Blackjack Slush Cup Action 2013

By: In: Media, Photography


Slides from the Blackjack Slush Cup Action of 2013! My photos turned out okay, but nothing I consider a real wow.

Blackjack Slush Cup Action — Not the Right Weather

But yet the right weather. The weather was full on pure winter. Usually at this time of the year there are hints of spring, but not so this weekend UpNort or even at home. We had fresh snowfall at Blackjack and they left it on some runs fully wild and on others made an attempt at grooming. Needless to say the deep powder challenged our skiing ability, but that is a good thing, right?

Blackjack Slush Cup Action — Not the Right Weather

One member of my skiing group noted the slush cup participants were not very bright. I had to point out there probably was not a participant above 20 years of age, ahhh, the irrationality of youth!

Unfortunately, the best scenes occurred when I was not able to photograph them or I missed the shot due to poor technique. Again, this is all a learning experience. The weather made for less than great light, again the photographs turn out blah, but that of course is due to the blah weather. We only saw a small patch of clear blue sky that day, but we did see plenty of snow falling!

Blackjack Slush Cup Action — Tough Pond

The pond was longer than the last one I witnessed at Blackjack. Not a single snowboarder made it across and only three skiers made it across on the first run and two on the second. The snowboarders tended to fizzle out about half way across the pond and skiers too, of course the skiers sometimes would crash into the pond. This is too bad as the snowboarders can put on a great show when they get across.

Blackjack Slush Cup Action — More Coming!

I have more shots and as I edit them and select more worth publishing (and able to publish, see my comments about the age of the participants, if enough of their face is showing we can recognize them walking on the street I will be withholding publication) I will add them to the slideshow.

Did you witness any spring flings this last few weekends? Please share by offering up a comment!


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The Snowman

By: In: Media, Photography

The Wabeno Snowman

The Boyfriend of the Wabeno Mannequins

Check out this snowman! This snowman lives along HWY 32 near Wabeno, WI right across the road from the Wabeno Mannequins. The creator made the nose with a traffic cone and used tires to form the hat and eyes. I drive this route all that often anymore but I am glad I did of late.

In addition, this guy’s future is looking bright with more snow on the way!


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The Day Dream Comes True

By: In: Media, Photography, Skiing

day dream

The Day I Have Been Dreaming of!

I captured this photo on Saturday March 2, 2013.

Day Dream — Sunny, Still, and Temperature in the Zone

Nothing was wrong with the weather. The sun was out, the air still, the temperature in the mid to upper 20s (around -3° C) just about perfect for snow riders. The snow was not sticky due to the temperature and was about as fast as it gets (a bit warmer would have added a bit more speed, but not a lot more). The snow was in good shape and the crowds were also just right.

Day Dream — The Crowd

two guys

Two Guys Riding up the Chair

Ski Brule was not crowded like it was last weekend and but it was not empty. I was skiing mostly by myself and got to meet a lot of neat folks. Lift lines were not usually long but I hit a few of them, probably after a stoppage.

Day Dream — I Was On!

My skiing was good that day. I spent about 2/3rds of the day skiing with my poles in my left hand and my camera in my right hand. I was filming most of the runs I made (at least until the battery died) and I came close to capturing a yard sale. I did catch the aftermath, but had I caught the crash it would have been super as the guy who crashed had a tumbling double ski release. However, I need to remember to point the camera down the slope and not perpendicular to plumb.

Holding the camera like I did gave me results with mostly showing the far horizon and the sky. I also need to stay tighter to the fall line and that wide traverses are not very interesting and the yard sale I talk about occurred during such a traverse (actually, I was skiing over to the left side of that trail and then I was going to seek the fall line again) and the crash was out of my lens at that time.

I took some still shots both with my camera (with kit lens with a polarizer) and my phone. The attached photo is from my camera and I changed the sweep orientation to portrait and swept Ski Brule in that fashion, I like the resultant image better.

The sweet snow

The Sweet Snow!

Ever wonder why I changed the color scheme? Blue, yellow, and white the colors I dream of!

If you are not a frequent skier, I suggest saving your money and ski at this time of the year rather than the holidays. Not only is the weather better, the snow deeper, the lift tickets cheaper, the lift lines shorter but there are more reasons to love March skiing.

Like many people who can not resist taking yet another photo of a sunset, I can not resist taking photos of and writing about these bluebird days.

Day Dream — How About YOU?

Leave a comment and share what you like about bluebird days? Perhaps share a memory or stories related to a beautiful day on the slopes.


