A really eclectic note (10/24/2009) which will may at first seem to have little enough to do with photography. But that's the way things go: you do x to help with y. So I've been rebuilding gear to regain access to some of my favorite places. Once I get there, Lord knows I'll make photographs. First, the November National Geographic does not have my shot of the Moon and Venus. Casserole, casserole (quoting Doris Day). Next time.

Second, I've been restoring a kayak. Think of it as a water-borne tripod or tracking dolly and consider the places I can take a camera with it that I couldn't any other way and it'll seem like more of a photographic accessory. It should let me get back to rivers and shorelines, for which I have an incurable affinity. For details, see the story of me and my Phoenix Isere.

Third, for 20+ years, I've been making barndoor mounts for astrophotography. The first was just a strap hinge with a 32-pitch bolt running through the bottom. Worked well, for what it was intended to do. Made some killer photos of the Milky Way while in grad school in Arizona. I motorized it, and it worked OK for some pictures from Grayson Highlands in Virginia. I put a better motor and a better motor mount and better controller on it... and then it was off to the races: building a better barndoor became a cause in iteself. Now I've built one using a dedicated stepper control and parts made on a hundred-year old lathe in my basement. And, finally, I'm back to making pictures with it. It lets me get back out under the stars with a camera. Casually. Or fairly so. See the story of me and my barndoors.

Fourth, I'd like to invite you to my debut musical performance. No, not with the Stratocaster I am learning to play, heaven forbid, but with a digital theremin I downloaded to make some "spooky Halloween music" for the neighborhood's haunted house. I quote Jackie, who was in charge of the social committee working on this: "Do you have any 'wooooo-OOOOooooo-hoooooo' you know spooky halloween music?" No, I didn't, but I was sure I could find some. Better, I discovered that I can make some. If you want to make some, too, and if you have a graphics tablet, give this freeware by Nicolas Fournel a try:

Digital Theremin Software

Maybe I'll put a link here to my inaugural performance, but first I need to compress it to MP3 and so on. In the meantime, grab the software make your own woooo-OOooo-hoooo's.

How's that related to photography? Well, I usually shoot some portraits of our neighborhhood ghouls and goblins (and their kids) using the portable strobe outfit. Which reminds me that I need to get ready to do likewise of our guests at the biennual Halloween party at Rivercliff, which is looming.

Canon ST-E2 controller on camera, Canon 430EX into a silver umbrella out of frame to right. ISO 320, Canon 50D, 17-85mm EFs at F11. Camera set to underexposre scene by 1-1/3 stops; flash set to underexpose by 2/3 stop. That combo is a little dark out of the camera but has plenty of light and plenty of headroom when shooting raw. Speaking of raw: a gust of wind took my 420EX and umbrella down which was providing fill from the left. It didn't hit hard, but it hit hard enough. Anyone know a good repair shop for Canon Speedlites? I've got a couple that could use some attention. I'm down to two now, which means there's no room for more failures until I find a repair shop or some good deals.

 

:: back to the slow blog ::