Canon’s Iris Registration Mode - Biological Copyright Metadata

rohanrrao@gmail.com (Rohan Rao) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:36:00 +0000

A recent Canon patent application (Pub. No.: US 2008/0025574 A1) reveals the next step in digital watermarking - Iris Registration.

Many photographers go to great lengths to protect their images. Past attempted solutions include watermarks on the front of images. More recently, in the digital age of photography, watermarking in Photoshop or other image editing software is prevalent. While visible watermarks are common among a variety of photographers, invisible watermarks (”electronic or digital watermarks“), which are embedded in the image file, are somewhat less prevalent - but gaining ground and acceptance among photographers.

Canon is using Iris watermarking to take photographer’s copyright protection to the next level. It aims to provide an imaging apparatus that makes it possible to protect the copyright of photographic images by reliably acquiring biological information of a photographer for the purpose of personal authentication and writing this photographer information to the image of a subject without affecting processing, and in a manner transparent to operation, at the time of photography.

To set up the digital watermarking, turn the Mode dial to “REG” and choose between “REG 1 through “REG 5 (for up to 5 registered users). Put eye to viewfinder and look at display of center distance measurement point. Then pressing the shutter button will capture the iris image and record it as a biological identity of the photographer.

The Reg number is made to correspond to registered content in such a manner that each photographer can register his/her iris information. The iris information of the photographer is registered in association with the registration number selected. A photographer can store iris information for any desired one of five registration numbers.

Additional embedded info can be added later. All metadata will be added to images after you’re finished shooting in a collective manner and not for each image. The purpose of the collective tagging, if you will, is to refrain from hampering the camera’s speed (frames per second) while shooting.

The photographic image (data) that has been recorded in the flash memory is stored temporarily, and the personal data that has also been read is combined with or attached to the photographic image to thereby be written to the photographic image. With a camera of this kind, the photographer can take an image while observing the display on the liquid crystal panel without looking into viewfinder.

Miscellaneous shots

noreply@blogger.com (Aarty) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:07:00 +0000

Fort Raigad

rohanrrao@gmail.com (Rohan Rao) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:31:00 +0000

Shivaji renovated and expanded the Fortress of Rairi and renamed it Raigad (the King's Fort), the name he gave it when he selected it for his capital when he was in the process of assuming the royal character.

Fort Raigad with Takmak Tok as seen from Pachad village

The fort of Raigad bears testimony to the glorious past of the Maratha empire in the times of the Great Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj's rein. It was here on fort Raigad, back in 1674 that Chattrapati Shivaji was coronated as the King of Maratha regime. Raigad has witnessed many historic events and it was here in 1680 when Shivaji Maharaj met with an untimely death.

Tak Mak Tok as seen from Pachad village

It has been described by European historians as 'The Gibralter of East'. Various landmarks and historical events that the fort is adorned with have lent it the credentials of being conferred with the title of 'Shivteerth'.

The fort, which rises 820 m (2700 ft) above sea level and there are approximately 1400–1450 steps leading to the fort, though today a rope-way exists to reach the top of the fort from the base village of Pachad.

Maha Darwaja of fort Raigad

At the foothills near village Pachad, is Chit Darwaja, also known as Jit Darwaja. From here ahead lies the Khoob Ladha Buruj. Nearly a mile ahead, comes the Maha Darwaja. Built over 350 years ago, this main entrance to the Fort stands majestically. It is as imposing and stout today, as it was then! The design of this Maha Darwaja is an enigma. It defies detection of its location to the attacker. Blind curves enroute make it impossible for the attacker to use elephants to knock it down. In the battle of those historic times, elephants were used to demolish fort entrances.

A villager woman from Hirkaniwadi atop Raigad

Remains of Rajwada Balekilla of the fort Raigad

Mena Darwaja: Steps on the way from Balekilla to MTDC resort

The Ropeway lands you at the top of the fort near Mena Darwaja. This was the special entrance for the royal ladies and the queens. To the left of Mena Darwaja is the Rani Vasa or "Queens' Chambers". They are six in number and were being used by the mother of Shiv Chhatrapati - Jeeja Mata, Soyarabai, Putalabai and other royal ladies.