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The Blackjack Ski Resort

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Photography, Reviews, Skiing, Writing

Blackjack Ski Resort!

Blackjack Ski Resort!

Welcome all, The Brave Ski Mom asked me about my favorite Midwestern ski resort and I chose that as Blackjack Mountain which is just across the border into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula along the HWY 51 corridor. I ski at this resort typically once or twice per year maybe more depending on many factors, namely how cheap they sell their season’s passes for which for the next snow season they are selling for $99 this month only.

So what about the skiing and the rest of the place?
(more…)


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Bluebird

By: In: Media, Photography, Skiing
bluebird day

A Bluebird Day at Ski Brule!


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What is Wrong with the Photograph?

By: In: Media, Photography

what is wrong with the photograph

What is Wrong with this Photograph?

Question, what is wrong with the above photograph? I took this photograph at Monarch Ski Resort my only ski trip outside of the Midwest region. I am fond of this photograph most notably the perspective but every time this photograph comes up as my background on my work workstation, I cringe.

Why do I cringe? What did I do wrong? Can I repair this photograph? If so, how can I? Do not worry, I know what is wrong and how to fix it, but I want to hear what you have to say.


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Draco Snows the Path

By: In: Media, Outdoors, Photography

Draco Strikes!

Draco Strikes!

More before and after photos from snow storm Draco. This set of photographs I took along a pathway I often walk during my lunch breaks. I could sit on my tail or get some walking and exercise in. I walk if the weather is not wet or snowing out, and so far the cold has not stopped me from getting my paces in. The path photographed is an optional addition to the route I often walk. Taking that path and adding a bit extra to the walk makes the walk a two-mile hike. I can walk it in about one-half hour, so I only take it if I get my lunch done quickly. Sometimes I have company but most of the time I walk alone. I do not know if the walks will continue with snow on the ground or what? Ideally, I would like to get a pair of cross-country skis and cover another mile, but I do not see that happening.

Again, I snapped the photograph on left the day before the snowstorm and tI took the one on the right during the snowstorm. As I stated previously this storm was a meh and today when I saw the area post-storm there was not much more snow. What the storm did do though, was drift a fair amount the road to and from our house was fun to drive on yesterday, wavier than Lake Michigan!

Draco Knows the Path

Draco snows the Path

Draco snows the Path


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Draco Strikes

By: In: Media, Photography

Draco Strikes!

Draco Strikes!

The winter storm Draco arrives in Wisconsin on December 20, 2012! I would classify the hype with this storm as high but the reality of the storm as moderate. It is our first major winter storm of the 2012-2013 so of course it seems huge. It takes people time to adjust to winter weather and driving. Plus, snow blowing driveways is a necessary chore again.

Of course, being The Wisconsin Skier I do like to see snow. I am hoping to take up cross-country skiing this winter. I want to get out and currently most of my physical activity is indoors, those are good and serving me well, but I also need something to do outside. Plus, many of my friends and neighbors like to snowmobile and many depend on the business snowmobiling brings to them.

If you live here, you really need to get out even during the winter otherwise one gets cabin fever. Cabin fever which is a real phenomena and if you don’t get out from time to time you will go crazy. The key is to get proper clothing and wear it, you need to get out but no one needs frostbite or hypothermia. Also, another good and helpful winter hint is to dress in layers and spend some money to purchase a good base layer.

Draco Tracks

I took the photographs the day before the storm and during the storm,I leave it to you as an exercise to figure out which is which.

draco day before and during

The day before and the day after Draco. December 19 & 20 2012


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Another Sony A55 Crticism

By: In: Media, Photography

 
 
 
As I have noted on this venue, I recently purchased a Sony A55 camera. I have been using it for a mix of still photography and video recording and this post focuses on the video recording aspect of the camera.

I really dislike the fact I can not fix the exposure when recording video. I suppose it is not a purpose-built video camera but trying to add the video to what is a purpose-built still photography camera. I guess I have to work with that weakness and or purchase a purpose-built video camera.

However, it appears most of those are (at least in the price range I am looking at) are also rather limited and come with lots of built-in assumptions I would be unable to override. Oh well.


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Photo Post—Friday

By: In: Media, Photography, Skiing

 
 
 

Brian Photographing Over Monarch Mtn.

Photographing the Photographer


Did not refresh my Photo Friday feature photograph. Oh well, better late than never! Again this photo comes from Monarch Mountain near Salida Colorado.


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