Over the last few years I have featured many of gigapixel images captured and processed by Ronnie Miranda of Active Computer Services — from a panoramic view of Vancouver at dusk to a timelapse and even a billion pixel image of the first BC Lions game at BC Place last year.
These images can be taken by anyone with a digital SLR camera and the GigaPan EPIC instrument that Ronnie’s company (based locally) has developed. John Biehler even got his hands on one and captured amazing photos of downtown from North Vancouver and the PoCo Trail.
Photo credit: John Biehler
Last year Ronnie used GigaTag for tagging the Game 7 crowd on Georgia street and also the Whitecaps first MLS game at Empire. GigaTag is now being used by SI (Sports Illustrated) for the Olympics.
Existing platforms like GigaTag are Flash-based and each one has its own limitations. Therefore, these don’t work on the iPad and Flash will no longer be supported on Android devices beyond Android 4.0.x. However today, GPXtag was launched. It’s the new social media tagging platform for gigapixel images.
GPXtag has all the features of all existing tagging platforms combined… and more:
- Exclusive: FIRST and ONLY non-Flash gigapixel image tagging platform that works on iPad and Android devices
- Reach a wider audience by also engaging the growing market of tablet users with interactive gigapixel images
- Fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter
- Find friends, tag and share on Facebook and Twitter
- Exclusive: Include a comment or description in the tag
- Exclusive: Search for tags or tagged friends in the gigapixel photo
- Filter tags and display only your tags and your friends tags
- Capture a snapshot, then post to Facebook and Twitter or send via email
- Post or share a URL with the exact coordinates of your current view to Facebook, Twitter or via email
- Clean, simple, intuitive, elegant and fun interface
- Branding, customizable themes, skins, logos
- Optional bar for corporate sponsors, advertisements or announcements
- Statistics and reporting
- Exclusive: Use for science, education and research purposes. For example, as a medium of instruction where students can identify parts in a photo such as identifying and labeling parts of a plant.
To celebrate the launch of this new technology, developed in BC, Ronnie has offered up a prize pack for one lucky reader. This includes a GigaPan EPIC Pro (value $895) and a GigaPan Backpack ($119).
It does not include a camera but will compliment almost any digital SLR camera setup you have already. Ronnie has made this contest international as well so anyone can enter and he’ll ship the prize anywhere in the world.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming what you would capture with the GigaPan system (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow Active Computer Services on Twitter, GPXTag on Twitter, and GPXTag on Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 10:00am.
Update The winner is Stefan!
Sweet summer berries may be ripe for the picking but a bold bulb is also ready to be harvested. Grab some garlic scapes, garlic pesto, garlic powders, garlic sauces, garlic blends, and more fresh from the farm at two garlic festivals happening around the region this month.
Edible Vancouver Garlic Festival at Limbert Mountain Farm
Stop by Limbert Mountain Farm (5493 Limbert Rd in Agassiz) on Saturday, August 18th from 10:00am until 5:00pm. The free festival will celebrate everything garlic “whether you’re interested in growing, cooking with or just eating this amazing plant”. Bring cash for purchases. Limbert Mountain Farm is just one of many stops on the self-guided Circle Farm Tour in case you’re up for exploring for the day.
Garlic Festival at The Sharing Farm
The Sharing Farm celebrates its 4th annual garlic festival on August 19th from 10:00am until 3:00pm. This event is also free to attend and will feature organically-grown artisan garlic and garlic products — even garlic ice cream from Casa Gelato. There will be entertainment, a seedling sale, and cooking demonstrations by The Chefs’ Table Society of BC. The festival will be located just down the road from the farm at Terra Nova Rural Park, 2631 Westminster Highway, in Richmond.
You can find Limbert Mountain Farm on Facebook and Sharing Farm on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The BC Travel Tuesday series has returned this summer as I partner up once again with Backyard BC to highlight properties and destinations around the province. We’re now half way through our six week campaign with six different getaway packages for BC hotels.
Featuring a variety of hotels and resorts located throughout the province, Backyard BC provides residents of British Columbia with free access to exclusive discounts on accommodation. If you live and travel in BC, we’ll make sure you pay less than the lowest rates available to anyone else. Travel local. Save big. Visit Backyard BC online, on Twitter, or Facebook and see more of BC!
The winner of the second giveaway of the 2012 BC Travel Tuesday campaign is Linda! If you haven’t already, you can still enter to win the grand prize which includes stays at every property we’re showcasing over the full six weeks.
