Solarization in GIMP - Howto
Introduction
GIMP Ver 2.6 as a standard build lacks a solarization filter, putting a lot of people off in the process. However, it is easily installable as an extra from the Ubuntu repositories along with a shed load of other cool filters and work scripts.
To find more about Solarization visit the site below.
Wikipedia Solarization
Installation of plugin for GIMP
If you haven't installed gimp already proceed to do so with the following command.
#> sudo apt-get install gimp
Then install the GIMP-plugin-registry using the command bellow.
#> sudo apt-get install gimp-plugin-registry
How to use Solarization plugin for GIMP
You have several methods open to you but in essence you can launch your colour picture directly into GIMP from the file manager or open GIMP first and open the colour picture into GIMP using the File menu.
Below is a genuine image taken at Neumayer III Station in Antarctica using an online webcam, this image is not faked and has not been altered in any way. The image appears to show a object in front of the Sun, a planet perhaps. As a rule the planets Venus and Mercury are minute compared to the Sun, and whilst they do revolve around the Sun like we do, as far as I know they do not show themselves to be visible so prominently. I do know this object, if it is an object, was visible on two different cameras at this Antarctic Station, these images, of which I have plenty, were taken on the 19th October 2011. There is a possibility that this image was the result of camera overload at a specific spot on the CCD (Charged Coupled Device), this might mean the cameras used are more sensitive than standard cams. A lowlight camera for example.
Solarization of this picture may throw some light on what is going on, or at least that was my thinking, so I was looking to GIMP to accomplish this. I have to admit I had come across this tool by accident, I looked every where for a plugin and how to install it, now blow me sideways but it was in the Ubuntu repository all this time.
With the photo opened in the GIMP application select FX-Foundry from the menu which should be between Filters and Script-Fu menu options. Now select the Color option and you will have a number of Solarization options to choose from.
As and when I receive or observe an anomaly I will add all the images I obtain, from all three cameras at the Neumayer Station in Antarctica for the 19th October 2011 when appopriate. If you have images from other days drop me a line
derek@soslug.org, perhaps we can post these with the rest. The images depict a scene that if confirmed to be true could change the way we think about our solar system, it is not a cause for concern, resentment or fear. I do not myself know what these images depict, it could be as simple as camera image corruption or other malfunction. There are, as far as I am aware, no eye witness accounts that this image has been seen without a camera, but everything about this image is strange. Download and look at the images posted if you wish and draw your own conclusions.
For the images that depict the station itself you will notice something developing on the right between the Sun and the Station that appears to be a square or triangular shaped sun, rest-assured this is a known phenomena called a Sundog. It is a result of the light from the Sun refracting through ice crystals in the atmosphere which to capture on an image is quite remarkable, to capture consistently is astonishing. This particular explanation is further reinforced with the visible sighting of what appears to be an inverted rainbow on the image.
For more information about Sundogs click here:-
Wikipedia Sundogs
You can obtain your own images from Neumayer Station in Antarctica by visiting the following site for the latest movie webcams:
Neumayer Webcams
My own thoughts on the images posted are that I find it strange that if such an object exists it does not cast a shadow on the ground, of course there maybe good reason why no shadow is cast. I also find it rather odd that people cannot see this object. In some of the images there appears to be what I can only describe as a flare on the ground. In some of the "Neumayer Station P" images a bright white spot is visible which might be "lens flare", however it consistently moves counter to the direction of the sun, so yes lens flare possibly however, can a malfunction of the camera such as overload of the camera's sensor cause that lens flare to appear and move along the ground relative to and opposite the direction of the Sun's travel?
You may wonder why we seem to post camera images from one of the views or why all the images from the camera are not included. The reason is one of time, size and necessity, to collect all the images from the stations 3 cameras is impractical and time consuming and the generated zip files can be in excess of 8Mb each day for each camera. For this reason only the images that depict some variance from the norm is harvested and placed as an attachment to this article, so if an artefact was to be seen in all 3 cameras all the images that show this artefact would be collected and posted if only one camera displays then only one cameras will be posted.
However given the length of time this artefact (if that is the right word) has been visible no mater how odd it may seem, it is more than likely it is due to the camera's itself which is the cause - a planet would I'd have thought show some sign of movement either toward us, away from us or around the Sun.
Neumayer Station III Webcams
Neumayer Station III Webcam North
Neumayer Station III Webcam South
Acoustic observatory (PALAOA) Webcam
If you have an interest in any of these type images checkout the most recent images from Neumayer Station typically the "30-11-11_nemayerstation_andT.zip" which has some truly spectacular images including Sundogs.
