12 Modern Kente Fashion Dress Styles

That ever perplexing question, "what to wear" has dogged man and woman alike, ever since Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the middle of the Garden of Eden and realized they were naked. Eventually giving birth to a multi-billion dollar fabrics industry.  The Kente Cloth occupies a small niche in the general African textile industry but provides a versatile option in desperate times.

Depending on the occasion for which one has to conjure an outfit for, the process can be exasperating indeed.  Especially for those who have to have their best foot forward at all times. The dress to impress crowd.

May I suggest 12 Kente styles for the purpose of inspiration alone for these folks.  As you may have noticed from my earlier post on Kente fabric, the brighter the colour of the Kente Cloth, the better. And the style of choice usually comes down to  the creative flair of your Seamstress.

You may also like: African Prints and Bold Colours,   Kente Cloth Haute as Ever

Disclaimer: Photos not used for commercial purposes but for illustration only.

Aimee Copeland Continues to Battle Flesh Eating Disease

There is something about the human spirit that is beautiful  and this is a story about survival against impossible odds. If you have ever been snatched from the jaws of death maybe you can relate.  Meet Aimee Copeland, a true inspiration. She is also a 24 year old Georgia graduate student who is now speaking for the first time since being treated for necrotizing fasciitis some three weeks ago.

Rewind to May 1st. Aimee suffers a deep cut to her left calf from an accident when a homemade zipline over a West Georgia River, snaps over rocks.  At the local emergency in Carrollton, ER Physicians closed up the wound with almost a couple dozen staples.  Staples that will bottle in a planted seed of flesh-eating bacteria with debilitating results.

Within a few days, the stapled wound becomes infected, flesh-eating diagnosis concluded on the 4th of May.  The 24 year old will be transported 200 miles away to Augusta, Georgia to received Specialist care.

Life over limb has become a cliche but Aimee will lose her left leg, right foot and both hands in the battle to save her life. Her father shared her response when she faced the inevitable prospect of losing both hands and the remaining foot to amputation. She said "lets do this".

Her progress is slow but steady.  Last week she got off her ventilator and that same day, Aimee was able to sit up in her bed.  She is down to 3 IV lines from an initial 12.  And yesterday, May 27, she was able to speak few words to her sister and mother: "Hello. Whoa. Wow, my mind is blown". A vegetarian, she has started eating soft foods again, requesting of her obliging Mom a tall breakfast order of veggie sausage, a biscuit, white gravy, a fried egg over easy and fresh fruit. "She will probably eat one bite," says Aimee's Mom, "but sure I'm going to make it. What mother wouldn't make it?"

Oh how I wish her Godspeed, for theirs is a story of how time and unforeseen circumstances befall us all.

Facebook Camera: Facebook launches Camera App

Ever since Facebook acquired Instagram for 1 Billion dollars, comedians have had a field day, with Facebook having to bear the brunt of mad jokes like the one line zinger "why did Facebook pay 1 Billion dollars for Instagram when they could have downloaded it for free"?

But confusing is the fact that Instagram is left to stand alone and continue it's path of development as opposed to being integrated into Facebook.  So instead Facebook launches it's fourth App, Facebook Camera, which draws a lot of inspiration from Instagram.

Facebook Camera is a mobile photo sharing App that allows you to quickly share take photos, apply a filter from a selection of Fifteen choices, anything from a neon touch to Black and White.  The App is built for the iPhone and iTouch and while you can download it for the iPad, it is not optimized to take advantage of the retina display on the iPad.

So why will Facebook buy Instagram for 1 Billion dollars only to duplicate the same service in a later offering, rebranding it as Facebook Camera?  Well the obvious reason is the wisdom in removing your competition from the battle field, one acquisition at a time in a quest to obtain market dominance and continued profitability.  Secondly, Facebook is responding to new market demand for a photo sharing platform that employs filters and other cool effects that allows the user to personalize their pictures and add a touch of creativity.  Third, Apple for proprietary and privacy reasons is not offering a smooth Facebook integration into the iOS platform, something that Apple has done with twitter.  So clearly Facebook is circumventing Apple's controlling efforts by coming up with it's own solution to allow the user to quickly acquire, beautify and share pictures.

Usually when the elephants fight, it's the grass that suffer, but in this case I applaud Facebook for providing a Photo App solution to simplify the process of sharing Photos to Facebook.

