Enlarging Images by rendering detail (idea) I came up with an idea which I think would make a good Masters Thesis or startup company research project.

The idea is to find a better way to enlarge small images. You know how in the movies, they always have a small image and then they use the computer to enlarge the detail that wasn't there? My idea is to analyze a small 2D image, identify objects and textures, create a 3D model, and then use 3D rendering and computer graphics techniques to create a larger image in the same perspective and view, and same degree of photo-realism, just with more details filled in.

The most basic existing example of this is how someone using a tool can convert a simple graphic to a vector representation, and then it can be enlarged without the pixellation and ugly artifacts usually found when resampling a bitmap image to a larger size. My idea extends the simple vector graphics modelling to more complex types of images, such as modelling a landscape or a city scene, and using the model to enlarge the small image.

In order to accomplish this, we would need to generate a 3D model from a 2D image. I believe there is already a lot of research and progress in this area, at least for certain kinds of images. Then we would need a way to generate additional detail, perhaps through texture generation and taking advantage of some algorithm such as Perlin noise. Then we would need a seamless way of combining the existing pixels with rendered pixels.

If you know of any research into this area, please drop me a line at geoff@gpeters.com. Maybe someday if the various steps to accomplish this task are available in open source libraries, I will put together a website that takes images and enlarges them, adding detail. That could be a very popular site I imagine!

-Geoff Peters  ¶ 11:21 PM

Stanford Jazz Festival Spotlight David Rubien writes in the San Francisco Chronicle (click here to read article) about aspiring jazz artists Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Dayna Stephens (saxophone), Julian Lage (guitar), and Taylor Eigsti (piano). From the article:

Aspiring jazz artists, so the script goes, won't hit the big time unless they move to New York to make it in the jazz capital of the world. [...] Each is certainly bound for jazz stardom, and each is having to figure out his own way of getting there, because so far in the 21st century there are no standard routes, no plethora of apprenticeships, few jazz club circuits, few record labels clamoring for jazz talent.

The article has three full length MP3's of the artists' music (click here) and you can also listen to more music by clicking the artists' names above.  ¶ 10:35 PM

Geoff Peters in Concert (free recording available) I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform my original composition "Quiet Night" at the Victoria Piano Summer School, during their 20th annual Composers' Day. I feel it was a real milestone in my musical career. The audience was about 150 people and included faculty from the University of Victoria, and piano students and teachers of all ages. The Phillip T. Young Recital Hall in the MacLaurin Building at UVic has wonderful acoustics and I was alone on a huge stage with a Steinway concert grand piano.

I want to share this special musical moment in my life with you! Please click below to listen to a recording of my performance. I played this piece in a typical jazz form, by starting off playing the melody (head), then making an improvised solo over the form, and then ending with the melody again. I had the form including chords and melody in my head.

> Quiet Night (Mp3 recording, time 3:13) - composed and performed by Geoff Peters  ¶ 11:58 PM

Bill Evans on Piano Jazz One of my favorite radio programs is NPR's Piano Jazz, hosted by pianist and composer Marian Mcpartland. In 1978 Bill Evans was on the show and took part in a musical interview with Marian McPartland, and their session has been re-released for free listening on the web at NPR's web site (click here to listen).  ¶ 4:35 PM

New Composition: Lament I wrote a classical-sounding piano piece, Lament, that is quite moody and reminds me a little bit of Beethoven and Chopin. (Click here to listen.)

Wikipedia says, "A lament is a song or poem expressing grief, regret or mourning." I sat down and thought I would try to write something jazzy, maybe inspired by some of the great jazz I saw in the Vancouver Jazz Festival, but for some reason I was attracted to the sounds of minor and diminished chords. Some classical piano pieces which have had an influence on my music are the Beethoven piano Sonatas (especially the Appassionata) and the Chopin Ballades.

Please click below to listen to my piece, Lament, and let me know what you think! It's recorded in stereo for your listening pleasure. :)

> Lament (MP3 recording, time 3:05) - Geoff Peters Original Composition  ¶ 2:38 PM