https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/categories/design/ Vedfolnir — Design Thinking en Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://www.vedfolnir.com/images/Vedfolnir-Logo-20231124.png https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/categories/design/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/images/Vedfolnir-Logo-20231124.png https://www.vedfolnir.com/images/Vedfolnir-Logo-20231124.png 059669 https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/camera-lens-official-vs-gray-market-buying-guide/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/camera-lens-official-vs-gray-market-buying-guide/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Beginners often face the dilemma: should you buy officially imported camera gear with distributor warranty, or save money on gray market parallel imports? An architectural breakdown of body complexity, lens durability, repair ecosystems, and why commercial professionals must go fully official. When stepping into the world of photography to purchase your first kit or upgrade your existing gear, almost everyone encounters a perplexing dilemma: > **“Should I buy official distributor warranty units (company goods), or save significant money by going with gray market parallel imports?”** Ask around on camera forums or in brick-and-mortar camera shops, and you will typically be met with two polar opposite camps: - **The Official Warranty Purists**: Insisting that expensive precision optical instruments must come with local distributor backing, arguing that paying the premium is necessary to ensure reliable repair service and prevent your gear from becoming an unsupported “orphan.” - **The Gray Market Value Seekers**: Arguing that both originate from the exact same factory assembly line with identical optical and electronic tolerances. The substantial price difference—often hundreds or thousands of dollars—can easily fund your next prime lens or premium filter. Many buyers insist on paying more for official units purely for the reassurance of authorized factory repair. Yet, having a guaranteed repair pipeline is one thing; how diagnostic fees, parts, and out-of-warranty labor are calculated is an entirely different matter. Personally, I don't subscribe to an all-or-nothing doctrine. My dry cabinets contain a balanced mix of both official warranty gear and parallel imports. Through years of hands-on shooting and stress-testing countless camera bodies and optical lenses, I have developed a **practical decision-making framework based on physical risk, wear characteristics, and repair ecosystems**. If you are torn between official and gray market gear, here is a grounded guide to navigating your purchases.  --- ## Defining the Terms: Official Warranty vs. Gray Market (Parallel Import) Before comparing strategies, it is essential to clarify legal and commercial definitions: 1. **Official Warranty Goods**: Officially imported by the brand's local subsidiary in the Republic of China (Taiwan) (such as Sony or Canon) or an authorized national distributor. These units pass through standard customs taxation, carry an official warranty card, and are fully backed by the regional service network. 2. **Gray Market (Parallel Import)**: Authentic, brand-original merchandise manufactured by the same camera brand overseas (such as in Japan, Hong Kong, or the US/Europe) and legitimately imported into the Republic of China through standard customs clearance by third-party retailers or independent trading firms. Legitimate parallel imports are **never knock-offs or counterfeits**. The internal image sensors, optical glass elements, and lens coatings are identical. The only divergence lies in **who assumes responsibility for post-purchase warranty, technical diagnostics, and maintenance**. --- ## Principle 1: Camera Bodies — Strongly Lean Toward Official Distributor Warranty When purchasing camera bodies—whether full-frame DSLRs or modern mirrorless flagships—my fundamental rule is: **prioritize official distributor warranty for the camera body, especially for high-end professional and semi-pro models.** Why is cutting corners on camera bodies inadvisable? The answer comes down to physical wear, electronic complexity, and proprietary diagnostic protocols: ### 1. High-Density Electronics and Complex Optomechatronics A modern camera body houses an intricate matrix of fragile components: ultra-high-resolution CMOS/BSI sensors, dedicated image processing SoCs, 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) magnetic floating voice-coil assemblies, mechanical shutter curtains, high-speed dual card slots, and multi-layer flex cables. Any power surge, condensation-induced oxidation, or minor board-level degradation can cause total system lockups or intermittent freezing. ### 2. Harsh Outdoor Exposure, Rain, and Debris Accumulation Photographers routinely push bodies through freezing mountain passes, salt-laden coastal winds, and unpredictable torrential downpours. Even with weather-sealed chassis designs, the irregular contours around dials, buttons, battery doors, and memory slots naturally trap grime and ambient moisture over time. Repeated lens changes in the field further risk sand and moisture entering the chamber, often necessitating complete teardowns for cleaning and optical re-alignment. ### 3. Proprietary Calibration Jigs and Steep Gray Market Diagnostic Fees Replacing a shutter unit or CMOS sensor assembly requires proprietary OEM calibration software and optical alignment jigs that third-party independent repair shops cannot fully replicate. More critically, authorized regional distributors in the Republic of China enforce steep **“out-of-region diagnostic surcharges”** on gray market camera bodies. Simply submitting an imported parallel-market body for inspection often triggers an upfront service toll running into hundreds of dollars, instantly wiping out any initial savings. For high-priced, electronically delicate camera bodies, buying official is essentially securing vital insurance for proprietary parts inventory and factory calibration. --- ## Principle 2: Optical Lenses — Seek Reputable Importers and Leverage Substantial Gray Market Savings While camera bodies call for defensive caution, my approach to lenses is significantly more flexible: > **For optical lenses, strongly favor reputable specialty retailers and purchase gray market parallel imports whenever there is a substantial price gap. If the price difference is negligible, stick with official goods.** This strategy is anchored by the unique mechanical longevity of glass and the robustness of third-party optical repair: ### 1. Optical Stability: If It Passes Initial Inspection, It Lasts for Years Unlike camera bodies that handle continuous high-throughput computing and thermal cycling, optical lenses are primarily composed of ground glass elements, helicoid barrels, diaphragm blades, and linear stepping motors. Provided you conduct a rigorous initial inspection right out of the box—verifying optical centering, absence of internal assembly debris, smooth and quiet autofocus operation, and pristine lens coatings—a properly calibrated lens stored in a digital dry cabinet can easily perform at peak optical fidelity for 5 to 10+ years, retaining impressive resale value. ### 2. Concentrated Failure Modes with Readily Available Components When a lens eventually shows signs of wear after years of heavy duty, failures are overwhelmingly confined to two predictable components: - **Optical image stabilization (such as Nikon VR, Canon IS, or Sony OSS) floating coil motors or flexible ribbon cables**; - **Ultrasonic/stepping autofocus motors (USM/SWM/STM) or aperture control flex cables** . These targeted failure points are routine maintenance for the dedicated repair divisions and contracted partner labs of established parallel-import retailers. Disassembly, cable replacement, and reassembly are standard, straightforward operations. ### 3. Mature Independent Repair Infrastructure and Transparent Pricing Even if the retailer who sold you the parallel import goes out of business years later, your lens is far from a paperweight. Throughout the Republic of China (especially in historic camera market hubs like Taipei's Bo'ai Road and Hankou Street, as well as renowned independent optical workshops across metropolitan centers), master technicians boast decades of experience dismantling classic primes and holy-trinity zooms. Mold removal, flex cable replacement, and motor alignment follow transparent, standardized price tiers. In many instances, an independent technician's targeted component-level repair is substantially more economical than the official distributor's policy of charging for entire modular replacements. ### 4. The Price Gap Rule: Evaluating Marginal Utility Because lens failure risks are contained and repair avenues plentiful, your decision pivots on the **price spread**: - **Price Gap Exceeds 15% (or hundreds of dollars in savings)**: Buy from an established, reputable gray market merchant without hesitation. The savings can directly finance a [premium anti-smudge protective filter](/how-to-choose-camera-lens-filter-protector-guide/), an external speedlight, or even your next portrait prime. - **Price Gap is Minimal ($30–$50 USD)**: Choose official distributor stock to eliminate the need for meticulous unboxing inspections and preserve maximum second-hand resale value. --- ## Principle 3: Working Commercial Professionals — Go Fully Official Without Exception The hybrid formula above (official body + strategic gray market lens) is tailor-made for enthusiasts, advanced hobbyists, and independent creators balancing quality and budget. However, **if you are a full-time commercial photographer whose livelihood relies on meeting strict client deadlines under contractual pressure, there is only one choice: buy 100% official distributor equipment across the board.** This unbending rule exists for a single imperative: **zero workflow disruption**. Major camera manufacturers operate premium dedicated professional support programs (such as Canon CPS, Nikon NPS, and Sony PRO Support) for certified commercial shooters: 1. **Complimentary Same-Tier Loaner Gear**: If your primary workhorse (such as a flagship body or 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom) malfunctions on the eve of a major commercial shoot, the official service center will immediately furnish an equivalent backup body or lens free of charge while yours is serviced, guaranteeing that your shoot proceeds without contractual penalty. 2. **Priority Fast-Track Turnaround**: Dedicated VIP repair queues drastically cut down turnaround times from weeks to days or hours. 3. **Routine Preventive Maintenance**: Annual allotments of complimentary sensor cleanings, optical axis tune-ups, and discounted consumable part replacements. These career-protecting safety nets **apply exclusively to equipment registered under official distributor serial numbers within the Republic of China**. When faced with the immense risk of contract penalties and damaged client trust, the modest savings of gray market gear evaporate instantly. --- ## Equipment Selection Decision Matrix To help you quickly evaluate your next purchase, here is a concise comparison matrix: | Evaluation Dimension | Camera Body | Camera Lens | Commercial Professional | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Recommended Choice** | **Official Distributor Warranty** | **Reputable Gray Market (when gap is wide)** | **100% Official Distributor Warranty** | | **Internal Architecture** | Highly complex, dense circuitry, fragile image sensor | Predominantly optical glass and mechanics, stable circuitry | High duty-cycle, severe wear, zero room for delays | | **Common Failure Modes** | Board moisture, shutter curtain fatigue, sensor defect | IS/VR motor wear, flex cable degradation, contact fatigue | Any sudden unexpected malfunction | | **Independent Repair Feasibility** | Low (requires proprietary factory jigs and software) | Low-to-Moderate (mature master technician ecosystem) | Requires immediate same-day/next-day resolution | | **Gray Market Service Penalty** | Steep distributor inspection/diagnostic fee barrier | Easily handled via store warranty or independent repair | Ineligible for VIP loaner gear and emergency turnaround | | **Core Purchasing Rationale** | Invest in manufacturer-backed security and sensor care | Maximize dollar efficiency on high-durability optics | Eliminate client delivery risks and downtime penalties | --- ## Conclusion: Directing Every Dollar Exactly Where It Matters Buying photography gear does not require buying into brand dogma or spending unnecessarily out of ungrounded fear. - **For delicate, electronically dense, and environment-exposed camera bodies, lean on official warranty backing for complete peace of mind;** - **For structurally resilient, optically stable lenses backed by a rich third-party repair ecosystem, take advantage of reputable gray market pricing to free up substantial capital;** - **And if photography represents your professional livelihood, official distributor registration and CPS/NPS loaner backing remain your most valuable unseen asset.** Before pressing the shutter, sharpen your purchasing strategy with clear, logical decision-making. Channel every dollar saved toward the lenses and travel adventures that truly fuel your creative vision!]]> Design Thinking Camera & Lens Buying Guide: Official Warranty vs. Gray Market (Parallel Import), Repair Realities, and Strategic Budgeting https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/nikon-dominance-in-space-artemis-ii-honor/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/nikon-dominance-in-space-artemis-ii-honor/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:35:21 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Why would the Artemis II astronauts rather carry a "ten-year-old camera," the D5, around the Moon? This is a history of honor about how Nikon engraved aerospace specifications into its soul and, amid rivals who only cared about making money, monopolized the galaxy through engineering pride. **In the deep space of 2026, Nikon is declaring sovereignty over its territory.** As Artemis II prepares for its lunar flyby mission, the equipment list commander Reid Wiseman displayed at the press conference once again left photography enthusiasts worldwide holding their breath: besides the modern mirrorless performance monster Z9, he also specially brought along a veteran that has served for over a decade — the **Nikon D5**. This is an honor, and even more a technical dignity that other commercial brands find hard to match. While other manufacturers are still chasing the pixel game of the consumer market, Nikon has long since carved its name into the vacuum of the universe, into an optical empire surrounded by cold and radiation. ### A Bloodline of Honor: Making Aerospace Specs a "Standard Factory Feature" Nikon's relationship with NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was never a simple procurement contract, but an almost rigorous co-evolution. Early space cameras needed to undergo a painful "rebirth," replacing all volatile lubricants and reshaping circuit barriers. But Nikon displayed the engineering pride of an optical giant. They disdained making expensive special-spec models just for NASA, and instead chose to pour these extreme *Space-Ready* standards directly into the production lines of their consumer products. **The 2009 D3s was a legend.** It was the first mass-market camera in history that could be taken straight off a camera store shelf and sent into a space capsule without any surgery. This obsession with quality allowed Nikon to successfully "parasitize" itself within NASA's standard system. While competitors were still scrambling over how to pass vibration tests, Nikon's machines were already calmly recording the outline of the Earth in zero gravity. ### The Line Between Mediocrity and Genius: The Absence of Canon and Sony Why, in the hands of astronauts, do we not see those white long-lens phalanxes that flaunt themselves on Olympic fields? This involves a cruel commercial reality: a compromise with the ultimate mediocrity of humanity. Canon did not lack opportunities in the early days, but this company displayed the shrewdness of a merchant rather than the passion of an engineer. After evaluating NASA's order, they concluded that developing special high-temperature-resistant, radiation-resistant processes for an extremely small space demand was, on paper, extremely unprofitable. So Canon chose the easier shortcut — mass production on the ground, reaping profits from the mass market, and leaving that thankless task of "challenging the limits of physics" to Nikon — and as long as they priced things a little cheaper than Nikon, a crowd of trend-chasers would pay up. As for emerging forces like Sony, although dazzling in electronic specifications, they appear like delicate toys in the face of resilience in extreme environments. In a deep-space environment full of high-energy particles, the failure risk of electronic viewfinders and the fragility of sensors have kept them from ever gaining one hundred percent trust in life-or-death space missions. ### Muscle Memory and Lens Legacy: This Is a War That Cannot Be Counterattacked What Nikon built on the International Space Station (ISS) is a complete "optical empire." Within the station's limited modules are packed more than 35 top-tier Nikkor lenses. The shipping cost of each lens is several times that of the camera itself. For NASA, switching brands would mean abandoning assets accumulated over decades and already verified in the vacuum environment. More crucial is the astronauts' "faith." In a space environment of oxygen deprivation, high pressure, and every second counting, operating a camera must become *Muscle Memory*. The world's most elite astronauts, during training, encounter every manual and hear every piece of advice whose operating logic all originates from Nikon. This brand loyalty is not bought with advertising, but earned through the real-world credibility of a shutter that still fires steadily in the darkness of minus two hundred degrees. ### The Summit of the Moon: Hasselblad's Ancient Monument and Nikon's Future We cannot erase the magnificent images Hasselblad left behind in the Apollo era; those 12 bodies left on the lunar surface are the swan song of the film age. But Hasselblad's legend is now a thing of the past, its expense and delicacy long unsuited to the high-frequency demands of modern aerospace. Now, as Reid Wiseman flies toward the far side of the Moon with the Z9 and D5, Nikon is completing the final piece of the puzzle. This is not merely about taking photographs; this is Nikon telling the whole world: **Even on humanity's most distant journey, wherever there is light, there must be Nikon.**]]> Design Thinking The Gods Abdicate, Only Nikon Remains: Why Does NASA's New Lunar Mission Artemis II Still Reserve Its Ticket for Nikon? https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/black-white-monochrome-photography-groups/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/black-white-monochrome-photography-groups/ Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:58:10 GMT J. LIN STUDIO In a digital age saturated with color images, black and white photography continues to attract enthusiasts who pursue depth and texture through its pure artistic expressiveness. We sincerely invite you to join the "**B&W Monochrome Photography Enthusiasts**" professional community and explore the unique charm of monochrome imagery together. ## Recommended Professional Black and White Photography Communities ### 1. In a digital age saturated with color images, black and white photography continues to attract enthusiasts who pursue depth and texture through its pure artistic expressiveness. We sincerely invite you to join the **B&W Monochrome Photography Enthusiasts** professional community and explore the unique charm of monochrome imagery together. ## Recommended Professional Black and White Photography Communities ### 1. Facebook Group "**B&W Monochrome Photography Enthusiasts**" [Join Now](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bwmono) Features of this professional group include: - A focus on high-quality black and white photography creation and technical exchange - Regular experience-sharing sessions with professional photographers - A complete knowledge system from shooting to post-processing - Strict work review mechanisms to ensure content quality - An international environment with Chinese, Japanese and English exchange ### 2. X Community "BW Monochrome" [Join Now](https://x.com/i/communities/1936662529557827723) Unique advantages of this community: - Daily selections of the world's top black and white photography - Real-time sharing of the latest photography techniques and gear reviews - A concise and efficient professional interaction platform - Connections to an international network of photographers ## The Professional Value of Black and White Photography 1. Technical refinement: master exposure control and post-processing techniques for pure monochrome images 2. Composition training: strengthen your ability to manage the frame under monochrome constraints 3. Texture expression: heighten your sensitivity to materials and textures 4. Style development: cultivate your own unique visual language 5. Professional network: meet like-minded photographers and industry professionals ## The Practical Benefits of Joining the Community - Get practical advice and critiques from professional photographers - Participate in themed shooting challenges to improve your creative ability - Learn professional techniques of traditional darkroom and digital post-processing - Obtain hands-on impressions of the latest photography gear - Have opportunities to showcase your work and gain exposure ## Advice from Professional Photographers 1. Start with solid practice in basic exposure control 2. Study the analysis and deconstruction of classic black and white works 3. Establish a systematic post-processing workflow 4. Regularly participate in community interaction and exchange 5. Keep creating and seek professional feedback The "B&W Monochrome Photography Enthusiasts" community is a professional platform dedicated to improving black and white photography skills. Whether you're a beginner hoping to build a solid foundation or an advanced photographer seeking a breakthrough, you'll find substantial help and opportunities for growth here. Click the links above to join the community now and begin your professional black and white photography journey! Let's explore the pure essence and infinite possibilities of imagery together in the monochrome world.]]