The Facebook Camera App has a simple user interface that allows you to acquire a picture, rotate it, and apply a filter. The rotate feature is a nice touch because nothing is more annoying than  those who post their pictures wrong side up.  Now once you have taken a bunch of pictures you can select up to Thirty of them and quickly publish to Facebook.

I should mention that Facebook Camera is no Instagram but it is certainly worth taking a look.  I downloaded and tried it out yesterday.  Have you downloaded it yet, or will you even bother?

There is no word yet if Facebook is developing the same App for the Android Platform.

You can get Instagram here and Facebook Camera here

My dSLR Camera Wish List, Nikon D800 vs Canon EOS 5Dmk111

After dabbling in point-and-shoot photography for so long, a time comes when one ought to make that plunge into dSLR cameras.  Point and shoot cameras are popular for their compact sizes and ease of use.  Recently they have made strides in resolution, optical zoom and cool filters that can salvage some terrible pictures from the trash.

But for the Photography enthusiast that wants that extra control in creativity, graduating to a dSLR camera is the natural progression that will unleash the artistic expression of stories with pictures.

Frankly these dSLR cameras are bulky, unsightly, heavy and expensive so really you need to have a strong stomach to want one.  Were it not for my love of Photography and this whole business about blogging I wont give a dSLR camera a second look.  Not to mention the typecasting folks who carry cumbersome cameras on tripods experience.

I am sure photographers are good people and they too have friends besides other photographers and they can talk about stuff other than shutter speed.  But on the real, I have gathered a wealth of information this past year talking to professional Photographers and reading up on the best choice of dSLR camera for a novice just breaking into photography.

The general consensus is a two-man horse race between Canon and Nikon.  These days the major players in the camera industry all market three offerings namely amateur, semi-professional and professional dSLR cameras.

The amateur dSLR's are the introductory cameras that offer a lot of creative flexibility at very consumer-friendly pricing.  Anything from between $400 and $800 will get you amateur cameras like the Canon Digital Rebel T1i, T2i,T3i or Nikon D3100, D5100 or still yet Sony Alpha A390 and A33.

The intermediate level cameras are under a couple thousand dollars that offer more control, better weather proofing than the entry level cousins, and examples include the Canon EOS 60D, Nikon D7000, D300's and Sony Alpha A77.

At the professional level you get a full range of versatility, rugged construction and a host of fine features that will tax your technical competence even as you compose those professional looking pictures.  We are talking costs that require a small mortgage to foot, in excess of Three grand. Choices at this level include Canon EOS 5D Mark 11, 111, EOS 1D Mark IV, EOS 1Ds Mark 111, Nikon D700, D800, D3s and Sony alpha A900.

After looking long and hard at the clearly very congested field of dSLR cameras, the recently selling Canon EOS 5D Mark 111 and the Nikon d800 appeal to me the most of all the options out there and so far I have devoted many man-hours digging into reviews and specifications and sample photos to help me decide which of these two good dSLR  cameras will make my summer wish list.

I am hoping to get some more input from photographers, camera enthusiasts and fine photography critics out there which will help shape my decision.

So here is where I stand right now on a head to head between the Canon and Nikon, all information here is my perception of the facts obtained second-hand from my research of the two cameras...

Canon EOS 5D Mark111 vs Nikon D800

The Look and Feel:

credit cnet asia

Both contestants look sharp, the Nikon  a little taller and the Canon wider.  I like the red stripe on the Nikon, provides nice contrast on an otherwise boring plain black body. They are both of Magnesium alloy robust weather-sealed construction.  The Canon features a deeper rounded handgrip while the Nikon has a boxier handgrip.  The Nikon has a built-in flash, the Canon doesn't come with a flash. The Nikon is also a little lighter in weight.
Advantage Nikon D800.

Resolution:
The Canon has a 22 megapixel sensor and the Nikon has a 36 megapixel sensor, a difference substantial enough to cause pixel envy in the Canon camp.
Advantage Nikon D800.

Video:
Both cameras offer 1080p full HD video recording. The difference though nuanced, the Canon captures more vibrant and warmer videos compared to the Nikon's more neutral colours.
Advantage Canon EOS 5D Mark 111.

