Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Nicky Loh: Tattoo Girls of Taiwan

Photo © Nicky Loh-All Rights Reserved



Nicky Loh is a photographer with Reuters working in Taiwan, whose specialty is news, sports and feature photography, who's interested in documenting traditional art forms such as Chinese opera.

On his employer's blog, he writes of having had an assignment to cover the 2010 Taiwan International Tattoo Convention in Taipei which, while not newsworthy per se, offered him a good opportunity to produce colorful photographs.

He describes how he decided to set up an impromptu studio in one of the empty booths of the convention, and do portraits of women with fully tattooed backs.

Not only beautiful artwork, but also very attractive women...so a "twofer" as they say.

Global Post: Turkish Brothels

Photo © Nicholas Dynan-All Rights Reserved

One of my favorite online news provider is Global Post, not only for its cutting edge news reporting and analysis, but also for its frequent "off-the-beaten-path" features such as the one of Turkish transsexual brothels by Nicholas Dynan.

It also periodically publishes Full Frame which features photo essays and conversations with photographers in the field (including myself).

The Turkish transsexual brothels which, we are told, can be located in the busiest streets of Istanbul, and are the work place of some of Istanbul's transgender and transsexual sex workers.

To the best of my recollection, only one attendee of the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Istanbul last June presented work relating to transgender issues. Pedro Gomes, who attended my multimedia class, produced Esmeray, an audio slideshow about a transgender feminist-sex worker-actor.

Monday, August 30, 2010

My Work: The Salt Maker of Kusamba

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

A few days before the start of the Bali: Island of Odalan Photo~Expedition ™ , I drove to the eastern shores of the island to photograph the traditional salt making in Kusamba.

I spent a couple of hours with Dewa Yoman Sanat; a traditional salt-maker (or more accurately, salt gatherer) in Kusamba. He guesses his age to be close to 70, and he works at gathering salt everyday under the scorching sun. On cloudy and rainy days, he remains home as a hot sun is needed to evaporate the seawater which leaves a thin film of salt, which is then gathered by Dewa.

He and his wife, Jero Sekar, who also helps him in this back-breaking work, have 7 grand children...none are understandably interested in continuing the salt making tradition. Dewa said that he gets about Rp 5000 (about 50 cents) for every 10 kilograms of salt.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

NYT: Pakistan Floods By Tyler Hicks

Photo © Tyler Hicks/NY Times-All Rights Reserved

The catastrophic flooding of the Indus is considered as Pakistan's worst natural calamity, which has ruined almost every infrastructural aspect that connects the country together — roads, bridges, schools, health clinics, electricity and communications. The destruction is also estimated to set Pakistan back decades, will weaken its feeble civilian administration and add to the burdens on its military.

The New York Times has recently featured Tyler Hicks' compelling photographs of the disaster in Pakistan's Floods, as the one above of two young girls quenching their thirst at a water pump in Sukkur. It's said that 20 million people have been affected by the floods; a number of people equal to the population of New York State.

According to the New York Times, a joint study from Ball State University and the University of Tennessee, puts the total cost of the flood damage at $7.1 billion. That is nearly a fifth of Pakistan’s budget.

I sense an apathy amongst the Western and Islamic nations to assist Pakistan in its difficulties. Is it because of the widespread perception (or knowledge) that the Zardari's government is riddled with corruption and cronyism, and thus may divert some of the aid? Or is it Islamophobia? Or is simple donor fatigue after Haiti? I tend to think it's all of the above and perhaps more.

