McAleavy.org

Wyoming?

I was showing someone Google Analyitics yesterday, and when I pulled up the Map Overlay screen and drilled down to the USA I saw this. For the last month I’ve had hits from every single United State except one. Now in truth I’m astonished that I’m getting hits from so many places - my site isn’t exactly high bandwidth - but there’s still a little paranoid bit in the back of my head that really wants to know what I did to offend Wyoming…

Space Navigator

I added a new gadget to my desktop last week - a Space Navigator. For those with an interest in obscure old gaming controllers, it’s a bit like a desk-mounted SpaceOrb - a little puck that you can push and twist on its base to input movement in 3 dimensions (pan, zoom and rotate).

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As I’m primarily a lightpainter, I do a lot of work in dark studios, and as a result, trip over things a lot. In an effort to reduce this laughter-inducing behaviour I built a radio shutter release for my camera. My models are now less entertained, but I’m that little bit more efficient, and slightly less bruised. Click the link above for construction details.

I’ve been meaning to write up a lightpainting tutorial for a while now, but didn’t really think it was worthwhile without some behind-the-scenes example shots - so when I was in the studio shooting this image of Jay last Friday, I took some. Click on the image or the banner above to view.

I’ve been experimenting with different systems for processing 5×4 sheet film, so decided to start keeping some notes. First up is a small modification to my Paterson Orbital Processor to allow the anti-halation backing to wash off when processing sheet film.

I’ve decided to have a go at making some albumen prints, so I spent the evening breaking eggs and separating the white from the yolk. Having witnessed the fate of a good dozen of its fellows, one egg made a valiant and slippery bid for freedom, flew across the kitchen and attempted to hide in a cupboard. This resulted in a considerable amount of swearing and the unscheduled washing of a stack of plates. The egg did not survive.