Alexander 6, V112.

Despite my job with rice is technically over, but it was another busy day. Going to the the bank to get a paper, and visiting some people to retain the dosemeter badges (a badge to read how much radiation is received in a month). The dust made a fuss of the atmosphere in an unbelievable way. It was one blow by night time and everything was and still yellow until the time of writing this at 1:30 p.m.. It's Thursday, so I hope this won't affect my schedule for going out tonight as usual.

Been playing around with some of my photos from Ireland as usual but I do really lack the inspiration now or the ability to work. In other words, a bit sluggish. Well, anyway, I digged out some photos that I think were never used before in my collection.

Is this what they call a "mustang"?

 Free Gull. Shot that without looking at the gull even!

This morning specifically, I've spent the first hour reading  the new post in Joanathan Boakes' blog, about his little adventure in the woods few days go, looking for some "mysterious" creatures in the woods. I do like this man's style in storytelling, and his Black and White photography looks astonishing indeed! By coincidence as well, he put on a short video for some silhuoette tree which he called, the Crow Tree, just after some days of me making my own image of the Crow Tree that I captured back in Oughterard, Co. Galway in Ireland.

The discussion of history and the mysterious past in that piece of land really inflamed my imagination and my thirst to read more about the Celts in that area, like in some of the old days, back in college when I skipped my study books and preferred to read the Táin Bó Cualgne (The cattle raid of Cooley), and Cúchulainn the hero. I ask myself now, would I face the same thing in Ireland? Would I get such fascination. I know the place I picked for staying is like 10 minutes walk from the Cashel Rock, which has a castle as they say, but it takes more than just a castle to walk to. Back in Galway it was really troublesome to get a photograph at sunset, mainly because the places you would like to catch at this time are sort of far, and you better be in the house before this time. I want to see churches, alive or abandoned, landscapes, ruins, forests, and everything (but no beasts please!). I want this eye to enjoy every grain I can get from Ireland. One doesn't know when he or she might get blind out of sudden, and all is just some vanishing hopes, except of memories about such feelings gained by eyesight.

Reading as usual today with Alain Briot's book, I think it is time now to push on my thinking forward more and try to do some photography. Not only photography, but new ideas to try out. Things I didn't try before, or simply rules that I know but I break intentionally for a purpose.

 

I started to believe now that I have what Briot described as "creativity fear" or "fear of creativity" when you stop doing what you like because you are afraid that people won't like it at all. This is really a killing feature. It feels like you are empty with nothing to do or even the power to do anything. All what you want to do is stare into the monitor (and sleep on the chair sometimes). 

Now, I got settled with an idea in my mind, but I need to think of some place to do it. I want to try the monopod with its full expansion (which extends higher than myself), and I can even attach the VR-head to raise the camera even higher, and start doing some panoramic catch, from high above! Well, it's not so high I believe, but still, it is above the regular sight level. How would that look? We'll see...

__________
2665. Alexander then stopped for a moment and felt guilty
2666. for he was not supposed to rush in a hurry with questions
2667. then he started to say: I am Alexander, the son of Pilippánút,
2668. the king of Caqobia and Caqobians, and the conqueror of Daynur
2669. the Hermit then asked: and what is the name of your grandfather?
2670. Alexander was shocked and said: my grandfather?!
2671. it is weird that I do not know his name at all!
2672. my father never revealed the name to me nor I asked also!
2673. the Hermit smiled and said: but I know his name,
2674. and the names of your ancestors as well
2675. Alexander was amazed for the argument and this he said
2676. "but why it is important to know their names?"
2677. the Hermit said: you are here to know the truth,
2678. the truth of everything and how all this started,
2679. and to know everything, one must know himself"
2680. Alexander then pointed to the Hermit to continue
2681. and the Hermit started on telling the fathers of Alexander
2682. and this he said: you are, Alexander, the son of Pilippánút,
2683. the son of Faklús, the son of Targhus, the son of Sinikdís,
2684. the son of Asjád, the son of Jafrí, the son of Agdalán
2685. then Alexander asked: some names do not sound Caqobian!
2686. and the old man said: yes indeed O dear, they are not,
2687. because you are from an Ayvar root living among Caqobians
2688. Alexander was shocked and felt the world is rotating then

Alexander 6, V111.

A bee is busy picking on roses and flower around, but TJ is busy picking stuff from one lab to the other. Today, I've finished my work with the rice samples, virtually, and all is left is to put on the data into a spread sheet. The hilarious thing is, I've found out some mistake I did when writing down the production and expiration dates. I've found in the sheet that a sample was made in 2012, and will expire in 2016! I lost some time looking for that sample again just to write down the correct dates then. Because of this busy time, I hardly had time to read at all. But, on the other hand, I will be able to read as much as possible from now on, every morning (till) noon since I have nothing to do from the early morning! Virtually let's say!

I received a weird phone call from the "Social Insurance,"  governmental agency that usually deducts some money from our budgets every month to feed the retired people (and also steal some :) ). They asked for my bank account number or some paper to give including that information, to give out some money. I was like "government? give us money? how?" Technically, I'm not used to such thing, because all I know is that we work and get salaries from the government, to give it back to the government, specially with the upcoming ideas hovering around about issuing a law for the "income taxes" like if people don't have enough debts themselves already. However, it turned out, after a long talk with my brother, that the money is like a compensation about my brother's handicap after he had been enrolled into this category and now the SI agency is going to give that amount of money in form of salaries into my late father's account. It is a complicated law, but this is how it is. In fact, I don't feel it is my own money really, and I had a debate with my brother that I should transfer that money to him when I get it. My argument is, if my late father was alive now, wouldn't he give this money to his handicapped son? I guess he would.

Away from this fuss, I've worked yesterday on another image, and this time in HDR. This image specifically was part of a mini-panorama which I didn't really touch before because I thought it was not good enough. However, I picked this slice of the panorama and worked on it. It had been some time since I worked on HDR images, that is, enhancing an HDR image before tone-mapping.

I called it "The Mysterious Window"

This view was taken from a balcony inside the Aughnanure Castle and it was shot handheld. The edge of the balcony itself was apparent in all the slides forming the proposed panorama, and because of this I decided it is not a good panorama. However, I've found out another use for it now. As Christian Bloch describes working with HDR images "painting with light", this is exactly what I was trying to do, converting the bright scene into some dark, mysterious scene, and also helping convering the edge of the balcony! I've discovered now that there are many things I didn't touch still, and there are many panoramas taken that are not essentially to be a panorama after all! A single slide of them would be fine I guess to build up some nice image. That option now expands my stack of images from Ireland taken last year into a bigger pile even, but not necessarily all of them would look nice anyway!