And while I'm on the subject, is it only me who now increasingly relies on foreign cable news like China Network Television (CNTV) and RT (the Russian 24/7 English-language TV) for in-depth international news??? The added bonus of course is that these stations have no interest in Glenn Beck and the repellent clowns of his ilk as does CNN, MSNBC, et al.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

2007 Bentley Brooklands

2007 Bentley Brooklands
Maximum speed (km / h) - 296
Acceleration 0-100 km / h (s) - 5.3
Urban consumption (l/100 km) - 28.8
Extra consumption (l/100 km) - 14.1
Average consumption (l/100 km) - 19.5
CO 2 emissions (g / km) - 465
RT - 14.75%

2007 Bentley Brooklands
Body Type - Coupe
Number of doors - 2
Length / width / height (mm) - 5411 / 2078 / 1473
Weight (kg) - 2730
Fuel Tank Capacity (l) - 96
Number of seats - four

2007 Bentley Brooklands
Fuel - Gasoline
Maximum power CV - kW / rpm - 537 - 395 / 4000
Maximum torque Nm / rpm - 1.050 / 3250
Number of cylinders - 8 V-90
Material block / butt - aluminum / aluminum
Bore x stroke (mm) - 104.16 x 99.06
Displacement (cm3) - 6753
Compression ratio - 7.8
Distribution - 2 valves per cylinder.

2007 Bentley Brooklands
Traction - later
Gearbox - Automatic six-speed

2007 Bentley Brooklands
Front suspension - Independent. Deformable parallelogram. Helical spring. Stabilizer bar.
Rear Suspension - Independent. Deformable parallelogram. Helical spring. Stabilizer bar.
Tires - 255/40 R20
Wheels - 8.5 x 20

Jon Vidar: The Tiziano Project


The Tiziano Project presents the journalistic efforts and personal accounts of Iraqi citizens living in the Kurdish north, along with stories produced by their professional multimedia journalism mentors.

An extremely well-made multimedia project, it includes stories such as those on the Yazidis, nomadic mountain-dwelling Kurds, a pigeon keeper, a muezzin, a klash maker, and many more.

The mentoring team consist of Jon Vidar (one of the talented instructors at the Istanbul Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, and a freelance photographer who developed self-assigned projects spanning six continents, including work in Iraqi Kurdistan, Southeast Turkey, Rwanda, and Brazil), Victoria Fine, Grant Slater and Chris Mendez.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Rose Schierl: Bali Island of Odalan

Photo © Rose Schierl-All Rights Reserved

Here's the work of Rose Schierl; the second participant of the Bali: Island of Odalan Photo~Expedition ™ to send images to post on this blog.

Rose has been photographing since 2005, and only gone digital two years ago. She hasn't gone through any formal photographic education per se, but attended various short workshops, and those set by Arizona Highways. Rose won an award at a juried show for one of her photographs in 2009. She's also an accomplished diver, and before the photo expedition was on a diving vacation for a couple of days in the north-west of the island.

So far, it appears the fire-walkers at the end of the Kecak dance performance we attended in Ubud was a favorite subject for the group members. Rose managed to capture one of them kicking a blast of glowing embers (above).

Photo © Rose Schierl-All Rights Reserved

One of the shoots I organized during the photo-expedition was at the house of a wayang kulit (shadow puppet) master, where we were treated to a private performance The wayang kulit is an extremely important vehicle of culture, serving as carrier of myth, morality play, and form of religious experience rolled into one. Here, the master is moving one of his shadow puppets during the performance.

Photo © Rose Schierl-All Rights Reserved

Here's a Balinese villager who was attending a night odalan in Bitra village. The temple anniversary was one of the most interesting we've been to during the 2 weeks photo-expedition. Not only did it involve the requisite day-time religious prayers and offering in an exquisite forest setting, but it included performances of Barong and Arja dances.

Photo © Rose Schierl-All Rights Reserved

Rose captured a dancer during an evening Legong performance at Ubud's palace. The performance included various dances, such as the Gabor, Baris, Kraton and the Taruna Jaya.

New Canon D60



It's all over the blogosphere...Canon announced the EOS 60D, a sort of “replacement” for the 50D. According to the reviews, the 60D body is plastic, and uses SD cards instead of the CF.