> Design Thinking Immersed in Monochrome Art: Join the "B&W Monochrome Photography" Community and Explore the Deep Poetry of Monochrome Aesthetics https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/chinese-style-japanese-family-crest/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/chinese-style-japanese-family-crest/ Sun, 25 May 2025 17:48:54 GMT J. LIN STUDIO On the battlefields of Japan's Sengoku period, when two armies faced off, soldiers often did not rely on writing to tell friend from foe, but on the family crests on banners and armor — patterns like the three-leaf hollyhock, six coins, and quince crest gleaming through the dust, becoming the most direct language of identity. These visual symbols, now regarded as emblems of Japanese culture, actually originated in the official-rank costume system of China's Tang dynasty. Japan's 18th-century Teijō Zakki records that "the matter of crests was modeled on the Tang system with additions and omissions"... On the battlefields of Japan's Sengoku period, when two armies faced off, soldiers often did not rely on writing to tell friend from foe, but on the family crests on banners and armor — patterns like the three-leaf hollyhock, six coins, and quince crest gleaming through the dust, becoming the most direct language of identity. These visual symbols, now regarded as emblems of Japanese culture, actually originated in the official-rank costume system of China's Tang dynasty. Japan's *Teijō Zakki* (18th century) records that "the matter of crests was modeled on the Tang system with additions and omissions," and the phrase "additions and omissions" precisely describes selective adaptation. We can also find the historical thread in the 62% compositional similarity between the Tang-dynasty "lion-pattern brocade" held by the Shōsōin and early warrior-family patterns (such as the Ashikaga lion crest), as measured by the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. It was not until the 15th century that native elements in Japanese patterns rose to 83% (according to *Quantitative Analysis of the Evolution of Japanese Patterns*). Comparing the histories of China and Japan reveals an intriguing phenomenon: when China, from the Song dynasty onward, expanded social education through the civil-service examination system, large amounts of writing gradually replaced simple graphic marks — yet the Japanese instead carried this graphic system forward and made it flourish. The reasons lie not only in the social-structural feature that Japan had relatively few noble families, but also in the practical need created by the persistently high illiteracy rate of Japanese society at the time. ## Few Families: The Special Soil for Crest Inheritance Compared with China's vast gentry system, the number of families in ancient Japan qualified to use crests was extremely limited. In the late Heian period, the court nobles who actually held the right to use crests numbered only about a hundred; by the warrior-government period, although the samurai class expanded, the small families possessing formal family crests were still kept to a few thousand. This "elite club" scale allowed most families' crests to gain ample social recognition and room for transmission. By contrast, in China, since the Wei-Jin and Northern-Southern dynasties, top-tier gentry clans like the Wang of Langya and the Xie of Chenjun alone numbered in the dozens, and local powerful clans numbered in the tens of millions. From the Song dynasty onward, as the examination system matured, writing hall names and compiling genealogies became more universally applicable ways of marking identity. The Ming *Hundred Family Surnames* recorded 504 surnames, and the Qing exceeded 2,000. Under such a vast base of families, a graphic marking system inevitably gave way to the more scalable writing system. ## A Visual Solution for an Illiterate Society By contrast, literacy in medieval Japanese society remained below 10% for a long time. According to *A Study of the History of Japanese Illiteracy*, even samurai who could read and write classical Chinese during the Sengoku period numbered no more than 30%, and the commoner class was under 5%. In such an environment, graphic family crests were the most effective identity-recognition system: - Battlefield identification: Although Uesugi Kenshin's "Bi" banner and Takeda Shingen's "Wind-Forest-Fire-Mountain" banner contained writing, ordinary ashigaru mainly relied on color and pattern to identify them. The Sanada family's six-coin crest and the Tokugawa family's three-leaf hollyhock crest both used highly symbol-ized designs to ensure recognition at a distance - Document substitute: Farmers often used family crests instead of signatures on annual-tax ledgers, and it was very common in the Edo period for merchants to stamp house-name crests on contract documents - Legal effect: In the 1595 *Sword Hunt Edict* issued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the registration of confiscated weapons explicitly required that "those who cannot write may draw a finger as a mark," and this "finger mark" was often a simplified family crest. Notably, this tradition of relying on visual symbols even continued into the modern era. When the *Education System* was promulgated in Meiji 5 (1872), the Japanese government even specifically stipulated that "family crests may be used as formal seals," reflecting how deeply rooted graphic symbols were in social cognition. ## Localization: The Transformation from Tang-Style Patterns to Japanese Aesthetics Japan's absorption of Tang patterns was not, after all, simple imitation or copying. Heian nobles simplified the *baoxiang* flower of Tang patterns into the chrysanthemum crest and transformed the cloud-crane pattern into the flying-bird pattern; the warrior class also developed designs with warrior characteristics such as the "sword ginkgo" and "arrow feather." This transformation shows a distinct functional orientation: 1. Principle of simplification: simplifying the Tang's complex interlocking vine patterns into geometric lines, such as the Ashikaga family's two-bar crest using only two horizontal lines 2. Shift of meaning: auspicious creatures in Tang patterns such as the phoenix and qilin were replaced by native Japanese auspicious motifs such as pine, bamboo and plum 3. Battlefield adaptation: warrior crests generally adopted high-contrast colors (black on white, gold on red) to improve recognition The rise of townsman culture in the Edo period further gave birth to the unique phenomenon of "composite crests" — merchants combining multiple family crests for use, forming a visual identity similar to a modern corporate VI system. The Mitsui family's "well-crib three-cover pine" and the Sumitomo family's "well-tube paulownia" are typical examples. Such commercial applications were closer to people's daily lives than the Tang crests' original function as noble identity markers. ## The Crest Gene in Modern Society Today, about 20,000 registered family crests are still active in Japanese society. From the Mitsubishi Group's "three-diamond mark" (a variant of the Iwasaki family crest) to the *noren* crests of old Kyoto shops, the enduring vitality of these visual symbols stems essentially from Japanese society's cultural inertia in processing graphic information. A 2015 University of Tokyo study found that modern Japanese people's average recognition accuracy for family-crest patterns reached 68%, far higher than the recognition rate for Chinese calligraphic signatures (42%). This cognitive difference is precisely the traditional memory shaped by a thousand years of visual tradition. Historian Okamoto Takashi once pointed out: "The survival of Japanese family crests is not cultural conservatism, but the optimal solution of social choice." When we admire the plum-basin crest of the Kaga Maeda family in a Kanazawa tea room, or look up at the Mitsubishi Group's logo at the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Station, what we see is not only an aesthetic inheritance, but a civilization's creative response to specific historical conditions — under the dual constraints of a limited number of families and low social literacy, Japan recombined foreign cultural genes into a unique cultural DNA. This may well be one of the most intriguing paradigms in the history of East Asian civilizational exchange.]]> Design Thinking How Did Japanese Family Crests, Imitating Chinese Tang Patterns, Evolve Independently in East Asia into an Identity Symbol Exclusive to Warrior Families? https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/camera-strap-selection-guide-peak-design-quick-release-vs-wrist-strap/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/camera-strap-selection-guide-peak-design-quick-release-vs-wrist-strap/ Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Frustrated with factory camera straps? This guide analyzes the 3 essential criteria for selecting a camera strap, compares Peak Design and KATA quick-release anchor systems, weighs cross-body versus chest carry, and shares hands-on handling experiences with wrist and hand straps. Recently on e-commerce platforms, limited-time promotions for the renowned brand "**Peak Design**" and their ingenious camera strap systems have caught many eyes, with steep discounts that are genuinely tempting. Currently, the strap I use on my DSLR is not the standard nylon strap provided in the box by Nikon with bold yellow branding, but a quick-release strap from another renowned ergonomic decompression brand, "**KATA**". Selecting the right camera strap impacts not only your physical comfort during long days on foot, but directly governs gear safety and the fluid rhythm of capturing decisive moments. This article breaks down the 3 core criteria for selecting a strap and evaluates real-world carrying styles.  --- ## The Carrying Dilemma: Chest Hang vs Cross-Body? A master of street photography once famously asserted: "**An excellent photographer should carry their camera on their chest to achieve the fastest reaction times for street snapshots.**" In real-world use, however, a modern full-frame DSLR paired with a fast prime or zoom lens is a "**bulky, heavy plate**" of glass and magnesium. If hung straight across your chest while walking, the camera repeatedly bangs against your sternum and abdomen with every stride, while severely obstructing your downward sightline. Consequently, a longer, quickly adjustable "**cross-body**" strap proves far more practical. While walking, the camera slides naturally behind your hip, remaining completely stable; when ready to shoot, a smooth forward pull instantly raises the camera to eye level, perfectly balancing ergonomic comfort and capture speed. --- ## 3 Core Criteria for Choosing a Quality Camera Strap When evaluating camera straps, focus on these three vital elements: ### 1. Material Tensile Strength and Load Capacity The strap webbing must comfortably support a camera body and heavy glass combo (frequently 1.5kg to 3kg or more). Abrasion-resistant ballistic nylon or seatbelt-grade high-tensile webbing is the gold standard. ### 2. Quick-Release Mechanism (QR System) In a studio or when mounting your camera onto a tripod, a dangling strap often becomes a hazardous annoyance. Quick release functionality is essential: * **Peak Design Anchor Link System**: Small anchor disks tied to the camera lugs allow the main strap to be attached or detached in seconds with one hand. Once removed, the anchors left on the body are tiny, never impeding handgrip or scratching the finish. * **KATA / Outdoor Backpack System**: After disconnecting the long strap, the short buckle segments left on the camera can clip directly into D-rings on backpack shoulder harnesses—exceptionally well-suited for hiking. * **Bottom Tripod Socket Single-Screw System**: Anchoring via the 1/4" tripod socket on the camera base. I personally advise against this setup: single-point suspension causes dramatic swinging while walking and makes managing bump risks much trickier. ### 3. Neck and Shoulder Decompression Comfort Stock factory straps are usually plain, rigid nylon webbing. During hot summer shoots, prolonged sweat friction leaves the skin red, chafed, and sore. Opting for a strap equipped with dense padding or smooth friction-reducing edges distributes weight evenly across your neck and shoulders. --- ## Eliminating Strap Clutter: The Peak Experience of Wrist and Hand Straps Experienced photographers working in controlled studio environments often dislike long straps interfering with their grip. When conditions permit, some strip the strap off entirely. However, given camera gear easily costs thousands of dollars, dropping an unsecured body is terrifying. This makes "**wrist straps**" a highly compelling alternative: | Wrist Strap Type | Structure and Wear Style | Strengths and Ideal Scenarios | Drawbacks and Considerations | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Lightweight Wrist Loop** | Simple tether looped around the wrist | Minimalist, prevents accidental slippage drops | Extended grip causes hand fatigue over time | | **Three-Point Grip Hand Strap** | Snugly secures the palm and wrist against the camera grip | Utmost security; camera stays affixed even with an open hand | Hanging single-handedly for long durations tires the wrist | In summary, for outdoor travel and dynamic street photography, a "**quick-release cross-body strap**" remains unmatched. For fine studio portraiture and controlled environments, the versatile combination of a "**quick-release anchor + wrist strap**" delivers the ultimate freedom!]]> Design Thinking Camera Strap Buyer's Guide: Peak Design Quick Release, Cross-Body vs Chest Carry, and Hands-on Wrist Strap Experience https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/10-photography-teaching-tips/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/10-photography-teaching-tips/ Mon, 12 May 2025 21:24:10 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Photography is a captivating blend of art and technique, but whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned shooter, challenges are part of the journey. Blur Photography is a captivating blend of art and technique, but whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned shooter, challenges are part of the journey. Blurry images, poor lighting, or uninspired compositions can feel frustrating, but fear not! This article dives into 10 common photography pain points and offers practical, easy-to-apply solutions to help you overcome obstacles and capture stunning images with every click of the shutter. **1. Camera Shake: Steady Your Shots** Blurry photos from handheld shooting are a common headache, often caused by shaky hands or slow shutter speeds. Here’s how to stabilize your images: - Increase Shutter Speed: Opt for a faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/250s or higher) to freeze motion and reduce blur. Adjust ISO and aperture to maintain proper exposure. - Use a Tripod or Monopod: A tripod is perfect for low-light or long-exposure shots, while a monopod offers stability with more mobility. - Enable Image Stabilization: Most modern cameras and lenses feature stabilization (e.g., IS, VR, or OIS). Turn it on to minimize shake. - Adopt Proper Grip: Hold the camera close to your body, tuck your elbows in, and press the shutter gently while breathing steadily. **Pro Tip**: Practice the “exhale technique”—press the shutter while exhaling slowly for extra stability. For extended shoots, use a remote shutter release to avoid touching the camera. **2. Low Light: Illuminate Your Vision** Shooting in dim conditions—like indoors or at dusk—often results in noisy or dark images. Here’s how to tackle low-light challenges: - Use a Tripod with Low ISO: A tripod allows slower shutter speeds, letting you keep ISO low (e.g., 100 or 200) for cleaner images with less noise. - Add Light Sources: Indoors, try external flashes, ring lights, or LED panels. Outdoors, use reflectors to bounce natural light onto your subject. - Choose a Fast Lens: L dossiers with wide apertures (e.g., f/1.4 or f/2.8) let in more light, ideal for low-light environments. - Leverage Ambient Light: Position your subject near windows, streetlights, or other natural sources for soft, flattering illumination. **Pro Tip**: Shoot in RAW format to retain more detail, making it easier to adjust brightness and noise in post-processing. Experiment with light painting in long exposures for creative effects. **3. Out-of-Focus Shots: Nail Sharp Details** When your subject is blurry or the focus misses the mark, your image loses impact. Here’s how to ensure razor-sharp focus: - Master Focus Modes: Use single-point autofocus (AF-S) for still subjects and continuous autofocus (AF-C) for moving ones. - Switch to Manual Focus: In tricky conditions like low light or high contrast, manual focus gives you precision. Zoom in on the LCD to check details. - Select the Right Focus Point: Place the focus point on your subject’s key area (e.g., eyes in portraits) to avoid the camera locking onto the background. - Use Focus Lock: Half-press the shutter to lock focus, then recompose for off-center compositions. **Pro Tip**: Enable your camera’s “focus peaking” feature to highlight in-focus areas during manual focusing. For portraits, use eye-detection autofocus (Eye AF) for pinpoint accuracy. **4. Incorrect Exposure: Balance Light and Shadow** Overexposed (too bright) or underexposed (too dark) photos can ruin your vision. Here’s how to achieve perfect exposure: - Use Exposure Compensation: Adjust exposure value (EV) up (+EV) or down (-EV) to fine-tune brightness based on the scene. - Understand the Exposure Triangle: Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together. For example, in low light, widen the aperture or raise ISO to brighten the image. - Check the Histogram: Review your camera’s histogram after shooting to ensure highlights and shadows retain detail, avoiding clipped areas. - Select the Right Metering Mode: Use matrix metering for balanced scenes, center-weighted for portraits, or spot metering for precise control. **Pro Tip**: Try exposure bracketing to capture multiple shots at different exposures, then blend them into an HDR image for maximum dynamic range. **5. Composition Issues: Craft Compelling Frames** Composition is the heart of photography, turning ordinary scenes into captivating stories. Here’s how to elevate your compositions: - Apply the Rule of Thirds: Divide the frame into a 3x3 grid and place your subject along the lines or at intersections for a balanced, dynamic look. - Use Leading Lines: Roads, fences, or rivers can guide the viewer’s eye through the image, adding depth and movement. - Simplify the Background: Change your angle or use a wide aperture to blur distracting backgrounds, making your subject pop. - Embrace Negative Space and Balance: Leave empty space for a sense of calm and ensure elements are distributed evenly to avoid a lopsided frame. **Pro Tip**: Break the rules with symmetrical compositions, minimalist frames, or unusual angles for a unique perspective. Try “framing” your subject with doorways or branches for added narrative. **6. Color Balance: Achieve True-to-Life Tones** Color casts (e.g., yellowish or bluish tints) can make photos look unnatural, especially under mixed lighting. Here’s how to correct colors: - Adjust White Balance: Match the white balance to the light source (e.g., daylight, tungsten, or fluorescent) or use a custom Kelvin setting for precision. - Shoot in RAW: RAW files preserve more color data, allowing flexible white balance adjustments in post-processing without quality loss. - Post-Process Color Correction: Use Lightroom or Photoshop’s curves, levels, or HSL tools to fine-tune colors for natural or stylized results. - Control Light Sources: Avoid mixed lighting (e.g., daylight and fluorescent) or use gels to unify color temperature. **Pro Tip**: Study color theory to use complementary (e.g., blue and orange) or analogous (e.g., red, orange, yellow) colors for emotional impact. **7. Digital Noise: Keep Your Images Clean** High ISO settings often introduce grainy noise, degrading image quality. Here’s how to minimize noise: - Lower ISO When Possible: Stick to low ISO values (100 or 200) in good light. If high ISO is needed, ensure shutter speed and aperture are optimized. - Use a Tripod: Stabilize the camera to allow longer exposures, reducing the need for high ISO. - Post-Process Noise Reduction: Tools like Lightroom, Topaz DeNoise AI, or DxO PhotoLab can remove noise while preserving details. - Invest in Better Gear: High-end cameras and lenses perform better at high ISOs, offering cleaner images if your budget allows. **Pro Tip**: Differentiate between luminance noise (grain) and color noise (splotches) in post-processing for targeted reduction. Try image stacking—combining multiple low-ISO shots—for ultra-clean results. **8. Vignetting: Even Out Your Frame** Vignetting, where photo edges darken, can disrupt visual harmony, often due to lens design or filters. Here’s how to fix it: - Check Lenses and Filters: Wide-angle lenses or low-quality filters can cause vignetting. Use lens correction filters or higher-quality accessories. - Correct in Post-Processing: Lightroom or Photoshop’s “Lens Correction” tool can automatically or manually fix vignetting for uniform brightness. - Stop Down the Aperture: Shooting at f/8 or f/11 reduces vignetting in some lenses. - Crop the Image: If vignetting is minimal, cropping the edges can quickly resolve the issue. **Pro Tip**: Subtle vignetting can enhance focus on the subject. Add a controlled vignette in post-processing for a dramatic or cinematic effect. **9. Awkward Poses: Natural Portraits Made Easy** In portrait photography, stiff or unnatural poses can make photos feel forced. Here’s how to capture relaxed, authentic poses: - Build Rapport: Chat with your subject before shooting to ease tension. A little encouragement or humor can boost their confidence. - Use Pose References: Keep a collection of classic portrait poses (e.g., leaning against a wall, hands in pockets, or hair toss) tailored to the subject’s body type and setting. - Guide Movement: Ask subjects to walk, turn, or adjust clothing for candid, natural moments instead of static poses. - Watch Details: Ensure hands are relaxed, shoulders are down, and chins are slightly forward to avoid awkward angles. **Pro Tip**: Use burst mode to capture fleeting expressions, then select the best frame. Incorporate environmental portraiture by blending subjects into their surroundings for storytelling depth. **10. Post-Processing: Polish Your Masterpiece** Post-processing can transform good photos into great ones, but beginners often find it daunting. Here’s how to get started: - Learn Core Tools: Master Lightroom or Photoshop basics like exposure, contrast, sharpening, white balance, and curves adjustments. - Build a Workflow: Start with global adjustments (exposure, white balance), then move to local edits (blemish removal, detail enhancement) for efficiency. - Explore Tutorials: YouTube, Udemy, or photography forums offer free and paid tutorials to accelerate your learning. - Avoid Over-Editing: Keep edits subtle to maintain authenticity, steering clear of excessive sharpening or oversaturated colors. **Pro Tip**: Use presets to streamline your workflow, customizing them to match your style. Learn masking techniques to adjust specific areas precisely for professional-grade results. **Conclusion: Ignite Your Photography Journey with Skill and Passion** The world of photography is full of challenges, but each hurdle is a stepping stone to mastery. From steadying your camera to crafting compelling compositions, from balancing colors to perfecting post-processing, these 10 practical tips empower you to turn obstacles into opportunities. With practice and patience, you’ll transform technical know-how into creative magic, capturing images that resonate and inspire. Photography is more than a craft—it’s a language for storytelling, a canvas for emotion, and a lens for seeing the world anew. Whether you’re chasing golden sunsets, cherished family moments, or quiet urban details, every shutter click is a chance to create something extraordinary. Embrace the learning curve, celebrate your progress, and let each “imperfect” shot fuel your growth. **Take Action Today!** - Try One Tip: Pick a technique from this article, grab your camera, and put it into practice today. - Join a Community: Share your work on platforms like X, Instagram, or local photography clubs to exchange ideas and inspiration. - Keep Growing: Subscribe to photography magazines, follow pro photographers’ tutorials, and revisit your images to track your evolution. Your photography adventure is just beginning. Step into the light, frame your vision, and capture the moments that make life unforgettable!]]