Amazon asked me to write a review for the book that I'm still reading now. Although I can do it write away, but I just prefer to finish the book completely and then write a review, so that I can build up my opinion about it in a more concrete manner. The book after all is a MUST if I should say to any photographer, whether a landscape or any other type of photography is involved.

 

Well. Time now to pack everything and leave this place. I leave you now with a song I do really love and like, and reminds of many things in my life...

__________
2641. Alexander started to eat some herbs in front of him
2642. but their taste was more delicious than meat and fruit
2643. and Alexander felt satisfied and no more hunger he had
2644. thus he asked the Hermit: what are those herbs O good man?
2645. in my whole life I never tasted something like that!
2646. the old man then smiled gently and said to Alexander
2647. "this is the food of the humble and worshipers,
2648. the more you forget yourself and remember the One,
2649. the more He shall feed you and satisfy you dear"
2650. Alexander soon became satisfied and not hungry anymore
2651. then this he said: tell me O Hermit all what you know,
2652. why am I here and what I am supposed to know?
2653. I have been told that you have all the answers!
2654. the Hermit then smiled calmly and this he said
2655. "verily I know what others do not, O dear,
2656. but tell me first, do you know who you are?"
2657. Alexander stared in a strange way for this question
2658. and this he said: yes! of course I do know!
2659. but the old man replied: tell me your name then
2660. Alexander said: weird of you to ask me this!
2661. did you not say you know everything?
2662. who is seeking the help of the other now?
2663. the Hermit smiled back and this he said to Alexander
2664. "the infinite problem of mankind, impatience"

Alexander 6, V110.

Well, nothing much for today! All I have to do here is post the verse of the day. But well, I had some time at least to write something down. I called On The Trail, and I was influenced by the infamous The Last Rose of Summer, to some extent.
Couldn't add much of photos this time unfortunately since I was out of mood for some time, with my urge to listen to old songs all the time!
Well, I'm going to drop this and fly off back home, although I'm not sure of my plans for today...
__________
2617. Alexander felt something weird inside his heart
2618. something was telling him that he knew this man
2619. then Alexander asked: O good man, what are you looking at?
2620. the old man then said: how wondrous is God's promise,
2621. here finally I see you beside me O promised man of Caqobia
2622. Alexander replied: then you know about my story I believe?
2623. yes I do, it is something foretold in the old books that I kept,
2624. everything in them is kept in this heart inside me,
2625. and I can tell you now, you are in your final place O dear
2626. Alexander said with a surprise: final place? what does that mean?
2627. the Hermit replied: the end of your endless journey,
2628. the answer to your questions about your existence,
2629. all, shall be revealed, here, to you O promised one
2630. Alexander with a surprise said then: promised one?
2631. why do you keep calling me with this name O good man?
2632. what promise is that and what am I doing in this land?
2633. the Hermit then said: take it easy on the old man O dear,
2634. carry your Cadid and get into my cave for now,
2635. for the clouds are up here might rain soon
2636. thus Alexander carried his Cadid on his shoulders
2637. while thousands of thoughts were going on his mind
2638. and he thinks now if this journey is over at this point
2639. what shall be next after this long tiresome journey?
2640. until the old man said to Alexander: eat O dear

Alexander 6, V109.

Well, it's a Monday, but I don't know how it will pass still. It sounds idle even though I spent the time working in the lab and reading the books I have here. Hope it remains "idle" till I get back home.
At home on the other hand, my camera had been idle since I've been working still with images taken from Ireland last year. Trying everything from Black and White and Sepia to the low saturation techniques, and trying to avoid HDR as much as possible. Yet still, I do use HDR in some images that I didn't add before.

The Ash Forks

Supposedly, these are ash trees going up higher than the rest of the trees. The original image was in pale blue hue in fact and I worked it out in that way after tone-mapping from HDR. As you can see here, there are some halos around the trees that I couldn't remove and I didn't want to use the heal brush tool or else, everything would be a mess. Tone-mapping (in Photomatix) is a fascinating tool, but there are things you would really need to control, and it is hard to so. Exposure Fusion technique on the other hand is nice and simple and avoids such halos, but sometimes it is hard to give out such vivid colors and control over light conditions. The image above was cropped to centralize the trees.

Another image, which I'm so pleased about, is what I consider my first silhuoette, or should I say, faux silhuoette.

The Crows Tree

This scene was taken in the very early hours of the morning, after listening to some crows in the air and looking left and right trying to spot them, I've found some of them hanging around this tree which was out of the backyard of the house where I stayed, The Waterfront. The sky was cloudy and bluish but not exactly in that manner. The heavy processing was mainly in the RAW converter before the image is out into Photoshop for the rest of the operations. The image was also cropped to centralize the tree. The hardest part maybe was to neutralize the green color in the leaves of the tree. I had to adjust the hue, luminance and saturation for the greens in the RAW converter to make it less apparent, and then with some contrast in Photoshop the effect was strengethened. What really bothers me is the "noisy" bulk of branches at the bottom which I couldn't crop with the rest. The image size won't help if I have done so.

Been somehow busy after all these editions. Uploading and today I was writing down the information for these images in stock sites. There had been other pictures other than the two mentioned above. The silhouette image though reminded me of one of my doodles that I used to do out of boredom. I think I need to get back to these doodles as they help out to release some stress I believe. I've been so concerned of my habits at work. Always shaking my leg even though I'm not in a hurry or even stressed about something! What does that mean? Why I'm doing this? I tried even to mke myself busy with something else just to stop this leg shake, but no use.

Bird from Hell. One of my doodles.

My hand is getting better now and my thumb is movable in some directions, but not completely of course. I keep on taking this medicine that makes me drowsy and need to sleep most of the time. In fact I feel it now at this moment while writing this. I will keep putting creams and taking this pill even after removing the bandage by now, until I don't know when!
I had/have the urge to listen to some of the old music today, and it made me feel a bit old, doesn't it do the same with you? Well, it does to me, specially that some of these songs were there back when I was 17 years old, and now I'm almost hitting 30...



