speed recap #12

Finally warm enough to enjoy the deck - at least until the wind picked up ;)
Japanese 'brown-rice' Green tea, and a small snack salad

Sony a6000/50mm, f2.2 for 1/3200sec, ISO 200

WTF #5

Tian Phat asian grocery. 28th April 2017, Bedford, NS

Provided without comment.

Apple iphone 5S, 35 equiv. 29mm, f2.2 for 1/30sec, ISO 160 (let's be completely honest here - the camera did all the work, I just found it something interesting to look at)

single word post #11

blatherskite

old photo #15

Sunset from crew-park - 30th September 2013 - Eastern Passage, NS

After a reasonably successful days booming on 'Beethoven's Treasure' (we were having a blast, but the lead dog/s were proving to be difficult for the overall shoot), upon returning to my car for the 1+1/2hr drive home; I was greeted with this spectacular sunset.

Sony RX100, 10.4mm (35 equiv. 28mm), f2.0 for 1/30sec, ISO 200

positivity #6

Rubber deteriorates with time.

The little rubber nose pads on sunglasses also come into contact with sunscreen, bug spray, cleaning solutions, and UV rays from the sun.

So after 8 years of hard use, there's not a lot of surprise when these pads become a little looser in their fit.

Even less surprise when they become loose enough to fall off.

It should come as no surprise that when one of them decides to make a break for freedom, it will come at the worst time, in the worst possible place for an attempt to retrieve it.

Such as, transferring from a boat to a jetty, while in transit, on the way to 3 flights that will take you to the other side of the world. 

All I can say is that I'm extremely happy it decided to escape on my way "home" and not at the beginning of the holiday.

Luckily there are companies that understand, and perhaps even 'factor in' this kind of event into the price of their product (or allocate it from their advertising budget? A good will fund?) 

They make it insanely easy to order a pair of replacement pads, and then don't even charge for the shipping.

It's exceptional customer service, for a customer who can't remember where they bought the product, in a country on the other side of the world, 8 years ago...

A big tip-of-the-hat to Maui Jim for doing more than expected. 

It's very much appreciated; and a great way of making a positive impact on your customers.

new photo #13

Nest - 24th April 2017 - Chester, NS

There's a little nest appearing in the tree off our balcony. Are the hummingbirds back already?

Sony a6000+kit long zoom (210mm), f6.3 for 1/800sec, ISO 2000

old photo #14

Inside the Spiral Stairs - 5th June 2012 - SBAC Brisbane

One of my last climbs before heading over to Canada in 2012 was a photographic one.
The climbers were allowed restricted (for safety) personal cameras, for a unique view of the city...


Nikon D7000+Tokina 11-18 (@18mm), f 11 for 1/500, ISO 2000

here's a link #14

neuralink

Another 'wait but why' deep-dive.

Be prepared to invest a fair amount of time, and have your mind blown...

WTF #4

Lynx sculpture - 21st April 2017 - saltscapes expo, Halifax NS

For the past 6 years, as set dressing for the staff-offices on the show Mr.D there have been a bunch of magazines hi-lighting local businesses, events and things to do.

When making a TV show, nothing is left to chance; if there's s painting/photo on a wall in the background, someone associated with the show has already contacted the artist (or legal rights holder) to obtain 'clearance' of said artwork - in short, people who make TV don't want to have to ask for permission to display someone's artwork (or logo) after they've already done the expensive filming part, and risk having the legal rights holder deny its use (the alternative is something that's seen often in Reality TV shows - they simply blur out the product/logo in question)

So, back to Mr D. These magazines in the 'office-set' have been 'cleared' and since they're never the focus of any particular shot, they can easily be reused from scene to scene (and year to year), as something for the background performers to 'do' without drawing attention away from the actors doing their thing in front of the camera.  It's truly amazing to watch any random TV show and pay attention to what the BG are actually 'doing' - chances are that they're having a very "silent" conversation with just a little more hand-gesturing than is normally required, but that's a topic for another post.

TV shows take a fair amount of time to film, and the part which takes the most amount of time, is moving equipment around, then setting the lighting. As a boom operator, your job is to find a way of collecting the dialog without causing shadows or reflections; as such you will often find yourself needing to hang around the set while they sort out where the lights and camera/s will be pointing.  

Instead of pulling out your phone, or striking up yet another 'what do you think they'll serve for lunch' conversation - I have on occasion, found myself flicking through the articles in these magazines.

I promise that I'm getting to the point.

The magazines that have been cleared for use are "Saltscapes".  This magazine series highlights local crafts/foods/places-to-go-and-things-to-see. They also hold an annual trade-show/expo/thing so that these local merchants can promote themselves directly to the public.

We went yesterday.

Along with the chance to purchase (and sample) some of the local booze and treats, listen to music, and 'learn how to cook your lobster"; there are a bunch of hotels holding competitions to try and get your email address, vendors selling any number of holiday packages, and local artists showing off their stuff.

One such guy calls himself 'Redneck Craft Creations'

His art seems to be almost entirely the creation of sculpture through the repurposing of everyday (mostly kitchen) items.

what an awesome WTF to see.

old photo #13

Trees - 25th June 2016 - somewhere over 'the valley', NS

An amazing viewpoint from a hot air balloon ride 


Sony RX100, 10.4mm (35 equiv. 28mm) f4.5 for 1/40sec, ISO 200

single word post #10

triskaidekaphobia

positivity #5

Food.

