Photography
Hexagon is a place where my favorite subjects come together: Science, Technology, Photography, Filmmaking, Travel, and Design. But there are more things I love to share—food, stories, reviews, and other things that don’t necessarily fit.
Welcome to Diameter—that which spans one’s many interests.
I was in a meeting today and one of my leaders and friends talked about the good news that we may not be hearing. It struck me immediately as all that we, as a human race, have been discussing are the bad things that have happened over the past months concerning COVID-19—that we are doing the kind and compassionate thing in sacrificing our normal daily lives to go into a social distancing methodology that is actually quite the contrary to human existence. We are social creatures—even the most introverted of us.
Some shared the work that they are doing, how they are keeping busy, the fun they are having, even through life is challenging at the moment. While I rarely care to be in the spotlight, getting positive feedback or sharing what I feel are my accomplishments is actually very awkward for me, I wanted to share something that I worked on for and am now only truly appreciating the impact that myself and team had.
I volunteer to work for Aid Africa’s Children and lead their technology efforts. We are a not for profit who shares our talents and resources in Africa—specifically, Tanzania, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and Nigeria.
Sub-Saharan africans spend 40 billion hours a year collecting water. I wanted to change that.
This is my story:
“More people die from contaminated or polluted water than from all forms of violence including wars,” states the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Recently, Aid Africa’s Children’s built a much needed 6 tank, 5,000 liters (1,300 Gallon) per tank rainwater collection system at the Benedictine Holy Spirit Abbey in Mvimwa, Tanzania. This project was completed ahead of schedule, under budget and is sustainable and green! Our project also aligned with the United Nation’s 2018 World Water Development Report suggestions for encouraging “Nature-Based Water Solutions (NBS)” to meet the rapid increasing global demand for water.”
Please read the whole article—it is short. There are good things still happening in the world—this is happening right now.
Transforming Lives in Tanzania with Rainwater Collection System
Aid Africa’s Children
Our mission: Empowering impoverished African children and communities with healthcare, food, clean water, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
This is an ongoing project to bring clean water to those who need. While I sit here writing this, I have 144 bottles of water I could drink at anytime—unscrew the cap and drink. Sadly, this luxury I take for granted is not how most of the world lives.
If you would like to help, explore out website and visit Get Involved.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
Adrian’s Life Rule #31: If what you have you do not need, be kind and share with someone who does.
FujiFulm X-H1 ISO dial
Changing ISO in digital imaging does not change the sensitivity of the sensor. That is impossible.
To the chagrin of many, probably due to the language used and the analogy to film, one can not change the sensitivity of a sensor. ISO adjusts the gain applied to the signal that comes off the sensor—this happens after the image is captured. In other words, if the base ISO of one’s sensor is 200, all images are captured at 200 and when ISO is adjusted, to 400 as an example, additional gain is applied. The variation is that of a dual ISO sensor but, in short, that means that were is a second amplifier in the system/camera.
One might argue that using ISO terms in digital imagery was a mistake because of how it related to film. It confuses the actual technical nature of the device to the nature of silver halide. If one were to shoot with a film camera, ISO 200 film is twice the sensitivity to light as ISO 100. But that can not happen with a sensor. The light that hits the sensor is the light that is recorded—it is what it is. However, should one need a faster shutter in lower light, the signal will be boosted using the ISO adjustment on one’s camera but to reiterate, it does not change the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor but amplifies the signal from the sensor before it reaching the analog to digital converter.
Sony EX-1 gain switch
Interestingly enough, cinema cameras frequently do not have an ISO control but a gain control. My old workhorse Sony EX-1, pictured here, does not have an ISO control—gain is low, medium, high that I custom set to 0dB, 3dB, or 6dB (decibels of gain).
While decibels is frequently associated with audio gain, dB can be applied to any signal in electronics.
If I can really throw a wrench in one’s understanding of digital photography, ISO isn't even part of the exposure triangle. “Heretic!” they all scream. But that is for another article.
While one can imagine ISO as being a change in sensitivity of the sensor in a camera, the very fact is, it is both incorrect and inaccurate and gives a false impression of what is actually taking place when shooting with a digital camera.
Edit: I originally stated that my Sony EX-1 gain settings were 3dB, 6dB, and 9dB but, upon checking, they were set to 0, 3, 6.