__________

2593. the Cadid then climbed up the mount with a heavy body
2594. his body was injured severely by the claws of the creature
2595. but with hard moves the Cadid reached the top of the mount
2596. and he lied on the ground moaning and groaning with pain
2597. Alexander then started to try to cure his injuries
2598. he cut some pieces of his garments and tied the injuries
2599. then he got out a vessel and made the Cadid drink water
2600. it was dark and Alexander could hardly see around him
2601. except of some cave with yellowish flame out of it
2602. Alexander approached the cave trying to seek help
2603. after some steps forward he heard something at his back
2604. he looked back to see an old man with a long beard
2605. he was standing over the Cadid and covering his head
2606. his face was not obvious by the hood but only his beard
2607. he stood beside the head of the Cadid and stared at him
2608. then knelt down on his body while Alexander was watching
2609. the old man then started to pass his hands over the Cadid
2610. and the cuts into the Cadid's body started to weld completely
2611. Alexander with a slow and calm voice did say then
2612. "the Hermit?" he said
2613. the old man said: yes, O good man, and who are you?
2614. no man visited me in this deserted place for centuries
2615. Alexander replied: I am Alexander, the king of Caqobia
2616. and the man remained still staring closely at Alexander

Alexander 6, V108.

Been one weekend with action. Most importantly, I was thinking seriously of formatting my PC AGAIN and built it all over after some error when I tried to restart. As usual. That's why I hate restarts whenever I do an update of anything. It sucks big time.
My hand is getting better with me keeping on having the Cataflam pills, which somehow didn't have the effect I have in my mind of making me drowsy all the time. Or maybe I've developed some resistance for such pills. However, my hand is getting better a bit and there is still some pain when I do a certain movement with my thumb.

After the problem was resolved with this PC that would get me a heart attack one day, I started to work again on some images and tried my best to do so without getting back to HDR technique. The results were not always fine but well, with the help of ProPhoto, I do have more freedom to develope some fascinating colors. Unfortunately, some websites still don't support this profile and maybe even some PCs do not see it the way I do. I think it has to do with graphic cards or something. When it comes to this technicality I'm blank for sure.

My first trial was with that little forest way I found by coincidence near the Waterfront. Despite the cloudy weather back then but I tried to emphasize the hot aspect of the scene by increasing saturation and adding a hot hue.

This image really reminds me of the dwarves, sort of, because of the small arch that branches make along the way. Nevertheless, I was able to find my way through. I think an HDR version won't look as pretty as this one with a tone-mapping process, unless it is done carefully and with a tideous effort. Originally, the shoot was for HDR, with 3 bracketed images, but the overexposed image or the last of the images was shaken, because, simply, the shoot was done handheld with no tripod in use and the shutter speed was long enough to ensure my arms shake! The best choice I think is this; play with your RAW in ProPhoto!

Another image was like its predecessor, was what I called the White Berry. Hopefully this image won't get rejected because I didn't type the name of the plant correctly. I don't know the plant's name! Yet, I remember some images got rejected because I didn't mention the right name of the plant or fruit or the seed...etc. It's hard! I'm not a botany geek at all, even though I like the green spaces and the exotic plants!

I like this specifically, for the sense of calm and safety that it brings to me. The some-how-bokeh effect in the background is nice to me. I wonder if it is you as well! Maybe I should include information about the shot next time; like the focal length and the lens itself and the camera as well, like most photographers do. I don't seem to be able to remember that much though!

Beside working with single images there were some images that I've worked on in HDR and uploaded. Some of them were rejected before because of facial occurences and I would need a model release (from people I don't know even!). Thus, I had to put my clone tool to work!

Now, with me being close somehow to finish reading the book: Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity, and Personal Style, I have to plan now to work on the website again which has stopped for a while. My time at work is divided accordingly as I'm trying to organize things as much as possible here, thus when days like today come, when I have to do stuff outside or go to the clinic, such days do form a sort of pressure on my time here and I have to change my organizing accordingly. Despite the fact that I do really love to order new books now, but I guess it's not the right time. I have to wait for now. I guess I won't be ordering books again until December. I have to stop thinking though about how much work is needed to get this website done. Every time I think about it, I feel such a burden on my back, and stop liking the idea from the beginning. I have no choice but to build it (and thanks to GeoCities), otherwise, I can't represent Ayvarith in a proper way as this blog is mainly occupied for photography purposes!

__________

2569. then the night arrived with its three moons in heaven
2570. and Alexander opened his eyes to see his Cadid awaiting
2571. the Cadid was looking fierce like he did not sleep at all
2572. Alexander raised up and cleaned himself then washed
2573. while the Cadid prepared his back for the ride
2574. then Alexander raised upon the back of the Cadid
2575. and the Cadid started to climb like if Alexander is a feather
2576. he jumped between the rocks and climbed up the mount
2577. while Alexander closed his eyes for his fear of heights
2578. but he was amazed for such power and endurance
2579. and in their way up, something black was there
2580. it was hanging from the rocks but moves slowly
2581. but it was out of sudden when Alexander heard a shout
2582. and this black thing grew big in a shape of a bat
2583. then it started to hover around Alexander's head
2584. the Cadid started to groan with anger and reddish eyes
2585. and the fight started between the two in the air
2586. while Alexander started to say his prayers ahead
2587. the Cadid was injured severely by that creature
2588. and Alexander could not try anything to protect him
2589. but with some courage in his heart he raised Charnagút
2590. and started to wave it into the air with one hand
2591. then he felt the hot blood splashing over his face
2592. and the shouts of the black creature announced his death

Alexander 6, V107.

Just whne I thought Thursday is finally here. The pain with my right wrist is becoming greater after some sudden stretch resulting from my clumsy movement. Went to the doctor to take some paper to do an X-Ray, and I was lucky (yeah really!) to know that the X-Ray is in the same clinic upstairs and I don't have to go to any hospital to this.
The X-Ray showed no signs of injuries to the bones, so the doctor said that it is most probably related to the tendons or muscles (not sure if this is what they call it, tendons?). She said come back in 3 days if the pain did not calm down (or go away?). Anyway, I got a feeling that I'll have to visit her by next Sunday.

As a result of today's "journey" I didn't work in the lab and barely had time to read after coming back. But, I had some time to write something! I named it "Just Like A Hero." It reflects my belief about what or who is the hero in this life: Is it the man with the gun that fights for either good or evil, or is it the the person who spreads the passion and the bless wherever he goes? Despite my haste in writing this, I hope you like reading it. I wrote some of it in the early morning before I leave my office to the clinic, and the rest was when I got back, thus there might be some apparent discontinuity in the chain of thoughts that might be felt in between the lines.

Back to photography, I was lucky now that Canstockphoto did accept my three versions of The Drama Lake (as I called it). Sort of got me back some confidence. I shall try to see other images sitable for black and white conversion.
Yesterday, and instead of working on a new image, I was testing some cropping on The Drama Lake (the BW version). I used to use cropping to eliminate many unwanted stuff in my images but now I'm trying to raise up a step and try to imply this to enhance the composition of my images, when possible.