In front of the Rani Vasa is the Palkhi Darwaja. A special entrance for the convoy of Shivaji Maharaj. To the right of Palkhi Darwaja, there is a row of three dark chambers. Historians believe that these were the granaries for the fort.

Steps leading to Mena Darwaja

On the right side of Mena Darwaja, is the office complex of 8 principal secretaries of Shivaji Maharaj.

A villager woman from Hirkaniwadi atop Raigad

These villagers climb up all the way on a daily basis to sell milk and milk products for their daily bread. Sometimes though they can be really persistent with their requests to buy one.

Fortifications atop Balekilla

To the right of the granaries is the palace of Shivaji Maharaj. It is called the Raj Bhavan, where Shivaji Maharaj dispensed justice in petty and routine matters. To the east of Raj Bhavan is in an open space, there is an underground cellar. he Raj Bhavan is a mute witness to the joys, sorrows, anger, victories and overwhelming generosity of Shiv Chhatrapati.

The office complex of 8 principal secretaries of Shivaji Maharaj

Jagdishwar temple seen from Balekilla

Gangasagar tank

This is the only source of potable water on the fort and provides sufficient supply all round the year to the villages and MTDC resort atop Raigad.

Dilapidated ruins of Balekilla

Ruins of the three towers in front of the main palace

Ruins of three watch towers can be seen directly in front of the palace grounds overlooking the Gangasagar lake created next to the fort.

Nagarkhana atop Raigad

The king's public Durbar has a replica of the original throne that faces the main doorway called the Nagarkhana Darwaja. This enclosure had been acoustically designed to aid hearing from the doorway to the throne.The Nagarkhana Darwaja is in good condition and leads to the throne of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Notice the person at the arch way: He is performing drum beats at the Nagarkhana entrance

Entry for common public to Raj Sabha was through the Nagarkhana. In those times, the royal band played here round the clock. It is an excellent example of architecture and miraculous acoustics. The distance between 'Nagarkhana and the Royal Throne is more than 200 feet, yet even the slightest whisper can be heard from both ends very clearly.

Holi Cha Mal, is outside the Nagarkhana. It is a wide open ground, used for annual Holi festival. There is a temple of Shirkai Bhavani, a presiding deity of the Fort. In front of Holi Cha Mal, there is a spacious and well laid-out marketplace.

Bazar Peth (market place)

Notice that the Bazar Peth is at a higher level from the ground. This is due to the fact most of the people used to be horse mounted and the ground clearance helped the cause. The two rows of the market place is separated by a 40 feet wide road leading to the Jadishwar temple.

Throne of Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji Maharaj's Samadhi

Adjacent to Jagdishwar temple, is the most revered place on Fort Raigad, the Samadhi of Shiv Chhatrapati.

The Samadhi is intact and well-maintained, even today, due to the personal initiative of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Samadhi of Waghya

There are statements that notify that the dog 'Waghya' was Shivaji Maharaj's faithful and his Samadhi is build adjacent to the Chattrapati's Samadhi.

This Smadhi has a indistinct historical tracing and many believe that this dog does not belong to the Shivaji era and later was interspersed in the pages of history

Jagdishwar temple

Shivaji Maharaj's statue

Silhouettes

View from behind Daru Kothar

Fort Kokandiva seen from Tak Mak Tok

View from behind Daru Kothar

Daru Kothar

Leading to Takmak Tok

Tak Mak Tok

Fortifications as seen from Tak Mak Tok

Pinnacle of Lingana as seen from Tak Mak Tok

Tak Mak Tok from the steps leading to Pachad

Canons near the Maha Darwaja

Silhouette at Maha Darwaja with Kokandiva in background

Fort walls at the Maha Darwaja enclosure

Tak Mak Tok

Fortifications at Maha Darwaja

Fort Raigad and Tak Mak Tok as seen from Pachad village

Tak Mak Tok as seen from Pachad village

The prisoners who were found guilty were thrown to death from this point, i.e. Tak Mak Tok in those days depending on the nature and seriousness of the offense.

Text info courtesy: Raigad Ropeway

Photography Central

Canon’s Iris Registration Mode - Biological Copyright Metadata

Miscellaneous shots

Fort Raigad