> Design Thinking Overcoming Common Photography Challenges: 10 Practical Tips to Elevate Your Photos https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-knowledge-golden-ratio/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-knowledge-golden-ratio/ Mon, 05 May 2025 23:57:33 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The golden ratio, often referred to as the golden section, is a revered concept in the art world, considered by many artists and photographers as an essential element of a beautiful composition. The ability to discern the golden ratio hidden in the natural world is often hailed as a magical skill, dubbed the "photographic eye." But do you know which specific points in a photograph align with the golden ratio to create a visually stunning image? Personally, I’m no scholar, and my understanding of photography theory is rudimentary at best. My work is mostly just a collection of random snapshots. Yet, a few days ago, a girl approached me and asked, “What is the golden ratio in photography?” My first instinct was to snap back, “Go ask the Magic Conch!” But to avoid a potential thrashing, I brushed up on Wikipedia and decided to compile a concise overview of the golden ratio’s theory and application in photography for everyone’s benefit. [](./sponge-boy-vedfolnir.jpg)SpongeBob says, “Why don’t you ask the Magic Conch?” The grand staircase is a clue. To explore the golden ratio in imagery, we must first understand that it’s a proportion—a mathematical representation of aesthetic phenomena, brought to life through numbers and geometry. (Math isn’t my strong suit, especially algebra, though I’m decent at geometry—think night-and-day difference =w=). [](./golden-ratio-lestnica.jpg)In classical architecture, the golden ratio is often used as a foundational proportion. Strictly speaking, the golden ratio is a digitized “paradigm of beauty” but lacks the essence of “absolute beauty.” So, the idea of a genius scientist or mathematician suddenly devising a formula one afternoon and demanding universal agreement that it represents the golden ratio? That’s simply not how it works. Beauty is subjective, intertwined with emotions and personal consciousness—an intimate, individual experience. For me, a photo is beautiful if it evokes emotion and resonates deeply. Thus, while the golden ratio offers beginners a compositional guideline, it’s crucial to remember that the interplay of composition and emotion is the true art. **Fibonacci Sequence** Fascinatingly, the golden ratio emerged from mathematicians observing nature’s beautiful patterns, constructing a theory through numbers and geometry. Through recursive calculations in the Fibonacci Sequence, the derived results remarkably mirror the structural patterns of many natural organisms. This similarity often leads people to conflate the golden ratio with the Fibonacci Sequence. [](./Fibonacci-Blocks.png)Fibonacci Blocks The Fibonacci Sequence follows the formula: “a1=a2=1, a(n+2)=a(n+1)+a(n).” Calculating step-by-step yields an infinite sequence: “1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, ...” Dividing each term by the next produces a value that approximates the golden ratio, becoming more precise with larger numbers: 1. 55/34=1.617647 2. 89/55=1.618181 3. 144/89=1.617977 4. 233/144=1.618055 **Golden Section** [](./Golden-ratio-line-math.png)Golden ratio line math The golden section divides a line into two segments such that the ratio of the total length (a + b) to the longer segment (a) equals the ratio of the longer segment (a) to the shorter segment (b). Also known as the golden ratio, this proportion embodies mathematical harmony. The golden section exudes strict proportionality, artistry, and harmony, encapsulating rich aesthetic value. In practice, it’s typically approximated as 0.618 or 1.618, much like pi is approximated as 3.14. Found in nature’s flora and fauna, it’s widely applied in industrial products, electronics, architecture, and art for both functionality and beauty. The golden ratio is denoted by the Greek letter  , expressed algebraically as:  . Below is a viewfinder diagram I designed. The double horizontal and vertical lines, along with their intersections, simulate the viewfinder of a DSLR camera or the customizable grid on a digital camera’s LCD screen. [](./Golden-Section-Point-vedfolnir.png)Schematic diagram of the camera window (Designed by Lin Jin-Liang, 2013. In the diagram, vertical axis points are labeled A to M, and horizontal axis points are labeled A' to S'. Intersections of these lines represent different coordinates on the frame. Conventionally, when composing a shot, the golden ratio aligns with the main lines—E, I, G', and M'—chosen based on the subject matter. For images with a focal point, the golden ratio typically places the subject at the intersections EG', IG', EM', or IM'. In the viewfinder diagram, the visual focal point, represented by the large Q, falls at the IM' intersection, along Q’s diagonal. Do you see it the same way?]]> Design Thinking Unlocking the Golden Ratio: The Art & Science of Perfect Photography https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/republic-of-china-presidential-palace-and-tiananmen-square/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/republic-of-china-presidential-palace-and-tiananmen-square/ Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:25:46 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Recently, the Presidential Office of the Republic of China has once again become the focus of public opinion over a particular political issue. Riding this wave of discussion, this work uses AI generation technology to fabricate a scene in which the "Tiananmen" plaque is hung on the Presidential Office, creating a realistic-style image full of a sense of historical dislocation in design. Amid the drizzly atmosphere, the solemn Presidential Office and the jarring "Tiananmen" sign form a strong contrast, prompting viewers to ponder the subtle tension between nationhood, regime, and historical memory. Recently, the Presidential Office of the Republic of China has once again become the focus of public opinion over a particular political issue. Riding this wave of discussion, this work uses AI generation technology to fabricate a scene in which the "Tiananmen" plaque is hung on the Presidential Office, creating a realistic-style image full of a sense of historical dislocation in design. Amid the drizzly atmosphere, the solemn Presidential Office and the jarring "Tiananmen" sign form a strong contrast, prompting viewers to ponder the subtle tension between nationhood, regime, and historical memory. **Special Statement**: This image is an AI art creation and is not a real event or official action. It was inspired by recent news discussions about symbolic architecture across the Taiwan Strait, with the aim of provoking reflection on the intertwined meanings of history and reality.]]> Design Thinking The "Tiananmen" Plaque on the ROC Presidential Office: A Dislocation of Time and Space in AI Art https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/australias-working-holiday-visa-logo/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/australias-working-holiday-visa-logo/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:41:54 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Independent travel is an enriching yet costly journey of personal growth. Fortunately, with increasing global connectivity in recent years, many count Independent travel is an enriching yet costly journey of personal growth. Fortunately, with increasing global connectivity in recent years, many countries now offer 'Working Holiday Visa' programs that allow young people from partner nations to travel and work abroad, enabling them to deeply explore foreign cultures while supporting their travels financially. If you're currently dreaming of standing on Australian or New Zealand soil, pursuing what could be the most transformative journey of your life - just go for it! The logo design on the cover is the LOGO I designed for enthusiasts of the 'Australia Working Holiday Visa' program. If you like it, feel free to print it as a sticker for your luggage - a perfect way to identify fellow working holiday travelers on your Australian adventure!]]> Design Thinking Australia Working Holiday Visa Logo design https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/multiple-flash-exposure-technique-studio-photography/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/multiple-flash-exposure-technique-studio-photography/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Commercial studio shoots and macro still life require small apertures to maintain extremely deep depth of field, but what do you do when even the flash at maximum power is still underexposed? From large-format techniques of the film era, the reciprocity law and reciprocity law failure, to the linear accumulation advantage of digital sensors, this is an in-depth analysis of the multiplier conversion for multiple flash (Multiple Pop) and a practical guide to avoiding pitfalls. In commercial still life photography, jewelry and watch shooting, or high-magnification macro work, the first severe challenge a photographer faces is often **depth of field**. To make the subject sharp and clear from the front edge to the background, the lens aperture often must be stopped down to f/11, f/16, f/22, or even f/45 or f/64 on professional large-format cameras. However, each time the aperture is stopped down one stop, the amount of incoming light is directly halved, and a tiny aperture means the camera needs an enormous amount of exposure. When you turn the power of the flash on hand to maximum (1/1 full power) and the light still seems stretched thin; if at this point, to ensure pure image quality and maximum dynamic range, you insist on not raising the ISO sensitivity and don't want to rely on post-processing software to forcibly brighten the shadows and produce noise, how exactly do you break through the physical limit of light quantity? The answer lies hidden in a classic technique passed down from the film photography era—"**multiple flash exposure (Multiple Flash Exposure / Strobe Pop)**." This technique may seem ancient, but with the support of modern digital sensors, it has not only completely eliminated the physical defects of the past, but has also become a god-tier secret technique for every still life photographer to break through the equipment ceiling at low cost. --- ## 1. The Physical Principle of Multiple Flash: Photon Accumulation at Small Apertures In conventional photography, the shutter speed determines the length of time the sensor receives light. But if you are in a **completely dark studio environment**, as long as the shutter duration doesn't introduce ambient stray light, the effective amount of light actually recorded by the sensor depends entirely on "how many photons the flash emits at the instant it fires." Based on this optical physics principle, photographers can use multiple flashes to accumulate exposure: 1. **Environment setup**: In a darkroom or black studio completely isolated from ambient light, set the camera to Bulb or T shutter, keeping the shutter curtain open for a long time. 2. **Aperture and geometric progression relationship**: Aperture values increase by a factor of $\sqrt{2} \approx 1.414$. Each time the aperture is stopped down 1 stop, the lens's light-entrance aperture area is halved, and the incoming light shrinks to $1/2$ of the original. 3. **Flash count doubles by $2^N$**: To make up for the light lost by stopping down the aperture, each time the aperture is stopped down, the number of flash triggers must increase in a **geometric progression ($2^N$)**. ### Aperture Reduction and Multiple Flash Count Reference Table Assuming that when the flash outputs at a single full power, the optimal standard exposure aperture measured by the light meter is **f/8**: | Target Aperture | Stops Reduced Relative to f/8 | Light Attenuation Ratio | Required Flash Trigger Count | Formula | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **f/8** | Base aperture (0 stops) | 100% (base) | **1 flash** | $2^0 = 1$ | | **f/11** | Reduced 1 stop (EV -1) | 50% ($1/2$) | **2 flashes** | $2^1 = 2$ | | **f/16** | Reduced 2 stops (EV -2) | 25% ($1/4$) | **4 flashes** | $2^2 = 4$ | | **f/22** | Reduced 3 stops (EV -3) | 12.5% ($1/8$) | **8 flashes** | $2^3 = 8$ | | **f/32** | Reduced 4 stops (EV -4) | 6.25% ($1/16$) | **16 flashes** | $2^4 = 16$ | | **f/45** | Reduced 5 stops (EV -5) | 3.125% ($1/32$) | **32 flashes** | $2^5 = 32$ | Through this precise geometric progression accumulation, even if you only have a medium-power hot-shoe external flash on hand, you can shoot a still life masterpiece with full exposure and fully revealed details at an extremely small aperture of f/22 or even f/32.  --- ## 2. The Nightmare of the Film Era: What Is "Reciprocity Law Failure"? Since the principle of multiple flash is so intuitive, why was this technique regarded as the exclusive domain of advanced darkroom technicians and commercial masters in the film era? This brings us to a phenomenon in photographic physics with a highly legendary quality—"**Reciprocity Law Failure (also known as the Schwarzschild Effect)**." ### 1. The Ideal State of the Reciprocity Law In classical photographic optics, the exposure formula is: $$E = I \times t$$ where $E$ represents total exposure, $I$ is light intensity, and $t$ is exposure time. This law states that light intensity and exposure time are interchangeable—a bit stronger light with a shorter time, and a bit weaker light with a longer time, as long as the product is the same, the photosensitive chemical reaction on the film should be exactly the same. ### 2. When the Chemical Reaction Fails: Reciprocity Law Failure However, the photosensitive emulsion on film is composed of "**silver halide crystals**." When the exposure time is **too short (such as a 1/10,000-second flash)** or **too long (such as a several-second or even several-minute long exposure in dim light)**, the rate at which photons excite electrons and the rate at which silver ions migrate and deposit cannot match, causing the silver halide to fail to effectively aggregate into a stable "latent image center." The result is: **the film's photosensitivity efficiency drops sharply, and the conventional exposure calculation formula is completely distorted!** ### 3. The Blood-and-Tears Cost for Film Photographers: Exposure Compensation and Color Cast Filters When doing multiple flash in the film era, as the exposure time lengthens and the accumulated flash intervals grow, the film exhibits a severe "reciprocity law failure" effect: * **Underexposure**: Simply firing 8 times according to the mathematical calculation, the actually developed film is often still underexposed, requiring an artificial additional compensation of 1/3 stop or even 1 stop. * **Severe color cast**: Color film is made of three layers of photosensitive emulsion—red, green, and blue—stacked together. Fatally, the "reciprocity law failure" decay curves of these three chemical emulsions are all different! Over a long time, the film will shift severely toward green or magenta. Therefore, experienced photographers had to consult the dedicated technical white papers for Kodak or Fuji film and calculate by looking up tables based on the total shutter-open seconds: * Exposure of 4 seconds or more: In addition to increasing exposure by 1/3 stop, a "**Kodak CC 5M magenta filter**" must be mounted in front of the lens to correct the color cast. * Exposure of 8 to 15 seconds: Increase exposure by 1/2 stop and switch to a "**Kodak CC 7.5M filter**." A slight miscalculation, and the entire expensive 4x5 transparency would be scrapped entirely due to color shift. --- ## 3. The Salvation of the Digital Era: The Miracle of Linear Response in Sensors After entering the digital camera era, sensors (CMOS and CCD) brought a revolutionary breakthrough: **within a reasonable working range, digital sensors have almost no "reciprocity law failure" phenomenon!** The core of a digital sensor is the "**photodiode**." As long as the number of incoming photons does not exceed the well capacity and cause potential saturation overflow, the photogenerated electrons produced by the diode and the number of photons exhibit a nearly perfect **linear response**. This means modern photographers can enjoy unprecedented freedom: 1. **No complex exposure compensation**: Stop down 1 stop and honestly fire 2 times, stop down 2 stops and fire 4 times—the mathematical formula is no longer discounted. 2. **Completely say goodbye to color cast and color-correction filters**: White balance depends entirely on the color temperature of the flash itself (usually a stable around 5500K), and there is no need to hang any CC color compensation filter in front of the lens. 3. **Instant histogram feedback**: Immediately after shooting, review the histogram and overexposure warning on the camera's LCD screen, and fine-tune precisely at any time.  --- ## 4. Digital Practical Operation Guide: Master Multiple Flash in Six Steps Although digital sensors eliminate the reciprocity law failure of chemical film, there are still several key physical details that need strict control in digital long-exposure operation. Here is the standard operating procedure: ### Step 1: Tripod and Shutter Release Lockdown (Eliminate Micro-Vibration) Multiple flash requires the shutter to stay open for a long time, and any tiny vibration will destroy the sharpness of the image. Be sure to use a sturdy large tripod and trigger with an electronic shutter release cable or wireless remote. ### Step 2: Manual Focus (MF) to Lock the Focus First complete precise composition and manual focus under normal lighting (it is recommended to use the camera screen magnified 10x to check the focus), then switch the lens to "**manual focus mode (MF)**" to prevent the camera from hunting for focus again in the darkroom. ### Step 3: Fully Dark Studio to Prevent Light Leaks Turn off all modeling lamps, indoor ceiling lights, and door/window light in the studio. If there is faint ambient light in the environment, a long exposure of 10 to 30 seconds will absorb all this stray light into the frame, ruining the pure light-and-dark contrast of the flash. ### Step 4: Camera Parameter Settings * **Shooting mode**: Switch to **M mode (full manual)**. * **ISO sensitivity**: Fix at the camera's native lowest value (usually **ISO 100** or **ISO 64**) to obtain maximum dynamic range and the purest background. * **Aperture setting**: Set to the desired small aperture (for example **f/16** or **f/22**). * **Shutter speed**: Set to **Bulb**, or a fixed number of seconds estimated to be enough for the flash to recycle (such as 15 to 30 seconds). ### Step 5: Trigger the Flash Rhythmically (Mind the Recycle Time) After opening the camera shutter, hold the flash trigger or use the "**Test Button**" on the back of the flash to press and trigger in sequence. > [!IMPORTANT] > **Never press continuously and frantically!** A flash outputting at full power (1/1) needs 1.5 to 3 seconds of recycle time. You must confirm that the recycle indicator light has turned green/red again before pressing the next time, otherwise the capacitor will not be fully charged, resulting in insufficient light, and it may cause the flash head to overheat and burn out. ### Step 6: Release the Shutter and Review the Histogram After firing the predetermined number of times, immediately close the camera shutter and check the highlight and shadow distribution of the photo. --- ## 5. Pitfall-Avoidance Wisdom in the Digital Environment: Guard Against Thermal Noise and Stray Light When using this technique in a digital environment, the only potential threat comes from the sensor's "**thermal noise**": 1. **Enable Long Exposure Noise Reduction**: After the exposure ends, the camera will automatically perform a "dark frame subtraction" of the same number of seconds, effectively eliminating the colored thermal noise generated by sensor heat. 2. **Avoid Needless Shutter Idling**: Calculate the seconds needed for the flash to recycle, complete all flashes and close the shutter in the shortest possible time, and don't leave the shutter open meaninglessly for several minutes, reducing heat accumulation. 3. **Beware of Light Leaks from the Camera Screen and Indicator Lights**: The infrared indicator light on some camera bodies or the backlight of a flip screen may, during extremely dark long exposures, seep in through the viewfinder or tiny gaps in the body mount. It is recommended to turn off the screen or cover the viewfinder. --- ## Conclusion: Craftsman Thinking That Uses Wisdom to Break Through Equipment Limits "Multiple flash" is not only a technical legacy that came from the film era, but also a precious photographic engineering mindset. It tells us: **solving shooting difficulties does not always mean spending heavily to buy an expensive top-tier power pack studio strobe with an output of up to 2400Ws.** As long as you deeply understand the optical principles and the physical nature of photosensitive materials, and know how to trade time for light quantity, an inexpensive small external flash can likewise bloom with a brilliant radiance beyond its equipment value in the world of extreme macro and deep depth of field.]]> Design Thinking Not Enough Flash Power, Too Dark to Shoot? A Detailed Guide to Multiple Flash Photography: The Classic Darkroom Exposure Technique That Escapes Reciprocity Law Failure https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/manfrotto-geared-tripod-head-xpro-3wg-macro-photography-review/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/manfrotto-geared-tripod-head-xpro-3wg-macro-photography-review/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO In the world of macro photography, the "nodding drift" of a ball head when locked is the biggest nightmare for composition, and the three-way geared head has become the ultimate savior. This article focuses on the Manfrotto XPRO-3WG geared head, which has an affordable entry threshold, and deeply analyzes the fatal drawbacks that cannot be seen on the spec sheet—micro-vibration of the engineering plastic Adapto material, gear backlash, and the limitations of the RC2 quick-release plate—and compares it with the Manfrotto 410, Arca-Swiss, and Benro GD3WH to help you pick the most stable macro gear. Ever since I purchased Nikon's macro lens hailed as a "macro legend," the **Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED** (commonly known among photographers as the "**hundred macro**"), my everyday photography focus has begun to revolve heavily around the macro world of subtle light and shadow. However, as if to verify that classic saying in photography circles—"**Photography ruins three generations; lenses are a bottomless pit of money; accessories are an endless pit!**"—once you truly step into macro photography, you realize that your usual standard equipment is almost completely inadequate. Besides having to buy a dedicated lighting system (such as the Olympus STF-8 or the Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT macro twin flash), the most frustrating bottleneck is actually the "**tripod head**" you use every day on your tripod. This article will take you deep into the ultimate accessory for macro photography—the "**three-way geared tripod head**"—and, using the most well-known and most affordable **Manfrotto XPRO-3WG** as an example, thoroughly analyze the real drawbacks that can never be seen in the official spec data. --- ## Why Does Macro Photography Absolutely Need a "Geared Head"? The head most commonly used by general photography enthusiasts is, nine times out of ten, the flexible and fast "**ball head**." In everyday landscape, portrait, or travel snapshots, a ball head can rotate freely to any angle by loosening a single knob, making composition extremely fast. However, once you mount a DSLR with a hundred macro lens on it for 1:1 life-size macro shooting, the ball head immediately exposes two fatal flaws: 1. The tiny "**drift / creep**" when locked: Under the extremely narrow millimeter-level depth of field of macro photography, you finally manage to focus on an insect's compound eye in the viewfinder; the moment you tighten the ball head knob, the metal ball deforms slightly under force, and the composition immediately shifts downward by half a millimeter—the focus instantly slips away, and the subject may even slide right off the edge of the frame! 2. **Lack of independent fine adjustment for a single axis**: When you only want to fine-tune the tilt by 1 degree, the moment you loosen the ball knob, the pitch and horizontal axes loosen at the same time, and the camera may even "nod and crash" because the lens is front-heavy and rear-light, forcing you to start all over again.  The "**geared head**" is precisely the precision machine born to completely cure this pain point: It uses a high-precision worm gear transmission mechanism internally, completely separating the three axes of pan, tilt, and level. When you turn the knob, the image moves smoothly and slightly at the micron level; the moment you let go, the gear mechanism automatically self-locks firmly, **completely zero nod, zero drift**! It stops precisely wherever you turn it. --- ## A Sky-High Price and a People's Savior: The Market Positioning of the Manfrotto XPRO-3WG Let me say this first: if you plan to venture into the field of professional geared heads, you usually have to prepare a lot of cash: The Swiss top-tier **Arca-Swiss C1 Cube** or **D4** geared head costs from NT$30,000 to NT$60,000 per set; the Danish Linhof or the fine-adjustment heads favored by American magazines are equally unattainable, worthy of being called the precision watches of the photography accessory world. To break this unattainable price ceiling, the famous Italian tripod maker Manfrotto launched a people-friendly geared head—the **Manfrotto MHXPRO-3WG (XPRO three-way geared head)**.  