Profile
Friday, April 9, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
the moon - one more try
I like this one even better than the ones I posted the other day. The change in moon phase and the clear sky really helped. Click on it to see it full size.
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens, 400mm, f/14, 1/13 sec, ISO 100
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens, 400mm, f/14, 1/13 sec, ISO 100
sunrise: mito, japan
One of the things I found helpful during my recent trip to Asia was getting out and walking around as much as possible on my own. Not only did this help me overcome jet lag, but it also gave me the kind of downtime I love but usually do not get when I travel.
While in Japan, I spent two nights in a small city called Mito, which is about 1.5 hours north of Tokyo. While I was there, I heard that there was a nice lake to walk around near my hotel, so I went out early one morning and found it. I'm glad I took my camera, because the sunrise was pretty nice and there were lots of birds in and around the lake.
While in Japan, I spent two nights in a small city called Mito, which is about 1.5 hours north of Tokyo. While I was there, I heard that there was a nice lake to walk around near my hotel, so I went out early one morning and found it. I'm glad I took my camera, because the sunrise was pretty nice and there were lots of birds in and around the lake.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
more moon photos
After reading about techniques and practicing a bit, I'm much more satisfied with the shots I got this morning than any previous ones I've taken.
Both images here were taken with my Canon 7D, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens (again, I love this lens--I think it's got the best image quality of all my lenses), and with the camera mounted on a tripod. The first one (original, then cropped) I like better for color, but not for sharpness or image noise.
f/22, 1/200 sec, ISO 3200, 400mm
After I checked how the images looked when blown up, I wasn't satisfied with the amount of noise in the images due to the fact that I'd been using ISO 3200 (it's windy this morning, so I wanted a faster shutter speed), so I decided to go back outside and take my chances with ISO 100 and a slower shutter speed. There were definite improvements in the sharpness and noise, but I had to toss most of the images due to blurring. The colors also weren't as good, since the sun had started to rise. This one turned out pretty well, though:
f/22, 1/8 sec, ISO 100, 400mm
In retrospect, I probably could have stopped down in order to increase the shutter speed, but oh well. There's always next time.
Both images here were taken with my Canon 7D, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens (again, I love this lens--I think it's got the best image quality of all my lenses), and with the camera mounted on a tripod. The first one (original, then cropped) I like better for color, but not for sharpness or image noise.
f/22, 1/200 sec, ISO 3200, 400mm
After I checked how the images looked when blown up, I wasn't satisfied with the amount of noise in the images due to the fact that I'd been using ISO 3200 (it's windy this morning, so I wanted a faster shutter speed), so I decided to go back outside and take my chances with ISO 100 and a slower shutter speed. There were definite improvements in the sharpness and noise, but I had to toss most of the images due to blurring. The colors also weren't as good, since the sun had started to rise. This one turned out pretty well, though:
f/22, 1/8 sec, ISO 100, 400mm
In retrospect, I probably could have stopped down in order to increase the shutter speed, but oh well. There's always next time.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
spring in the neighborhood
I finally remembered to put my camera and telephoto lens in the car so that I could take pictures of the birds in the pond in my neighborhood. The weather is pretty crappy today, but the shots turned out OK. I'll have to try to get more when the weather is a bit nicer.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
hellman's mayonnaise: i accept no substitutions
So there I was, reading a book, minding my own business and generally being the kind of great guy that wins you a Husband of the Year award. I was suddenly overcome with the urge to make myself a large sandwich--not a significant event by any stretch of the imagination, but significant in the sense that I have mostly cut carbs out of my diet in yet another (hopefully not vain) attempt to lose weight.
I quickly made my way to the fridge and began to get out the elements of a mostly basic sandwich: cajun-flavored chicken, cheddar cheese, mayo, mustard. My excitement quickly abated when I began to experience one disappointment after another: the highfalutin cheddar cheese I had purchased the month before at the local upscale grocery store had gone moldy; the chicken, though purchased yesterday, did not have its usual, slightly moist texture; the loaf of bread that was open was down to one slight stale slide plus the heel. All of these minor losses were quickly overshadowed, however, when I discovered that that the mayonnaise we had on hand was Kraft mayonnaise.