Named it "Grace"

I can't really say the composition is good, since you are the judge. But I was trying to use the law of thirds in here and place the tree in one of the essential points around the center of the image, but because of other elements around, that was not possible without losing or putting back things. The rays of light are, of course, made up here. Just to make up something and not let it be a boring one. Some people actually didn't like it because of the "noise" as they said made by the clouds. That is, a compositional noise. Well, I do agree to some extent, although the clouds is the thing that made me take this picture in the first place.

Now with this pain in my wrist, photography is more like a challenge rather than something I do because it makes me relax. With this wrapped up hand that I ca barely move, things are going to be hard for me when dealing with the camera, and most importantly, my VR-head!

__________
2545. the food and water they had did not satisfy Alexander
2546. and the day seemed longer than it seems in reality
2547. while their stomaches started to groan loudly
2548. and Alexander felt his body's weakness severely
2549. but his Cadid went on trying to catch something
2550. but the land was so dry and no hopes for survival
2551. then Alexander gazed upon the clear blue sky
2552. and he prayed to God, his savior and the Giver
2553. then Alexander fainted because of the weakness
2554. and he closed his eyes and gave his soul to God's mercy
2555. some time passed which Alexander did not count
2556. and he suddenly felt a cold touch upon his cheek
2557. thus he opened his eyes and gazed into heaven
2558. and he saw the miracle of God in front of his eyes
2559. the sky was raining like it never did in centuries
2560. while the green cover was growing with every drop
2561. thus he knelt down and praised God, Almighty
2562. while his Cadid was running like if he was dancing
2563. it was raining for a short time but all the green came out
2564. and the trees riped again and carried different food
2565. thus Alexander started to gather the food and water
2566. while his Cadid was helping him with a happy face
2567. thus everything was prepared and supplies were taken
2568. and the two had some rest until the arrival of the night

Alexander 6, V106

Another busy day, which is normal by now because of the absence of my colleagues here. I have to run everything here, and unfortunately, with no extra bonus.
I had plans as well today to sit with my note and try to write something after being in thought with some ideas and words for writing them down in my note, unfortunately this is not possible now since work took sort of longer than usual and we got news from the Public Relations department saying that we got suddeny visitors from the outside and we had to prepre for this visit. Finally, they didn't come. Which made me so, so, so upset and happy in the same time! Weird feelings really but this is it. I'm sort of upset that they didn't come because with all this readiness and me not reading or writing own what I was thinking of, this should be worth it, but they didn't come. On the other hand, I'm glad because I have no mood now for socializing and tutoring or guiding through some tourists into our labs. Not really tourists, they are from another university. Just not in mood for all of this. I want to be alone for now.

Yesterday I've been working on another photograph from Ireland, trying to make it into black and white, but ended up with 3 different versions. Also, I've found out that even for photos that were intended for HDR but now would be converted into a black and white version, Photomatix would do it gladly. In fact, it does a great job in black and white. There are so many sliders controling many aspects of the light that makes it funnier than working solely in Photoshop.

The target image. Lough Corrib in front of the Waterfront.

As you can see from the previous image, it is a badly saturated. In fact, I made this image when I was in Ireland for a previous blog post and back then I didn't have the techniques or the information that I have now, and thus it turned out so badly blue. This is bad. It shouldn't be saturated like this. The image was shot intentionally in a tungsten white balance while the weather was grayish, that was mainly for my desire back then to emphasize the bluish nature and to reflect the lake in blue too. Anyway, this is gone by now. This image now is about to change.

In Photomatix, I've created very-low saturated image (not completely black and white). However, the rest of the work was done in Photoshop. The reason that I didn't make it completely in black and white is that, I wanted to test and see, do people really recognize colors in such weather? What feelings does it give? The image could be for some people still in black and white actually. The saturation level was set to 5% only and you would barely see the blue hue with some concentration. Anyway, doing so, didn't really stop me from creating a "real" black and white version as well, and then after that a sepia version out of the black and white. Combining them altogether, I've called the image, choose your mood!

Click for a larger version.

This work now gives me hint that even for black and white work, you would, maybe, better do it in HDR technique but with a low saturation! HDR gives you some control over the highlights and shadows like shaping clay! Well, not exactly, but it does to some extent.

On the other I was sort of disappointed to see my sepia and B&W of the tower (posted yesterday) get rejected by Canstockphoto because of some halos and other artifacts in the image. Well, I have to admit, it was indeed there. The two images had artifacts, but I thought some considerations are sort of neglected or put aside in case of B&W images. Anyway, the images look nice in small size as lot of people judged, and if Canstockphoto do accept photos smaller than 2400x1600 pixels, I would definetely try my luck again. Now, I'm waiting for these 3 moodal images' judgement!

The time is getting closer for Ramadhan, and my travel to Ireland after Ramadhan. Thrilled and scared, and waiting for it in the same time. I need a vacation indeed...

__________

2521. then Aramramátáníth lowered Alexander down
2522. somewhere near a cave at the base of the mount
2523. and this she said to him: when it is the night time,
2524. climb up this mountain to its tip above the clouds,
2525. and there your promised man shall be in his cave
2526. then Alexander wondered: all that distance? by night?
2527. I surely cannot make it in such a short time of the night!
2528. thus she replied: use your Cadid, he knows the way there,
2529. now Alexander, I have to leave, as my role is over with you
2530. thus Alexander greeted her with respect and waved in the air
2531. and the sounds of air started to tickle his ears gently
2532. then soon everything went into heavy silence
2533. Alexander then looked at his Cadid and said this
2534. "are you the one who will carry me over there?"
2535. the Cadid then moaned and groaned in such a way
2536. thus Alexander understood the answer as to be "yes"
2537. then Alexander called his Cadid to go on hunting
2538. for they needed some food to cope with this aridity
2539. but the two went on circles between the dry trees
2540. and no food they could find anywhere around them
2541. thus they started to cut down some branches and bark
2542. and tried to get some water out of them and drink
2543. then they ate what is left of those branches and barks
2544. they were so bitter for their tongues but no other way

Alexander 6, V105.

Hello. How are you folks? Hope your day is, or was, better than mine. Not really that bad day, but I hate it when I have to walk in the sun for about 15 minutes with a trolly carrying tank that is supposed to be filled with liquid Nitrogen on a rigid ground and with cars blocking my way so I had to take the long way and then wait up for more than 10 minutes under the sun waiting for one sucker to come along but he never showed up despite my phone call prior to my arrival. As surplus for this day, I have a painful wrist that is never seem to be cured whatsoever.