Compared with the Swiss luxury items costing tens of thousands of dollars, or Manfrotto's own old all-metal geared heads (such as the Manfrotto 410 / 405), the XPRO-3WG has two significant advantages: * **Affordable entry threshold**: The retail price of a brand-new unit is only about a few thousand NT dollars, making it one of the few geared heads from a major international brand that ordinary amateur photographers can afford. * **Sound local distributor warranty**: In Taiwan, the well-known veteran distributor "Cheng Seng Trading" provides complete after-sales support, with worry-free parts replacement and warranty, so you don't have to worry about gray-market imports becoming "international orphans." --- ## Fatal Drawbacks Invisible on the Spec Sheet: The Three Compromises of the XPRO-3WG However, as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for." Although the XPRO-3WG is affordably priced, in order to cut costs and achieve extreme lightweighting, it made major compromises in mechanical design and material selection. These compromises have limited impact on general travel and landscape photography, but in demanding macro field work, they often become the last straw that crushes image sharpness. ### 1. The Rigidity Limit and Micro-Resonance Brought by "Adapto Engineering Plastic" This is the essential difference most easily overlooked on the official spec sheet. High-end professional geared heads (such as Arca-Swiss, or Manfrotto's own classic 410) use a solid block of aviation aluminum alloy or high-rigidity...]]> Design Thinking The Drawbacks of the Manfrotto Geared Tripod Head and a Macro Field Test: An Extreme Buying Guide Using the XPRO-3WG as an Example https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-to-take-black-and-white-photogrphy/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-to-take-black-and-white-photogrphy/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:49:11 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Black and white photography (commonly abbreviated B&W) is the origin point of the craft of photography, yet throughout the iterative evolution of color-rendering technologies to this day, it has always held a very important place in the hearts of photographers. Black and white photography (commonly abbreviated B&W) is the origin point of the craft of photography, yet throughout the iterative evolution of color-rendering technologies to this day, it has always held a very important place in the hearts of photographers. There are even top-tier camera manufacturers (Leica) that, in the digital photography era, persistently released several generations of dedicated black and white cameras. If you want to shoot black and white photography, you can start by understanding the following key shooting knowledge points, including: 1. Contrast: Black and white photography has no color to provide a strong visual effect, so contrast is very important. Lenses used in the film era were even paired with suitable filters for different light sources, precisely to bring out the contrast. 2. Grayscale: Grayscale is the foundation of black and white photography; it controls the transitions between black and white in a black and white image. 3. Light: Light is very important, because it affects how objects in the photo are expressed. 4. Composition: Composition is equally important in black and white photography; it can enhance the photo's visual effect through the use of shadows, lines and shapes. 5. Depth of field: Depth of field can be controlled through shutter speed and aperture, and it can enhance the three-dimensional effect of objects in the photo. As for the biggest differences between black and white photography and color photography, they include: Black and white photography expresses objects through contrast, grayscale and light, while color photography expresses objects through color. Black and white photography enhances the visual effect through composition and depth of field, while color photography enhances the visual effect through color. In terms of the viewer's senses, black and white photography tends to be more concise and calm, while color photography tends to be more vivid and full of vitality.]]> Design Thinking How Do You Shoot Black and White Photography? How Does It Differ from Color Photography? https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-to-choose-camera-lens-filter-protector-guide/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-to-choose-camera-lens-filter-protector-guide/ Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO You just bought the camera lens you've been longing for — should you add a filter protector? This article deeply analyzes the key watershed between the bare-lens image-quality camp and the protector safety camp, reveals why the lens hood is the lens's first line of physical defense, and comprehensively reviews major filter brands such as B+W, Marumi, and Kenko, the differences between UV and Protector filters, and selection strategies for telephoto and wide-angle lenses. Recently, J. LIN STUDIO purchased a Nikon telephoto zoom lens, the "**Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR**," commonly known among photography enthusiasts as the "**Little Black Seven**." After several real-world shoots and rigorous testing, it must be said that this is a top-tier flagship lens that is nearly perfect in optical resolution, autofocus speed, and image stabilization performance. However, whenever a photographer opens the packaging box of a new lens, two classic soul-searching questions always surface right on cue: 1. **First question**: Should I add a filter protector to this new lens? 2. **Second question**: If I decide to add one, how do the selection dimensions differ between telephoto lenses and wide-angle lenses? And how should one choose among the major brands on the market (B+W, Marumi, Kenko)? This article will thoroughly analyze the philosophy of choosing a filter protector from the perspectives of optical principles, real-world risks, and equipment maintenance. --- ## Should You Add a Filter Protector to Your Lens? The Real Trade-off Between Two Camps of Photographers In photography circles, the debate over "whether to add a filter protector" has never stopped, and it can roughly be divided into two major camps: the "bare-lens pure image quality camp" and the "safety protection realist camp." ### 1. The Bare-Lens Image Quality Camp: One Less Layer of Glass, One Less Optical Loss From the perspective of optical engineering, L himself actually leans toward the camp of photographers who "do not use a filter protector." The internal optical structure of modern professional lenses is extremely precise, often composed of 15 to 20 or more high-grade aspherical lenses, ED low-dispersion lenses, and expensive Nano Crystal Coat. Optical engineers spent countless R&D budgets precisely to solve chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, and light refraction loss. However, when you screw an extra flat piece of glass onto the very front of the lens, even if that filter claims a light transmittance of up to 99.5%, it still forcibly **adds two air-contact surfaces** to the entire optical system. This brings the following potential costs: - **Increased flare and ghosting**: When shooting against the light, doing night street photography, or when the frame contains strong point light sources, secondary reflections easily occur between the back of the filter protector and the front element of the lens, causing light spots that cannot be erased. - **Degradation of corner resolution**: For inexpensive filters or those with insufficient manufacturing precision, tiny flatness errors on the glass surface will directly undermine the corner sharpness that large-aperture lenses pride themselves on. Therefore, for the author's 105mm macro lens (Micro-Nikkor 105mm), travel lens (Nikon 24-120mm F4), and other fixed-focal working lenses under NT$10,000, he basically insists on "going bare" to enjoy the purest optical resolution and true colors.  ### 2. The Safety Protection Camp: Facing Top-Tier Lenses Over NT$50,000, Reality Ultimately Requires Compromise However, "theory is full, but reality is bony." When a lens's price exceeds NT$50,000 or NT$70,000 (such as the Nikon Little Black Seven or the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III), it becomes hard to maintain a completely carefree mindset. In real outdoor shooting, the front element of the lens is exposed at all times to uncontrollable external environments: - High-salinity saltwater mist drifting in the air during seaside work; - Tiny sand and stones splashing at high speed under strong winds; - Umbrella tips or children's fingers suddenly poking over when photographing crowds at events. If the front element is shattered by a physical impact, or its coating is corroded by acidic stains, the original manufacturer's quote for replacing the entire front lens group is often over NT$10,000 to NT$20,000, and it may even need to be sent back to the overseas factory for optical axis recalibration. Therefore, adding a top-tier filter protector with excellent optical quality to a "high-priced lens" is essentially like buying an "accident insurance policy" for a valuable asset — in extreme conditions, sacrificing a NT$2,000 filter to preserve the expensive front element intact. --- ## The Core Truth That Overturns Perception: The Lens Hood Is the First Line of Physical Defense! Whether you are in the image quality camp that insists on not attaching a filter, or the safety camp that feels uneasy without a filter, there is one crucial concept you must always remember: > **Compared with a filter protector, the accessory that truly provides the strongest physical protection for a lens is always the "lens hood"!** Many photography beginners, after buying a new lens, habitually reverse-mount the included lens hood onto the lens barrel, or even leave it in the dry cabinet and not bring it out, mistakenly believing that as long as a filter protector is screwed on, everything is safe. This is actually a serious case of putting the cart before the horse.  Although the lens hood was originally designed to block harmful oblique side light, prevent glare in the frame, and improve image contrast, its physical structure brings extremely strong defensive effects during daily carrying and shooting: 1. **Preventing accidental contact by fingers and foreign objects**: The deep barrel of the lens hood naturally blocks the chance of fingers inadvertently touching the front element. 2. **Absorbing the kinetic energy of falls and impacts**: When the camera is accidentally dropped or hits a hard object, the engineering plastic lens hood bears the impact first, absorbing most of the kinetic energy through the latch releasing or its own fracturing and deformation, protecting the lens body and the internal autofocus motor. 3. **Avoiding secondary damage from broken glass**: If the camera is dropped and only the filter protector is there to take the hit, the thin filter glass is extremely easy to shatter directly; under the impact of gravity, the sharp broken glass shards will ruthlessly scratch the expensive coating of the lens's front element like emery. If...]]> Design Thinking Photography Accessories / How to Choose Filter Protectors for Camera Telephoto and Wide-Angle Lenses? https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/japanese-style-design-copycat-in-taiwan-island/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/japanese-style-design-copycat-in-taiwan-island/ Wed, 30 Nov 2022 23:50:01 GMT J. LIN STUDIO In recent years a trend of imitating Japanese design has sprung up on the island of Taiwan. Cafes, restaurants, guesthouses and other businesses deliberately mimic the Japanese style in their decor and even in the names they choose. A friend once asked Mizuc: "In recent years a trend of imitating Japanese design has sprung up on the island of Taiwan. Cafes, restaurants, guesthouses and other businesses deliberately mimic the Japanese style in their decor and even in the names they choose. You've traveled all around Japan — would you want to visit places like that?" My answer is actually very simple: "Not at all." Japanese people are a condensed expression of collective consciousness. A great deal of their design starts from daily life and reflection, and only then is shaped into a self-culture style with a strong impression. This style is not fixed or unchanging. Rather, it continuously absorbs the cultures of other countries, and after filtering, refining and evolving, it gradually blends into a part of itself — not merely a simple, wholesale transplant. Add to that the highly developed bubble economy of the 1990s, which in turn let the Japanese style permeate countries around the world and even form a kind of consensus. Sometimes this is so strong that even styles common to every country get constrained into being called "Japanese style." It is especially funny when many elements that originally belonged to Chinese culture are forcibly claimed as Japanese originals. An old friend of mine told a joke that fits perfectly here: "In the past, when Japan copied Chinese culture it was called learning. I'm just taking back what was temporarily left with them — that's called restoration." On the island of Taiwan today, a bunch of people who have neither the depth of their own life nor an understanding of their own cultural background are the ones doing the copying — and their plagiarism is crude and patchwork, turning into a neither-here-nor-there mess. That is even further from anything to do with life. If you don't even know how to discover your own strengths in daily life, and just blindly copy and imitate, how can there be any taste to speak of? People without taste naturally feel indifferent and "good enough" about many details, and the result is that they keep muddling along toward a cheap, fake surface. Some shops even take absurd Japanese names. You can't tell whether they're trying to serve Japanese tourists or deliberately make local consumers unable to understand. Do they think that just by giving themselves a Japanese name, their products can be sold by converting yen directly into New Taiwan dollars? Some shop names even borrow Japanese-style kanji directly, which is also quite ridiculous. For example, a common cafe name is written as "珈琲." But in Chinese these two characters are actually pronounced "jiā bèi," and their meaning refers to ancient women's hair ornaments and strings of beads. Those who don't know might think they're selling jewelry. So for that kind of fake Japan, I always choose not to take on their terrible taste, nor the bad impression of fake Japan they may create.]]> Design Thinking The Fundamental Mistake Taiwanese Make When Copying Japanese-Style Design Lies in This Detail https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/tenrens-tea-packing-box-improvement-suggestions/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/tenrens-tea-packing-box-improvement-suggestions/ Fri, 04 Nov 2022 06:51:37 GMT J. LIN STUDIO On Ten Ren's Tea's outer packaging boxes, the font explaining how to brew the tea is as tiny as those sneaky small-print clauses in movie contracts, and it's hard to find. When autumn arrives and the weather gradually turns cold, one always wants to drink some hot tea to warm the body. This time I specially picked up several varieties of Ten Ren's Tea tea bags — after all, my heart is still restless (singing), and I always want to keep switching between different flavors. Only when I set them on the cabinet did I discover that today's packaging design is quite user-friendly, but also has its unfriendly aspects. Please refer to the image below: their different products all have different outer box styles, and each has an additional die-cut, letting users directly "pop open" an opening to conveniently take out tea bags — this is the user-friendly part. The opening of Ten Ren's Tea packaging box Although developing and manufacturing this way costs more, when boxes of different volumes and heights are placed together in a cabinet, it becomes quite unfriendly. If the boxes of different products were placed together with their tops aligned and flat, it would amount to an extra flat layer that could be used to stuff other things, maximizing the use of space. Consumers might even, because the space is fixed, be more likely to repurchase the same brand next time. Besides, brewing a tea bag is inherently a more interest-oriented, non-professional act, meaning consumers won't be there reciting the profound mysteries of traditional Chinese tea classics to you. Yet on Ten Ren's Tea's outer packaging boxes, the font explaining how to brew the tea is as tiny as those sneaky small-print clauses in movie contracts, and it's hard to find. Even the author, with his super vision that is 1.0 in one eye and 0.1 in the other, good for both near and far (?), nearly couldn't find it — so for elders with presbyopia or the glasses generation, it would be even harder to spot. There's no need for this! The author suggests that Ten Ren's Tea might as well refer to the brewing guide illustration I casually drew in the image above, and openly place it right beside the opening. That way, when we pull out a tea bag to brew, we can at any time brew a delicious cup of tea with the most suitable temperature, time, and amount of water. The seller is happy, the drinker is happy — everyone is happy.]]> Design Thinking Suggestions for Improving the Design of Ten Ren's Tea Packaging Boxes https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/hat-support-paper/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/hat-support-paper/ Sun, 23 Oct 2022 05:30:50 GMT J. LIN STUDIO This article isn't about introducing hats — hats will have to wait for next time. Today I want to document the structural design of the ring of support paper that the manufacturer specially inserts on the inner side of the hat's headband. Recently I bought a bucket hat that wasn't exactly cheap. The Nordic hat design won me over at first glance, and the variety of headband sizes — even for my wise big head — made it feel especially thoughtful. Ah, but this article isn't about introducing hats — hats will have to wait for next time. Today I want to document the structural design of the ring of support paper that the manufacturer specially inserts on the inner side of the hat's headband. Please refer to the image above: inside the hat's inner fold, this ring of slightly stiff kraft paper is inserted, making the hat's overall appearance better and giving it a special new-product atmosphere when you first get it. The whole design concept is very simple: cut a protruding tab at one end of a long strip of paper, and cut a slot at a fixed interval on the other end. This way, the length can be adjusted to suit different headband sizes, without needing to develop a new pattern for every head shape. Actually, why was I so surprised by this ring of paper? Perhaps for some people it's a perfectly normal standard feature, but this time I picked bucket hats from four major international brands at once, and only this one used a support ring. I hope that by revealing this in the article, the other brands — which don't even claim to sell cheaper — can learn a thing or two. Also, for retailers selling hats, they could actually try ordering support rings branded specifically for themselves, giving customers a more professional image positioning.]]> Design Thinking A Reference Case Study of a Universal Support-Paper Structure for Hat Headbands https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/36-free-laboratory-background-materials/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/36-free-laboratory-background-materials/ Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:47:03 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The Japanese design asset site AIPICT has released 36 aesthetic assets that can be used free of charge without conditions. The themes cover three categories — clean and bright, horror atmosphere, and cyberpunk style — of research rooms and laboratory images, available for download by anyone needing them for game development or graphic design. The Japanese design asset site AIPICT has recently released 34 aesthetic assets that can be used free of charge without conditions. The themes cover three categories — clean and bright with a white-dominant palette, blood-soaked and dark horror atmosphere, and a tech-flavored cyberpunk style — of research rooms and laboratory images, available for download by anyone needing them for game development or graphic design. The usage conditions for these background assets are quite loose: commercial use is allowed, secondary processing is allowed, and there is no need to notify the original author! However, you may not directly sell or redistribute the original assets. The default image size is 2304px × 1536px, roughly 3,538,944 pixels; the aspect ratio is the common 16:9. **Resource download: [AIPICT Research Room & Laboratory Backgrounds download](https://aipict.com/laboratory/)**  Laboratory (pristine white, cyberpunk, horror) background materials ## AIPICT, a Free Background Asset Site AIPICT is a Japanese site dedicated to providing free background assets, updating its latest art materials irregularly. Its content includes but is not limited to natural ecology (such as caves), cityscapes (such as ruins), and architectural structures (such as rooms and castles). Those who need to download assets can visit often to find fresh goods.]]> Design Thinking 34 Free Laboratory Background Materials Released (Pristine White, Horror and Cyberpunk Styles) https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/chen-shizhong-campaign-logo-mask/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/chen-shizhong-campaign-logo-mask/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 18:12:25 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The campaign team's logo design — which was neither good-looking nor particularly ugly to begin with — was printed onto face masks, and then a group of people put them on and stood in front of the camera. It was disgust at its absolute peak. Chen Shih-chung, who plans to run for Taipei mayor at the end of the year, has recently been actively recruiting medical personnel to endorse him. In one scene, a crowd of white-coated doctors gathered in front of the microphones and all put on face masks — presumably distributed by Chen's campaign office — and it was nothing short of an eye-searing, natural-disaster-level catastrophe. In recent years, graphic design has become a very important part of election campaigns. Especially for younger voters, rather than spending time grinding away at policy like making soy milk, it's more direct and effective to simply feed them a simple, easy-to-understand logo that also looks trendy. This time, Chen Shih-chung's bid for the Taipei mayoral seat is naturally no exception — they rolled out a logo design with an arrow as its main visual. But — and here's the but — the design that originally looked neither good nor particularly ugly, once printed onto face masks and worn by a group of people standing in front of the camera, instantly became disgust at its absolute peak. Due to copyright concerns, and to let everyone more intuitively understand what image my eyes actually saw, I drew the illustration myself. Please see the diagram below. Illustration of the crowd wearing Chen Shih-chung's campaign logo masks Well, I won't say more. Whatever you see is whatever you see.]]