Through The Viewfinder!

So my wife gave me a very cool gift for Christmas:  A "monopod".  My thinking is that it will do double-duty... a nice hiking stick and a camera stabilizer.  Here's what it looks like:

It's a heavy duty monopod that should work great for camera stabilization needs like sunsets, etc, that don't require a full tripod/remote shutter release setup.  It may be a little on the heavy side for a walking stick (they sell a carbon fiber version, but it's way too expensive!), but it will do.  I got to playing around with the box it came in... put the box on the outside of my macro lens.  Kind of a fun technique.

Marguerite outside my office window.

Our wild and crazy chihuahua "Miley"

After trying out this "through the box" technique, I thought it might be an easy next step to set up a through the viewfinder system, so here we go:

 I removed the little pop-up light shade off the top of my Kodak Duaflex II.  A very simple modification.

Next, I took some measurements using my Canon DSLR with a macro lens to measure the distance from the top of the Duaflex II to the Canon when the lens was in sharp focus.  It turned out this distance was about 9".  This will vary depending upon your lens.  I cut the box down to this size.

Next, I shaped the end of the box to fit the Kodak Duaflex II.  The box was surprisingly strong and made a nice snug fit.


I took sunrise photos this morning with my brand new system.  The idea behind Through the Viewfinder (TtV) is to give the photo that old-timey look, like a film photo your parents or grandparents might have taken!  Out of focus around the corners, dust and lint in the lens, and light leaks.  Very cool!

Well, I'm having fun with my new setup.  Stop back by for more TtV pics on future blogs!  Please check out Skywatch Friday for great skies from around the world.  Have a great weekend!

They Came From Outer Space!

I was walking out in the desert in 29 Palms last night, out behind my house, just before sunset.  It was a beautiful night with the rocks of Joshua Tree lit up by the late afternoon desert sun.  Suddenly I heard a strange, high pitched humming sound... not loud, but like nothing I had ever heard before.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught what seemed to be a quick flash of light.  Thankfully I had my iPhone with me, which I quickly grabbed and captured this unbelievable photo (underline unbelievable!).  There were multicolored circular objects moving across the sky at incredible speeds!  Maybe those folks in Roswell aren't so crazy after all??!  I ran in the house to get my shotgun and tell my wife.  When we came back outside, they were gone!!

OK, back to reality.  Here's the true story.  My sister over at Lap Dog Knits and I heard about a neighborhood in Fullerton that does something really unique for the holiday:  they hang hundreds of lighted globes from parkway trees.  We decided it would make a great photo challenge, so last night we took our cameras and tripods over and clicked away!

Here's a good shot of the lighted tree globes.  It looked liked this for blocks
and blocks... very cool!

The globes appear to be floating around a tree wrapped with Christmas
lights in this shot.

Lap Dog Knits hard at work!

Lap Dog Knits showed me how to get some great bokeh... by the way, do
you pronounce it bo-kay, or bo-ka?"

Here's a close-up of a mystery globe.  If you look closely, it looks like a bunch of clear plastic cups with lights inside.  The lights flash different colors, so it creates quite an effect as you see hundreds of globes lighting up and changing colors.  Many are really high in the trees (15 - 20 feet).

Macro shot of outdoor ornament.

Frosty!

So, what happens when you move your camera while photographing a mystery globe?  Here's what:

 Kind of a cool effect.  I think it adds to the whole science fiction kitsch theme for this post!  Now that I think about it, the mystery globes do kind of look like eyeballs!

Linking to Macro Monday.  Check out this site for some really great macro photography.  Also, check out Lap Dog Knits ... I'm guessing she will soon be posting some great "mystery globe" shots!  Happy New Year!

West Coyote Hills

My wife and I were walking our rambunctious chihuahua (Miley) today along one of the trails in North Fullerton.  The trail is bordered by former oil company property that is fenced off and has not been used in many years.  This property may or may not be developed, and many of us here in Fullerton hope to save Coyote Hills from development (original plan drawn up for 760 residential units... yikes, it's already WAY too crowded here!!).  Anyway, about half way along the hike, there is a gaping hole in the fence.  Couldn't resist squeezing through and stepping back in time to "old California".  It's incredibly nice nice open space, and I really hope in stays just as it is.

Panorama shot... trail leading to Coyote Hills can be seen on the left.

Late afternoon sun flare

Old oil company road (lots of weeds growing through the degrading asphalt -
road hasn't been used in many years) with red berries of a toyon tree on right.

iPhone shot of back-lit grass

Heading home!

   Happy Skywatch Friday, happy weekend, and Happy Newyear!!

Desert Crescent Moon

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!  A highlight for me is my visiting nephew, his wife, and brand-new baby girl Zoe.  It's really made the holidays special this year.  Also very memorable was a spectacular Christmas dinner with my sister (Lap Dog Knits) and her family.  
   Well, DG and I managed to escape out to the desert for a couple days (returning home tomorrow), and we were capturing a few photos as the sun was setting.  The moon was very visible, even before sunset.  Also, very cool looking because the crescent shape looks great out here in the desert sky.  I googled "today's moon" and learned that today's sky is indeed special:  "Be sure to head out after sunset to catch a close pairing of bright Venus and a thin waxing crescent moon in the western skies".
I was wondering what that bright spot below the moon was!!

You gotta look hard, but almost directly below
the crescent moon is Venus.

Crescent moon and telephone lines.

This has nothing to do with the moon, but I like the shot.  Used my
telephoto and tripod for some nice pink desert sky!

Late afternoon sun makes even mail boxes look interesting!

DG found an old frame during our wanderings.
She wasn't in the mood to smile.