Away from this fuss, I'll get back to photography here now. Yesterday, and after reading the chapter of the black and white in Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity, and Personal Style, it jumped to my mind that I can probably fix some images who really didn't take up much of my time or imagination and try to fix it in black and white and see the reaction from people I know and how they feel about it.
One of the trials I went on with was merging some images of Aughnanure Castle from the outside into a 32-bit black and white. Then I figured out there is no much sense in that in fact, or maybe little sense! I mean, HDR images are supposed to provide an open EV range in a colored image, but in black and white the EV is limited in general by the nature of the system itself. But does that mean that a HDR in black and white would provide more contrast range (i.e. High Definition) more than the usual black and white? One of the definitions of the HD it is a measure of the levels from black to white (or vice versa) that can be seen or viewed by the device. That is, if some device can view White, Black, and 8 levels of gray in between in a precise manner, then we can say the contrast here is 1:9, 1 being for white, and 9 is the total levels that come after white to the final black. At least this is what or how I understood it when Christian Bloch explained it in his book.

I don't think HDR represent a "HD" in black and white though, I've never heard of this term! Anyway, I was doing that for that specific image trying to eliminate the fuss in the moving branches which introduced a ghosting effect (they were moving because of the breeze). Unfortunately, it didn't work out at all in several softwares, and even in PhotoAcute which is supposed to be good (as reported) with removing moving objects.

Image under inspection

Later on, I've just given up with this image and started to look for something else. This time, I've picked one that really inspired me with the strong presence of the light in it. It was also taken for HDR (3 bracketed images), but here, I have to deal with it in black and white.

Second target. Inside the tower in Aughnanure.

Here, there was some shake but it was fixed simply in Photoshop's "auto-align" command. Now, I have 3 images at hand with different shades of gray (remember, they are all converted to black and white). I was hesitated which one to work on. There were some details here and there that I wanted to include in this image, like the branches that show up on the roof of the tower. This gives me somehow a sense of hope in the image. To go around this, I went on doing a manual labor with manual tone-mapping. It is not a HDR toning, but rather stacking your 3 images in 3 successive layers and apply some masks. I might explain in details in some other post maybe? Maybe! However, the result was good (after doing also some contrast and sharpening), and I reduced my choice into two images, that I have to choose from to upload and try my luck with the B&W now! The first was the black and white version of the first image with EV equal to +0, and the second of course was the "tone-mapped" black and white composed of the 3 images altogether.

Left: +0EV black and white. Right: Tone-mapped black and white.

Most people agreed on the right one being the most acceptable, I think mainly because of the dramatic effect involved. The story was not over by then but I thought maybe a sepia tone would be favorable to add some old or ancient effect, since the place is a historical monument.

Left: Sepia version. Right: Regular version.

The response from people that I've tested these images with was just amazing! I've never thought that black and white images can do such things to the imagination! Most people liked the sepia version for many reasons, but there also some people who liked the pure black and white version because simply it is either reflective for purity, or mystery.

This said now, it encourages me highly to dig for more from my old RAW files and try to work it out in B&W in a suitable manner, providing of course a good light and a nice composition at least!

__________ 

2497. Alexander thought for some minutes about it
2498. and he thought about the ground that she meant
2499. until they passed over a dark land with dead trees
2500. so harsh and lonely it was that Alexander's heart jumped
2501. then he asked: is this the land of the promised Hermit?
2502. and Aramramátáníth answered: yes indeed it is,
2503. but the time to see him is not due yet at this hour,
2504. the night must fall and a moon must rise upon the mount
2505. it is then when you can see your promised man,
2506. because he spends his days in worshipping,
2507. while at night time he takes a rest for his body
2508. Alexander asked then: and why his land is so dark?
2509. it gives the scent of sadness into the soul of a human!
2510. then Aramramátáníth answered: do not blame the man,
2511. verily he is a lonely old man in this spot of Uhir Daynur,
2512. his arms are his companions and his legs are his carriers,
2513. he eats the plants of the desert and barely brings water,
2514. in this dry land only wild animals live and fight,
2515. this is the Hermit's life in Uhir Daynur, poor man
2516. then Alexander asked: but why he has to live here?
2517. I am sure there are plenty of places in this life
2518. thus Aramramátáníth answered: O dear Alexander,
2519. you should know by now that there are some people,
2520. devoted themselves for nothing but to God

Alexander 6, V104.

One regular day day that is today. Can you believe it? Monday? Regular? Well, I had some tiny problems with the connection but I think it doesn't count. I had problems as well yesterday at home. Seems the new Firefox update is causing the whole browser to stop functioning or something. I had to restart the browser to get it back to normal yesterday.

I did some experiments last Saturday trying to make a suitable image to try out PhotoAcute. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the images as I like because my idea involved also a close-up with my fisheye. I wanted to test that too. My idea was to try out a close-up with a fisheye (which is stated to be 20 cm minimum), and taking several images in the setting while changing the focus manually, then use PhotoAcute to stack the images and combine them for extended depth of field. However, the experiment was not so good for the lack of the light outside (open shade situation it was, and I need some light to get into my marble under the test!), and inside, the lights were simply not interesting. Also, the composition involved putting the camera on the ground without a tripod and that caused it to shake a bit. After many trials with PhotoAcute, I went on playing around with my RAWs solely and adding some effects to get up finally with this:

Some drama to serve the eye.

In my trials with PhotoAcute, I'm not really sure about the whole concept of Super-Resolution (SR for short). It is interesting and it does make out some sharp and obvious details out of the somehow-blurred backgrounds in images with soft focus in the distance, but I don't find that any interesting when it is viewed t 100%. Most buyers and photo-dealers must check the image at 100% for details. With my trials in SR, I find it adequate only to resize the image from its large size after the SR process, into the regular size I'm used to upload with; 2400x1600 pixels. That way, details pop-out more than a regular image of the same size and yet, when viewed in 100% it is quite good, well, relatively.

Been considering now to re-check my old files and see if there is any chance to convert some of them into black and white photos and even re-make them into a more interesting play. The process is delicate. Most of the time, I depended on colors in my photography thinking and I rarely made a B&W image, if any at all! Time to dig up the past!
__________

2473. one elder then replied back to Alexander and said
2474. "we know O hero, we know everything about you,
2475. but this is a crown to make you remember us forever,
2476. and to make us remember you forever as well,
2477. a man who helps people, deserves to be their leader"
2478. another elder said: from this way O our king,
2479. Aramramátáníth, the Good, is waiting there
2480. thus, Alexander walked behind the old man
2481. between some trees and bushes so greenish
2482. until he stood upon a land of grass in the middle
2483. and he felt the air coming out from under his feet
2484. and slowly slowly he was raised up in the air
2485. while everyone was watching him going up in the air
2489. and everyone was waving for him before his leave
2490. and he waved back at them and a tear fell down
2491. for he missed his people in Caqobia on Daynur
2492. and the goodness of the farmers moved his heart
2493. and the thoughts raced in his mind again
2494. whether shall he see his people again or not
2495. and Aramramátáníth had spoken and said
2496. "the place of great men O Alexander, is not the ground"

Alexander 6, V103.