In this glorious empire of crass consumerism we've constructed, one is offered many choices when one wants to purchase something. There are originals, house brands, expensive variants and every other choice in between. One quickly discovers, however, that there are some products for which there can be no substitute: Kraft macaroni 'n' cheese and real Ziploc bags are two that immediately come to mind. The other product that immediately comes to mind is mayonnaise. I cannot accept anything but Best Foods (Hellman's in this part of the country) mayonnaise.
I was actually raised on Miracle Whip--a move that inspires controversy and strife in many American families. I think this was my father's decision. As far as I'm aware, he loathes mayonnaise and will accept nothing but Miracle Whip--baffling to me because, while I do notice small differences between the two, I find them mostly the same. In any case, my approach to these sandwich spreads is slightly more pragmatic--I buy mayonnaise, but will readily accept Miracle Whip. When it comes to mayonnaise, however, my needs are very specific. I MUST HAVE BEST FOODS/HELLMAN'S.
The little lady knows this. She knows it all too well. I've made it clear on more than one occasion that, under no circumstances, is Kraft mayonnaise or any other substitute ever to be purchased or brought into our home. I don't need Kraft's foul flavors, jive/overly colorful packaging and general unsightly appearance sullying my pantry or refrigerator, let alone my chicken sandwich. In any case, because she knows this, I can only assume that the half-empty bottle of Kraft I found in the fridge is part of a larger, subtler, more insidious plan to drive me insane. If this is the case, then it's working--quite quickly, I might add.
Having no other substitute, I spread it onto each slice of bread and then blended in some grainy mustard in order to mask the rottenness that is Kraft. And with bite after each bitter bite into my sandwich of broken dreams, I plotted my revenge.
I quickly made my way to the fridge and began to get out the elements of a mostly basic sandwich: cajun-flavored chicken, cheddar cheese, mayo, mustard. My excitement quickly abated when I began to experience one disappointment after another: the highfalutin cheddar cheese I had purchased the month before at the local upscale grocery store had gone moldy; the chicken, though purchased yesterday, did not have its usual, slightly moist texture; the loaf of bread that was open was down to one slight stale slide plus the heel. All of these minor losses were quickly overshadowed, however, when I discovered that that the mayonnaise we had on hand was Kraft mayonnaise.
In this glorious empire of crass consumerism we've constructed, one is offered many choices when one wants to purchase something. There are originals, house brands, expensive variants and every other choice in between. One quickly discovers, however, that there are some products for which there can be no substitute: Kraft macaroni 'n' cheese and real Ziploc bags are two that immediately come to mind. The other product that immediately comes to mind is mayonnaise. I cannot accept anything but Best Foods (Hellman's in this part of the country) mayonnaise.
I was actually raised on Miracle Whip--a move that inspires controversy and strife in many American families. I think this was my father's decision. As far as I'm aware, he loathes mayonnaise and will accept nothing but Miracle Whip--baffling to me because, while I do notice small differences between the two, I find them mostly the same. In any case, my approach to these sandwich spreads is slightly more pragmatic--I buy mayonnaise, but will readily accept Miracle Whip. When it comes to mayonnaise, however, my needs are very specific. I MUST HAVE BEST FOODS/HELLMAN'S.
The little lady knows this. She knows it all too well. I've made it clear on more than one occasion that, under no circumstances, is Kraft mayonnaise or any other substitute ever to be purchased or brought into our home. I don't need Kraft's foul flavors, jive/overly colorful packaging and general unsightly appearance sullying my pantry or refrigerator, let alone my chicken sandwich. In any case, because she knows this, I can only assume that the half-empty bottle of Kraft I found in the fridge is part of a larger, subtler, more insidious plan to drive me insane. If this is the case, then it's working--quite quickly, I might add.