> Design Thinking Chen Shih-chung's Taipei Mayoral Campaign Logo Turns Into a Disaster on Face Masks https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/queen-elizabeth-ii-chinese-moon-festival/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/queen-elizabeth-ii-chinese-moon-festival/ Sun, 11 Sep 2022 21:43:40 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Britain's Queen Elizabeth II passed away on the 8th of this month at the venerable age of 96. From her accession in 1953 to now, more than 70 years, she became the longest-reigning female monarch in world history. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II passed away on the 8th of this month at the venerable age of 96. From her accession in 1953 to now, more than 70 years, she became the longest-reigning female monarch in world history. Departing on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese Moon Festival), when the moon is full and families reunite, one cannot help but feel a touch of regret for this witness who lived through the storms of war and the miracle of globalized technological development. I specially sketched a doodle of the Queen and her beloved dog beneath the bright Mid-Autumn moon as a commemoration of an era. In the image, the giant moon, like a balloon, carries the Queen away into the distance.]]> Design Thinking Queen Elizabeth II and a Mid-Autumn Festival Doodle https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/happy-new-year-2022/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/happy-new-year-2022/ Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:11:05 GMT J. LIN STUDIO As only a few hours remain in ROC Year 110 (2021 AD) and ROC Year 111 (2022 AD) approaches, today I specially designed an image-based greeting card to celebrate Happy New Year. Although it's not yet the Year of the Tiger (yes, for some reason I have to explain the lunar-solar calendar time gap every year), I still used a tiger-skin (which also resembles a tiger's mouth) motif, incorporating the ROC Year 111 calendar numerals into this design... As only a few hours remain in ROC Year 110 (2021 AD) and ROC Year 111 (2022 AD) approaches, today I specially designed an image-based greeting card to celebrate Happy New Year. Although it's not yet the Year of the Tiger (yes, for some reason I have to explain the lunar-solar calendar time gap every year), I still used a tiger-skin (which also resembles a tiger's mouth) motif, incorporating the ROC Year 111 calendar numerals into this simple greeting card.  Background color: F3CE18 That said, whenever the topic of calendars comes up, my friends and I always end up arguing over seemingly trivial matters. Never mind whether the New Year should follow the solar or lunar calendar — we can each make a case for whether the solar calendar should be called the Western calendar or the Gregorian calendar. Later we discovered that abroad there is actually a school of scholars advocating the "Human Era" calendar, rejecting the Western calendar system centered on Catholic and Christian religions. Under a pragmatism based on the Gregorian calendar, they simply add 10,000 years — so 2022, for example, becomes Human Era year 12022. This lets the human calendar be truly equal, and also eliminates the flaw of the Western calendar system having no year zero.]]> Design Thinking Happy New Year 2022 (ROC Year 111) Greeting Card Design https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/z-flex-tilt-camera-tripod-head-traps-analysis/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/z-flex-tilt-camera-tripod-head-traps-analysis/ Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Facebook one-page ads are pushing the "Z-fold camera base" hard, claiming it holds 3 kg and handles all angles with flip and extension? This article traces its prototype to the patented design of the famous Western brand edelkrone FlexTILT, debunks the huge-profit lie of the 28-yuan Taobao knockoff, and analyzes, from lever torque, joint slippage, and tipping dead spots, why rashly mounting a DSLR on it could leave you facing a shattered lens. On social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, the notorious "one-page scam and overpriced inferior ads" have always been pervasive. Recently, the feeds of many photography enthusiasts and video creators have been flooded by an ad touting a "god-tier photography gadget": > "You often see our company's photographers are really versatile, super good with tools, and can even DIY amazing camera rigs! As the saying goes, to do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools! The latest 'Z-fold camera/phone base' is here. For this kind of tool, stability is most important. We **hold 3 kg**, can extend, flip, and are lightweight and portable at will, and can shoot any angle you want! Anyone who wants to be an influencer must not miss it! Special price 399 yuan for one set, 699 yuan for two!" In the ad video, a blond, blue-eyed foreign photographer casually mounts a DSLR on a small Z-shaped metal folding plate, casually stretching it up and down and tilting it back and forth. Whether it's an extremely low ground-level angle, a high-angle upward shot, or a 90-degree vertical top-down shot of documents on a desk, the camera is as steady as Mount Tai. However, many photography novices who were tempted by the ad and placed orders happily locked their expensive DSLRs on it, then let go—and the camera immediately "clacked" and collapsed downward, the heavy lens front element slamming hard onto the desk, or even the whole thing tipping forward and falling to the floor with the person! What kind of huge-profit chain and fatal physical trap is hidden behind this seemingly omnipotent "**Z-fold camera base**"? This article thoroughly reveals the truth for everyone. --- ## Tracing Its Origins: The Famous Western Brand edelkrone's Patented Original vs the 28-Yuan Taobao Knockoff Common Mold To understand the trick of this product, you must first clarify its "lineage". This folding structure is not the latest original invention boasted by the one-page ad. Its original design ancestor is the patented product "**FlexTILT Head**" developed by **edelkrone**, a well-known Turkish manufacturer in the West focused on high-end cinema-grade sliders and photography accessories.  ### 1. The Core Value of the Genuine edelkrone FlexTILT The genuine edelkrone product sells for as much as **100 to 150 USD (roughly NT$3,000 to NT$4,500 or more)** on Amazon US and the official store. The reason it dares to sell at this price is because: * It uses aerospace-grade CNC solid aluminum alloy, milled from a single piece; * It internally encapsulates the exclusive patented "**Constant Friction Technology**"; * Users don't need to turn any knobs at all; they can adjust the angle directly by pushing and pulling with both hands, and the damping naturally engages and stays put the moment they let go, and each pivot is marked with millimeter scales, specially calibrated for professional film slider panning. ### 2. The Cheap 28-Yuan RMB Knockoff Common Mold on Taobao And the 399-yuan product you see in the Facebook one-page ad, as well as the "Z-type aluminum alloy quick-folding tripod head" listed for 709 yuan on some Taiwanese e-commerce platforms, **are 100% all cheap knockoff common-mold goods copied by small hardware workshops in mainland China**! On Taobao or the 1688 wholesale site, the exact same Z-type folding tripod head has a wholesale retail price of only **28 yuan RMB (about NT$126)**! One-page ad operators use cross-border low-cost wholesale, through beautifully edited promotional videos stolen from the foreign original manufacturer, to dump onto unsuspecting Taiwanese consumers at nearly **300% profit**.  --- ## The Fatal Physical Trap: Why Is "Holds 3 kg" a Dangerous Lie? Setting aside the intellectual property dispute between genuine and pirated versions, purely in terms of "structural mechanics", this kind of cheap knockoff Z-type base has three fatal dead spots in actual use: ### 1. Cantilever Lever Torque Causes Joint Collapse The ad copy shamelessly claims "super strong support, holds 3 kg". In physical mechanics, the so-called 3 kg load capacity **only holds in the static extreme state where the Z-type structure is completely flattened and the camera's center of gravity is 100% vertically pressed on the center of the base**. However, when you actually need to take a photo and raise the Z-type bracket and tilt it forward: * The weight of the camera body plus lens will, along the forward-extending arm, generate an **extra-long cantilever lever torque (torque = vertical downward force × arm length)** of 10 to 15 cm! * The 28-yuan Taobao knockoff has no expensive precision damping pads inside the joint at all; it relies entirely on two cheap stainless steel hex bolts clamping ordinary Teflon or rubber washers.  When you mount a not-so-heavy full-frame mirrorless camera (for example, a Sony A7 body at about 650g, plus a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens at about 800g, total weight only 1.45 kg, far below the claimed 3 kg limit): * As long as you tilt the Z-type bracket forward by 30 degrees; * The huge rotational torque generated will **instantly break through the bolt's static friction limit**; * ...]]> Design Thinking The Z-Fold Camera Base (Tripod Head) Equipment Trap: Behind the One-Page Ad Bestseller, the Physical Truth of Knockoffs Smashing DSLR Cameras https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-bad-when-typo-article/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-bad-when-typo-article/ Wed, 27 May 2020 04:10:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Ever since I started writing articles, a bunch of typos and wrong meanings have often cropped up — usually only discovered when I go back to update the content a long time later: "Whoa, was I dozing off back then?" I believe many people, when writing reports, speeches or homework, tend to treat the few stray wrong characters (typos) or word usages that appear in a long passage as "acceptable oversights." Even before the brain consciously notices, the subconscious has already accepted the "close enough" nature of the error, thereby ignoring the fact that the error exists. I'm no exception. In fact, ever since I started writing articles, a bunch of typos, wrong characters and wrong meanings have often cropped up — usually only discovered when I go back to update the content a long time later: "Whoa, was I dozing off back then?" Back when I worked as a patent engineer at a law firm, a single wrong character in a patent application was a huge deal. Being returned by the Intellectual Property Office of the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs for correction was a minor matter; being mocked by clients or getting demerit points at the firm was also minor. What we feared most was causing a wrong interpretation of the patent right, thereby harming the client's legal rights for years or even decades to come. Perhaps some of the "close enough" types common in Chinese societies would think: is one typo (the collective term for wrong and misused characters) really that serious? It really is! So when working at a law firm, one of the in-house training courses was to practice until you could precisely control your use of words. Over the years, I've gained a deeper understanding of word usage — I suppose I've slightly touched the realm of the word-obsessed. But seriously, in the high-pressure environment of a law firm where you're racing to hit case quotas and attending meetings and business trips every day, rather than carefully weighing every single character, the real way is to bribe the careful, capable female colleagues with desserts to help proofread (hot tea).]]> Design Thinking Is a Single Typo in an Article Really That Serious? https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/butterfly-pig-green-poplar/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/butterfly-pig-green-poplar/ Sat, 02 May 2020 08:23:46 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Over the past few days, the hottest topic on social media and in the news has probably been the pig-qing-butterfly love triangle in the cross-strait entertainment world. Moved by the moment, I jotted down an impromptu poem for Chinese influencer Zhou Yangqing, Taiwanese entertainer Show Lo and Butterfly (Jian Kaile). Over the past few days, the hottest topic on social media and in the news has probably been the pig-qing-butterfly love triangle in the cross-strait entertainment world. Moved by the moment that day, I jotted down an impromptu short poem for Chinese influencer Zhou Yangqing, Taiwanese entertainer Show Lo and Butterfly (Jian Kaile). Butterfly flits and flies Little Pig oinks and cries Green Poplar drifts on high Evening cicada chatters by Only when their voices resonate is this life not lived in vain Note: "Evening cicada chatters" could also be written as "spring mosquito buzzes." ### Translation / Notes - Oink oink: the sound a pig makes. - Green Poplar: an inversion and homophone of "Yangqing." - Evening cicada: a homophone for "poor eyesight," meaning a failure to judge people clearly; the cicada also refers to the audience watching the show from below the stage, each chattering and embellishing in their own way. Originally I first wanted to write "spring mosquito" instead of "evening cicada," meaning to allude to the episode where Deng Huiwen posted against the wind only to have her own affair exposed, but on second thought I let it go. Well, honestly I don't have much interest in these messy entertainment-world affairs. The only thing that bothers me is whether Show Lo (Little Pig 🐷) simply doesn't know how to use punctuation? Reading his posts a few times is enough to make anyone irritable. ###### Further Reading 1. One-Page Poetry Collection]]> Design Thinking Writing a Poem Together for Zhou Yangqing, Show Lo and Butterfly https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/moca-ticket-design-of-taipei-museum-of-contemporary-art/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/moca-ticket-design-of-taipei-museum-of-contemporary-art/ Fri, 03 Apr 2020 07:59:26 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei (MOCA Taipei) is the first museum in the Republic of China positioned to promote "contemporary art." Located in Taipei City, Taiwan, the museum was established on May 26, 2001. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei (MOCA Taipei) is the first museum in the Republic of China positioned to promote "contemporary art." Located in Taipei City, Taiwan, the museum was established on May 26, 2001. MOCA Taipei was formerly the "Jiancheng Ordinary Elementary School" during the Japanese colonial period. The school was founded in early March 1919 (Taisho 8) and in its early days was exclusively for Japanese students. It was not until 1945 (ROC year 34), after Japan was defeated and returned Taiwan's territory, that it was converted by the Republic of China government for use as the office building of the newly established Taipei City Government, until the Taipei City Government moved into the new civic center in Xinyi District in ROC year 83, when the Taipei Fine Arts Museum was commissioned to plan a new museum. In ROC year 89, the then Cultural Affairs Bureau director Lung Ying-tai officially renamed it "Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei." Then on May 27, ROC year 90, the opening exhibition "Light and Heavy Shock," curated by curator Lai Ying-ying, grandly opened as the museum's inaugural exhibition. The two photos below, showing the front and back of a ticket, are from a ticket I bought when attending the solo photography exhibition "S Wanderful | Making Pictures" by the famous American photographer Steve McCurry. -  Figure 1, MOCA Taipei ticket front -  Figure 2, MOCA Taipei ticket back In Figure 1, the front of the ticket, you can see that besides the white background, the main color is an earth-gold (RGB code approximately #A57C53) and the secondary color is silver (RGB code approximately #86A1B5). From the design concept it is easy to see that it was made by flattening and simplifying the front exterior of the MOCA building, and placing the large "MOCA" letters in the large blank space. For anti-counterfeiting, the museum also stamped part of the structure from the front, including the museum's outer perimeter and the white interior parts, while the wall-like part at the bottom of the image has only four long silver stamps. Figure 2 is the back of the ticket, printed in a single black color scheme. From the clarity of the reduced lattice-window pattern of the museum, you can see that the printing technique is quite delicate. In addition, the layout of the Chinese and English text on the back is well-arranged and staggered — a layout approach well worth learning from. What is more interesting is that the website address in the back information still uses http, showing that this batch of tickets was printed in a large run quite some time ago. ## MOCA Taipei Museum Information - Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00 (ticket sales stop at 17:30). - Contact phone: +886-2-25523721 - Museum address: No.39, Chang-An West Road, Taipei, Taiwan 103 Republic of China. - Official website: https://www.mocataipei.org.tw]]> Design Thinking MOCA Taipei | Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei Ticket Design https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/facebook-logo-color-changed/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/facebook-logo-color-changed/ Tue, 28 May 2019 05:07:46 GMT J. LIN STUDIO At last month's Facebook F8 developer conference, CEO Mark Elliot Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would launch a brand-new version, "FB5." Besides thoroughly strengthening personal privacy protections, it also aims to shake off the company's long string of negative news through a completely new interface design. At last month's Facebook F8 developer conference, CEO Mark Elliot Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would launch a brand-new version, "FB5." Besides thoroughly strengthening personal privacy protections, it also aims to shake off the company's long string of negative news through a completely new interface design. The most obvious change in FB5 is its basic identity color within the CIS corporate brand image design, shifting from the traditional dark blue (RGB 59 87 157) to a fresher, brighter blue (RGB 24 119 242, HEX).  The change in Facebook's color identity Well, I actually discovered this color change in the dead of night, half asleep and half awake. I'd originally woken up intending to record the contents of my dream, but for a moment I couldn't find where the Facebook app was. Seeing the image above, everyone should know what the reason was, right? That's right — Facebook FB5's new color, combined with a gradient, unexpectedly looks 87% similar to Twitter. Especially since I placed them one above the other, it turned into one giant gradient color scheme (laughs).]]> Design Thinking Facebook's 2019 Logo Redesign: The New Color Is a Bit Awkward https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/new-york-institute-of-photography-course/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/new-york-institute-of-photography-course/ Wed, 01 May 2019 04:07:41 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The New York Institute of Photography (NYIP), founded in 1910 in New York, USA, is a for-profit educational institution offering three basic courses to students who want to enter the photography field: the Professional Photography Course, the Photoshop Course, and the Fundamentals of Digital Photography. The New York Institute of Photography (NYIP), founded in 1910 in New York, USA, is a for-profit educational institution offering three basic courses to students who want to enter the photography field: the Professional Photography Course, the Photoshop Course, and the Fundamentals of Digital Photography. In addition, NYIP offers the following courses for various types of photographers, so those who need them can strengthen specific professional skills on their own, including: - Professional Photography Course - Fundamentals of Digital Photography - Portrait Photography Course - Photoshop for Photographers - Wedding Photography Course - Photojournalism Course - Travel Photography Course - Nature & Landscape Photography Course - Video Making Course - Business for Photographers - Graphic Design Course In 2005, a China student program was established in mainland China, aiming to promote NYIP's famous distance-learning interactive photography courses to more local photographers there. On the Chinese website we can find the syllabus of the Professional Photography Course, and through this list everyone can understand an overview of how professional photographers are trained. ### NYIP Professional Photography Course Study Overview - Unit 1: The photographer's eye, the camera, lenses, how to use your camera. - Unit 2: Capturing the image, exposure, an overview of digital processing, filters, expanding your eye. - Unit 3: Natural and available light, artificial light, electronic flash and studio flash, travel photography, landscape and nature photography. - Unit 4: Basic portrait lighting, studio portraits, location portraits, children's photography and pet photography. - Unit 5: Photojournalism, fashion photography, macro photography, astrophotography and copy work. - Unit 6: Advertising and still-life photography, architectural photography, glamour and nude photography. NYIP's courses use distance learning; in practice, the main study methods are mailed textbooks and online videos. You can also consult online and submit photos to the school's professional photographers for evaluation and advice. Since you cannot actually attend an instructor's lectures, cannot ask questions in real time, and must find a studio environment and models yourself, whether it is worth the money is something to consider for yourself. The tuition for the China student program is RMB 6,980 for a 66-week course (about NT$32,108); the tuition for the New York headquarters course is US$629 (about NT$18,870) paid in one lump sum, or US$59 per month, totaling US$899. - Official website: New York Institute of Photography / China student program. - Friends interested in photography can join the "Photography Discussion Group."]]> Design Thinking New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) Course Unit Overview https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/web-accessibility-color-contrast-checker/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/web-accessibility-color-contrast-checker/ Thu, 18 Apr 2019 03:13:35 GMT J. LIN STUDIO To promote accessible web design, the W3C published WCAG, which sets out a framework for the readability of color schemes. Through contrast checking, you can easily calculate the contrast score between background color and text color, thereby judging whether a web page is easy to read. I'm sure everyone still remembers the recent house-number chaos in New Taipei City. The color scheme, self-restricted by political considerations, drew a wave of public criticism — better to just restore the pure blue-and-white scheme used in earlier years. Though I have to say, the green-and-white used in the past decade or so was not any better; green text against a white background under sunlight is equally hard to make out. But that's all beside the point. In any case, the New Taipei City Government has followed the public's wishes and suspended the replacement of the new house numbers, so let's see whether they can learn the lesson and give us something refreshing afterward. Actually, the New Taipei City Government could well take this opportunity to represent all 29 of its districts with different colors — besides being an interesting talking point, it could also strengthen residents' emotional attachment to their districts (if the color scheme is too hard, they could even do modular house numbers and let people choose their own; after all, it wouldn't matter much even if not every house number showed the district and street name).  