It was a moderate weekend; annoyances and some nice time, and worked a bit on some photography (or more like photo-processing if I should say). Trying to work out and around my RAW files, new and old, and trying to study the compsition and the materials in these photos relative to what I've been reading in Alain Briot's Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity, and Personal Style.

 

It is indeed the book that I need. Maybe little about the work with the camera itself, or what I call "technicality," but it is a heavy load of art and philosophy (as I said before in previous posts). This is what I need. Knowing how to work with the camera alone does not do the job.

I was lucky a bit when I was able to get an electronic version of the famous photography magazine Popular Photography. I've started to read the many tips in there and trying to learn more about shaping the lights. Yet, I'm thinking as well how expensive things can get when you want to be a professional! Light, light, light. How to master the light composition is all what photography is about, and yet this side in me is weak.

Back to my RAW files, I've been trying to manipulate them without going back to the HDR technique as much as possible. This time my target was the tranquility of Lough Corrib. So far according to what I learnt from Alain's book, this is relatively a nice shot showing reflections on the water surface, but of course, I have a problem with the light and the sky, since it was shot around midday or afternoon when the sun was still hovering over the head and not giving long shadows, or any interesting endeavor, but it might be considered interesting for its reflection maybe? or the clouds and the horizon line? Could be...

The image after RAW processing.

Here, I wanted to make the image brighter or somehow more lusterous and shiny but without these over-exposed areas being blown out more. There is a technique I learned long time ago called increasing faux dynamic range. I came cross this technique long time ago when I was trying to find something to make my images taken with my simple old Sony point-and-shoot camera look better and interesting, like an HDR image. At that time I didn't have a real tripod to go for HDR, thus I was going around that with some techniques making balance between shades and highlights in the image, one of these techniques was the "Faux" dynamic range (faux means false).

The technique is simply about adding adjustment layers in Photoshop. Two Level layers and a Contrast layer, then a layer of the original image set to Saturation blend mode. I did something similar, but without the last step. The thing I did differently here, is that I did the technique twice. I don't remember I've done this before really.

The Basic set of adjustment layers

The main trick here as follows:

1. Preferably, duplicate your background (basic) image (by Ctrl+J).
2. Add a Level adjustment layer (you should know how I guess!).
3. Click the mask of the adjustment layer then go to Image > Apply Image. Check the Invert option and in the expandable menues choose the "Background" or your duplicated layer name. This is better sometimes so to ensure that the used image here is not the "merged" which sometimes can be different from the original. This procedure is essential to enlighten the shadow areas and leave the highlights alone.
4. Now back to your Level adjustment layer, open it up (double click the circle) and hold the grey arrow (the gamma level cursor) and drag it to the left. You will see the image brighten up in some areas, so just fix it to some level that suits you and do not over do it.
5. Duplicate the adjustment layer (select it and hit Ctrl+J). Directly, invert the mask by hitting Ctrl+I. Now open the box of the Levels (double click the circle) and drag the gamma to the right to whatever suits you. You will notice the image is getting darker in some areas. Don't over do it. Usually, I find myself satisfied when the arrow meets the left end of the histogram.
6. Now, we add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer. Here, and because I'm using Photoshop CS4, there is an option of Legacy. Turn that off and do your contrast increasing and be sure not to over do it. In CS2 and before, this option is not there, thus you will increase the contrast a bit and move to point 7.
7. Duplicate your original again and drag it on the top of the stack of layers and sets it mode to "Saturation." Change the opacity of this layer to what suits you.

Step No.7 here is not included in my work and in fact I didn't use it for long time, because with CS4 (and CS3 I think as well), turning the Legacy option off yields a nice contrast without any need to adjust it further. Still if you feel like trying it, go ahead.
That was the basic procedure and it really takes less than 2 minutes in total to do it all (unless you have a sharp eye and keen with details with an image full of different colors!). I did this procedure twice, i.e. ending up with 2 stacks of Faux dynamic range effect.

First run of Faux dynamic range

Second run of Faux dynamic range.

The shadow on the rock and its brightness and smoothness reminds me so much of the HDR effect that I usually see on some images with not so much tone-mapping on it. In other words, more natural processed HDR. I feel the reflection is more vibrant than the other two versions already. I did add some extra adjustment layers I think to help with the blue a bit or to reduce the saturation, but basically the image came out more vibrant with the second faux process. I wonder what would have happened if I used a third!?
I was planning to submit this image to the stocks but I blew it with too much sharpening, plus there was a shake in the trees in the background (or could be my hand was not much stable), and in stock sites they always check the image at 100%. I've forgot about it. It's not that important for now. Or, could be later?

Now, back to reality. Sucks, doesn't it? Ah well, life goes on. I've been busy in the lab working on preparing some rice samples, and then I had to sit doing some calculations and measurements which were simple but nevertheless, tideous. All of that just to find some volume for the container and the samples I'm preparing. I bet anyone else would say it is some sort of nuclear calculations when they see this! But among all of this I was able to write one line in my note, preparing for some new poem, or lyrics, or whatever. It was one line only (in fact divided into 2 parts), and the chain of thoughts suddenly got disconnected and couldn't write any more than that. Might come on later, hopefully.

Been some days now and I'm strangely attracted to this song that really doesn't match my favorite list. The beat though, keeps me moving... here you go!


__________

2449. Alexander advanced into the place and greeted
2450. then the elders greeted him with great respect
2451. they stood up before him, and approached him
2452. and shook their hands together with him
2453. then one elder said: O hero of Caqobia,
2454. we know by now, from the Good Aramramátáníth,
2455. we know your story and how you ended up here,
2456. thus we are ordered to supply you with your needs,
2457. and it is our wishes to see you among us,
2458. just like one of us, or even a king for us,
2459. but your destiny is of great importance,
2460. but before you go on your destined way,
2461. allow us to give you one thing to remember us
2462. Alexander was embarrassed for such greetings
2463. thus he looked down and his tongue did not go
2464. then another elder approached with a crown
2465. and put the lustrous crown over the hero's head
2466. then one elder said: thus, we announce you a king,
2467. our king, our protector, our ruler, our savior
2468. then Alexander tried to talk with hardship
2469. and this he said: but O good people of the farms,
2470. I am soon to be out of here for my life,
2471. I cannot be the king over you right now,
2472. because my life is not mine anymore

Alexander 6, V102

Alone in the office. Everyone is gone now. It's quiet indeed, but boring somehow, even with the fact that I've worked in the lab preparing some samples.
I keep on reading and reading but at some point, nothing goes into my head. I was planning to take a short leave after 12, but now the secretary is gone so early, so I'm still studying my options till writing this.
Some ideas for photography are going into my mind right now and also I need to plan a real test for my monopod, this time without the mini-tripod legs.

