I was having a cup of Sumatra at Starbucks today and look what rolled up: The Cameravan! Harrod Blank built this mobile art installation back in 1995, while living in Berkeley, California. It was two years in the making. The Cameravan has traveled all over North America and part of Europe. Harrod is in town to give a lecture and show his documentary Automorphosis at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC on September 16 at 7 p.m. The film examines the phenomenon of people transforming their cars into works of art. Also appearing is the Spoon Man from Newberry, SC. His Spoon Truck will be on display and the Spoon Man will be showing off his famous spoon playing.

More on the Cameravan: http://www.cameravan.com
Automorphosis trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tMO-5sCacQ

I enjoyed chatting with Harrod. Before he took off, I shot some pics of the Cameravan to make into an object movie. Sorry for the low quality; all I had with me was my cellphone camera, shot handheld. Click on the image below to view the object movie.

Tags: Art, Car Art, Cameravan

Scientists working in secret laboratories have created one of the first practical applications of anti-gravity technology: A panorama head that floats above your tripod and automatically levels itself. The scientists strongly denied that the technology involved was taken from alien spacecraft hidden in Area 51 (a secret military facility north of Las Vegas.)

Under the terms of the non-disclosure agreement reporters were required to sign, no photographs of the actual panohead were allowed. However, this clandestine composite photo of the shadow of the tripod and head clearly show the camera, unsupported, in both the vertical and horizontal orientations. Even the shadow of the cable release is visible on close inspection.

Members of the photographic community are understandably skeptical, but can't help being excited by the possibilities of such a device, should one exist. One skeptic stated: "This clearly is an example of a crop from a panorama stitched on a Mac, using Smartblend in AutopanoPro. Nothing here to be excited about outside of being able to use Smartblend on a Mac and the implementation of fisheye lenses in AutopanoPro." The photographer who snapped the controversial image was unavailable for comment and requested that he remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

More updates to follow as details emerge.

Tags: Panoramas, tripod heads, anti-gravity