Big thanks to Elfreda @ Scarlet Media for the hookup!

Saturday was spent down at Sandown Raceway for the WRX Club Trackday. Lots of awesome cars and got to speak with a few of the owners. Handed out some cards as well so, if you are reading this and have one of my cards – Make sure to go read this Sandown update for photos from the day and purchasing information!

The only downside to this desk was its depth. Unless you used a laptop or something on it, there really wasn’t much space at all.

In order to overcome this, the thinking cap came on and with some inspiration spurred on by this workspace and the whole Ikea Hackers movement. I decided to see what I could do to improve the desk, rather than go out and buy something totally different. (I did look, but didn’t see anything that fit my needs and that was affordable – so might as well make something!)

My idea started off as to use an extra shelf. Raised, so I could place the monitors on it and gain much needed desk space underneath back. I had a LACK wallshelf hanging around so I played around with that first, to get an idea of what would work.

Using some old Manfrotto boxes and the LACK, this is what it looked like:

So all I needed, was some brackets to raise the shelf up..and the shelf it self. Ended up settling on the CAPITA brackets and the EKBY AMUND shelf.

Here was the final result, at a cost of under $65 AUD. Pretty good for more functionality, looks decent as well!

If you’re interested and want to see the progress shots on how it was all put together, check out the flicKR set here.

Interested in peoples thoughts on this! Let me know what you think.

This time I used some flashes to create my own light where neccessary, with some cool results – taking advantage of the smoke machine’s mist. I’d would have liked to stay for Clint and Stu’s Input Output project set, but at 3am..Wasn’t happening that night!

For most of these shots, unfortunately I don’t write down the strobist info for any of them, and i’m amazed people actually remember the details. All I know is that for most I was switching between 1/8 and 1/16 @35mm ..any more than that and it would just overpower the smoke. The 18-200, nifty50,10-20 and 10-17 FE were used for these.

So why did I choose to use remote flashes in a bar/club environment? Well coming from last time, I decided I wanted something a little different..The rays of light the flashes created through the smoke machine was something I didn’t even think of at the time.. until I checked the back of the camera.. Guess you accidently learn something new everyday. It was good not having to rely on the random colourful light as well, and seeing how they could be worked into the images.

Please have a look at the rest of the set here! Don’t forget to hit that like button below if you deem this likable!

If you are interested in having some photos taken of your set at whichever venue (in Melbourne) – Feel free to shoot me an email – aaronactive at gmail.com – Won’t cost you anything, besides getting me + 1 free entry to said venue, and you get a copy of photos from the night for private use..Anything else we can always talk.

My current setup is an Xbox 360 connected to a Denon amp via HDMI, and then from the Denon out to my Panasonic TH-42PX8A Plasma via HDMI.

Photos were taken on a Canon 40D, 50mm 1.8 @ 1/1600 on H burst mode. (6.5fps)

All test compared to a Dell 17″ CRT monitor (its numbers on the left).

Only milliseconds displayed from the stopwatch at Flatpanels.dk

Asus VE246H input lag test results (Standard mode, via DVI)
033 – 033
183 – 183
350 – 350
483 – 500 *17ms
666 – 666

2nd run (Standard mode, via HDMI)
217 – 217
384 – 384
517 – 517
684 – 684
834 – 851 *17ms
001 – 001

Panasonic TH-42PX8A input lag test results (Denon Amp HDMI Passthrough)

250 – 266 * 16ms

517 – 534 * 17ms
034 – 051 * 17ms
217 – 217
351 – 367 * 16ms
517 – 534 * 17ms
667 – 684 * 17ms
834 – 851 * 17ms
984 – 001 * 17ms
166 – 166

Dell E207WFPc input lag test results (DVI)
283 – 283
133 – 150 * 17ms
300 – 283 *17ms
450 – 450
600 – 600

Can post photos somewhere if people really want to see the results for themselves. Makes me wonder how out of 3 different devices they are all always 16-17ms out (when they are) – Could the camera’s people are using to take photos be a factor?

At some tourney’s I have played on LCDs and have definitely felt a slight difference..IE move just doesn’t come out…and same thing happened when I connected up the LCD for a little. I guess input lag does have a slight slight difference, but its all what you’re used to. There’s an obvious between the plasma setup I play on and the directly connected LCD screens @ tourneys, etc. Will see how I adjust to LCD in the next few weeks.

Pete, one of my mates used to be into Trials a bit and pointed the video out to me below last year sometime and it blew me away.. I’m not into the sport much, but I do love watching any sort of extreme/action sports..and even if you don’t  – I suggest you check these videos out just to check out Danny’s skills..and what you probably never thought was possible on a bike..

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now, he’s been sponsored by Red Bull and has a film called “Way Back Home” – This thing was released on YouTube 2 days ago and has already hit 160K views.. Amazing production, awesome scenery and locations… You have to watch this video! In 1080p if you can!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Unfortunately my Canon copped the Err 99 issue has been sent off for repairs – for the past 2-3 weeks now. Tried everything to no avail – Cleaning lens contacts, (insert some other internet DIY fix here) and no luck. I had an extended warranty and they’re honoring that so it should be back in my hands soon. During that time I got to play with a Canon 5D MkII and loved it.

Also I bought a house, so have been doing a ton of work on that which has been taking away from skating time. Last thing I did with my camera before it died was some timelapse experiments. Using my 40D tethered to my laptop with a program called DSLR Pro, captured one frame every 30 seconds most of the day..put together with Quicktime Pro and then compressed with Handbrake.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Aussie Rolling Open is on this weekend in Adelaide, Will be keen to see what comes out of that event.

Update: Congrats to Danny Jensen for taking the title!

Apologies for the lack of updates during the past two weeks. The weather in Melbourne has been BLOODY HOT..and I hate skating in 35c weather.

Beer, shorts and a wifebeater is the way to be on a hot Melbourne day. Agree?

2009 VIC Inline Titles Flyer

I’ll have to modify my Canon 430EX as it doesn’t have a sync port (and I don’t want to use a hot-shoe adapter) – I’ll chuck up a small article on that as well when I get around to it.

In the meantime, I’m hunting around for another Nikon SB-26 strobe.