The pain in my wrist has been there now for, maybe 2 months? It's far lesser than before but it is still annoying. Sometimes wakes me up at midnight at the time that I can barely sleep.
It's Thursday. And it was a short week because of the holiday we had last Sunday, yet, I don't feel so excited about it. I don't know why. Sounds just one regular day I want it to pass away...
__________

2425. Juvvál held the hands of Alexander gently then
2426. and he grabbed Alexander with him slowly
2427. and this he said to Alexander: and now, you must smile
2428. and the group of farmers made a circle all around him
2429. and all of them made a dance in unique movements
2430. just like a flock of birds in the skies fly freely
2431. thus Alexander could not help but to smile
2432. he felt the joy inside his heart, something he lost
2433. it had been a long time since he felt such a joy
2434. and the hours of the night passed easily then
2435. and everyone fell asleep, and Alexander as well
2436. by the next morning then Alexander raised up
2437. he looked around but everyone was up before him
2438. and the farmers were digging the lands and planting
2439. then Juvvál approached Alexander and greeted him
2440. and with a smile he said: Aramramátáníth is waiting,
2441. she ordered me to tell you to go to the Well of Truth,
2442. where our judges and trials all are done over there
2443. thus Alexander got ready and prepared himself
2444. and to the Well of Truth he went in a hurry
2445. he walked behind Juvvál and wished to race him
2446. but kept in his tracks because he does not know the way
2447. until he found himself in that greenish spot
2448. where the elders were sitting and waiting for him

Alexander 6, V101.

It is sort of a busy day, with me being busy fixing the motor in the lab and figuring out some stuff. With fasting now, time seems so narrow and yet so boring in the same time. At work, it is boring and I would get tired reading or working with anything so fast without my usual power drink or coffee, and while I get back home and because of the tiresome body, I have to sleep directly upon reaching home and that, wastes a lot of my time, and even when waking up after 3 hours of time, I would still need some refreshment and some mood to work on what I plan to do, and that is something I don't get so often...

Been reading 3 books today at work, and also thinking of some words to write. I didn't write anything in weeks now and I just don't want to cool it down like that. Should I stop my fasting now just to retain some aspects of my life? It's so hard for me to decide really...

__________
2401. Juvvál brought a stool and sat beside the hero
2402. and with a soft and slow voice he started his speech
2403. "O hero, why do you like to make things harder for you?
2404. life is life, everyone has a matter in it by every single day,
2405. see those merry men, they work by day so hardly,
2406. and by night they sleep happily for what they have done,
2407. life does not matter if you have faith in God,
2408. because you will always know that He has His ways,
2409. and from His ways, the wisdom comes to you and guide you,
2410. tell me O hero, where are you from? Your name is weird to me!"
2411. thus Alexander went on explaining the story of his life on Daynur
2412. and how he became a dweller in the lands of Uhir Daynur
2413. it is then when Juvvál said: it is a great matter indeed!
2414. it is the Hermit then you are seeking in this place,
2415. no one from the farmers dares to go to the place of the Hermit,
2416. it is dark even in midday, and beasts roam all over the place!
2417. but I presume you have no problem with that with your Cadid!
2418. then Alexander said: and how to reach that place?
2419. then Juvvál extended his arm and pointed to a tip
2420. the tip of the mount was like if it covered one moon
2421. and the bluish halo surrounded its tip like a saint
2422. thus Alexander said: is it there what I am seeking?
2423. Juvvál answered: yes, your Hermit lives there on the top,
2424. in a place so to be called, the House of the Hermit

Alexander 6, V100.

Relatively a busy day, with some bad surprises along the way. With me starting to fast again, it feels dull. I now realize that eating for me, in the first place, is a psychological need rather than a nutritional one. My eyes are so tired of reading and I cannot have some rest in the office as usual because of some visitors. My room is the meeting room.
On the other hand, there had been some routine work with samples preparation, which was going fine, except when I discovered that one of the motors connected to some device, is broken. Most probably, it had been like that for many days before I discover it, and the first suspect is, of course, Mr Dirty Janitor. I'm trying to push my luck further and try to make the admins or whoever responsible for those guys change this guy with another one. At least someone who doesn't spit too much in the bathroom!

I've been reading further in the usual book, made by Alain Briot, and now I've been enjoying it even more. It is a discussion about life and nature. Well, maybe the dominant style of this book is landscape photography but for sure it works with its concepts in other areas of photography and life. It had a brief discussion as well about some astronomical aspects when it comes to catching sceneries under the moon or sun lights, and that was amusing for me. Beside that, I've figured that I was doing some of the aspects explained in this chapter without me "studying" those in deep. Like for example, I always preferred winter to take photos here in Kuwait, not because of the weather change, but also because, simply, the light and colors of nature are better and look more interesting, and this point is exactly explained in this book! Well, maybe in more details and precise better terms. Well, I guess photography is a mix of logic and feelings altogether, you just need to think about your "feelings".

One of the aspects that "awakened" me really was that the concept of light and colors and how to make the photo interesting. In these lines, I've realized, or more like remembered, that I've been capturing most of my photos for HDR merging and then tone-mapping to give some interesting results of the light conditions. Been really long time since I did represent a single photo. I should work more on this side if I would want my photographs to be "real".

Under this influence, I've began digging again in my arsenal of RAW images from Ireland. I've picked up one image that was not really interesting in composition and I dont remember putting it in my collection before (could be once only when I was writing this blog in Ireland still). I worked extensively in the RAW Converter fixing many values in there without thinking of merging into HDR, and the result was...

 The porous rock from Lough Corrib (Loch Coirib), Co. Galway, Ireland.

I'm fond of the composition though. If I was to shoot this again, I would pick a lower angle, but I know it would be hard that way, because I was already standing on the rocks (and partially soaked up!). However, it was an interesting rock. I should thank here the ProPhoto gamut (or color space). After finalizing my settings, I've changed the space in the RAW Converter into sRGB and Adobe RGB systems, they were not as brilliant as this one, and also naturally, kept the histogram in the middle, not touching the max highlight level or the max shadow level. This harmony is absolutely corrupted when it is converted into other space systems. Love you, ProPhoto! Unfortunately, it is not a very common work-field.

