One hundred things to mention this morning. Let’s get started:
It’s so much fun to find a roll of undeveloped film, isn’t it? We’re taking our Nikon N60 35mm camera to Portugal and I haven’t used it for a long time. Even though I prefer the array of options I have with the 35mm, I exclusively use the digital point-and-shoot just because you don’t have the hassle of developing the film. I’m very excited to see that prices have dropped for digital camera bodies (I’ve got my eye on the Nikon D50) which would allow me to use my 35mm lenses. Pictures from two of the best trips of my life—the 16-day safari in Tanzania in ‘98 and the six-week trip to Europe in ‘01—are stuck in photo albums. I’d love to post them but scanning is time consuming or expensive. Maybe one day I’ll have time.
Anyway, in the camera I found that 23 of 24 pictures had been taken. I snapped a picture of the Bean and then brought the film in for processing. Most of the pictures were taken during my last trip to Mount Rainier in fall 2002. If pushed to choose, my favorite spot in Washington State would be Sunrise (located in the less-used eastern part of the park) in late September. I made a point to get out there then because the crowds were gone, the weather was great, and the views were stunning. The pictures aren’t great and it amuses me that there’s not a single a shot of Rainier—I have a billion photos of her sitting in boxes in the basement though. More photos I should scan someday.
The other pics were of Athena as a little girl. Again, they’re not great but kind of fun. Click on the thumbnails for a bigger view:
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What made this last trip to Sunrise especially cool is that we saw a herd of mountain goats just strolling along the path. As much as I love Mount Rainier, I avoided it between Memorial Day and Labor Day because of the crowds. Wild things don’t like crowds so they stay away—far away. It was very unusual to see them so close at Rainier, althoug I’ve had closer encounters with mountain goats, who seem fairly content to let you be. |
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This trio of pictures instantly reminded us of those first few months of puppyhood. |
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My favorite television show is “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV. Watching ultimate fighting used to make me squirm but now I’m desensitized to one guy sitting on another guy’s chest and pounding the crap out of him. But the match-up in last night’s episode made me gnaw my fingernails (FYI—the show’s like “Big Brother” only at the end of each episode, two guys fight and the loser goes home.) I couldn’t stand one guy and really, really wanted him to lose so I wouldn’t have to endure another week of his obnoxious behavior. All the fighters are obnoxious, but this dude was the worst. And just when it looked like he was going to win, he didn’t. I cheered. Literally.
I can’t remember the last time I was glued to a show like this.
One of my favorite routines is walking to work listening to my iPod. This morning I was listening to Fugazi’s “Public Witness Program” and it made me want to strangle the first person off the elevator. It’s important to start the workday out in the right frame of mind.
I’ve been reading some of the Scifiction archive on my handheld over the lunch hour. Over the last two days I read “I Saw The Light” and “Scout’s Honor” by Terry Bisson. The man can flat out write. Not that that’s news.
Maybe more later. Maybe not. I know you’ll be holding your collective breath…
Current Mood – Considering It’s Friday, Good | 
Currently Listening To – The Ramones – “Leave Home”
3 Comments
I’ve looking at the D50 and D70s for some time — besides money, one of the things that has stopped me from buying is that you have to be real careful when changing lenses. Funny, it didn’t occur to me that a CCD sensor, which stands for Charged Coupled Device, really IS charged and so the sensor attracts dust and hair like fleas to a non-Athena dog. And you can’t just wipe them off/blow them off. For limited amounts of dust, Nikon includes (or used to) a program which eliminated dust by software, making guesses as to what the affect pixels should be showing. (grin) They do make these anti-static lens changing bags… ew-www! (double-grin) Some of the pros I know who use the D1 and D2 SLRs have to have the CCDs regularly cleaned.
Dr. Phil
Interesting. Even on the N60 body, we perform lens changes like it’s a surgical procedure. Sounds like that goes double for the D50. I can never believe it when someone sets the body down on a table without a lens or cap on it, yet I’ve seen that a lot.
I’m not a super serious photographer (I can’t afford it!) but I do like taking pictures. We’ve got a telephoto, a zoom, and a great wide-angle lens as well as some fun filters that I’d love to break out again. Pictures taken on a 35mm are better than with a p&s. I think it’s because it’s too hard to frame a shot with such a tiny viewfinder.
When I was heavily using my Nikons — F, F2SB, F3’s — I tried to minimize the time lenses and bodies were uncapped, but the titanium shutters of F2/F3 camera bodies just don’t electrostatically attract dust like a CCD. Whole new league.
Dr. Phil