Friday, June 27, 2008

Photos for this week

I used the sewing machine feet for my DPS assignment. So that gives me the second choice photo for my Weekly Photo. I should call it weekly photo"S", since I probably took 20 or more of these guys, bracketing the exposures.

I’m going to adjust the weekly photo page to archive the first half on the year. The page will look the same except for some navigation links for the archive.

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Sunday, June 22, 2008

Studio Work

Used the light tent for this week’s assignment. It really required setting up the camera to get the photo I wanted. Took me three sessions. Take a couple dozen shots and pull them up on the computer to see how they really turned out.

I’d already figured out you need to adjust the white balance for the lighting. But the exposure was still darker than I wanted. I turned off the D-R-O and boosted the exposure to +1.3EV. I even bracketed the shots +/- 0.7EV.

Surprised to find that +2.0EV seemed to give the most reliable picture quality.

I doubt if I’ll have to mess around quite so much for penguin pictures. I won’t be shooting indoors, or using artificial light. I’ll probably use a flash for on board the ship.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Back from the Midwest

Overall, the trip was a success. We found the gum boots in Wisconsin, and Turkey run had enough rain that we could try them out. Nice and snug with heavy socks and the walking wasn't too bad. I think they'll do the job.

The weekly assignment is Natural Framing. I had that in mind when we were trying out the boots. The trail followed a stream bed, plenty of mud, but deep cut channels into the rock. Got a photo to use for the Weekly Assignment

On the way back to Texas, we stopped in Paducah for an afternoon. They have a Quilt Museum. While Joanne looked at quilts, I went down to the flood wall. It is all covered with murals. I wanted to take a couple "framing" shots. Didn't use them for DPS, but one was interesting. It is the Ohio river through a door-way. Almost looks like a mural itself. That's the one I'm using for the Weekly Photo.

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Weekly Photo Early This Week

I don't anticipate an internet connection when we get to Turkey Run State Park on Thursday. So, I've posted my pick for the week.

When I grew up in Stevens Point we had Point Beer (lager) and in the Spring, Point Boch. That's 40 years ago. Now we have a lot of alternate brewing styles, readily accepted by the market.

In some cases the label and the name sell the product, more than the taste. I haven't tried this batch yet, I want to take it along to Turkey Run. Since my buddies complain about my taste for regular Point, we will see if they are impressed with this style.

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Sunday, June 08, 2008

Got To Wisconsin

Don't know if I should consider it an opportunity to practice or a disadvantage. The weather between Austin and Milwaukee has been terrible. Heavy rain and high winds. Even had a chance to hear the Tornado Warning Sirens.

I could, I suppose, practice foul weather photography. I have opted for keeping the DSLR safe and dry. Plus I was more concerned about keeping the car on the road.

Arrived on Saturday, just in front of the storm that nailed the Milwaukee Zoo. The "planned" visit may be postponed on this trip.

Biggest problem is the quantity of rain. The storm sewers will catch up, eventually. But, you get some temporary flooding. I know where the low water crossings and low streets are in Round Rock. I'm not so sure here in Milwaukee.

On the plus side, we're going to go looking for rubber boots this afternoon. Mid-calf to knee high, all rubber, with a good tread. I'm betting that the farm stores here have more comfortable work boots for dairy farming, and at a better price, that more expensive hunting boots. I used to have some fishing boots with a steel shank, you could wear those for 12 hours comfortably no matter how much you hiked.

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Tuesday, June 03, 2008

A Longer Road Trip

Getting the things together for a road trip. Driving up to Milwaukee from Round Rock. We’ll visit with Joanne’s friend for a few days and then drop down to Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. Then home. About two weeks total.

I’m taking the Alpha with me. Loaded the Sony software on my laptop. I should be able to unload photos. Should also have some candidates for the Weekly photo next week.

It looks like they’re going to have scattered thunderstorms. But we might work in a trip to the Milwaukess Zoo. Then I could try out some wildlife photos.

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