Random Photos

[jack action]

And you have to clean your tires regularly, right?

You can usually weave through it! It is really big too: it looks like somebody didn't pick up after their dog.

On the northeast side of the lake, there is a public park. The fresh-cut grass is perfect for them to feed themselves. It becomes a minefield. They put barriers all along the lake banks to prevent them from coming from the lake. As shown below, it only works partially. (Who knew that a 40-cm-high barrier couldn't stop flying birds?) I know they also used trained buzzards in the past.

 

[nsaspook]

Must be low frequency, with all those 'scope probe ground clips dangling...

The motor drive and control signals have difference reference points that should not be connected (some times accidentally with ground clips). The TEK scope is isolated from utility common/ground.

 

[pinball1970]

Just one image that I initially eliminated because it was too ugly. Now I think it is one of the best images, not because of my skills (limited) but just because it's there and part of our history.

I have messed with the functions on my tablet, brightness, contrast, white and black level to try and reduce the sky bleach.
Lifted saturation and 'tint' to lift the ref brick and green bushes BUT biggest adjustment? "Pop" and "sharpness."
Makes a mediocre shot look a lot better.

 

[jtbell]

Still more from my August road trip. In Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, I visited the narrow-gauge East Broad Top Railroad. It ended commercial freight hauling in 1956, then continued as a tourist/heritage line, famous for its steam locomotives.

Unfortunately their currently-operating steam loco was in the shop for repairs, so I had to settle for diesel.

Nice views of the Pennsylvania countryside.

Here's one of their steam locos during my previous visit in 2006.

 

[jtbell]

Across the street from the East Broad Top station, and next door to the EBT shops, is the Rockhill Trolley Museum. Its collection of streetcars is mainly focused on Pennsylvania. It runs some of them on the right-of-way of a former EBT branch line, using standard gauge track instead of narrow gauge. Some track is dual-gauge to accommodate both operations.

On the day of my visit, they were alternating between a car from York PA (1924-1939):

and a car that was built for Bangor, Maine in 1922, then ran in Johnstown PA 1941-1960.

I also visited the shop where they are slowly restoring a car built in 1909 that ran on the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin until 1957. It was the leading car on the last train operated by the CA&E.

This actually has a physics connection! Most of the CA&E's right-of-way is now used by a bike/hike trail, the Illinois Prairie Path. The branch to Batavia runs next to the southwest side of what is now Fermilab. When I spent a couple of weeks with an experiment there in the early 1990s, I spent much of my down-time bicycling along that trail.

(skip to the next post in this series)

 

[DennisN]

(setting focus in the dark is challenging), other than that reasonably good.

Yes, it sure is.
One thing that can be helpful is using a Bahtinov mask.
And I've built a DIY simple version of a star focusing mask which works pretty well.
(posted on PF here)

Edit:

Maybe it's not as helpful for wide angle shots, I'm not sure at the moment.
I don't remember which focal lengths I've tried it on.
But one additional trick is to find a reasonably bright star in the sky and then "digitally zoom/magnify" the image in the viewfinder/on the screen if the camera supports it, and use a focusing mask on that star.

 

[Borek]

But one additional trick is to find a reasonably bright star in the sky and then "digitally zoom/magnify" the image in the viewfinder/on the screen if the camera supports it, and use a focusing mask on that star.

There was a full Moon on the other side of the sky, it helped with the focus (but interfered with the comet).

 

[BillTre]

 

[pinball1970]

Wow.

 

[pinball1970]

While we still have autumn leaves.

Hyde.

Oldham

 

[pinball1970]

Daisy Nook Oldham

 

[phinds]

Every few years I take a short road trip around the back roads in my area to look at the fall leaves. Some years they are spectacular, others not so much. This year, not so much. For example:

I read that this is because we had a dry fall and that affects the vibrancy of the leaves.

I did see a couple of trees that were quite pretty but they were always at a spot where the road was narrow/curvy and had little to no shoulder (the road in the pic above is a highway by comparison) so no pics.