The third getaway of this summer series takes us up the Sea to Sky to the picturesque community of Whistler Creekside:
Evolution Whistler Creekside
Website, Twitter, Facebook, Backyard BC listing
Location: 2020 London Lane, Whistler, BC
About: Evolution is uniquely designed and furnished to give you the best of both worlds. Tastefully balancing comfort and style, sophisticated Whistler Creekside Hotel accommodations offers open floor plans that create versatile living spaces perfect for both relaxing with family and entertaining your friends. Evolution is consistently ranked in the top 10 hotels to stay in Whistler on TripAdvisor.
Prize: 2 nights accommodation, complimentary parking and a $50 gift certificate to the Creekside Market.
Value: $650
I love Whistler in the summer as much as winter with options like the TreeTrek tour, ziplining, hiking, the Peak2Peak gondola, farmers markets, and outdoor dining. You can also learn to stand up paddle-board on a nearby lake like I did earlier this season.
To enter to win the weekly contest:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Contest is Now Closed
Weekly winners will be announced every Tuesday on the latest BC Travel Tuesday contest post until the six weeks are up. Gift certificates for hotel and resort stays will be sent directly to each weekly winner so they can arrange their visit personally with the property. Some restrictions apply, based on availability.
View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC. Backyard BC’s grand prize draw for stays at all 6 properties will take place September 4, 2012.
Last week Beerthirst, an independent agent of craft beer, hosted a pairing dinner at Ensemble Tap in downtown Vancouver. A fan of a good beer pairing dinner, John and I signed up for the event that featured four courses with four American IPAs.
I had been to Ensemble Tap before for events but never to dine so I was looking forward to Chef Bradley Hendrickson’s creations. Before each course, the Beerthirst team would introduce the beer and Chef Brad would follow up by explaining his dish and why it is a good fit for the brew.
IPAs (India Pale Ales) branch off of pale ales and are typically packed with more hops — along with a higher alcohol content. The first one poured at the dinner was the Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA, which John and I had sampled at Elysian Brewing in Seattle during one of our recent trips. Floral notes dance around your tongue and soften with a hint of citrus. Chef Brad’s pairing was a dungeness crab salad with canteloupe, zucchini, lime, and jasmine cream. Fragrant, light, and crisp from both the glass and the plate.
The second beer was Green Flash Brewing Company‘s Le Freak. Malt and yeast playing a bigger role, it was paired with Chef Brad’s roasted potato gnocchi with smoked pork belly, mushrooms, and tomato concasse. The pairing was spot-on with the earthy tones of the potato gnocchi and mushrooms playing perfectly with the full bodied brew.
Bear Republic‘s Racer 5 was paired with the main course. Smooth, mellow, with hints of grapefruit and caramel. It was paired with Fraser Valley braised pork cheeks, crispy tofu, ginger confit, pork-dashi broth, and green onion. This was a million miles away from a typical “burger and beer” combination. I love broths and combinations of meat and tofu. The ginger played with the grapefruit notes in the beer, and the tender pork melted in your mouth.
Last but not least, the Alameda Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA led us into dessert. In case you’re wondering, beer does in fact pair with dessert. If you don’t believe me, a Howe Sound King Heffy and a slice of banana cream pie will change your mind. A simple lemon mousse with fresh raspberries and candied zest on a lemon Szechuan pepper cake rounded out the meal. The lemon was pucker-worthy but was instantly subdued the Yellow Wolf.
Following the meal there was a raffle prize draw with t-shirts, coasters, and big gift bags handed out to attendees. Tickets for the event were $50 — for the full four course, four pairing experience. The Beerthirst crew hosts dinners quite often with the next one (Craft Beer Patio Party at Fogg N’ Suds) coming up August 11, 2012. Follow them on Twitter for more information.
Beerthirst has a list of places that carry “Beerthirst” brands such as these and you can find all of the beers from the dinner at Ensemble Tap and many other restaurants and pubs. There is also a variety of craft beer available at Brewery Creek Liquor Store, Legacy Liquor Store, and Viti Wine and Lager.
Visa is currently sponsoring a handful of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls (and some who have become champions already) as they have done for the last 26 years. They have partnered with me to showcase members of their team like Brent Hayden of Mission and to do a giveaway this week. The next Team VISA athlete that I am proud to feature is Emilie Heymans. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