Which color scheme for house numbers is the most eye-catching? Since color contrast is so important, and we are now in the screen generation, is there any way to conveniently find the most eye-catching and appropriate color scheme? Yes, there is. Besides the highest-contrast monotone black-and-white pairing, the international organization "World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)," initiated by the United States' [Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)](https://mit.edu), published a "[Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/)" for web content accessibility (also known as web accessibility) to promote accessible web design, and it already sets out a framework for the readability of color schemes. But understanding those guidelines is a job for web design experts; we just need the concept. Online tools are now very well developed — for example, today I want to introduce the "**Contrast Checker**" provided by "WebAIM." Users simply enter the background color and the foreground (text) color on the website, and the system quickly calculates the "**Contrast Ratio**" — the higher the score, the easier it is to read! ### Official website: "[WebAIM: Contrast Checker](https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/)." Please refer to the image below. We tested with white text and a black background and got a high score of 21 (testing the reverse gives the same result). 21 also represents the highest rating of this system, so when we later test combinations of our favorite colors, we can use this score as the highest standard. The website also analyzes "Normal Text," "Large Text," and "Graphical Objects and User Interface Components," setting ratings ranging from "Fail" to "AA" to "AAA." As long as you can get all AAA ratings (contrast of 7 or above), it means your color scheme basically has quite high web accessibility.  Next, we tested using the logo colors of the Vedfolnir website: the background is the deep blue "005080," and the text color is Vedfolnir's goose-yellow "ffd51c," giving a contrast score of 6.01 (gazing into the distance). Although it is nearly four times less than the 21 of the black-and-white pairing, it is actually still a fairly good contrast score — from the image below you can see the readability rating reaches four WCAG AAA levels.  Well, quietly speaking, the logo's contrast for normal text was actually judged a FAIL at the WCAG AAA level (tears)! After some adjustment, I found that simply deepening the blue background to "004570" yields a high score of 7.09 across all WCAG AAA levels. I'll change it right away!]]> Design Thinking Color Theory: High-Readability Color Contrast Checking to Put an End to the Chaos of House-Number Colors https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-taboo-dont-shoot-people-who-sleep/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-taboo-dont-shoot-people-who-sleep/ Thu, 27 Dec 2018 00:54:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Today on Facebook I saw a photo of the newly elected Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu that almost made me spit out the coffee I was halfway through drinking. I don't know which clueless staffer used a smartphone to capture the mayor sleeping at the fruit and vegetable market, and lit it only with the phone's flash, making it look like a scene from the set of The Ring. Today on Facebook I saw a photo of the newly elected Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu that almost made me spit out the coffee I was halfway through drinking. I don't know which clueless staffer used a smartphone to capture the mayor sleeping at the fruit and vegetable market, and lit it only with the phone's flash, making it look like a scene from the set of The Ring — a complete taboo in a politician's public-relations handling.  If you adjusted the color cast and color temperature a bit more... For some photographers, there are more or less certain taboos on set, such as the one we discuss today: "don't shoot people who are sleeping" — unless that fellow is dead drunk on the road with his body scribbled all over. A friend said the staffer who took this photo of Han Kuo-yu simply had no taboos at all, which is why he produced such a work that looks uncannily like an image of the deceased. Long ago a senior photographer told me that even if you yourself have no taboos, some things simply must not be shot — especially when there is absolutely no need to shoot them, or when you have not communicated with the subject beforehand (in the film era everyone cherished expensive film). The senior said: whether you have taboos of your own is one matter, and no one else can control that. But the person you secretly photographed will surely feel uncomfortable when they see the photo. Humans especially are creatures easily influenced by the subconscious; when a model suddenly sees such a photo without being prepared, no one can guarantee what reaction might occur. Sometimes a taboo does not exist because of you, but is a gentleness shown for the sake of others.]]> Design Thinking Photography Taboo: Don't Shoot People Who Are Sleeping https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/japan-design-ganso-kibidango-packing-boxes/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/japan-design-ganso-kibidango-packing-boxes/ Sat, 08 Dec 2018 06:04:48 GMT J. LIN STUDIO For today's Japanese design feature, we've chosen the snack packaging box of the original Momotaro "Kibidango" made by the traditional Japanese sweets shop "Koeido" in the Okayama and Kurashiki area. For today's Japanese design feature, we've chosen the snack packaging box of the original Momotaro "Kibidango" made by the traditional Japanese sweets shop "[Koeido](http://www.koeido.co.jp/)" in the Okayama and Kurashiki area. The first image below is a three-dimensional view of the top of the Kibidango packaging box. The two interlocking sides were originally meant to be sealed with a cute sticker, but it's been torn open (one side is even broken off) — just imagine it yourself.  Below is a side view of the Kibidango packaging box. A whole row of cute big-head designs also appears on the outer wrapper of each dumpling inside. All the chibi-style big-head portraits relate to the Momotaro story — the design is quite interesting.  Below is the first impression that greets the eye after opening the box. It's actually quite likable — you can feel a full sense of vitality.  After flattening the outer packaging box, you get the following two consecutive images. From these you can understand how the overall outer packaging design should be planned.  Below is the other side, including information disclosure and graphic layout, both of which can serve as references. I personally quite like that whole row of cute chibi images that wrap around the outer box without repeating the design. And the images of Momotaro and the ogre are additionally enlarged, presenting an opposing stance on the packaging box that conveys an even stronger sense of story.  Reference: ["Koeido" Original Momotaro Kibidango / Okayama, Japan Souvenir](https://mizuc.com/okayama-japanese-sweet-rice-cake-ganso-kibidango-of-japan-travel-souvenir/). Disclaimer: This product design disclosure is for reference and learning only. Please do not plagiarize the original work in actual creation.]]> Design Thinking Japanese Design: The "Koeido Kibidango" Japanese Sweets Packaging Box https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-to-write-story-outline/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/how-to-write-story-outline/ Wed, 30 May 2018 12:33:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO A story outline (also called a story synopsis or content summary) is the advertising copy for the tens of thousands of words of your novel that you worked so hard to create. So after writing it, please check it carefully and revise it again and again. Those famous publishers will use these few hundred words to get a preliminary understanding of the uniqueness and excellence of your work, generating their initial urge to publish. A story outline (also called a story synopsis or content summary) is the advertising copy for the tens of thousands of words of your novel that you worked so hard to create. So after writing it, please check it carefully and revise it again and again. Those famous publishers will use these few hundred words to get a preliminary understanding of the uniqueness and excellence of your work, generating their initial urge to publish. You're very lucky — you got a publishing opportunity. When the book is finally made, part of what you wrote may be printed on the cover or back cover, letting the readers you have in mind see it and stirring their urge to read. After some readers finish it, unable to contain their excitement, they recommend the book to their best friend. A few sentences from the several hundred words you wrote may become the core content of what they tell their friend. In my view, as long as you fully recognize the importance of the story outline, any author capable of commanding words and gifted at telling a good story can write an excellent story outline. Never expect an editor to read the entire manuscript without first understanding the story synopsis. If there's no story synopsis, I would ask the submitter to provide one. If the submitter can provide a "highlights introduction" for the novel, even better. ## A Story Synopsis Should Achieve the Following Goals (5W1H1R) 1. Explain the main characters' names, gender, identity, age, appearance, personality and temperament — that is, WHO, WHERE and WHEN (adjustable according to actual needs). 2. Clearly state what the protagonist wants to do — that is, WHAT and HOW (get rich, get promoted, take revenge, contend for supremacy, get married, etc.). 3. Clearly state the meaning of what the protagonist does and where the difficulty lies — that is, WHY. Example: the male lead wants to win the "Campus Singer Contest" championship to win the campus beauty's love. The difficulty is that the campus beauty herself is also competing, and not only is she extremely strong, her will to win is super-strong, and she is hostile to anyone who beats her. 4. Explain the outcome of the events — that is, RESULT. The result is one of the points readers care about most. There's the idiom "start strong, end weak" — presumably such things exist in the world. Based on reading experience, many novels' endings are deeply disappointing. A novel conveys a certain emotion through a story. There are only so many types of emotion, while stories are ever-changing. An experienced editor can naturally see from the story what emotion it conveys to readers. Of course, if you truly have a fresh and profound insight, writing a few lines here that could become aphorisms is also very good. But that's the "flower" added to the brocade; what the editor wants to see is still the "brocade." ## An Example of a Fairly Plain Story Synopsis - Title: *The Godfather* - Author: Mario Puzo - Outline: After World War II ends, several major American Mafia families begin a new round of competition. Vito Corleone, known as "the Godfather," is one of the biggest Mafia bosses. His youngest son Michael is an outstanding Ivy League graduate and a war hero, who has always been unwilling to participate in family affairs. After his father is ambushed and seriously wounded, his eldest brother Sonny takes over family affairs. Out of enmity, during negotiations, Michael assassinates the rival family's boss as well as a police officer colluding with the underworld. He flees to Sicily, Italy, where his enemies track him down and kill his wife in a bombing. Sonny, who was handling family affairs, is also killed by an enemy's scheme. After the old Godfather recovers, he negotiates peace with his rivals, and a year after fleeing, Michael returns to America. After the old Godfather dies, Michael eliminates the traitor and launches his revenge plan; upon success, he is honored as the new "Godfather." - Time: Just after World War II, 1946. - Place: America, Italy. - Characters: The old Godfather, Michael. - Traits: The old Godfather, deeply calculating; Michael, from white-collar elite candidate to underworld boss. - Main events: Revenge, contention for supremacy. - Difficulty: The enemies' ruthless methods. - Meaning: Preserve oneself, eliminate rivals. - Result: Michael becomes the new Godfather. - First highlight: The Mafia's inner workings revealed in a novel for the first time. - Second highlight: The so-called "wisdom of life" expounded by the old Godfather in the novel. - Commentary: This synopsis is written very simply, with clear threads and definite highlights. ## An Example of a Fairly Ornate Story Synopsis - Title: *Xiang Han* - Author: Fei Wo Si Cun - Outline: A seal as crystalline as a teardrop, a sheet of gold-flecked paper from a distant age, telling of two tales of undying sorrow and joy. The man she deeply loves holds the hand of a beautiful bride — who is her own sister. She thought her heart was dead ashes, but a sea of blood-feud with kin forces her to become her lover's enemy. Yet the man who suddenly bursts in, as handsome as a demon — is he the antidote that redeems her, or the poison of love? When she returns again, she actually makes a pact with him, transforming into a beautiful goddess of vengeance, slaying their common enemy with her own hand. But after all, she is merely an ordinary person in the ten-zhang red dust, forgetting past events yet unable to escape love, hate, greed and anger. And he — will Satan's love receive a blessing? The flower-lover gone, the flower has no master; that dazzling, incomparable Xiang Han, that sorrowful, despairing karma of a past life — a hundred years later, will it still shine with radiant brilliance? - Commentary: This synopsis is written rather ornately, with both brocade and flower — flower first, brocade after. ## An Example of a Fairly Detailed Story - Title: *Falling in Love with a Single-Eyelid Boy* - Author: Yanzhi - Outline: Han Zitong and Jiang Yi are two successful men; they were college classmates and are also rivals. Han Zitong is naturally free-spirited and goes his own way, while Jiang Yi is gentle and refined, outwardly honest and loyal. For years, Jiang Yi has been looking for a chance to take revenge on Han Zitong. When he learns that Han Zitong has fallen in love with a girl, he decides to snatch her away and use that girl to take revenge on Han Zitong. The youthful and lovely Song Shiyi studies marketing management in college and wants to work at Jiang Yi's company after graduation, but by a twist of fate ends up at Han Zitong's company. Yet she never expected that Han Zitong is the third brother who grew up with her in the orphanage. Years of separation have brought huge changes to both Song Shiyi and Han Zitong, but...]]> Design Thinking Essential Writing Techniques for Novelists Writing Novels, Scripts and Story Outlines https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/japan-arts-in-southern-branch-of-the-national-palace-museum/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/japan-arts-in-southern-branch-of-the-national-palace-museum/ Thu, 12 Jan 2017 08:27:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Parents interested in Japanese art, have you decided where to go during winter break? Starting the day after tomorrow, you can take your kids to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in Chiayi! The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum is launching a family-friendly discount event for the "Best of Japanese Art" special exhibition this winter break. From January 14 to February 12, as long as one parent buys one full-price package ticket, they can bring up to three students below junior high school age in for free. The Southern Branch invites the whole family to enjoy Japan's national treasures together. Parents interested in Japanese art, have you decided where to go during winter break? Starting the day after tomorrow, you can take your kids to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in Chiayi! The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum is launching a family-friendly discount event for the "Best of Japanese Art" special exhibition this winter break. From January 14 to February 12, as long as one parent buys one full-price package ticket, they can bring up to three students below junior high school age in for free. The Southern Branch invites the whole family to enjoy Japan's national treasures together. The National Palace Museum stated that during this winter break, the Southern Branch is exhibiting the "**Best of Japanese Art — Tokyo & Kyushu Museums Masterpiece Exhibition**", displaying many rare Japanese classic artifacts. To encourage family visits, the Southern Branch has specially launched the "**Family Visit to the Southern Branch, Package Ticket Discount**" program. The museum noted that from the 14th to February 12, as long as one parent buys a full-price ticket for NT$250, they can bring three students below junior high school age in for free to view the "Best of Japanese Art" special exhibition. There are also various discount programs for groups, students and Chiayi County/City residents. Besides the Japanese special exhibition discount, the museum said, during winter break there is still an afternoon tea event every Saturday, suitable for parents and children to participate in together. On January 14, a "knot-tying" activity for the whole family is offered, to take the good fortune of "knots" home; on the 21st, parents and children are invited to wear yukata and join a costume show together. ## "Best of Japanese Art" Special Exhibition Discount Programs **Period** | Eligible Identity | Discount Program | Notes ROC 106/1/14 (Sat) to ROC 106/2/12 (Sun) | Parent-child | 1 adult may bring 3 students below junior high school in | Students free; adult buys full-price NT$250 ticket (includes Chinese audio guide). Students' Chinese audio guide is at their own expense. ROC 105/12/31 (Sat) to ROC 106/3/5 (Sun) | Group tickets (full price NT$250) | 100 tickets or more, 20% off (NT$200). 500 tickets or more, 40% off (NT$150). | For government agencies and groups. Advance written purchase required. This is a discount program; no refunds after purchase. Includes Chinese audio guide. ROC 105/12/31 (Sat) to ROC 106/3/5 (Sun) | Enrolled students | Discount admission ticket with student ID (NT$150) | Includes Chinese audio guide. Must present a student ID registered with the Ministry of Education. ROC 105/12/31 (Sat) to ROC 106/3/5 (Sun) | Chiayi County/City residents | Free admission after 3 PM on opening days | Chinese audio guide at own expense. ROC 105/12/31 (Sat) to ROC 106/3/5 (Sun) | Holders of THSR holiday vouchers | Free admission to the permanent exhibition | Visitors may additionally purchase a special-exhibition discount admission ticket on site (NT$150 including Chinese audio guide). ## "Best of Japanese Art" Winter Break Activity Schedule **Blessing Knots · Welcoming the New Year** | Date: ROC 106/1/14 (Saturday) | Session times: 14:00, 15:00, each 40 minutes | Content: The "shimenawa" hung on the door as decoration, also called the straw rope, is one of the representative rituals of the Japanese New Year tradition. On New Year's Day, the public is invited to create their own distinctive blessing ornaments. | Location: Plaza in front of the Children's Creative Center, 1F | Notes: With a special-exhibition ticket stub (not limited to the same day), you can reserve and register on site and participate free of charge, limited to 40 people per session. **Japanese Yukata Experience** Parent-Child Activity | Date: ROC 106/1/21 (Saturday) | Session times: 14:00, 15:00, each 40 minutes | Content: Parents and children are welcome to participate together, to understand the wisdom of Japanese clothing tailoring and experience the fun of dressing up. | Location: Children's Creative Center classroom, 1F]]> Design Thinking National Palace Museum Southern Branch "The Best of Japanese Art: Tokyo & Kyushu Museums" Special Exhibition — Great Family Discounts! https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/kimiko-san-grandma-japanese-photographer/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/kimiko-san-grandma-japanese-photographer/ Sat, 24 Dec 2016 04:59:59 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Born in 1928, Japanese grandmother Kimiko Nishimoto first took up photography at the age of 74, and has now been creating continuously for 15 years. Her work spans art, daily life and more, and from these photographs you can see that the grandmother's heart is still full of colorful blossoms. Born in 1928, Japanese grandmother Kimiko Nishimoto first took up photography at the age of 74, and has now been creating continuously for 15 years. Her work spans art, daily life and more, and from these photographs you can see that the grandmother's heart is still full of colorful blossoms. In recent years Grandma Nishimoto has begun sharing many of her photographic creations online, and among them her playful creations of everyday life have drawn a great deal of attention from the Japanese public. Now please join this traveler in Japan in appreciating the passionate work of Grandma Nishimoto! Grandma Nishimoto's portfolio: [Kimiko Nishimoto's Creative Life](http://kimikosan.exblog.jp).]]> Design Thinking Grandma Kimiko Nishimoto / An Introduction to a Japanese Amateur Photographer https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/google-new-logo-and-ci-system/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/google-new-logo-and-ci-system/ Thu, 03 Sep 2015 06:55:37 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Google today unveiled a newly designed website logo and corporate identity system to keep pace with the arrival of the mobile generation. Through a sans-serif design, the Google wordmark becomes easier to recognize on small screens... Google today unveiled a newly designed website logo and corporate identity system to keep pace with the arrival of the mobile generation. Through a sans-serif design, the Google wordmark becomes easier to recognize on small screens. Although this time the new design is only being adopted in the search engine application for now, I believe it will soon be rolled out across all applications under the Alphabet holding company, such as Gmail, YouTube, Maps and so on. In the newly designed corporate logo and identity system, the four-color palette of red, blue, yellow and green that has been in use since the early days is maintained (yellow-green-red is McDonald's), and three prototype designs are introduced, including four colored dots, four colored large letters, and the original Google wordmark. Looking at Figure 1 below, the combination of four dots and colors makes Google's representative image easily recognizable. But whether it can be registered as a graphic or color trademark is still hard to say[1] — after all, simple structures and common color tones usually find it harder to pass examination — but they're Google (Mantou: it just feels super convincing).  Next, look at Figure 2: a single letter G, likewise filled with four colors inside to form a colored G. Although only this one large letter is visible so far, the editor believes Google will adopt the same design principle for different applications. For example, the Y of YouTube, the K of Keep, or the N of News will gradually switch to sans-serif large letters filled with four colors. This design also fits the consistency required in a corporate identity system, and further represents the future integrated image of the Alphabet company.  Figure 3 below is an interesting animation example from Google, showing the old serif typeface being wiped away and changed to the new logo design shown in Figure 4.  Next, please look at Figure 4 below — Google's brand-new sans-serif typeface, using text that is easy to recognize and carries a slightly cute style to represent the freshly relaunched Alphabet company.  Please see Figure 5 below — even the website icon (Favicon) has been switched to the brand-new logo. I believe it will soon be extended to all applications under Alphabet. (Though after using it for half a day, the editor still isn't used to it.)  ###### Further Reading: [1] Article 5 of the Trademark Act: "A trademark may consist of words, figures, symbols, colors, sounds, three-dimensional shapes, or any combination thereof."]]