Around town, on the other hand, there were a plethora of bright red trees and bushes:

and a few of varying colors

 

[DennisN]

Autumn sun (shot today):

(Gear: Sony A7R + Canon nFD 50mm f/1.4 + CPL filter)

 

[jtbell]

This maple is always the fall vanguard in our neighborhood.

 

[pinball1970]

From August.

 

[collinsmark]

Mittens update.

Mr. Mittens, my neighbor's cat, continues to pop over to visit occasionally.

Here he is looking out the window. I think he spies a bird or neighbor.

I was playing with negative space here. This image violates a couple of rules of photographic composition to the benefit of other rules. I think it still works.

Mr. Mittens making himself comfortable.

 

[collinsmark]

One day, after saying hello to Mr. Mittens, I thought I saw him go upstairs. But later, after going up to check on him, I didn't find him in his usual spot.

It turns out he had found a new spot in the secret engineering laboratory* (pronounced: la-BOAR-a-tor-ee) taking a late-morning catnap.

*(It's not actually secret. And besides an old oscilloscope and multimeter, it's not even much of a laboratory. I just call it that.)

"For what reason have you disturbed my slumber."

He looks a bit pensive here after stirring from his catnap. It turned out he just wanted me to pet him before returning to his sleep. I had already given him my "hello" affection, and I don't want to overdue it (tempting as it may be). He's not my cat after all, and I don't want him to become overly accustomed away from his real home.

But I did scratch him on his head a little and reassure him that he's a very good kitty.

 

[jtbell]

As I was driving towards downtown late Tuesday afternoon:


View attachment 350577

Most of downtown was blocked off, so I could only circle it and view the pillar of smoke from various directions. I could see that it was on the main shopping street.

When I got home, the TV stations in nearby cities were reporting that a restaurant had caught fire, and it was spreading to adjacent buildings.

Early the next morning (yesterday) I walked downtown for a closer look. Fire crews were still cleaning up. One building was completely destroyed, a restaurant where I've regularly eaten. Three adjacent buildings were severely damaged. Apparently the fire spread through the basements because of a lack of firewalls. Fortunately there were no casualties except for minor injuries among some firefighters.

View attachment 350578

The restaurant downtown that burned down nearly two months ago will re-open early next year, three doors from its former location, in the building at the right in the picture below.

The college bought this building more than 20 years ago, and moved its bookstore there to encourage students to visit downtown more. The 2008-09 recession caused the college to close the store completely, and switch to an online textbook store. Around 2020 IIRC the college opened a cafe and pub there. It suffered only smoke damage in the fire, but has not re-opened. Last week the college sold the building to the restaurant's owners. A TV report showed the college's president handing over the keys.

It's a win-win transaction. The restaurant gets a new home. The college has been in financial difficulties, and has been selling properties that aren't central to its academic mission, in order to raise cash.

 

[jtbell]

 

[jtbell]

I wonder if anyone has set up "synchronized sprinklers": all shooting in the same direction and oscillating at the same rate?

 

[berkeman]

I wonder if anyone has set up "synchronized sprinklers": all shooting in the same direction and oscillating at the same rate?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountains_of_Bellagio

 

[jtbell]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountains_of_Bellagio

Ah, Vegas of course!

 

[Borg]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountains_of_Bellagio

LOL This was my immediate thought.

 

[collinsmark]

I took a rangefinder camera to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter last Saturday evening for some street photography.

Street photography is the art of documenting society at a particular place and time. While there is overlap with other forms of photography, such as architecture, photojournalism, and portraiture, the emphasis is different. The emphasis in street is on societal and cultural aspects. Rather than a photo focusing on a building's structure, a newsworthy event, or a particular person, street photography emphasizes how the building gets used (or doesn't), the culture at that time and place, or individualism. (But yeah, there is some overlap.)

While I'm not a huge fan of San Diego's architecture in general, there are exceptions.

I like the brick sidewalks in the Gaslamp.

Couple considering their options for the evening. Oh, by the way, this is the Saturday before Halloween, just so ya know.

Right outside Tivoli's bar. I used to live about a block away from here before moving to a different neighborhood in San Diego.

Puppies!

I like the indirection.

Continued in part II. ...

