Red Bridge Lake

Our most recent wandering took us to a small lake on the North shoulder of Crater Mountain.

Sorry to disappoint you, but the red bridge from which the lake takes its name is in the valley far below.

Cherry Season

Today's Photo

Away

Would you like to see a closeup of her?

I think I'd need permission.

And I doubt I'd get it.

3-0

Bitter, no doubt, over his last two defeats, our brave, dauntless and less than wise dog just made another attempt at an old foe.

No, tomato juice does not work as well as advertised.
Nothing does, though baking soda and hydrogen peroxide help a little.

Better hunting next time, Buster, since you don't have the sense to give up. We admire your courage from a safe distance.

Chicory Flower

Okanagan Lake from Peachland

Today's Photo

Dead Birch

They're still pretty when they're dead. We cut this one down to save the wood, but I had to take a picture before it went.

Further Snakes

Rainbow

My Uncle

Flower Portraits

Last time we went for a family walk by the river, I was having a down day, photographically speaking. I couldn't see anything new.
Lia, however, was shooting like a genius. These are all hers.

One Last Prairie Picture

Lilypads

Some Prairie Scenes

Today's Photo

Seed cleaning station at Three Hills

More Flash Work

I found an assistant, which made things easier.
All but the fourth picture are lit from above. The second and fifth involve a snoot hacked out of a rolled up piece of tarpaper.
They all, modulo one detail, are the same arrangement and camera position.

Waylaid

No More Excuses

I now have what I need to take indoor photographs.

This old Braun AC powered flash unit was given to me by a neighbor last year. It wasn't until I started reading The Strobist that I realized it might be useful. Off-camera flash work sounds like fun. I replaced the cracked flash head wires and fired it up (outside... warily...) and found that it kicks out a nice, headache-inducing burst of light. Most pleasing.

Only thing... it doesn't have an optical slave trigger. The only way to set it off is with the manual push button on the back of the flash head, or with a connector that looks way too much like a 120 volt AC plug. Good reminder. I am not going to wire this thing up to my precious digital camera!

But I want to play with my new toy - now!
Umm...
Aha!

First, find a subject with suitable temperament

This antique teapot does nicely.

Then set my camera on the tripod...

And stack on every neutral density filter that I own.

Now, when I open my shutter for 1 second, the teapot looks like this in the ambient light from the windows.

And 1 second is enough time for me to set off the flash by hand.
If I'm lucky.
If I can figure out when the shutter is open.

Ambient light can be controlled with shutter speed and ND filters, and I can set my flash intensity with aperture. The camera is in full manual mode, of course.

A little bit of flash.

Too much.

About right, at least on my monitor. You can still see some ambient in places.

Flash unit held up high.

So now I'm all set. If I can just convince my subjects to hold their expressions for five minutes while I get it all working, I'll get some great pictures!

Hey, it's a start.