Low-Light Performance:
Some reviewers who compared side by side photos at identical conditions and camera settings claim Canon superiority here.  But critics contend that because the Nikon is sampling at a 40% higher megapixel density than the Canon, that it is not a fair comparison unless you down-sample the Nikon photos to a 22 megapixel equivalency, at which point the critics will argue that the Nikon has a better low-light performance. Do you follow?
I will judge the low-light performance a tie.

Cost:
The Canon is about Five hundred dollars more expensive than the Nikon.  The Canon gear however is arguably cheaper than Nikon's and also Canon in general offers better incentives and rebate programs.  But certainly at a cost differential of Five bills, I think  I have to say...
Advantage Nikon D800.

Availability:
Nikon is currently facing an unprecedented global demand for the D800's that far outstrips the 30,000 units per month production capacity of it's manufacturing factory.  There is currently a two month wait for pre-orders of the D800 to be filled in Canada.  Canon on the other hand boasts a more capable assembly line that is able to keep up with global demand.
Advantage Canon EOS 5D Mark 111.


Conclusion:
Two great cameras that will both look good on my wish light.  But truth be told, only one will make it on the list. I am by the hairiest of margins, leaning towards the Nikon D800 for the following reasons...

1. The LED appointed flash-light built into the camera is a huge deal for me as I will not want to carry any extra bulk in an add on flash.  Never mind the added cost.
2. The LCD illuminator that helps in composing photos in dim light situations and also acts as the countdown in timed exposures are a welcome addition, and
3. The live view mode for video recording and composing stills all this packaged at a Five hundred dollar savings compared to the Canon.

I had to make a choice because I have always criticized reviews I have read looking for recommendations for a product, and all you get is Oh it depends on what you like and your budget and all this non-sense when all you want to hear is a recommendation for or against one of the choices.

If only wishes were horses, beggars will ride...

If there are any professional photographers out there chip in your thoughts as I am still open to influence and persuasion.

2012 Solar Eclipse Images, "Ring of Fire"

In Calgary, cloudy skies prevented a clear view of the Annular Solar Eclipse, an event that is not due to occur again for another 10 years in North America.  According to NASA the last time there was an Annular solar eclipse was eighteen years ago.

I also missed the May 4th Super moon event because it snowed that night so I have gone zero for two this year at the celestial events.

I did catch a little of the Annular eclipse  event however online, though I must say the experience is not the same.  Here are some pictures I gathered courtesy Huffingtonpost from the fortunate sky watchers who photographed the eclipse...

Notice how the moon only partially blocks the sun at complete sun-moon-earth alignment, creating the illusion of a "ring of fire"...

Rock The Bells 2012 Ft. Missy Elliott

Touring through three cities, this year's Rock the Bells Hip Hop Festival hope to up the ante, releasing the line-up of featuring artists including Missy Elliott, Common and Nas.

Not to be out-done by the recent Coachella event, the organizers of Rock the Bells International Festival Series will kick off their events on August 18,19 in Nos Events Centre San Bernadino CA, August 25,26 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Moutain View, CA and September 1,2 at PNC Bank Arts Centre in Holmdel, N.J.

Missy Elliot who has gone MIA the past few years battling the autoimmune disease Graves (Hyperthyroidism), is making a come back this year and will be sharing the stage with Timbaland.  Here is a list of some of the  performing artists:

Bone thugs-N-Harmony
Common
Dipset
E-40 and Too Short
Ice Cube
Missy Elliott and Timbaland
Nas
Naughty by Nature
prodigy
Redman and Method Man
Salt-N-Pepa
Tyga
Wiz Khalifa


 and the tickets go on sale this weekend. You can obtain more information here...

Macrophotography of Spring Flowers, Calgary

Spring is a good time to photograph flowers in the prime of their bloom. Location is Calgary, South side. The implements of the art include an iPad, a Panasonic DMC-TZ3 camera and iPhoto for editing.  The subjects were neighbourhood floral blossoms.  And the mission was pursuit of natural beauty!

Now let me get this caveat out of the way.  I am an under-equipped amateur photographer so these photos are not very sharp. I did not use a tripod and the inclement weather that typifies Calgary presented very windy conditions that further degraded the sharpness of the photos.  But the natural colour saturation of the flowers in my mind more than made up for the lack of razor-sharp focus.  In the future I will be looking out for flowers that are dripping with dew or adorned with pollinating insects to add more character to the floral subjects.

