While camping north from Toulon, Nevada, I was awakened by a bright light early in the morning. The waning Moon was shining through my camper window. I picked up my iPhone and made the capture.
I forgot to post this, but there is a DC Power Transmission Line that runs from the Oregon/Washington border to Los Angeles. I was unaware that direct current was in use for power transmission. But, it has some advantages. Cool!
Someone mentioned that the reports of eye irritation/damage might be from a infrared laser, such as the PEQ-15. This could be malicious or just an error.
I might have posted this before, but I am working with the JS8Call mode (ham radio). The JS8Spotter utility has a lot to offer in support of JS8 operations.
Last night I stepped outside of my camper to look at the night sky. I made this capture with my iPhone 13 Pro Max and it is SOOC.
I spent most of the week in Northern Nevada near Summit Lake collecting topographic data to refine one of my hydraulic models for my client. Our definition of the small channel was lacking and we had unused budget, so I lobbied for collection of more detailed channel geometry.
And so that is what I did. I had a new helper and she is excellent. She has no surveying experience, but learned to follow my direction rapidly and has a better attitude about field work than most of the technical people I have worked with. She is definitely a keeper!
I left the site later I needed to and hit traffic just west from Lovelock. A semi-truck van caught fire and was burned out on the shoulder of I-80. The trucker had separated the tractor from the van, so there was no apparent damage to the rig. But the van looked a total loss.
Traffic was backed up a mile or so. It was moving, but slowly. This cost me maybe 20 minutes.
The sun was falling behind the mountains and I was very tired after a week of exercise. Also, I had caught enough insects on the windshield that the light was causing difficulty seeing.
I was getting desperate when I hit the Toulon exit. But I seemed to remember a place to dry camp not far north from the Interstate. Driving up Wild Ass Road (yes, that is the name) I leaned out my window to improve my vision. I found a pull-out and then realized I had been there before. My friends sometimes camp there.
I turned the rig to face downhill, parked, and got The Girl out for a respite. She immediately eliminated, which was a good thing (for her).
It took a little longer than usual to deploy my camper. I guess I was pretty tired.
But, with the house setup, I opened a beer and a bag of chips for a snack. I also discovered that the refrigerator had reset itself sometime during the day and everything was warm. So, I did not trust most of my food. It was no matter, I was not particularly hungry. I simply wanted to settle down, decompress a bit, and go to sleep.
I fed The Girl and she hopped up on the bed and settled right down. I finished my beer and had another while sending text messages to friend and family.
I stepped outside to empty my bladder and noticed the sky. Unsure whether or not my iPhone might capture the scene of the trucks passing below us on I-80 and the evening stars, I made the capture anyway.
I was fairly astounded at the result, above. The Orion Constellation is clearly visible. I will take it.
I slept hard last night and rose when the eastern sky brightened. After a coffee and a short constitutional with The Girl, I recovered the camper and we headed home.
I stopped briefly in Fernley and had breakfast at the Denny’s inside Terrible’s Travel Center. I took The Girl most of my bacon.
We drove out the remaining hour and arrived home late morning. I think we were both glad to be home.
After unloading my few things and getting rid of the trash from the trip. I took her up near Spooner Summit and we had a good hike together.
The remainder of the day was spent recovering. We napped and snuggled. It is good to be home.
This is a “standard” test shot of my Lucas plushie using the Sony A7Sii and a Konica Hexanon 35mm f/2.8 lens at f/2.8 (wide open). This Hexanon is one of my best 35mm focal length lenses and is better than the Vivitar 35mm f/1.9, the Soligor 35mm f/2.8 (by a lot), and the Hexanon 35mm f/2. I need to compare it with the Nikkor glass in my collection.
OK, where in the Internet will I go this week?
I have a need to install Python scripts (sometimes). Package installing provides utilities to accomplish this.
I think I need to assemble a VHF/UHF radio for field operations. Armaloq has a frame for my Kenwood TM-V71A that will provide protection and relocation of back panel connectors.
I might have posted this before, but exiftool is an excellent (but complex) tool for editing EXIF data in image files. It is a command line utility, which no one likes anymore. (Well, except for command line geeks like me.) The exiftoolGUI Python program provides a GUI for the tool. This website provides a few examples for using exiftool from the command line.
This is a test image captured with the Sony A7Sii and a Soligor 35mm f/2.8 lens at f/8. Post processing comprised only a denoise pass with PhotoLab.
Some time ago, like maybe a decade, I actively collect lenses for the Konica AR mount. They were mostly Hexanon (Konica) lenses, but a few third-party lenses made it into the mix.
I carried an old Soligor 35mm f/2.8 adapted to my Sony A7Sii a couple of times this week on walkies. Then I made a few captures with it at my worktable.
Aside: I also carried a Vivitar 35mm f/1.9 for a day or two. I have more thoughts on the latter for later publication. In fact, I will write a 35mm shoot-out for those 35mm lenses in my inventory. I learned a few things by shooting some test shots with them. This entry is a mini-review of the Soligor.
My impression of the Soligor is not particularly favorable. It is reasonably sharp, but nothing outstanding. However, it has poor flare resistance. This is evident in the image above even though the lens is stopped down to f/8 for that capture. It is bad. It is worse wide open at f/2.8.
So, although the lens was probably an alternative to the much more expensive Hexanon issue (at the time), I think it is not a good alternative.
The capture at the bottom of this entry is from the Vivitar 35mm f/1.9 at f/8 with the same camera and same post processing. The difference between the two images is striking.
This was fun. I remain grateful and life is good.