> Design Thinking Google Dons New Clothes: A Brand-New Sans-Serif Logo and Corporate Identity System https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/macdonald-qrcode-secret/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/macdonald-qrcode-secret/ Fri, 17 Jul 2015 18:40:10 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Have you ever noticed that there is a QR Code on McDonald's drink cups? Have you "even more" noticed that beside the QR Code, there is actually a little McDonald's secret hidden? In recent years QR Codes have become increasingly popular. Besides street stores with more young people using QR Codes as a marketing tactic, traces of QR codes are gradually appearing on products around us. The reason manufacturers design these QR Codes is nothing more than to let users connect directly to the official website or join activities, saving the paper and printing costs of manuals and doing a bit for the environment. The multinational real-estate business "McDonald's," which always rides the crest of the times, has unsurprisingly also adopted the new technology of QR Codes on its products. Figure 1 below is a cola drink cup I bought at McDonald's. A large red QR Code is printed on the side of the cup; let's call it the Big Red Code for now. Figure 1, a common McDonald's drink cup. If we scan the Big Red Code with a phone, the QR Code encoding system will guide us directly to McDonald's official website. However, the editor discovered that beside the Big Red Code QR Code, there is also a tiny **phone icon** hidden, and within the phone icon is hidden another **tiny QR Code** — let's call it the Little Black Code. We usually just treat this small phone icon as an instruction for scanning with a phone. Because this Little Black Code is extremely small, the lens of an ordinary smartphone or tablet can hardly capture a sufficiently **clear** encoded image. Because its existence is so inconspicuous, I had always taken it for granted and never paid special attention to the existence of this QR Code, nor ever wondered whether some secret information was hidden inside. (Many people are probably like the editor, right?) Figure 2, a closer look at the QR Code on the drink cup. But in a person's life there are always some silly things done out of boredom. One boring night I actually thought of using a DSLR camera and a macro lens to photograph the Little Black Code, then transferring it to a computer to enlarge and process the image to enhance resolution. The result after some effort is the very large little QR Code shown in Figure 3 below. Figure 3, the ultra-small QR Code after image enhancement. Then scanning this enlarged Little Black Code with a phone reveals that although the tiny QR Code is small, it is fully equipped — it really does hide something inside. Figure 4, the information scanned by the barcode scanner. Only this time, the Little Black Code does not connect the phone to McDonald's Taiwan official website like the Big Red Code, but instead guides directly to McDonald's [US official website](http://www.mcdonalds.com). Figure 5, the US McDonald's main site. From this it seems that whether for domestic US stores or overseas branches, the main materials of all McDonald's product designs still come from the hand of the US headquarters. So this phone image that everyone originally thought was just an auxiliary instruction actually hides such an unknown secret inside. But from this case we can also see that McDonald's designers have indeed carefully considered even the smallest details, meaning the completion level of their product design is very high. Friends who are interested can go to McDonald's for dinner and order a burger (remember to upgrade the drink), and by the way test whether your **phone's close-up capability** (also called macro photography) can capture this tiny QR Code. Perhaps your phone's hardware specs are better than mine (gazing into the distance). Uh, this article is not a sponsored post.]]> Design Thinking The QR Code on McDonald's Drink Cups Hides a Secret No One Has Noticed https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/apple-sticker/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/apple-sticker/ Tue, 14 Jul 2015 03:48:49 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Every Apple product, including MacBooks and iPads, ships with two cute Apple stickers in the box. If it were up to you, where would you stick them? Every time you buy a new Apple product (such as an Apple iPad or MacBook Pro), the box always includes two Apple stickers. But why Apple gives away stickers, and how to use them, is — for an Apple newcomer like me — one of the most baffling mysteries in modern tech history. I once thought this Apple sticker was meant to be stuck over the glowing Apple logo on the back of a laptop, figuring it could give the only plastic white apple on the casing some extra protection. But that idea had barely been born before I shot it down myself. The molded plastic on the back cover sits at a slight height difference from the metal surface (you can feel it with your finger), so if you actually stuck the sticker over it, I imagine it wouldn't take long for the sticker to look pretty ugly. Apple sticker (Image / [Lin Jinliang](https://JinliangLin.com)) Later a friend told me that this sticker has been around for many years. Although recent years have used a minimalist white apple, in the early days there was even a gorgeous six-color rainbow Apple sticker (and I think a black one too). Rainbow apple (@Blake Patterson) The sticker's main purpose isn't to be stuck on an Apple computer (though you can do that). The Apple sticker is a symbol, meant for you to stick wherever you like, however you like, wherever you please. Through these cheap little stickers, on one hand you're doing free marketing for Apple, and on the other you're deepening Apple fans' sense of worship. To put it in biblical terms, it's a kind of idol worship — except others worship statues, while you **worship** Apple. That said, if you ask me where I'd stick the Apple sticker, my answer is: "I really don't know." Because I like my computer's exterior clean, I absolutely wouldn't stick it on a MacBook, nor would I copy my friend and stick it where the wrist rests while typing. For one, it wouldn't take long before it got worn to shreds; for another, once the laptop lid closes, it's more likely to damage the screen coating. Stick the Apple sticker on a wallet? That's just dumb, I think. Stick it in the bathroom? That won't cure your constipation. Stick it on the TV? That's very much the vibe of an edgy teen who thinks they're watching Apple TV. Stick it outside the front door? That's just openly telling burglars this is the house with the best odds. My friend A-Gui once had a burglar climb from the fifth-floor rooftop into his fourth-floor back window and steal a MacBook Pro and a Canon 5DII — with lenses! It was the biggest tragedy of the year — which is why I keep a machete next to my computer desk (just kidding). Maybe I'll keep these stickers until the end of time — or throw them out along with the box. Rather than sticking them randomly and one day finding them worn or an eyesore yet being unable to bear peeling them off, it's better not to stick them at all from the start (mysterious voice: are you talking about your view on love?). Finally, I'd like to ask everyone: where do you like to stick your Apple stickers? I'm genuinely curious.]]> Design Thinking What Do You Do With the Two Apple Stickers That Come With Every Mac? https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/logitech-new-logo-style/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/logitech-new-logo-style/ Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:55:07 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Logitech's brand-new corporate identity and logo design reflect how Logitech will gradually transform into a design-driven company of an entirely new form in the new era... The arrival of a brand-new era can sometimes be easily glimpsed in many old-school companies. Although I call them old-school here, these companies' innovative energy is extremely vigorous — otherwise they wouldn't have survived in a fiercely competitive market, and survived so long and grown so large. Especially in the field of computer peripherals, if Logitech were to claim second place, I don't think any company would dare call itself first. Two days ago, Logitech published a new message on its official website[1], stating that its brand logo and corporate identity system (CI) would be fully updated to adopt the design shown above. Compared with the traditional logo of the past — mostly composed of something that looked like an eye plus a slightly slender and sharp typeface — the new logo clearly adopts the flat design that now seems to have become a trend, and integrates the original eye motif into a unified whole through the entirely new letterform structure of the letter g. Combined with bold, youthful and diverse color schemes, this golden signboard of Logitech seems to have taken on an entirely new meaning and breadth of application. Logitech's old logo. Logitech seems ready to open up the global market as a comprehensively design-driven company, and has even hired Alastair Curtis as the company's first Chief Design Officer — she was formerly Nokia's chief designer. In the future, design-centric thinking will gradually be internalized within Logitech, and may ultimately become a corporate culture of extremely high value. The image below is a mock-up released by the company, indicating that in the future, besides the Logitech wordmark, there will also be a "logi" product mark. A more concise design that still retains an obvious highlight may be exactly the imagination Logitech hopes to bring to everyone in the future. With the birth of the new logo, the first new product to use the entirely new design mark is also heralded as coming soon. Let's wait and see. The logo style of future products If you come across Logitech's newest logo on a new product in the future, don't mistake it for some knockoff that appeared out of nowhere. ###### Further Reading 1. Logitech Blog: Say Hello to the New Logitech.]]> Design Thinking Logitech's Changing Look in a New Era: Reading a Company's Style Through Its Logo Design https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/to-paint-logo-design/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/to-paint-logo-design/ Thu, 27 Nov 2014 05:07:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO "Doodle. Come" is a display space provided by the Vedfolnir website, letting art lovers freely come and doodle, unleashing all kinds of creativity to create doodles, Logo designs, and other creative works — a small event (which started out as just me having fun). "Doodle. Come" is a **display space** provided by the Vedfolnir website, letting art lovers freely come and doodle, unleashing all kinds of creativity to create doodles, Logo designs, and other creative works — a small event (which started out as just me having fun). The title block at the very top of our website is a header image composed of 1500 px by 150 (or 200) px. The left area is the Logo block of Vedfolnir. We have now planned out an area from the middle to the right of the image, an image space measuring 800 px by 150 (200, 250, 300, 350, etc.) px. ## "Doodle. Come" Game Rules Please design a doodle work you like and upload it for everyone to appreciate. Forms of expression including photography, painting, and sketching are all acceptable submission content. **The maximum design size is 800 * 150 (200, 250, 350, etc.) px.** If it is a photographic work, it can be designed full-width up to 1500 * 150 (200, 250, 350, etc.) px, and you may **freely specify the placement of this website's Logo**, with a minimum width and height of 380px*135px. I will myself choose black, white, or full color according to the background color (refer to the original below).  Vedfolnir Logo For uploaded design files, CorelDraw Cdr design originals are preferred, or other vector image **original files**; if it is a raster image, please submit a high-resolution file as much as possible, to make it easier for us to integrate into the background. If you have extremely high demands for color rendering, please remember to choose the **RGB color mode** (Color Mode) for the color document in your drawing software when creating. Each work is displayed for as long as **seven days**; if no other work is queued, it may be displayed continuously. Works that come down will be kept in chronological order in the **historical works display area** at the back of this page. Doodle content **can advertise yourself**! There is no limit to the number or size of trademark graphics, but advertising text should be placed at the lower-right corner of the image, and the total design area must not exceed 200 * 50 px. Regarding doodle content, **we have no restrictions**! Adult (18+) creative content must conform to artistry; otherwise we will not accept **purely pornographic** works (judged at our discretion)! ### Boring but still necessary legal statement: 1. When you upload an image to us, it means you guarantee that the uploaded work is indeed created by your own hand. The copyright of all works belongs to the creator; "Doodle. Come" merely provides a display space. If the content of a work gives rise to any infringement dispute, you understand that you will bear full responsibility. 2. If anyone discovers that a work on "Doodle. Come" may infringe, you are welcome to write to us. After review we will promptly take the work down and completely remove it from our media library. We will do our best to cooperate with creator information requested by a court. #### Historical Works Display: 2014.12.15: Green earing rice paddy in Tamsui (Lin Jin Liang).  Doodle. Come: Green earing rice paddy in Tamsui (JinLiang Lin). 2014.11.25: Official promotional image.  Doodle. Come: Official promotional image. 2014.11.20: The story of Chao Yen-ching.  Doodle. Come: The story of Chao Yen-ching.]]> Design Thinking Doodle. Come | Submission Event Now Closed https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/six-words-micro-novella-creation-story/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/six-words-micro-novella-creation-story/ Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:32:47 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Words can warm the heart. The most powerful words need only a few characters. Do you have a story and words of your own? Please let us create together a micro-novel that moves everyone!! Britain recently launched a **literary creative-writing contest**, with the theme that participants may use only **six English words to describe a story**, and it must be able to move the heart. The organizers finally selected the best micro-novels, ten creations in total. These ten stories are filled with the warmest and saddest sides of humanity. A few of them, to me personally, even reach the level of heartbreak. Any one of these micro-stories can be read over and over, plunging one into deep thought — truly representative works of conciseness. This kind of distilled word-craft and the essence of photography, where less is more, still share something in common. Next, let's see together whether the winning works of this contest move you as well. ## Six-Word Micro-Novels **Original Creation****Chinese Translation**Strangers. Friends. Best friends. Lovers. Strangers.Strangers. Friends. Best friends. Lovers. Strangers.I met my soulmate. She didn't.I met my soulmate. She didn't.Sorry soldier, shoes sold in pairs.Sorry soldier, shoes sold in pairs.Birth certificate. Death certificate. One pen.Birth certificate. Death certificate. One pen. (infant death or mother dies in childbirth)Jumped. Then I changed my mind.Jumped. Then I changed my mind.Mom taught me how to shave.Mom taught me how to shave. (father is gone)Finally spoke to her. Left flowers.Finally spoke to her one last time; all I could leave were flowers. (she has passed away)Siri, delete Mom from my contacts.Siri, delete Mom from my contacts. (mother has passed away)Introduced myself to mother again today.Introduced myself to mother again today. (mother has Alzheimer's)The smallest coffins are the heaviest.The smallest coffins are the heaviest.Six-Word Micro-Novels After reading these micro-novel creations, each line so moving, I believe your creative spirit has already caught fire. If your answer is YES, we sincerely hope you will join this creative trend as well. If you are willing to create, and willing to let us learn and be moved together, there is a submission event below that we hope you will join. Submissions are not limited to any language, and the content has no restrictions either — the most important thing is still that passion you want to express from within. If, like me, you felt the same stirring from the words above, then hurry and submit — let us appreciate together your one-of-a-kind life experience! ### Submit here: [One Page Poetry | Call for Submissions](https://poetor.com/calls-for-submissions). ###### Note Given the essential differences between languages such as Chinese and English in describing things, this submission event has only one rule: your **creation must be presented in "one line."** English can be within six words, and Chinese or Japanese within ten characters — the shorter the better. If your creation is not easy for people to understand, please remember to write an explanation of its meaning! Works submitted by creators will be periodically compiled on the "[One Page Poetry](https://poetor.com)" website and shared on the fan page, so we can all appreciate your wonderful verse together.]]> Design Thinking Call for Submissions: Let's Create Together a Six-Word "Micro-Novel" of Your Own Story That Moves the Heart https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/logo-stick-action-badge/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/logo-stick-action-badge/ Tue, 14 Oct 2014 06:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The "Reject Ting Hsin" campaign stickers and badges organized by Vedfolnir — the campaign stickers, logo badges and other graphic design works listed here are provided free of charge for everyone to use without compensation. The content focuses on public issues such as environmental conservation and public safety, and can be cited directly on websites. The "Reject Ting Hsin" campaign stickers and badges organized by Vedfolnir — the campaign stickers, logo badges and other graphic design works listed here are provided free of charge for everyone to use without compensation. The content focuses on public issues such as environmental conservation and public safety, and can be cited directly on websites. ## "Reject Ting Hsin" Campaign Sticker List Date serial number: 201410102130 Sticker name: This person rejects Ting Hsin. Embed code:  Graphic style: This person rejects Ting Hsin (size: 300px * 100px)]]> Design Thinking "Reject Ting Hsin" Campaign Stickers and Badges https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/cherry-blossoms-on-spring-2014/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/cherry-blossoms-on-spring-2014/ Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:47:17 GMT J. LIN STUDIO April Cherry Blossom — the name comes from the fact that cherry blossoms are in full bloom in many Northern Hemisphere countries. In Japan, for instance, March 15 to April 15 is the country's famous national cherry blossom festival. Because Japan has the special geography of being long and narrow from north to south, the Japanese designed a cherry blossom front system, so that as the weather warms, the blossoms gradually open from south to north... This April continues a string of social upheavals that began in March. Meanwhile, cherry blossoms are in full bloom in many Northern Hemisphere countries. In Japan, for instance, March 15 to April 15 is the country's famous national cherry blossom festival. Because Japan has the special geography of being long and narrow from north to south, the Japanese designed a cherry blossom front system, so that as the weather warms, the blossoms gradually open from south to north. Someone then coined the rather poetic name "April Cherry Blossom." Cherry blossoms represent life, passion, purity and nobility, and are also a symbol of love, romance and hope. Their flower language is life, smiling at you, spiritual beauty (mountain cherry), kind education (Western cherry), Eastern mystery (winter cherry), quietness and purity (double-flowered cherry), youth (primrose), and purity, nobility and detachment (mountain cherry blossom). I myself have never been fond of pink — er, I mean pink — because I've been conditioned by color psychology. Back in my student days, one of my favorite things was browsing the library, so I read widely across its collections. Once, in a book discussing feng shui and the occult, I found an argument that overturned my existing understanding, and for some inexplicable reason I believed it, which left a deep impression on me (in short, I was conditioned). The book stated that one taboo in home decoration is using pink heavily as the dominant color, on the grounds that pink easily causes nervous exhaustion, panic and irritability, creates a severe lack of security, makes people fickle and prone to betrayal, and brings frequent arguments and disputes to a household. Put another way, it's not stable enough — the mood drifts. A drifting mood does seem to have some connection to romance. Of course, as I just said, this is only my personal stereotype. In fact, a color experiment was once conducted in a Swiss prison, where they placed easily enraged inmates in a cell with all four walls painted pink. The result proved that the pink cell had a certain calming effect on the prisoners. Huh, isn't that exactly a classic case of nervous exhaustion? (Flees at light speed) April Cherry Blossom card (Designer / Jin-Liang, Lin) This little pink card I'm introducing today was actually a design idea that suddenly popped into my head after seeing a friend's Japanese kimono. The cherry blossom material came from Japan's official cherry blossom promotion campaign. The real focus of the whole card is actually the white ribbon in the upper half, whose imagery comes from the sash that is the crowning touch of a woman's kimono. I feel that rather than calling it a card, making it into an embroidered canvas coin purse would actually be a better choice. Lastly, a side note: this time I finally managed to produce this month's piece in April, without having to wait until a month later to see results as in the previous few months. That's my spring resolution to myself.]]