 

[collinsmark]

... Part II

The 35 mm Summilux-M produces some nice sunstars (a.k.a. diffraction spikes) off of it's iris/aperture blades.

Some days just call for salt and whiskey.

The Field (Irish pub). She was changing a bulb in the decorative string light. I was letting my feet rest with a Guinness.

Zoltar. My manual focus rangefinder felt right at home here.

Outside The Tipsy Crow.

Puppy!

Continued in Part III ...

 

[collinsmark]

... Part III

I love this time of year.

"Screw the box. I think outside the straight jacket."

I like the fence/gate, and of course the brick sidewalk.

Very photogenic. And a puppy!

How adorable!

I like the lamp in the window.

Continued in part IV (last part) ...

 

[collinsmark]

... Part IV

Definitely outside the Gaslamp Quarter.

This is a keeper. I was crossing the street on the way to the trolley station and I spotted this person just standing motionless, basically in the middle of the street. 'Just standing there. After I got to the sidewalk, the person did move. I think they were just waiting for the bus. -- It's for shots like this that I keep my camera in my hand and not in my bag.

This building is named the "Hall of Justice." Super Friends (DC Comics) fans will know the name from childhood. Yes, San Diego has a "Hall of Justice" where the courthouses are. There's also a cafe/foodcourt on the ground floor that serves a good Justiceburger with cheese and fries (menu items may vary).

Back to the trolley station. 'Good thing too, my feet were getting sore. I need to exercise more often.

It was getting late by this time, so I had to wait a half-hour for my trolley, but it was a pleasant wait.

 

[jack action]

Puppies!

Back to another time, getting a dog was an excuse to force yourself to exercise. Ah well!

 

[DennisN]

Some more autumn shots...

An ivy in lovely autumn colors:

An autumn leaf:

A small autumn tree:

Another leaf:

Leaves...

...and more leaves :

(Gear: Sony A7R + Canon nFD 50mm f/1.4 + CPL filter)

 

[morrobay]

Arranging a speedboat day trip out to a remote island (ko khram) about 30km off shore... Finally found some people I can trust out there if you know what I mean.

 

[nsaspook]

Random driving to work images.

 

[nsaspook]

10Hr smoked Brisket.

 

[Rive]

Airing cat TV:

 

[jtbell]

I'm finally approaching the end of my August road trip. This stop was actually early in the trip, on my way north, but I passed it again in the other direction, during the next to last day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luray_Caverns

On one of my first road trips with my parents as a 7-year-old, we passed many billboards for this place. I wanted to stop here, but we didn't. This time I finally made up for it. Admission is a bit expensive at $34, but I think I got my money's worth.

An underground pool mirrors the ceiling.

The "stalacpipe organ's" keys trigger hammers that tap against stalactites that resonate at specific frequencies. Sensors pick up the vibrations and amplify them. I got to hear the end of a performance for a tour group ahead of me. Spooky!

The beginnings of stalactites stalagmites:

This pool was specifically designated for donations to charitable causes. I guess tossing coins isn't enough nowadays because of inflation.

There are several other attractions here, including a classic car exhibit, a garden maze, and a regional heritage museum, all covered by the admission fee. One could easily spend most of a day here.

(skip to the next post in this series)

 

[Rive]

A hike in a national park

Plains in close view:

'Plain' is not always 'flat', as it seems...

Strange and pretty unique view on this continent:

May seem tragic, but in historical context it's actually not that bad. Once upon a time (two or three centuries ago) these were actual sand dunes, but then by some effort and stroke of luck they were tied down by vegetation. In the latter part of the XX. century somebody had a great idea to plant pines there, further distorting the landscape.
By the changes in the last decades, the pines are drying and dying in large patches, so now it's about cleaning up the site and replacing them with trees compatible with the area.
The new trees right now are still smaller than those tumbleweed-like weeds (they are not the actual/original tumbleweeds of North-America). But the new trees are striving there, even with the sand out in the open again.
In the background, some living pines left there to guard against the wind.

The original vegetation of the sand dunes is still there in patches and the goal of the project is to protect, preserve and restore them as much as still possible: