I got curious about searching for video of skiers going down Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey race course.
Early on in the video is a elevation to distance profile of the course. You can pause it and take a close look at the numbers, but here is my analysis.
(more…)
Print This Post
Last Saturday evening the University of Wisconsin (football) Badgers won a close game against the Michigan State (football) Spartans. The game was close the whole way through with the Badgers and Spartans trading leads and momentum. Again it was a last minute ending, ending on what appeared to be a Spartan punt return for a game-winning TD (or close enough). However, a Spartan defender ran into the punter and the Badgers got the ball back and assumed the victory formation to seal the win, the first Big 10 championship (new format), and a berth to the Rose Bowl. Yeah for the Badgers.
The two games these teams played this year show them to be evenly matched and the difference being chance events.
Now for the MEH part.
(more…)
Print This Post
At one time I had the HWK Waxing Guide installed on my Android device. The description reads:
Become a wax specialist with HWK ski wax! HWK ski wax has been trying to find all the answers for you and is now proud to present the first ski wax App.
I found this application to be so-so. I think it is too in depth for the average skier and too superficial for the professional. I found it to be more about pushing HWK waxes than anything else (I know that shocks you).
However, the application does come with an instructional guide on waxing skis, not that it is a terribly complicated affair, but it is good for people new to ski waxing. Once I got over that, I removed the application, as the only factor I consider when choosing a wax is the anticipated air temperature we will be skiing in. I do not need a wax tree to help me decide what (ahem, Swix) was to use, however, I do need every megaabyte of phone storage I can get.
Print This Post
The Wikipedia starts off on its entry on Endorphins by stating:
Endorphins (“endogenous morphine”) are endogenous opioid peptides that function as neurotransmitters. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm, and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being.
Emphasis added and Wikipedia footnotes removed by yours truly.
Sometime ago I referred to drug use as a shortcut to pleasure. The Wiki I quote above strongly indicates our very own bodies produce opiate like substances to help our bodies cope with stressful situations — namely strenuous physical activity. When God was forming us (Open up God’s toolbox and in it you see evolution) it became apparent that humans need to bust their @$$e$ from time to time and that endorphins helped us through those times. Whether it was hustling across the African savanna chasing an antelope down, hustling down the road to make spot X before your adversary, or splitting a cord of firewood; those who can squirt out a bit of endorphins probably did better at it and actually may have even come to crave the exertions.
(more…)
Print This Post
The two photos in this post illustrate are different by one F-Stop.
75 mm macro lens, F/22, 1 second at ISO 100
. Now, the camera was on my Benbo tripod.
Now, let us compare another photo:
75 mm macro lens, F/22, 2 seconds at ISO 100
The exposure used is:
Actually, the difference is somewhat subtle, but look at the right leaf, specifically look at the upper center part of that right leaf. Notice the part where the green seems a bit darker than the rest of the leaf and focus on that spot between the two photographs. That section you can see the green is a touch darker more “green” in the upper photograph than it is in the lower.
+/- 1 F/Stop means doubling the light (+1) or halving the light (-1) allowed to fall on the photographic plane. In this case, I doubled the light by doubling the shutter speed and the difference is subtle but present.
In general, the more light allowed in the more washed out colors become and that is what you can notice the fact that in the lower photo the green is more washed out.
Also, look at the little white stones, the stone in the upper photo does not appear as white as the stone in the lower photo. So, the exposure not only allows the light in so we can see the subject, but also plays a major factor in the colors in your photo.
Now, you go out and take set of similar photos and study the differences and how shutter speed (make sure your ISO and aperture stay the same) affect your photos!
Print This Post
A Review
This article is not about investing in the company and it is not meant to be a rant or a rave, but what I hope will an even handed review of the service.
(more…)
Print This Post
Nothing Left to do but Smile Smile Smile!
There are a number of reasons I have come to like the Grateful Dead and for some of you reading this I have to tell you to seal your assumptions in the silver mine!
(more…)
Print This Post
Not all that long ago I noticed a visitor landing here due to a Google search looking for advice on selecting lenses for ski photography.
I will be open with you, this is not something I have thought a lot about. Most of the photography you see here is taken with a fixed lens Lumix camera. The lens has a large range of focal length, IIRC the 35 mm equivalent is about to 450 mm or so and the wide angle is pretty decent too. However, it is aperture limited with a very narrow range of apertures to choose from.
I think there are a few things about ski photography that will be helpful to the photographer on the slopes.
(more…)
Print This Post
Somewhere and sometime in the distant past I recall reading a skier talking about how he thought the improvement in ski technology would make better skiers of many people. He confessed that he was wrong on that count.
Same too with photography. I find it hard to believe that with modern cameras people do not take better pictures. What it comes down more often then not is exposure exposure exposure. Exposure is a fundamental technical matter you have to master in order to take respectable photographs.
Print This Post
Loading ...