> Design Thinking Pink April Cherry Blossom Card | Spring Festival Greeting Card Design https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-learning-only-ideas-and-attitudes-are-important/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-learning-only-ideas-and-attitudes-are-important/ Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:18:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO A while ago a friend went online to find a photography teacher in the market, with the aim of learning photography. This was the first time the author learned that amateur photography enthusiasts also need to find a photography teacher. Setting aside art academy photography programs, which teach too broadly, too deeply, and too long, that is neither what he wants nor what he needs. But for general photography, is it really necessary to find a so-called "teacher"? At least among some photography enthusiasts the author knows... A while ago a friend went online to find a photography teacher in the market, with the aim of learning photography. This was the first time the author learned that amateur photography enthusiasts also need to find a photography teacher. Setting aside art academy photography programs, which teach too broadly, too deeply, and too long, that is neither what he wants nor what he needs. But for general photography, is it really necessary to find a so-called "teacher"? At least among some photography enthusiasts the author knows, I have not found anyone who specifically went to a so-called photography teacher to learn. Hmm, no, there seems to be one. But his situation is rather special, because from the very beginning he wholeheartedly wanted only to shoot female students, wanted to shoot female models, wanted to shoot women — in short, as long as it is female, that is right. So this friend sought out the kind of course where, after paying, the teacher brings the (female) models to you and you shoot as you please. Other than that, is there anything else he wants to shoot that is hard to get hold of? The great mountains are always there. The great sea is just a right turn out the door. Passersby — hide at home and secretly look out the window and there they are (gets beaten away). Since the subjects to shoot are right before your eyes, and you have a camera in hand, why don't you shoot? Why spend money to have someone force you to shoot? Is it simply paying money to find an S? Are you M-oriented? (poke poke poke poke poke) Basically, the author believes that in photography, apart from the basic skill of understanding how to operate the camera in your hands, the rest is **your own imagination and aesthetic sense**. > This article applies regardless of camera or brand. If you are using a point-and-shoot, you can read straight on; if you are using a DSLR, beginners can continue with the attached "The 4 Major Camera Exposure Modes 'P, Av, Tv, and M' and an Introduction to Shutter, Aperture, and ISO[1](#f733fe7b-5b9e-4247-a8c6-90ba1d0bbf59)" basic camera concepts article. But imagination comes in two kinds: one is imagination before shooting, also called the photographic eye. The other is imagination after shooting, that is, post-processing, which is not what we are discussing today, because the author's own post-processing skills are simply no match for those from art academies. Regarding the cultivation of photographic imagination, here are three good methods to introduce. ## One, shoot constantly. > Pick up the camera, load the film, walk out the door, shoot like crazy! > [Jin-Liangjin, Lin](https://JinliangLIN.com) After shooting, take the photos home and review whether you really like this image. If you do, that is great, because that is your style — personal style, put plainly, is just what you like; if you do not, you can try to imagine how this photo should have been shot to match your style, that is, the look you would like. Shooting constantly has another benefit: you can quickly become thoroughly familiar with all the camera's functions, and you will also grow in the basic skill of operating the camera, which in turn means you can shoot more quickly when out taking photos. ## Two, browse exquisite photographic works. I personally highly recommend searching "Flickr[2](#901a2290-f6bd-4418-8ed3-f7661cd52b94)" albums for themes you like, and appreciating good works one by one. This is more effective than taking a long trip to a museum to admire famous works. But I want to remind you: it is not about imitating and producing identical works, but about learning what ways of presentation and light-and-shadow techniques exist in an image, and trying to imagine how these photos were produced. Especially now, many photos provide EXIF settings[3](#1ed4264d-db7a-46ff-b3db-bc12efb758f0), through which we can see what camera settings were used for each photo. Searching the keyword Taiwan in Flickr albums]]> Design Thinking Photography Fundamentals Lesson 1 https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/typhoon-usagi-yellow-ducklings-note/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/typhoon-usagi-yellow-ducklings-note/ Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:53:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO This super rabbit that brings typhoons has been hailed by netizens as the second-strongest typhoon in 20 years. Don't be fooled by the cute name Typhoon Usagi — it is a thoroughbred rabbit monster... "Typhoon Usagi," this super rabbit that brings typhoons, has been hailed by netizens as the second-strongest typhoon in 20 years. Don't be fooled by the cute name Usagi — it is a thoroughbred rabbit monster. The author's sister-in-law's younger brother, who is pursuing a graduate degree at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, was even asked by his advisor to stay behind in the laboratory to prevent possible damage. I hope friends in the south will be careful of this violent rabbit (hop). But dangerous as it is, another duck isn't afraid at all. The yellow duckling, which had just made its public debut a few days ago, was already deflated and hidden away by engineers in Kaohsiung ahead of time. (The duck says: don't let the air out of me.) From the news footage, one could see that at the moment the yellow duckling was deflated, a crowd's faces were instantly filled with all kinds of a sense of loss. It seems that what was deflated was not only the yellow duckling, but even more the visitors' inner hopes — and everyone's childhood dreams. Well, the author actually really looked forward to the scene of the yellow duckling being blown out to sea by Typhoon Usagi, and then a crowd going duck hunting. Seeing such an interesting interaction between Usagi and the yellow duckling this time, I simply designed a funny meme. Does anyone understand the design concept of the yellow duckling Logo in the image below? (Hua Ma, don't hit me.)  Typhoon Usagi battles the yellow duckling But cute as it is, everyone should still remember to prepare early for Typhoon Usagi's arrival. Below is an East Asia satellite cloud image from 3 p.m. on the 20th for everyone's reference. I was even startled by such a clear typhoon eye. Having looked at typhoon satellite cloud images for so many years, I recall few occasions when such a clear typhoon eye has appeared.  Republic of China satellite cloud image The one below is the satellite cloud image from 00:30 a.m. on the 21st. From the image one can see that Typhoon Usagi has come quite close to the southern part of the island of Taiwan. Duckling, flee quickly, ah ah ah.  Republic of China high-resolution infrared cloud image The author even discovered in this cloud image — wow — that this Usagi rabbit has become fatter and fluffier than in the afternoon! It seems it ate too nutritiously passing through the Kuroshio Current. Finally, I still want to remind everyone, and all the foreigners waiting for waves along Taiwan's coast, not to go to the seaside on typhoon days, and friends in the central and southern parts of the island of Taiwan should especially guard against strong winds and heavy rain! Wishing everyone safety.]]> Design Thinking Typhoon Usagi Strikes — Respectfully Requesting the Yellow Duckling to Flee Quickly (Funny Meme) https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/little-planet-image-processing-teaching/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/little-planet-image-processing-teaching/ Tue, 16 Jul 2013 19:38:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO After seeing many masters' great little planet (Little Planet) works, my hands got itchy and I dove in to try it myself. Thus this little-planet image-processing photo made from Fushoushan Farm was born. The image in the photo is Fushoushan Farm, where I randomly stayed with my friend Jinlong years ago. I cheekily used that old photo to play with today's little planet, and unexpectedly the image quality from back then was still good enough for me to work with extensively. After seeing many masters' great little planet (Little Planet) works, my hands got itchy and I dove in to try it myself. Thus this little-planet image-processing photo made from Fushoushan Farm was born. The image in the photo is Fushoushan Farm, where I randomly stayed with my friend Jinlong years ago. I cheekily used that old photo to play with today's little planet, and unexpectedly the image quality from back then was still good enough for me to work with extensively. Come to think of it, Fushoushan Farm in October is really quite beautiful. The crisp autumn air in the high mountains always makes you want to go back once more. ## How to Make a Little Planet (Small Planet) Photo? 1. First, find a "panorama." If you don't have one on hand, be lazy and stitch it from a single photo (the photo below was stitched from a single image). 2. Open the panorama in Photoshop (note: some image-editing software also offers similar features for making little planets). 3. Next, adjust the photo's proportions, changing the long panorama into a square. Remember to first turn off the "constrain proportions" function. 4. Rotate the now-square image 180 degrees. 5. Open Photoshop's filter menu and choose the "Polar Coordinates" function under "Distort," selecting rectangle to polar. 6. The original photo has now become a little planet floating in the air. ## Tips for Little Planet Image Processing After successfully processing the little planet, there are a few details worth offering for everyone's reference, including: 1. The image's horizon line must be accurate. 2. The image's "target plane line" should be symmetrical at the left and right ends of the image — for example, the sea horizon, a mountain ridge line, etc. — so that when stitched into a little planet it flows smoothly and forms a spherical shape. You can adjust this by modifying the image's horizon line, or simply delete, erase, or even edit the image to achieve the goal. 3. Every photo looks different once made into a little planet, so everyone can experiment in many ways. 4. The aforementioned "target plane line" divides the image into upper and lower parts; you can take an area ratio of at least 2 to 1 so that the little planet appears centered in the frame. 5. If you don't have a panorama, you can take a single photo times two, mirroring one of them left-to-right, so that the seam between the two photos also matches. However, photos made this way feel a bit awkward. If there are few objects in the image — for example, just sky and landscape — you can even take a single photo times three to make the little planet.]]> Design Thinking Little Planet (LP) Image Processing Tutorial: Taichung Fushoushan Farm https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-tree-and-cloud-in-tamsui/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-tree-and-cloud-in-tamsui/ Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:13:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO This photo was taken on a small path by the Tamsui (or Danshui) riverbank. At the tail end of summer in September, the clouds in the sky shifted into extraordinary beauty, and with the wild winds of early autumn, the giant trees along the whole road swayed and merged into one with the unfathomable clouds... This photo was taken on a small path by the Tamsui (or Danshui) riverbank. At the tail end of summer in September, the clouds in the sky shifted into extraordinary beauty, and with the wild winds of early autumn, the giant trees along the whole road swayed and merged into one with the unfathomable clouds. On the evening of September 2, the author followed his usual walking route, passing along the way the famous historic sites of Tamsui: the "**North Gate Lock Battery (also known as Hobe Fort)**" and Aletheia University, before finally returning to his old home in Tamsui. The tree in the photo stands right by the road between the Tamsui riverbank and the North Gate Lock Battery. Its location is actually quite hidden — if you don't walk into the small path, you cannot discover its existence. And I have no special words to point out its exact position, such as "the first one," "the last one," "the largest," "right in the middle," or "relative to." This tree is so ordinary, yet so special. The same tree has been photographed by my lens I don't know how many times, but every time I pass by it still makes me unable to resist looking a few more times. Especially when the wind rises, the treetops sway along with it, carrying all the leaves dancing in the air, like the maidens of ancient times who danced to the rhythm before the emperor — so sprightly that they can always make viewers while away a good deal of time. This tree in Tamsui should rank within the top ten of my list of favorite trees.]]> Design Thinking The Clouds and Trees of Tamsui Are Always So Beautiful | Visual Record https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/taiwan-police-peace-logo-design/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/taiwan-police-peace-logo-design/ Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:37:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China states that the police badge has a total of three design elements: the dove of peace, the national emblem, and the laurel. While designing a new trademark for a client, the author unexpectedly discovered that an image could actually be so amusing! The original image came from the identification mark of the Republic of China police force, whose theme is a dove of peace soaring with spread wings — which is why some people also call the police "doves." But it was precisely this dove that had us laughing hysterically late into the night. According to the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China, the police badge has a total of three design elements, and we can understand their meanings from the explanations below: - Dove of peace: symbolizes that police officers, in accordance with their duty, fight crime and uphold social justice, so that the nation and society, like the dove's nature, are all peaceful. (Addendum: Britain uses a lion, the United States an eagle — the dove feels plump and a bit weak.) - National emblem: the dove of peace bears the national emblem atop its head, symbolizing that police officers carry out law enforcement based on the authority granted by national law. - Laurel: the dove of peace is surrounded by a laurel (shaped like rice ears), symbolizing that police work, like the reverence ancient Greek law showed to those who made great contributions to the state, carries the meaning of the highest honor and praise conferred. Originally we were only looking for the police identification logo (Logo) seen everywhere on the island of Taiwan in order to design a new trademark for a client, intending to study their badge design carefully as a reference. But after pasting the image into the drawing software, we unexpectedly discovered that this dove, which has long **guarded the lives and safety of the people**, instantly transformed into a super-meme-worthy **roast squab**! The original position of the eye became a big X symbol, which had us laughing for a long time. The author strongly suspects that whoever designed the police badge back then must also have been staying up late, hungry, while completing the design. Republic of China Police Badge Design Note: The above content is unrelated to any actual persons or events. Any resemblance in design concept is purely coincidental.]]> Design Thinking The Secret and Strange Tale of the Republic of China Police Badge Design (Dove, National Emblem, and Laurel) https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/2013-swpa-sony-world-photography-award/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/2013-swpa-sony-world-photography-award/ Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:11:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The annual photography event, the Sony World Photography Award (SWPA), is now open for entries until January 4, 2013 (the professional competition until January 9). The categories open to amateurs or professionals include the amateur "Open," "Youth Award," and "3D Award," as well as the "Professional Competition." The annual photography event, the Sony World Photography Award (SWPA), is now open for entries until January 4, 2013 (the professional competition until January 9). The categories open to amateurs or professionals include the amateur "Open," "Youth Award," and "3D Award," as well as the "Professional Competition." The Open is suited to amateurs and photography enthusiasts, the Youth Award to entrants under 19, the 3D Award to entrants using true 3D technology in photography and video, and the Professional Competition to senior photographers who are working to build professional recognition or who are already renowned in the industry. Sony says that the Sony World Photography Award, sponsored by Sony, can be described as a benchmark for excellent imagery and the Oscars of the photography world. Some people, having been shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Award, were inspired with the motivation to keep traveling everywhere in pursuit of their photography dreams; some had their work gain international attention through these awards and be published in many of the world's most important photography magazines; and some were even discovered by the world's best photography companies and photographers. All competition works will be judged anonymously by the most prestigious photography experts from around the world in the World Photographic Academy. Finalists will be announced in February 2013, and the awards ceremony will be held in London in April. Winners can receive up to US$25,000 in prize money and prizes such as Sony's latest digital imaging equipment. Shortlisted works will be exhibited from April to May at London's most magnificent Somerset House, and the World Photography Organization (WPO) will also publish the winning works on its official website, in international exhibitions, and in the Sony World Photography Awards collection. Those planning to enter the competition must first register as a member of the World Photography Organization (WPO). Free participants may submit only 3 works; there are also plans such as Advanced membership (€14.95/year) for submitting 8 works and Premium membership (€49.95/year) for 20 works. Although the euro has been plummeting in value recently, I believe it is a good time to join as a member while you're at it (laughs)—though everyone's wallets have shrunk considerably lately, so I imagine you'll still think it over a bit.]]> Design Thinking SONY World Photography Awards Open for Global Entries (2013 Edition) https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/2012-swpa-sony-world-photography-award/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/2012-swpa-sony-world-photography-award/ Sun, 01 Jul 2012 09:30:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO In the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards open competition, the judges selected gold-medal-winning photos from as many as 110,000 entries from 171 countries, across categories including "Architecture," "Arts and Culture," "Enhanced," "Split Second," "Low Light," "Nature & Wildlife," "Panoramic," "People," "Smile," and "Travel." In the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards open competition, the judges selected gold-medal-winning photos from as many as 110,000 entries from 171 countries, across categories including "Architecture," "Arts and Culture," "Enhanced," "Split Second," "Low Light," "Nature & Wildlife," "Panoramic," "People," "Smile," and "Travel." Next, let's all enjoy these wonderful photos together. ## Overall Winner & High-Speed Category: Dancing Queen Photographer Tobias Brauning, Germany. ## Architecture Category: San Francisco Photographer Filippo Di Rosa, Italy. ## Arts and Culture Category: indifest Photographer Sanket Khuntale, India. ## Enhanced Category: Thanh Photographer Victor Vargas Villafuerte, Mexico. ## Low Light Category: Symphony of Fire Photographer Natalia Belentsova, Russia. ## Nature & Wildlife Category: upupa Photographer Giovanni Frescura, Italy. ## Panoramic Category: Carolina Morning Photographer Denise Worden, USA. ## People Category: in between Photographer Ana Gregorič, Slovenia. ## Smile Category: Marriage Photographer Piotr Stasiuk, Poland. ## Travel Category: Spring Time Photographer Krzysztof Browko, Poland. Source: [Worldphoto](http://worldphoto.org/).]]> Design Thinking Appreciating the Top 10 Winning Works of the SONY World Photography Awards (2012) https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/paramount-pictures-celebrating-100-years/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/paramount-pictures-celebrating-100-years/ Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:06:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO The famous American film company Paramount Pictures is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. After previously releasing a limited-edition poster, this time it gathered as many as 116 stars and directors spanning multiple generations to shoot a "super group photo" together! The famous American film company Paramount Pictures is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. After previously releasing a limited-edition poster, this time it gathered as many as 116 stars and directors spanning multiple generations to shoot a "super group photo" together! In this star-studded group photo, many faces are still fairly unfamiliar to me, but why is Robin McLaurim Williams not there! (Mysterious voice: could it be because Robin never made a film for their company?).  paramount 116 Stars Photo Then again, when I saw where Robert Downey Jr. and George Timothy Clooney were standing, it did not feel strange at all (huh). ## The Shoot of the Hollywood Stars and Directors Group Photo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW-X__R2QNY]]> Design Thinking Star-Studded! Paramount Pictures' 100th Anniversary Group Photo of 116 Hollywood Stars and Directors https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/lccnet-and-104-new-advertisement/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/lccnet-and-104-new-advertisement/ Mon, 28 May 2012 16:25:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO LCCNET recently partnered with the online job platform 104 on a project, and has been heavily advertising on TV. In the commercial the agency designed a new slogan that says: "One out of every two people successfully finds employment." LCCNET, a domestic company specializing in computer education and training, recently partnered with the online job platform 104 on a project and has been heavily advertising on TV. In the commercial the agency designed a new slogan that says: "One out of every two people successfully finds employment." Oh my! I really want to know which advertising agency their project manager hired to design the case, because they actually presented the data in such a blatant way. Whether this figure is a real statistic or merely an infinitely close approximation, the commercial has indeed strictly defined our impression as viewers: "one half." Defining the data itself is actually a very frightening act.  "One half" — besides the subconscious fear we've had since our student days (laughs) — also means that out of every 1,000 students who study at LCCNET, as many as 500 end up unemployed and unable to find work!? "One half" also means that 50% of the people who paid tuition never achieved the expected results. And if this project also receives government subsidies, it means half of us taxpayers' hard-earned money produced no real benefit. By the end, I still really want to know: which advertising company did LCCNET and 104 actually hire to handle this case?]]> Design Thinking Case Analysis of the New LCCNET and 104 TV Commercial https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-sunny-girl/ https://www.vedfolnir.com/en/photography-sunny-girl/ Sun, 06 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT J. LIN STUDIO Today's sunset was beautiful, big and red, like the yolk of a large goose egg; but this was not yet the best sunset, because the clouds and mist over the sea destined that the moment the sun sank below the horizon, we who waited would have no chance to see it. Today's sunset was beautiful, big and red, like the yolk of a large goose egg; but this was not yet the best sunset, because the clouds and mist over the sea destined that the moment the sun sank below the horizon, we who waited would have no chance to see it. Fortunately the author still managed to capture this sunny girl. From spotting the girl and the sunlight to pulling out the point-and-shoot camera to shoot, only about ten seconds passed, and then the camera was quickly stuffed back into the pocket — this must be the instinct of a candid street photographer. It is just a pity that the girl in the image is a little hunched, so the candid shot is not very good (what a pushy fellow). As the time drew closer to evening, scenes like the one below could be seen everywhere along the Tamsui riverbank — everyone concentrating as they raised their cameras to shoot their ideal sunset photo, not minding in the least even if someone was taking candid shots. Probably only a few like me would shoot with their backs to the sunset.  The crowd awaiting the Tamsui sunset]]> Design Thinking Meeting a Sunny Girl by the Tamsui Riverbank / Street Photography