So I downloaded all the Microsoft stuff MS ICE and then Photosynth and here are the results:

Countryside scene 360 degrees near Childrey, Oxon

Step-by-step process if you’re new to it:

1. Take photos of a 360 degree panorama and upload to your computer
2. Create a free Photosynth account (I used my MSN login)
3. Download and install MS ICE (via link to MS Photosynth website above)
4. Create New Panorama in MS ICE (my 1st attempt using the ‘Structured Panorama’ didn’t work
   but my 2nd attempt by just dropping the photos from the folder worked in seconds)
5. Having checked that the panorama looks ok (at 1st I cropped it, but then on trying to
   upload to Photosynth , it wanted the original, uncropped version
   I saved it as JPEG & it was 3.40mb (surprisingly PNG file was enormous 1st time)
6. Download and install Photsynth
7. In MS ICE, click on the “Publish to web” button in the bottom rh corner
8. Login to your Photosynth account (the one created before)
9. At this point close any up/downloads in progress as you will a lot of bandwidth,
   especially if it’s a large file
10. Select the (large) file and upload
11. Go and make a cup of tea!
12. MS Photosynth doesn’t inform you of when the upload is done (the pause button
    is greyed out when upload is actually complete)
13. Sign in to your Photosynth and go to your Photosynth page, which should show your
    beautiful panorama in 360 degrees!

If you follow those steps, within about 20 minutes, you should have a completed panorama that you
can show and share, and inspire others to do the same.

Here is the finished results of my 360 degree panorama

Those were the days. Many happy memories, which is what a camera is best for capturing. These were taken using my first digital camera and a considerable investment at the time that I thought was worth it. The camera was a Nikon Cool Pix 700, one of the first digital cameras on the market. More memories to come soon.

Last night over 100 people, my good self included, participated in a live Twitter event; to come up with songs and films/movies titles related to cricket and cricket persona. As you can see, there was much hilarity and an equal amount of creativity.

Whether you’re familiar with or whether you like cricket or not, it doesn’t matter too much. Just enjoy some of the speedily, yet cleverly, thought up Twitter talk like I did.

Groundhoggard Day

Saving Private Ryan Sidebottom

From Botham Sides Now

Swann Lake

The Holy Bail

Steve McQueen in “Pavillion”

The Vaughan Identity

Life of O’Brien

Pietersen Pan

Bodyline of Evidence

Batsman Begins

Homeward Boundary

The Umpire Strikes Back

Lords of the Flies

Gone With The Windies

Fried Graham Onions At The Whistle Stop Cafe

The Third Man

Stig of the Stump

all the Batman films of course… (set in the fictional metropolis of Botham City)

The long-off Good Friday

The Freddie Truman Show

The Warne Identity

Full Metal Cricket Bat, lead actor Lillee (Aus, 1979)

The Whole 22 Yards

Read the rest of this entry »

Evening sky after rain

It’s always good to take a walk, and even more so after a heavy rain shower, and thunder and lightning.

With the summer heat and low pressure from the south, we’d had a couple of heavy downpours, enough to make me rush into the garden and collect the washing on the line as the water was let loose from the sky.

On the way to the supermarket for some pan scrubbers that we needed,  sometimes life does get more exciting than this, I came across a scene; beautiful colours. The sky lit up. It was almost as if it was on fire.

Standing tall

Pylons. Ah, pylons. You know there’s a pylon appreciation society, with all the different shapes and forms of pylons present in the UK, they even have their own website. Amazing. To think that that some people would devote their time and energy into such a pursuit, but they do. If we like something, we do. Fair enough; it is their gain.

I like how this looked this evening. Stalwart and unmoving. Against the elements.

A special anniversary item. Me and Shirley tied the knot 2 years ago today. Here are a few photos taken 3 years ago on our summer trip. That particular summer was amazing. We both visited Paris for the first time. We had glorious weather when it hit the mid-30s by the time we arrived in Paris from Belgium.

These were taken several miles away from home walking alongside the Grand Union canal.

The start of the good weather which has been with us for a few weeks now was with us that day.

There were a few barges moored up and even signs of life; brollies hiding inquisitive hounds.

Asiatic lily

This is the first lily of the summer season. Grown and tended with my generous care in the tub in the back garden. Let’s put all our wishes into seeing more handsome examples of the flora.

Flower head

I took these in Amersham, a small, picturesque commuter town in the south of  Buckinghamshire, Southern England.

The flowers were taken in the park in the town.

I took them with my Nokia X6 ( Carl Zeiss cam 5MP) which has done a very good job I think.

You can find out more about Amersham from Wikipedia here.

Church, Amersham old town

Purple petunias

Church, Amersham old town

You will also find photos I have taken in my spare time.

Feel free to browse and enjoy.

Please contact me if you want to use any of the images on this website. All items are copyrighted. Thank you.