Having no other substitute, I spread it onto each slice of bread and then blended in some grainy mustard in order to mask the rottenness that is Kraft. And with bite after each bitter bite into my sandwich of broken dreams, I plotted my revenge.
Friday, March 19, 2010
yup, i'm in china
I went to use the restroom at a supplier's office today. I started doing my thing at the urinal and then suddenly noticed a gurgling sound beneath me. You guessed it--the urinal drained onto the floor, which slanted slightly into a floor drain. One of the more disgusting bathrooms I've ever used. Oh, and the cigarette smell coming from the pile of butts in the next urinal over was divine as well.
Other signs that let you know when you've landed in China:
- Complete and utter chaos at the airport. People headed in every which direction, no lining up or any other form of organization with regard to managing where people go. This is all topped off by people noise and the PA going off to announce a flight boarding about twice a minute.
- Being pushed, shoved, sideswiped, manhandled and disrespected in just about every other way possible when in public places and especially public transportation.
- Blue skies are a fading memory from a distant past.
- Merely uttering a few words in the local language stops the entire room and requires that you be uniformly declared a genius by everyone present. People in the room will likely also lie to you and tell you that your Chinese is far better than theirs, despite the fact that it is their native tongue, not yours.
- Everyone stares at you and some people will even yell out the semi-derogatory word for "foreigner" in Chinese, thinking that you don't understand. Actually responding to these people immediately crowns you as the funniest, cleverest white man to ever set foot on Chinese soil.
Other signs that let you know when you've landed in China:
- Complete and utter chaos at the airport. People headed in every which direction, no lining up or any other form of organization with regard to managing where people go. This is all topped off by people noise and the PA going off to announce a flight boarding about twice a minute.
- Being pushed, shoved, sideswiped, manhandled and disrespected in just about every other way possible when in public places and especially public transportation.
- Blue skies are a fading memory from a distant past.
- Merely uttering a few words in the local language stops the entire room and requires that you be uniformly declared a genius by everyone present. People in the room will likely also lie to you and tell you that your Chinese is far better than theirs, despite the fact that it is their native tongue, not yours.
- Everyone stares at you and some people will even yell out the semi-derogatory word for "foreigner" in Chinese, thinking that you don't understand. Actually responding to these people immediately crowns you as the funniest, cleverest white man to ever set foot on Chinese soil.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
mt. fuji from the bullet train
I took the bullet train (shinkansen) from Tokyo to Osaka and back this week, and managed to get some pretty cool photos and videos of Mt. Fuji. It's pretty cool how the surrounding area is mostly flat, and then you have this giant volcano that appears from out of nowhere. Enjoy.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
the green hills of los angeles
Greetings from Seattle. Another day, another layover.
Most people wouldn't call LA "green"--it's typically hot, dry, and smoggy. In the summer, most of the area is dull shades of brown and green--sagebrush, chaparral and the like. As you may have heard, southern CA has gotten a lot of rain this year, so the hills and mountains are very green and grassy right now. For someone who spent roughly 20 years of his life there, it's a very exciting thing, because it's never looked like this that I can remember.
My mom and I decided to go for a short walk in the wilderness park by her home, and I got some pretty cool shots of the hills and mountains in the area. I had great weather the entire time I was there--highs in the 60's, which was a nice change from the frozen wastes of Minnesota.
Anyway, enjoy the photos.
Most people wouldn't call LA "green"--it's typically hot, dry, and smoggy. In the summer, most of the area is dull shades of brown and green--sagebrush, chaparral and the like. As you may have heard, southern CA has gotten a lot of rain this year, so the hills and mountains are very green and grassy right now. For someone who spent roughly 20 years of his life there, it's a very exciting thing, because it's never looked like this that I can remember.
My mom and I decided to go for a short walk in the wilderness park by her home, and I got some pretty cool shots of the hills and mountains in the area. I had great weather the entire time I was there--highs in the 60's, which was a nice change from the frozen wastes of Minnesota.
Anyway, enjoy the photos.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)