It's certainly built for video. It has a pop-out, tilt-and-swivel rear screen which, even if it's Canon’s first on an SLR, would just drive me insane. Video can be shot at different sizes and speeds. 1080p is available at 24p, 25p or 30p frame rates.

According to WIRED's Gadget Lab, its 18MP sensor (like the LCD panel) is the same as in the 550D or Rebel T2i, its AF system comes from the 50D and the 63-zone exposure meter comes from the 7D. So it's dubbed the "Frankencam".

It will go on sale in September for $1,100 body-only.

Santa, I have no interest.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Matt Allard Captures Geishas



Matt Allard is a Team Leader- Cameras for Aljazeera International based out of Kuala Lumpur covering Asia/Pacific and the sub continent, and has produced a movie documenting the changing culture of geishas. Due to the world financial crisis, even well-entrenched traditions have had to adapt in Japan, as elsewhere, and geishas in Kyoto have had to follow suit.

Matt used a Canon 7D, 5Dmk2 and 7 lenses to shoot this assignment. The lenses used were a Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS II, 50mm f1.2, 135mm f2, 24-70mm f2.8, 100mm Macro f2.8, 16-35mm f2.8 and a Tokina 11-16mm f2.8. All interviews were shot on the 70-200mm. All the audio was recorded on a Zoom H4N using either Seinnheiser radio or shotgun mics. It was edited using FCP and ran on Aljazeera English on the 19th August 2010 around the world.



Also from Matt Allard is this movie depicting the same modern day girl transforming into a Geisha in Kyoto, Japan. It was made using a Canon 7D and a 5D Mark 2 using a Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro and a Canon 16-35mm f2.8. The ambient light and the angles used by Matt are just perfect...the colors are beautiful.

Via DSLRrnewsshooter.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

My Work: Bali Cockfights

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

We were fortunate to encounter a number of cockfights during the Bali: Island of Odalan Photo~Expedition ™.

I say fortunate because, while cockfights are gruesome and certainly bloody, they offer glimpses into a tradition practiced on the island (and elsewhere in the world) for ages. All animal rights activists and many other lay people consider it a horrible blood sport which ought to be banned. In Bali, cockfights are known as tajen, but have been forbidden since 1981 since it's considered gambling. Notwithstanding, it continues to be practiced as a ritual to expel evil spirits, and feverish gambling by bebebotoh (always men) is the norm when it occurs.

The area where the cockfight occurred was full of men, who were engaged in gesticulating and yelling their bets according to the color of the roosters. In the middle of the circle formed by the crowd, the bebebotoh were stroking their prized roosters, preparing them for the fights. Others were tying razor-sharp spurs to the birds' legs, while others were busy carving up carcasses of those that had been vanquished.

There seemed to be a sort of hierarchy. A older man, dressed in better quality clothes than the rest of the throng, was sitting very calmly in the midst of the frenetic betting activity, taking it all in. He clearly was a main player of some sort here. I couldn't tell whether he participated, or whether he was the "banker". He may have been a wealthy gambler who joined these cockfights to satisfy his passion.

My movements were restricted, as the men were in no mood to allow anyone to obstruct their view of the cockfights. However, I managed to photograph at will, and recorded some raw ambient sound, which includes the crowds yells and bids.

The roosters' demise is quick...the "combat" is short lived and takes about a minute or two for one of the roosters to fall. Thereupon, it's carried away and eviscerated to be consumed later.

As a side note: I often witness similar rituals; some secular and others religious, and I always try not to pass judgment on the practice. While I personally consider cockfighting to be cruel (as I do of bullfighting), I also respect the right of the Balinese (and others) to practice it, especially when it has a religious significance. Unfortunately in this case, it was all unapologetic gambling.