This is a test capture made with my Sony A7Sii and a Vivitar 35mm f/1.9 at f/8. Post processing comprised a denoise pass with PhotoLab.
A new journal cover arrived this morning. This will carry a Field Notes notebook and a small folio with a couple of pockets that I made. Shot with Sony A7Sii and Nikkor 35mm f/2 at f/8. No post processing.
I ordered a new journal cover last week. It was from an Etsy store called Dogtown Portage. It is a Field Notes size cover made from a nice supple leather. There is plenty of room for two Field Notes notebooks and a small folio I made from cardstock that has a couple of pockets to carry a few business cards and the day’s receipts.
It will likely last forever. It will also develop a nice patina as I carry and use it.
It is a replacement for a much stiffer cover that irritates my leg when carried in a cargo pocket. That cover will probably go to one of my kids.
The image was made with my Sony A7Sii and a Nikkor 35mm f/2 lens at f/8. I did no post processing but for reducing the size of the image.
I enjoy making my Every Day Carry (EDC) work better for me. A notebook is an absolute must as well as a good pen.
Test shot of berries on some landscape shrubbery. Shot with the Sony A7Sii and a Fujinon 55mm f/3.5 Macro lens at f/8.
On Monday I carried the Sony A7Sii with an old Fujinon 55mm f/3.5 Macro affixed to the camera. It was a test run with a lens my buddy Jimmy loaned me. I made a few captures on walkies and shared one of a yellow jacket and rose a couple of days ago.
On our circuit through Carson City to the Station 51 park and back, we came across a shrub (“Bring me a shrubbery!”) covered in orange berries. I doubt they are edible or the birds would have carried them off. But, the color made for an interesting capture with a macro lens.
The Girl sniffed around a bit as I worked the subject. It was a quiet day on the Nevada DOT grounds. The overcast made the orange really pop.
The subject worked, The Girl and I made our way home to get on with our day — she a long drink from her bowl and a nap… me with a dry shirt and a push on some paying work.
It was a good day. Time spent with The Girl is time well spent. Life is good.
Testing the Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.7 Planar. Shot with Sony A7Sii at f/4 (probably). No post.
I carried a Carl Zeiss (aus Jena?) 50mm f/1.7 Planar affixed to the Sony A7Sii while on walkies the other day. I was curious about how the lens would render a few subjects.
The Planar formula is quite old, being developed by a Zeiss designer before 1900. However, it is an excellent design as the image above demonstrates. My instance is quite sharp, the colors are rendered well, and the out of focus areas very smooth.
I need to find a subject with specular reflections in the background or some lights to see how those will render. I like the lens.
Walkies were good. The weather is cooler, as evidenced by the overcast. Life is good.
I found this on walkies this morning, a yellow jacket working a rose. Shot with Sony A7Sii and a Fujinon 55mm f/3.5 macro at f/8. Post in PhotoLab to make some minor adjustments.
After working part of the morning, The Girl and I got out for walkies here in Carson City. I had stuff to do and a meeting at 1300h, so I did not want to drive up to Spooner for a hike. So, we walked in town.
The weather broke this weekend and it was about 50ºF outdoors. (And it was cool in the house as well.) I wore a cover and took just the Sony A7Sii fitted with a legacy Fujinon 55mm f/3.5 macro lens. It is a new to me lens, but Fujinon glass has always been good. So, I had high expectations.
The light was mediocre, but we did get a little sunlight mixed in with the overcast. The Girl really wanted to chase the plethora of ground squirrels near the rose hedge at the old flume. But I was afraid to let her go as there are sometimes other dogs and poorly mannered handlers.
When we got close to the hedge, I could tell it was clear (of dogs and poor handlers), so I let her sniff about for the dreaded bushytail.
I made a few images of the roses, mostly to test the lens until I saw a yellow jacket working one of the flowers.
“There it is!” I thought. I made a couple captures and the one above is the best.
The remainder of the walk was good and uneventful. My 1300h meeting was cancelled. I worked a bit until mid-afternoon, then The Girl and I took a nap.
She is doing much better. In fact, I think she is back to 100%. This is good. It makes me happy.
It was a good day. I am grateful. Life is good. Really, it is.
While walking my downtown route last weekend, I noticed a walker in front of the Capitol Building. Capture with Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 at f/8. Post in PhotoLab to Tri-X Film Simulation.
Although I have been around the Internet since my last remainders post, apparently I did not capture a lot of the sites and include them here. Hmmm…
Hugin is an open source panorama stitcher for landscape photographers.
Howard Merklinger is an author of a book on focusing in general and a second on focusing the view camera. They are quite technical, but very good.
The Brewery is another local restaurant that is pretty darned good. Shot with Sony A7Sii and a Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.7 Planar at f/8. Post in PhotoLab with a Ilford FP4+ film simulation.
After a pretty full day yesterday, I ended up at Garibaldi’s Italian Restaurant front door, waiting for them to open. While I waited, I got out the Sony A7Sii, which was fitted with a Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.7 Planar lens, and made a few images.
Of the group, I like this one quite a lot. I was facing into the Sun and the clarity of the shot is a testimony to the quality of the lens. There are a few small Sunstars visible.
The Girl is recovering nicely. After spending the morning in the Nevada Emergency Operations Center radio room, we came home, I got a bite to eat, and then we walked a few miles in town. It was warm, but not too hot.
A treat was our encounter with Timber and Lisa. The Girl recognized them and rushed over to engage. She loves her peeps! I had a nice, but short, visit and they were back off to work and we back on our walk.
I did what I said I would do. I even got a bit of work done given there was nothing to do in the radio room. It was a good day. I am grateful.
