By Rudolf Ammann · June 26, 2005
In a previous entry I announced that we were going to replace the original header graphics on this site with photos by Josef Stuefer.
The deed is done.
There's a script in place now that pulls a random file from a pool of images every time a Dekita page is requested. Each image in the pool is a detail sampled from one of these fine pictures by Josef Stuefer:
This selection includes a few of my own favorites as well as suggestions posted either to the announcement here on Dekita or the discussion among Bee and Aaron's students on Flickr. Sifting through the suggestions, I excluded all photos that weren't colourful enough, whose colours were manipulated, or that didn't lend themselves to the extremely horizontal orientation of the header graphics.
Thanks to Josef for being very cooperative about the whole project!
The new header graphics also come with a reworking of the code that controls Dekita.org's visual appearance. Thanks go out to Wil Jeffery in the Netherlands for fixing a particularly pesky coding issue!
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pketh
wrote on June 27, 2005:
I see you went with the red one I like before, can’t wait till it pops up randomly on a visit :)
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Rudolf
wrote on June 27, 2005:
Our bandwidth consumption is probably about to go through the roof as everyone keeps frantically hitting their Reload button.
If your favorite hasn’t shown up yet and you’d like to see the detail I cropped out of the original photo, feel free to browse the image directory.
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Elie
wrote on June 27, 2005:
Dear Rudolf and Josef,
I’d like to ask you 2 some questions.
First, why did you (Rudolf) create this website? How did this idea come from? Is it bringing you the results you expected?
Then, Josef, when did you start taking photos? Do you do it randomly or you have already an idea of what you are looking fore before taking them? Did you imagine they would be seen by so many people?
Thank you both.
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Rudolf
wrote on June 29, 2005:
Hi Elie,
It wasn’t me who created this site; we’re doing this between the three of us, Bee, Aaron and myself. What we share, I believe, is the idea that EFL students stand to benefit a great deal from involvement in authentic, “unscripted” conversations on the Internet, and we want to make this involvement happen.
Some time ago, Jim Trotta in Korea launched a directory of ESL + EFL friendly blogs with comments, which is basically a list of weblogs who say its alright for ESL/EFL students to post comments. We’re doing the opposite—we point to student projects that invite others to write back.
As for expectations and results—we’ve only just started this site, so it may be a bit early to talk about results. Since the launch we’ve been getting lots of positive feedback about the site, so if one expectation was to create something that people would want to use, that expectation has been fulfilled.
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Josef F. Stuefer
wrote on July 09, 2005:
Elie,
I am an amateur photographer (and a scientist by profession) and I could hardly imagine that so many people will get a chance to look at my pictures. I was very surprised when Rudolf and Bee asked me if they could use my pictures for their Dekita projects
I started taking pictures at an age of about 21, but I have only started playing with the camera and with pictures since I have bought my Sony Cybershot DSC-F707. I like to do experiments and see what effects certain angles or little tricks can have on the outcome.
Hardly ever, I could also say: never, do I plan my pictures. I just take my camera along and watch out for interesting shots.
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julian
wrote on August 13, 2005:
Guys
the pics really r fan – tas – tic
hats off to all those involved
Visual interface..?? u leave the rest standing!!!####
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Bee
wrote on August 13, 2005:
Thank you for the visit and your enthusiastic response to the new headers, Julian! We modestly share your rapture :-)
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