Having said that, I found the atmosphere electric and compelling, and I am at work on an audio-slideshow of the two cockfights I've witnessed in Bali this time. It will include the one I've described above, and another which was part of a melasti on a beach.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Bentley Brooklands

The Bentley Brooklands is a two-door coupe and four-seater derivative of Azure convertible. Therefore, technically it has nothing to do with the models developed since the brand is owned by Volkswagen (the coupe Continental GT, the convertible Continental GTC saloon and the Continental Flying Spur).

Bentley Brooklands 2007
Bentley only intends to produce 550 units of Bentley Brooklands; deliveries to customers will not begin until the first half of 2008.


Bentley Brooklands 2008
Unlike the Continental GT, the Bentley Brooklands is a coupe with two doors and silhouette of three volumes.

Bentley Brooklands 2008
According to Bentley, there are features in the design taken from the work they did on some old coach Bentley models. One of those cited is that glass for glasses is visually far from the trunk (glass for glasses 'floating' call it). The responsibility for the design of the Bentley Brooklands is Dirk van Braeckel.

Bentley Brooklands 2009
As usual in Bentley, and especially in this case due to limited production, customers can choose from a wide range of colors and materials for the interior. One feature of Bentley Brooklands is that the roof is in one piece lengthwise trail with bright elements, which reaches the rear seats. Standard wheels are 20 ", partly because of the diameter of the discs you need.

Bentley Brooklands 2008
Technically has elements of Bentley with eight-cylinder engine and rear traction, when Bentley and Rolls-Royce were in the same group, the latest Bentley have twelve cylinders and traction total.

Bentley BrooklandsIn the case of Bentley Brooklands, the turbocharged V8 engine of 6.7 litres of engine capacity reaches 530 hp.

Bentley Brooklands
This power level is a big increase compared with the engine of Azure (457 hp) and lowest in relation to the Arnage (500 hp), but not much relative to their engine capacity if we bear in mind that this is a turbocharged engine.

The engine of Bentley Brooklands is the most powerful V8 that has made for a Bentley model range and reaches 1,050 Nm of maximum torque.

On behalf of Bentley Brooklands is taken from some of the first permanent circuits, which was located in Surrey (England) and was inaugurated in 1907; Bentley won victories in competition at this circuit during years 20 and 30.

VII's Seamus Murphy: Phoenix Afghanistan


“Photography is part history, part magic.”
-Seamus Murphy
Here's a multimedia piece published by VII The Magazine with stills and audio by Seamus Murphy titled Phoenix Afghanistan.

Seamus began photographing in Afghanistan in 1994, and for two decades, he has worked extensively in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America and most recently America on an ongoing project during what he calls “a nervous and auspicious time.” His accolades include six World Press Photo Awards.

Phoenix Afghanistan compares photographs of life in Kabul from 1994 to photographs in 2010. You'll notice that the 1994 photographs are in black & white, whilst those of 2010 are in color, thereby enhancing the contrast between the two eras.

I wish I hadn't found found the narrative by Seamus to be so stilted...he was probably reading off a sheet of paper rather than having a conversation or reminiscing aloud. Same like good photography, compelling narration is a difficult skill to learn, and requires training.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Kim McClellan: Bali Island of Odalan

Photo © Kim McClellan -All Rights Reserved

Kim McClellan is a third-time repeat participant in my photo~expeditions, having joined Bhutan: Land of Druk Yul Photo~Expedition ™ in October 2009, and the The Tribes of Rajasthan & Gujarat Photo~Expedition ™ in January 2010 before returning with a trove of images from the Bali: Island of Odalan Photo~Expedition ™ last week.

Photo © Kim McClellan -All Rights Reserved

Kim is a professional photographer (as well as working for the SBA in DC), and graduated from the Washington School of Photography in January 2001. She's passionate about international travel photography, and her work was featured in juried exhibitions and shows in the Washington DC Metro Area. She's well-known for her work in fashion, glamor, and classical figures.

