I’ve been doing some research on an old sculpture that used to be in Meridian Hill Park that will be featured in an upcoming posting. In preparation, I decided to make a quilt projection map of the park using the newest available imagery. Unlike the previous three, which were some of the first to use my recursive tessellation technique, the newer imagery captures less of the area surrounding the park and more detail of the park itself. This is simply due to the fact that the newer imagery has a high spatial resolution than the older imagery, which correlates to more detail, but less geographic coverage. Since the aerial photography was taken in the early spring, the fountains were still in their winter slumber and I imagine that if it were taken in the summer the coloration would be vastly different.
When constructing this map, I used my new technique hypothesized in May and first rendered a hexagon tile and then took a portion of that tessellation and used it here. The result, which I am seeing for the first time, is that you can see the hexagon shape around the center of this square quilt projection map quite easily. From my understanding, depending on the location of the recursive sampling within the first map, I’ll be able to see it’s respective geometry embedded in the second map. However, I think it’s nearly impossible to fully gage the geometry of the original map after two recursions because each subsequent sampling makes it more difficult to see the geometry present in the previous map.
View the Google Map of Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC.
View the rest of the map’s close-up details:
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6/25/2008 || 7:50 pm
New York Public Library Quilt
This fractal octagon quilt projection map was recursively rendered four times before the final result above. It took approximately two hours for each rendering to complete and then each tessellation was sampled while maintaining the source spatial integrity. Altogether this map took about 12 hours of rendering time and post-processing time to complete. I intend on printing this out for the upcoming lecture.
View the Google Map of Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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Posted One Year Ago: A New And Accurate Map of the World by John Speed [2007 Remix]
6/10/2008 || 6:17 pm
Madison Square Garden Quilt
Using my new procedure, I pre-rendered 2 tiles to create this third derivative map of Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan. It looks very similar to Hirshhorn Quilt (they are both circular buildings) but they are composed of aerial photographs taken at different spatial scales. The NYC imagery has been downsampled to 2ft per pixel compared to DC’s imagery which is at 6 inches per pixel or a difference of about 16 times less detail (I think). Up next will probably be the New York Public Library, which was actually in the first tessellation, but dropped from the second.
View the Google Map of Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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5/23/2008 || 10:43 am
A New & Arabesque Map of the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
:: saved at 6,480 x 5,040 ::
To celebrate the new procedure I decided to get around to editing the Library of Congress‘ copy of Willem Janszoon Blaeu’s Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula, which was published in Amsterdam in 1606. I removed the original map from the center and kept the decorative border similar to Nova et Accvratissima Totivs Terrarvm Orbis Tabvla, A New Map of the Terraqueous Globe : according to the the Ancient discoveries and most general Divisions of Geospatial Art, America as a Cloverleaf, and A New And Accurate Map of the World by John Speed. However, unlike the previous antique map mash-ups, which usually feature the earth laid out in two hemispheres, this map uses a rectangular space (Mercator?). The beauty of this open layout is that I can place any of my previously made maps inside of this 402-year-old template.
A common naming practice I’ve noticed in old map is the use of “New & Accurate” and since I like to play around with words, I changed Accurate to Arabesque to create a visual pun. The source map was about 6,500 pixels wide, I underlaid a rotated 9,000 x 6,000 copy of Hirshhorn Quilt to fit perfectly in the center of the new map. I think it would be fun to actually hand-color the engravings on this map to match other copies of this map which have the various figures colored in. The LOC’s copy is uncolored which means that its actually easier to add color to it than if it were already colored because pigment matching is not needed.
Below I dissect the border of the map:
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Posted One Year Ago: LOLMaps - Submit
5/21/2008 || 10:22 am
Hirshhorn Quilt
Following up on my new procedural idea from last week, I made this derivative map without publishing the intermediate maps. The unseen steps involve the rendering of a pre-Hirshhorn Quilt, sampling a portion of that quilt, and projecting the imagery again to create the map above. The result, as with all derivative maps, is a more symmetrical, arabesque map. This technique will be used again.
View the Google Map of the Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall in Ward 2 of Washington, DC.
View the rest of the details:
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5/14/2008 || 6:12 pm
Swampoodle Quilt #3
Using this portion of Swampoodle Quilt #2, I constructed this derivative Diamond Quilt Projection map of the area around the 2008 Art-O-Matic venue in the Swampoodle neighborhood in Washington, DC.
After making this map I conceived an alternative procedural route to constructing future derivative maps. Those of you that have read this blog for awhile know that I do sequential maps, where you can literally see the visual process of what part of the previous map was used to construct the next map. However, this recursive process shows all the intermediate maps, when sometimes I just want to get to the final map. So the idea is to make smaller maps, like 12,000 x 12,000 (square not 3:2) and sample these maps first and not publish the intermediate maps. For example, I make a map of a new location and after processing that map, I sample it and render another map, sample that map, and render that map as the final map of the geography. The difference here is that I would not publish the intermediate maps as [City] Quilt #2, #3, etc. but just the final map. I’m going to try that next.
View the Google Map of the Swampoodle neighborhood in Ward 6 of Washington, DC.
View the rest of the details:
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Posted One Year Ago: Quadrant Map of DC - Translated into Latin - "Novus Columbus Quadrans"
5/13/2008 || 4:43 pm
Swampoodle Quilt #2
Using this portion of Swampoodle Quilt, I constructed this derivative Dodecagon Quilt Projection map of the area around the 2008 Art-O-Matic venue in the Swampoodle neighborhood in Washington, DC. Up next is second derivative map that samples a portion of this map.
View the Google Map of the Swampoodle neighborhood in Ward 6 of Washington, DC.
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Posted One Year Ago: enriching results
4/25/2008 || 8:26 am
North End Quilt #2
Using this portion of North End Quilt, I constructed this derivative Hexagon Quilt Projection map of the area around North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.
After rendering the map, while I was processing it for on-line publication on this website, I noticed that the source tessellation was off by one pixel and subsequently, this map has a slight defect to it. This is not the first time this has happened, but it makes me disappointed because the map is not perfect like the rest.
View the Google Map of North End neighborhood in Boston.
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Posted One Year Ago: Vermont Avenue Sprocket
4/18/2008 || 1:29 pm
Boston Common Quilt #2
Using this portion of yesterday’s map, I constructed this derivative Diamond Quilt Projection map of the area around Boston Common and the Massachusetts State House.
View the Google Map of Boston Common in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Posted One Year Ago: Roll Call's Photo of the Week features the DC Colonist
4/6/2008 || 11:48 am
Saint Louis Quilt #5
This map of downtown Saint Louis, Missouri is the first to use imagery from 2006. I have now made maps of downtown Saint Louis that show the downtown area at three specific periods in time in the last 6 years. In the near future, I might made a montage of how the geography has changed using familiar portions of these maps. It think it would look very interesting. As I mentioned before, I like the way that I’ve been able to capture the Busch Stadium’s progression over time.
View the Google Map of downtown Saint Louis, Missouri.
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Posted One Year Ago: taking a few days off...
3/28/2008 || 3:46 pm
Vassar Quilt Refraction
Using this portion of Vassar Quilt #2, I made this derivative map of Vassar College using added elements from the Lenz projection. The optics create a very unique sense of depth at the center of the map. I also added four other optical elements that create a fluvial design, almost appearing to flow toward the center.
View the Google Map of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
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Posted One Year Ago: Comparative Meta-Data of the USGS Orthoimagery of Washington, DC - 2002 / 2005
3/9/2008 || 9:10 pm
Scott Circle Quilt #2
Read more about Scott Circle in my previous entry
View the Google Map of Scott Circle in downtown Washington, DC.
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3/6/2008 || 12:16 pm
Federal Triangle Refraction
Lately I’ve been revisiting some of the elements from the Lenz Projection– specifically in the Charlotte Spheres, Pentagon Spheres, Grand Design Lenz Quilt, and Rochester Quilt #2. Today I decided to experiment a little more with aerial refraction. Using the 3rd derivative tessellation, originally used in Federal Triangle Quilt #4, I this created a visually engaging map. I like how the bars look very similar to my polar coordinate experiments. Specifically, I like the way that they imagery is curved and refracted. What I don’t like, however, is the way the shadows present themselves within the refraction. Since like bars are angled toward the viewer, they create a darker hue due to their internal shadows. The way around this is to decrease the angle of the bars, but in response to this, the imagery bends less. I will probably revisit this type of map in the future.
View the Google Map of Federal Triangle in downtown Washington, DC.
View the rest of the details:
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Posted One Year Ago: The Lost Series
3/2/2008 || 11:43 am
Washington + Dupont Circle Quilt
I decided to switch things up a bit with today’s rendering. I have become very efficient with most of the processes used to create my maps, which both makes them standardized and sometimes a bit too similar to each other (while paradoxically being different geographies). This map and probably the next few maps are going to be slightly different.
In order to have the most recent maps of Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, and Washington Circle look similar to each other, I would take the first derivative tessellation and overlay it on top of the tessellation that I was constructing. By adjusting the transparency, I can overlay the circles directly on top of each other which makes the subsequent map look nearly identical.
Normally, I simply delete the original tessellation when I have the two lined up perfectly, however in today’s map I chose to not delete the other map. Instead, I adjusted the transparency of Dupont Circle to 51% to show both geographies at once. The result is something that I wasn’t expecting, but am quite pleased with the results. I can see myself using this process again. It’s like a double exposure…
View the Google Map of Washington Circle in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, DC.
View the Google Map of Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.
View the rest of the details:
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2/29/2008 || 11:46 am
Washington Circle Quilt #2
By using the exact same tessellation process, I was hoping that this derivative map would look similar to Dupont Circle Quilt 2005 #2 and Logan Circle Quilt #2. Alas, I must have not used the EXACT tessellation process because the circle looks slightly different, but I am still pleased with the result. I intend on making maps of the rest of the circles in Washington, DC.
View the Google Map of Washington Circle in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, DC.
View the rest of the details:
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2/24/2008 || 3:32 pm
87 & 280 Quilt #4
Using this portion of 87 & 280 Quilt #3, I constructed this derivative map of the California State Route 87 & interstate 280 interchange. This is the final map of the series. It reminds me of a braided highway!
View the Google Map of the interchange.
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Posted One Year Ago: Houston Mandala
2/18/2008 || 1:33 pm
87 & 280 Quilt #3
Using this portion of 87 & 280 Quilt #2, I constructed this derivative map of the California State Route 87 & interstate 280 interchange.
View the Google Map of the interchange.
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2/17/2008 || 4:41 pm
87 & 280 Quilt #2
Using this portion of 87 & 280 Quilt, I constructed this derivative map of the California State Route 87 & interstate 280 interchange. What is unique is that it’s a actually a Diamond Quilt Projection map, but it looks quite a bit like a Square Quilt Projection maps. The third derivative tessellation looks quite cool and I think the next map will be the best in the series.
View the Google Map of the interchange.
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2/3/2008 || 7:52 pm
Charlotte Spheres #2
Using a portion of Charlotte Spheres #1, I created this derivative map. I noticed that there was over-projection in some parts of the first map, so I under-projected this map to reduce further pixilation. The result is one of the most exquisite quilt projection maps yet! It has a nice assortment of aerial photography at multiple scales and the geometric designs of the original buildings standout quite nicely. I look forward to getting this printed eventually because it’s quite fun to look at.
Speaking of printing, I spent some of my hard-earned funds on a 60″ x 40″ canvas print of Federal Triangle Quilt #4. This is the largest printing I’ve ordered for myself. I joined Imagekind exactly one year ago and not once did I ever get around to purchasing one of my maps at it’s largest size and on the most expensive media. It’s not like I didn’t want to, but I just wasn’t sure which one to purchase. I have a $2,500 check arriving shortly from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities and I intend on purchasing quite a few more! Very excited.
One disappointment was how the canvas hangs using Poster Hangers. I hung it vertically and the sides of the canvas bend inward. I knew this was going to happen somewhat, but I was expecting so much bend– like a full two inches curving inward. Another interesting observation is how the texture of the canvas adds to the quilted nature of the projection technique. When it comes to quality and longevity of media, I think I’m going to do most of my future printing on canvas. It costs more, but I think it’s worth it.
Also arriving last week was Imagekind’s Sample Media Kit, which contains samples of all of the company’s media that my maps are printed on. It costs $15, but you get $15 off your next purchase, so it’s kind of worth it. My evaluation of the kit was rather simple: does it reflect too much light or does the paper/canvas tear? The winner, and what I printed Federal Triangle Quilt #4 and Israel / Palestine 1993 on, was the Epson Piezo Pro Matte Canvas.
View the Google Map of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.
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1/21/2008 || 10:40 pm
Federal Triangle Quilt #4
Using this portion of Federal Triangle Quilt #3, I created this derivative map. Unlike the other maps in this series, I decided to *not count* the total number of Freedom Plazas located with in the map. I place my guess at somewhere around 200…
View my previous entry about Federal Triangle.
View the Google Map of Federal Triangle in downtown Washington, DC.
This map is/was on display at Art-O-Matic 2008.
(printed on canvas at 60″ x 40″)
Alfonso & Farrah @ my Art-O-Matic exhibit space
Photo by Alex from There Were Ten Tigers
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Posted One Year Ago: Polar Coordinates of the George Washington University [octagon]
The Daily Render: A Digital Scrapbook for the Past, Present, & Future
Go East ----»