To be completely honest, for the majority of my life, food has simply been a fuel for the body; a necessity that hasn't really mattered one way or the other how it tastes.

But as I've aged (and been exposed to people who love to play with taste and presentation); I've started to appreciate the delights of focusing on high quality and tasty meals.

So cheers to those of you that think of food as more than a fuel. May your tables be full of joy, and thanks for bringing me along for the ride.

here's a link #13

the great emu war

...why didn't I learn about this in history classes? This is absolutely freaking amazing.

new photo #12

Liming the lawn - 16th April 2017 - Chester, NS

Will it help? Only time can tell :)

Sony a6000+50mm, f1.8 for 1/2500sec, ISO 100

old photo #12

Opera Reflection - May 3rd 2008 - Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW

I was working in Sydney on Wolverine, we'd just finished the nights filming on 'Cocaktoo Island', and I stopped in to Darling Harbour for my annual may 3rd sunrise photo-walk.

This has to be one of my favourite photos of the Sydney opera house.

Nikon D50. 70mm (kit lens), at f4.8, for 1/350 sec, ISO 200

single word post #9

delinquent

old photo #11

Dusk - 24th August 2007 - 'El Questro' Western Australia

As a part of the 2nd Unit sound recordings on 'Australia', I spent many hours capturing the landscapes with a 'Soundfield' Surround Microphone system.

After checking in with the shooting crew (which was focused on the stampede sequence), to see if there would be anything useful for me to record, I'd drive off to find more ambiences.

Some days I'd stay out late to make sure there were a variety of locations and times.

I'm pretty sure this photo was taken while heading back to camp and stopping to record the most amazing metalic screeching of a gate hinge.

You really couldn't take a bad photo out there.

Nikon D50 at 18mm (kit zoom), f3.5, for 1/30 sec, handheld ISO 400

new photo #11

Baking - 9th April 2017 - Chester, NS

Sony a6000/50mm, f 1.8 for 1/800sec, ISO 1000

single word post #8

catawampus

old photo #10

Foxey - 7th July 2014 - in the horse field behind our house - Chester, NS

This mamma fox was grubbing around some freshly slashed grass in the fields, and we locked eyes for a second.

Nikon D7000+18-200VRII (200mm), f9 for 1/100sec, ISO 1600

new photo #10

Turtle charm - Bridgewater, NS

Sony a6000/16-50kit (50mm) 1/1250sec, @f5.6, ISO 1600 

new photo #9

9th April - 2017 - Kevin in the window.

iphone 5S Back camera - 4.2mm (35 equiv. 29mm), 1/519sec f2.2 ISO 32

new photo #8

Chester sunsets - 7th April 2017

Sony a6000/50mm, 1/80sec at f2.5, ISO 100

Some alternate angles that I couldn't choose between

WTF #3

some random meme's/images that I've enjoyed seeing over my various social media feed recently

speed recap #12

Yesterday Lisa and I headed to the city for some errands. While waiting in the car, I witnessed a delightful moment of frustration? for a random driver.

They reversed a high-end black Audi A6 into a parking spot, making sure to open the drivers-door, in an attempt to line up correctly with what they assumed were the markings of the spot they desired.

This took a couple of 'back and forwards' to really refine the straight-ness of what was going to become, a really satisfying parking job. (I'd argue that it wasn't that accurate, or straight; but who am I to pass judgement).

They exited the vehicle, and while walking past the front of the car, finally noticed that they'd inadvertently parked in a disabled spot.

Please know, the parking lot was fairly empty. There was another unoccupied disabled spot next to the walkway they'd so delicately parked along-side. No great rush of people either judging, or requiring the use of this spot that they'd spent so long refining their position in.

In short, no-one was likely to attack them for being an entitled person. They probably could have done what they needed to, and returned to the vehicle without anyone being the wiser, or indeed caring.

However, immediately upon noticing that they'd spent so long parking where they probably shouldn't; they shook their head, returned to the vehicle and moved one place to their left, thus occupying a non-disabled spot. (In what I would say was a much quicker, and indeed straighter parking job).

So a tip-of-the-hat to you, Random-audi-driver; for doing more than required to conform to the standards of being a "non-dick". 

May your day have been pleasant, and not too-impacted by the 5 minutes it took you to park at the shops.

single word post #7

sesquipedalian

old photo #9

27th March 2014 - Lisa on the helipad - Kauai

my recollections of the helicopter ride are of seeing some amazing stuff, and then feeling really ill for a few hours after.

nothing that some anti-nausea meds, and a 'shave-ice' couldn't fix.  ;)

captured with the Sony RX100 compact - 10.4mm (28mm equiv.) at f2.8, 1/2000sec, ISO 125

new photo #7

Spring storm creates an ice sheet on the deck railing.

Sony a6000+50mm lens, F3.2 for 1/400 sec ISO 100

new photo #6

Kevin

Sony a6000/50mm, f2.8 for 1/80sec at ISO 400

I was going to post something 'arty' from the last ice-storm - but he was just sitting on the shelf in such an awesome way that I couldn't resist.

here's a link #12

mind controlling a turtle?!?