Photo © Kim McClellan -All Rights Reserved

During the Bali photo-expedition, Kim worked on transitioning from the more staged style of glamor photography to the more fluid style of travel-photojournalism, which is the core objective of my photo workshops. Her photographs here demonstrate her progress in that transitioning.

Photo © Kim McClellan -All Rights Reserved

The first photograph was made during a private ceremony preceding a cremation. Cremations in Bali are occasions for gaiety and not for mourning, since it represents the ceremonial burning of the dead to liberate their souls to be free for reincarnation into better beings.

The second was made at the holy temple of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, which is a major water temple on Bali, and one that protects Bali from evil spirits from the north west. and where constant ceremonies were being conducted when we were there.

The third is of a melasti on a beach on Bali's north east shores. Melasti is an important purification ceremony when temple devotees in Bali go to its beaches, carrying their temple effigies and where the cleansing rituals occur.

The fourth photograph was made during a Kecak & Kris Trance dance in Ubud, and shows one of the dancers in a trance walking barefoot on glowing embers.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley Continental GTC is the convertible version of the Continental GT.

Bentley Continental GTCThe Bentley Continental GTC is the second model of the homeless range, after recently presented the Azure (which has no elements in common with Continental, but with previous models from Bentley). The JWG shares some mechanical components with the Volkswagen Phaeton.

Bentley Continental GTCThe Bentley Continental GTC has four seats, a retractable roof canvas (with three layers of fabric) and a Rear window glass; takes 25 s in conducting the operation complete opening or closing. When folded, the hood is covered in leather upholstery accommodation. With the canopy collapsed, the trunk has a capacity of 235 litres.

2009 Bentley Continental GTCThe exterior dimensions of the JWG are virtually identical to those in GT. Measuring 4.80 m long, 1.92 m wide and 2.74 m wheelbase. The JWG is 1 cm higher (1.40 m).

Bentley Continental GTCLike the coupe from which derives it has a twelve-cylinder engine in 'W' with four valves per cylinder 6.0 litre engine capacity, variable distribution, dual turbocharger and intercooler. It has a maximum power of 559 hp at 6,100 rpm and maximum torque of 650 Nm at 1,600 rpm.

2009 Bentley Continental GTCThe transmission system is similar to the coupe: permanent total traction (with Torsion differential) and automatic transmission speeds of six (brand ZF), with the possibility of manually operated by cams mounted on the steering column. It weighs 2,495 kg, 110 kg more than the coupe.

2009 Bentley Continental GTCWith this engine, reaches a maximum speed of 312 kph (WG, 318 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 5.1 s (4.8 s WG). With the canopy collapsed, the maximum speed decreases to 306 km / h. This is due to an increase in drag to progress, what happens in all cabriolets when the canopy is removed. By the same token, it is normal for a convertible when you have higher consumption without hood.

2009 Bentley Continental GTCThere are many alternatives to Bentley Continental GTC. The only convertible with a capacity of four people and more than 400 hp is the Aston Martin DB9 Volante.


2009 Bentley Continental GTC
The description of the suspension of the Bentley Continental GTC is the same as that of a Volkswagen Phaeton: parallelogram deformable in the two axes. It also has pneumatic springs and a buffer electronically controlled continuously variable hardness.

The driver can manually select between four programmes suspension, ranging from "Comfort" to "Sports". According to the chosen program, adjusting the height of the suspension and the hardness of the buffer. Whatever the chosen program, from 245 mph the suspension is automatically in the lowest position.

The team ventilated disc brakes are very powerful: the discs have a diameter of 405 mm and 335 mm in front behind. Currently, the front brake discs are larger diameter of all cars as standard market (along with other models Bentley).

Inside the Bentley Continental GTC, as is normal in the Bentley models, there are high-quality materials to craft treatment: natural leather and furs, natural wood, polished metal and satin.

The Bentley Continental GTC interior is leather upholstery and seat covers, door panels and dashboard, you can choose from seventeen different colors. There are eight colours and five interior ceiling to the outside. In addition, there are fifteen colors of bodywork.

The front seats of the Bentley Continental GTC are fully adjustable electrically, with memory positions for three seats, steering column and exterior mirrors. They also have control device with electric lumbar massage optional. The occupants of the seats thereafter as Bentley says, are 3 cm more space for their legs than in the coupe.

The interior of the Bentley Continental GTC can be customized further through optional elements of the line exclusive Bentley Mulliner. This model has a great variety of equipment. Some elements that have are operated hood so Electrohydraulics, openness and keyless ignition, air conditioning, Bluetooh connection for mobile phone, steering wheel controls lined with leather and automatic parking brake.

The system of information and entertainment series includes browser with maps on DVD, charger six records in the glove compartment and monitor the operation of the suspension; optionally can have a TV tuner.

As an element of security in case of overturning, carries two arches of steel reinforced that emerge in a split second, if there is a risk of overturning.

It also brings stability control disconnect, xenon headlights for short and long pilots and LED brake lights, alloy wheels, 19 inches with five spokes finished in the colour of the bodywork, checking tire pressure, double output exhaust, front brake calipers with glossy finish, laminated glass in windshields and side windows, automatic windscreen wipers and mirrors external and internal anti-glare, among other things.

To prevent the flow of air entering the passenger compartment, you can put a windbreaks made of aluminum and chrome on the rear seats. This windbreaks can be folded and keep in the trunk when not in use.

As the GT and Flying Spur, wearing a diffuser in the lower body and rear bumpers, to provide better support and stability at high speed.

My Work: Balinese Elder With Dog

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

What people may or may not tell you is that some of the best photographs out of the many one makes during a photo trip are serendipitous, and the opportunities to make them occur when one least expects them.

Here's one of my favorites so far (and I've only looked at two of my image folders...a mere fraction of the over 10,000 photographs I've made during the Bali: Island of Odalan Photo~Expedition) of an elderly Balinese woman returning to her traditional home after having emptied her basket of the morning offerings.

We were driving to one of the many temple ceremonies, and I suddenly saw the woman walking slowly towards her house. I immediately asked Komang to stop our van, and our second car also stopped. I reached for my cameras, and squeezed a few frames using the 70-200 lens, while the woman was quizzically looking at the two vehicles full of photographers, aiming their lenses at her. She never smiled...but just stood there, regally, probably muttering "Mad bule (foreigners in Bahasa)".

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Ian Winstanley: Pashupathi Sadhus

Photo © Ian Winstanley-All Rights Reserved


Here's a collection of sadhus' portraits by Ian Winstanley, a commercial photographer based in the UK. Exclusively involved in the advertising and design industries, Ian later also specialized in fine art based work.

Photographing in Nepal for a book, Ian spent time on the banks of the Bagmati river in Kathmandu's holy site known as Pashupathi. It was here, in 2001, that the much-loved King Birendra and other members of Nepal’s royal family were cremated after a massacre blamed on the crown prince, who also killed himself. The site is considered as one of the oldest and most holy of temples dedicated to Shiva, and sadhus and other Hindu faithful have been drawn to it since the 5th century.

In Hinduism, sadhus are mystics, ascetics, practitioners of yoga and wandering monks. Technically, sadhus are solely dedicated to achieving the fourth and final Hindu goal of life known as moksha, through meditation. However, many of sadhus are nothing more (or less) than wandering homeless individuals, relying on charity of others to survive.

The Economist's More Intelligent Life website has also published some of Ian's sadhus photographs here.

Bentley Continental GT

The Bentley Continental GT is the first completely new model made by Bentley since this mark belongs to the Volkswagen Group, and also the first new Bentley since 70 years ago.

Bentley Continental GTThe Bentley Continental GT is manufactured in the Bentley plant in Crewe (UK), including assembly of the engines. The designer of the bodywork is named Dirk van Braeckel, who has deliberately avoided a design 'retro'.

