potential Experiment II, I need to learn some new stuff first)...

I'm currently working on support for Canon files.

Adobe has a free DNG converter, in which you can convert the Canon RAW files (CR2) to DNG. And since I still have many Canon photos in my own collection, I wanted to see if DNGMonochrome could convert those converted CR2 files to monochrome.

It needed some small adaptations, but currently the EOS 350D, EOS 40D are fully supported, and I'm working on the DNGs converted from CR2 files from the 5D Mark II. That seems to be the only 'problem' camera so far and requires some additional coding, since the Bayer filter doesn't seem to be in the correct place for DNGMonochrome.

I've also introduced a new setting for red and blue filtering. It will be possible to filter according to a strength setting (ranging from 'full' to 25%). Especially a 50% red setting gives nice results, possibly comparable to an orange filter.

Not sure yet when the release will be, but I hope within two weeks from now...

Zhouzhuang, China, December 2007...

Canon EOS 40D with Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 converted to DNG and then to red filtered monochrome with DNGMonochrome...

Favorites?

Sometimes people ask me: what are your own personal favorites?

Well, actually nobody has ever asked me that, but let's pretend...

I have a bunch, with some favorite-favorites, so when they ask me that question I always show them at least this one:

Or, depending on my mood, this one:

No just kidding... Charlie is cool, but he's no match...

I meant 'or this one':

If you stare at it a bit you can almost hear the silence... I think it's the still water responsible for that effect... anyway...

The weather was nasty.

It was cold - December, around 5 degrees Celsius - and drizzling almost the whole day. My shoes were soaking, the water was creeping up my trousers and my mood wasn't too great after slouching through the rain with only 4 hours of sleep.

But that all lifted pretty quickly when I saw the scenery.

And there are some advantages to not so great weather: less tourists polluting the nice scenes and the rain and mist do give a different atmosphere you won't find in the brochures.

It's Zhouzhuang, an hour drive from Shanghai, also called 'the Venice of China'... you can see why...

From a Chinese travel brochure:

Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, situated in Kunshan City which is only 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Suzhou. It is noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), Zhouzhuang was a part of the fief Yaocheng and called Zhenfengli. After being donated to Full Fortune (Quanfu) Temple by Zhou Digong, a very devout Buddhist, in 1086 during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), Zhouzhuang got its present name as a memorial of the donor. In an area of half a square kilometer (124 acres), 60 percent of the Zhouzhuang's structures were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is from 1368 to 1911.

These photos are from one of the reworked Shanghai 2007 albums, click on any of the photos above, to see them all.

Click here for the total index. You'll find all the reworked and new albums under 'New albums' (how convenient...).