Lighting was provided by the soft evening sun.  I can't wait to do this all over again with a semi-professional camera, a macro lens, complete with a tripod, until then I will welcome a critical review of these photos presented here....

I should add that I am mildly amused how much bokeh I achieved in some of the close-ups.

Solar Eclipse 2012 Going Down May 20th

Oh the things that fascinate me! This year, folks in the Western parts of the Americas and Eastern Asia will get to do the honours experiencing the Solar Eclipse, while the rest of the world will have to wait for second-hand accounts and photographs of the solar event.

If you happen to be in the area during the event, whatever you do, don't look at the eclipse directly, matter of fact don't even attempt to watch it with sunglasses or improvised filtering devices because the potential for eye damage is real.  And yes you can go blind from watching an eclipse!

I remember back home we indulged in these solar events through the eyes of a water-filled basin. This improvised assembly displayed a reflection of the partly covered sun in the basin. Even then the adults at the time, cautioned not to stare for very long to avoid eye damage.

The way to safely observe the eclipse come Sunday is to buy special solar filters that will fit over viewing equipments like binoculars, telescopes and cameras.  You may use welder's safety glasses rated No. 14 to view  directly however.  Speaking of welding glasses, I remember as a curious little kid back home, we had a welder come in to burglar-proof the windows of the house.  He cut and welded iron rods into an impenetrable barricade that was installed over the windows to prevent break and enter.  I was fascinated by the bright scintillating light that sparked off the welding rods and though the welder warned me not to look, I did steal a few glances.  That night I abruptly woke up from my sleep covered in sweat.  My eyes felt like it had grit thrown in them.  I was convinced that I was going blind until some eye drops eventually provided relief.  Since then I don't make eye contact with welders, even when they are not welding.  But I digress.

Finally you may use your binoculars to project the sun unto a shaded cardboard for safe indirect viewing, just remember to cover the unused lens.

The solar eclipse will be visible as a "ring of fire" to natives from The Chinese coast, Northern Taiwan, Southern Japan and Western parts of the United States and Canada, weather permitting.  For the folks in the US and Canada Sunday May 20th late afternoon to early evening is the window to view, while Asia gets their turn May 21st.

Solar Filters

No 14 Welder's Goggles

Now that we have covered the where, when and how about the impending Annular eclipse, I will touch briefly on the what, the least palatable part of this topic, because straight up it's Astrophysics.  A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. Since the Moon will be at it's farthest distance away from the Earth during this eclipse, the moon only blocks the central part of the sun giving the "ring of fire" appearance.  This is what makes observing the event especially dangerous to the viewing eye because a lot of the Sun's rays are still coming through.  But enough of the Astrophysics already, happy Annular Eclipse Viewing come Sunday evening!!!

You may also like: 2012 Solar Eclipse Images, "Ring of Fire"

Kente Cloth, Haute as Ever

Kente Cloth is the official traditional Cloth of the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. The authentic Kente cloth is hand-woven  with the loom using cotton and silk.  The colour choices used in the weave are very vivid with unique symbolism.  For instance the yellow depicts preciousness, royalty, wealth while green symbolizes vegetation, spiritual renewal and growth.

The Asante Kente is characterized by it's geometric shapes, multicoloured composition and bold designs.  Because it is hand-woven they can be expensive, so also available are the Kente Prints which are made through the dye and wax technique. The Kente print besides being less expensive, is more readily incorporated into modern fashion as it is the more manageable in terms of texture, weight and ease of care.

The different patterns each have a name and meaning derived from historical events, proverbs, individual achievements, philosophical concepts, moral values, social code of conduct etc.

Four inch strips of Kente are sewn together to produce the desired size. The Kente strips can also be worn as scarves and head wraps.  I have seen shoes and bags fabricated with Kente so really the fabric is quite versatile and lends itself to the creative hands of the fashion geniuses...

On a side note, the hair wraps in the next three photos are not Kente but they are no less elaborate.  I am thinking to do a blog post on these beautiful hair accesories!! Make your suggestions and questions heard in the comment box below...

The two pictures below illustrate the Kente Print tastefully married with modern fashion...

Bill and Hillary Clinton donned Kente when they visited Ghana in 1998...

You may also like: 12 Kente Fashion Dress Styles, African Prints and Bold Colours
Photo credits: saflirista.com, kenteworld.com, globalpost.com.