2007 Bentley Continental GTIt is a coupe motor front, two doors and 2 +2 seats. Move the 12-cylinder engine in 'W' also have the Volkswagen Phaeton, but modified by Bentley. The cylinder capacity remains the same -5,998 cm ³ - but has two turbochargers KKK, with which the absolute maximum pressure supply is 1.7 bars.

2007 Bentley Continental GTWhat has succeeded Bentley Continental GT with these turbochargers blowing soft is a maximum power and maximum torque for its relatively low cylinder capacity: 560 hp and 650 Nm, but with a maximum torque virtually constant throughout the system useful engine. It and 650 Nm at 1,600 rpm and 644 Nm preserved when the engine turns regime maximum power, 6,100 rpm.

Bentley Continental GTThe Bentley Continental GT has some unusual features in very powerful turbo engines: its compression ratio is neither low (9 to 1), has a maximum production nor is low (6,300 rpm) and requires no gasoline for 98 NOT under any circumstances.

2007 Bentley Continental GTThe Bentley Continental GT gearbox is ZF, and six-speed automatic with sequential controls on the steering wheel. According to Bentley, the Bentley Continental GT is the fastest four-seater in the world.

2007 Bentley Continental GTThe Bentley Continental GT maximum speed is not self-limiting, and reaches 306 km / h, has a rear spoiler that deploys when the car was moving fast. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 4.7 s (the Mercedes CL 65 AMG makes it in 4.5).

2007 Bentley Continental GTThe description of the suspension is the same as that of a Phaeton, parallelogram deformable in the two axes. It also has pneumatic springs and a buffer electronically controlled continuously variable hardness (That does not mean it is the same). It has stability control, disconnect through a button on the dashboard. The series will tire of 19 "in diameter.
Although it has elements in common with the Volkswagen Phaeton is not exactly the same chassis, the Bentley Continental GT has less battle (2,745 mm to 2,881).
It is a four-seater designed for people of high stature, the trunk measured 370 l. Part of the internal volume steals a fuel tank of 90 litres.

The Bentley Continental GT rear seats are folding and offer the possibility of carrying long objects in the interior. The safety equipment is standard in a car together (eight airbags and tensors emergency in all places).

Among the equipment, in addition to the normal range in a car of this price, there are things like a Breitling watch, with the typography of the instrumentation that had the Bentley before World War II.

It will be up for sale gasoline and coupe body in the second half of 2003 for a price without taxes of € 137069. Until now, Bentley Continental GT has received 3,000 deposits account, of which 75 percent are for people who have never owned a Bentley.

Friday, August 20, 2010

New Handheld Recorder Zoom H1 In Stores


I've previously posted about the ultra-portable and cheap Zoom H1 from Samson Tech, which is a handy portable stereo recorder at an unheard-of $99 price.

The manufacturer claims that it will give you 10 hours of battery life on a single AA cell, and can accommodate up to 32GB of removable microSDHC storage. Its microphones are configured in an X/Y pattern for optimum stereo imaging.

I predict it'll be a hit for entry-level multimedia photographers, especially that it can be mounted on the camera shoe of a DSLR.

It's currently available at B&H which has also blogged about it. The post also answers the issue as to how to connect it to the camera shoe. The answer? Through a $35 male shoe adapter which is available from a different manufacturer.

I might just be tempted.

Canon G12


According to WIRED's Gadget Lab, CNET Asia leaked the new Canon G12 pro-compact.

It appears that the G12 brings back high-definition video to the table. It will shoot 720p, just like the new Canon S95, which launched yesterday. Some of the specifications are a 10 mp high sensitivity CCD sensor, a 2.8" titlt-swivel LCD and manual exposure function.

The lens is a 28-140mm with ƒ2.8 to ƒ4.5 aperture, and the price is estimated by WIRED's Gadget Lab at around $500.

Via WIRED's Gadget Lab.