Talking about Ireland again, maybe I should do some re-checks now. Well, more than 2 months ahead, but I guess it is useful to do it now and then and also print out the description of the location(s). You really don't want to get lost in the countryside!

__________
2377. then, the farmers made a celebration for the hero
2378. the night was lighted with torches and three moons
2379. and everyone was happy and merry with laughters
2380. except of one man who was in deep thought ahead
2381. who else it could be except of the poor Alexander
2382. then a farmer whose name was Juvvál approached
2383. and he put a hand on the shoulder of Alexander calmly
2384. Alexander was startled in the beginning and looked back
2385. Juvvál said: calm down O hero! I see you are busy!
2386. the people celebrate for you and you do not join them?
2387. Thus Alexander sighed and looked up to the sky
2388. Juvvál then smiled and said: smile O hero and calm down,
2389. what life is worthy of when we spend every day with worrying?
2390. the burden of the mind do not go by thinking all the time,
2391. but the burden of the mind goes with a laughter,
2392. come O hero and join the singing men for your glory
2393. Alexander smiled back but it was a yellowish smile
2394. and this he said: O good man, it is not easy to be happy,
2395. specially when you are in a dilemma about your existence,
2396. who am I? what I am doing in here? I cannot know myself!
2397. I lost the track of time in here, no days no years,
2398. can you tell me O good man what is the purpose of life?
2399. can you tell me O good man what is my destination?
2400. and Alexander's speech was over with heavy silence

Alexander 6, V98, V99.

Here we are, a Monday after a three-day weekend. I'm posting 2 verses for now as I didn't post anything yesterday (despite my plans). The work place seems quiet today after my colleague left in his vacation. YES! I wanna spend the whole time listening to music and reading. Ah well, it's not all like problems-less. Just one hour ago we (the secretary and I) had to sort out some dilemma concerning orders that been made by colleague. Not important, so far.

I've started reading my other book now and seems it is the variety of books I've been looking for. It discusses philosophical matters beside technicality of photography. I'm still in the beginning though and it's a long long read in front of me. Around 18 chapters in it, and I must try my best to digest whatever in it, either concepts, or technical procedures. It is a book about photography as an Art, rather than a camera.

 

In another venture, I've tried, finally, to capture a panorama with my new monopod, just to try out its capabilities, and seems it will be quite well although I'm still reluctant about taking it alone in my travel to Ireland. I think I will include my old tripod as well just in case. The panorama is not new to me, with only the time difference to the previous time, our own yard.

The circumstances in this panorama were challenging but still it went well I suppose. The time was early hour of the morning, and maybe you can see the sun is raising in the horizon still. The weather was awfully humid and I had to rub clean my fisheye lens while shooting. There was also this cat that kept on rubbing against me legs begging for food! However, despite all of that, it went sort of well except of some errors that I didn't care to fix here actually for a purpose.

While shooting, I had to keep my fingers gently on the monopod to keep the vibrations as low as possible. The shoot was conducted in Av mode (Aperture-Value priority) and not in M(anual) mode as I usually do. I realized that in fact what I usually do in Manual mode is the same as the Av mode; set the aperture and change the shutter speed to match the -2,0,+2 bracketing, and this is exactly the Av mode! It is also helpful to not touch the camera much in these conditions with a shaky monopod. Despite the tri-legs but it is not so stable to depend on my free movements away from it. I had to keep my hand all the time. One angle in particular was bad and maybe not so obvious in this small version of the panorama, and that was the angle of the left-side door (the door to the guest room); at this angle, the monopod was vibrating so much and made it worse with my hand grip over it. The image from that angle was typically shaky and blurred.

The zenith, was taken normally but for some reason it was darker than the rest of the image. I could've raised the exposure a bit before stitching it with the others, but I left it like that just to see the errors I have here. I don't think it is a mistake related to the monopod itself anyway. The zenith as well created a problem AFTER stitching, where the guest room door appeared with broken lines suddenly (and it was just fine before the stitch!). Now I'm trying to figure out a way to use the monopod in helping me to capture a more easy-going nadir (bottom) image. I didn't care much to stitch the nadir in the panorama above, because it's just an example so far. It would be important, however, if I was planning for a complete QTVR. I guess my experiment with the monopod turned out like 4 out of 5 stars.

 

Among all these experiments and reading that I have to do, I'm trying to sort out some tiny time for my webpage project. I've made some effects for today but I didn't put my mind really into it yet. I'm bad...

__________
2329. then Birbuár asked Alexander about his news
2330. and he went on telling him everything about the village
2331. until he arrived here in this place to help the farmers
2332. Birbuár then said: you are going for the Hermit?
2333. I heard he is a weird man indeed, but a wise one!
2334. I heard also that his age extends back in time,
2335. so ancient he is that you cannot tell,
2336. yet, his looks are young like time stopped
2337. and what are you going to do there O hero?
2338. Alexander replied: Aramramátáníth told me,
2339. that he might have the answers I need,
2340. he might know what I am doing here,
2341. and how to get back to my lands and the beloved
2342. then Birbuár said: I see you have conquered a Cadid!
2343. how brave are you to capture your own Cadid!
2344. then Alexander replied: believe me my friend,
2345. I did not know what is this until I met Biryári!
2346. fighting him was easy to me, and I wonder for the people!
2347. why they are so afraid of such creatures?
2348. why they cannot just defeat their Cadids by themselves?
2349. then Birbuár said in a calm voice: O good king of Caqobia,
2350. there is so much for you to learn about our world,
2351. your soul is everything for you in here,
2352. and if it is a dark one, then no hope with a Cadid

2353. the two talked for a while and forgot about time
2354. until it was just before the darkness to fall upon them
2355. Birbuár raised and said: it is getting darker O hero,
2356. it is time for me to dwell back to Khaznútím
2357. Alexander asked: where to O brave friend?
2358. Birbuár replied: I must go back before dark,
2359. I promised Khaznútím to get back to him,
2360. I must head to the Big Brother Mountain,
2361. and from there he shall take me to his place
2362. and Alexander asked: and where is his place?
2363. Birbuár answered in a low voice: Ah my friend,
2364. you do not really want to ask all these questions,
2365. I myself do not know where his place is in fact,
2366. it is like something not part of this world by any way,
2367. one time you are here, then suddenly you are in his,
2368. where everything is made of fire, but nothing hurts,
2369. unless you do a mistake or make him angry,
2370. then bear with him whatever it might have to take
2371. Alexander then had a farewell with his friend Birbuár
2372. and the two hugged each other like they will never meet
2373. then it was but a matter of eye blinks from Alexander
2374. and Birbuár was not standing in front of him anymore
2375. he flew away just like a Shágí would always do
2376. free of the physical world and free of bounds