Skywatch Friday

A break in the clouds.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.

F Number	11.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/800
Exposure Program	Program AE
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Snow on twig

Sounds like a dessert!  It's amazing how even the tiniest horizontal surface can hold snow.  This twig is thinner than a pencil and look at how much snow piled up on it!

We do make a dessert out of snow.  It's called sugar on snow, or Jack Wax.  Pack snow into a baking pan, then drizzle maple syrup on it.  Believe it or not, some people like to eat it with dill pickles!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Manual
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Radio!

My friend Sigurd and I went 'roving' for the January ARRL VHF radio contest.  He has an unbelievable setup in this small car.  Basically, we drive to a high place, talk to as many people as we can, pack it up and drive to another place and do it all over again.  It's pretty cool to talk to people far and near, and after a while you get to recognise people by their voice alone.

We were blessed because although it was cold, it wasn't windy and so we were pretty comfortable even though we were outside for 12 hours.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	18.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 36.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/400
Exposure Program	Manual
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Collecting bottles

We pay a 5 cent deposit on bottles and cans of soda and beer.  In theory, this motivates people to take the empties back to the store or to the recycling centre to get those nickels back, but  some people can't be bothered.

That's where folks like this gent come in.  On garbage day, people like him go around looking through the trash for cans and bottles to recycle.  You wouldn't think that a nickel is worth that sort of labour, but it adds up.

The weather wasn't great that day, and pushing that shopping cart wasn't easy.  But he wasn't the only one.  The city's trash collectors were out in it too.  Bless all those who work outside.  What a life.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/80
Exposure Program	Manual
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Air Force One

President Obama was in Schenectady on Friday.  He visited the General Electric plant where large steam turbines are built.  I myself did not see him but I did see his airplane, Air Force One.  I would have thought the plane would have landed at the Schenectady County Airport, which has an excellent, long runway, but they came in at Albany International instead.  That necessitated closing down portions of the NYS Thruway and Interstate 890 to make sure he arrived without incident.  That process was pretty efficient.

Anyway, the plan was parked at the Albany airport, and since I work nearthere, I decided to take a drive to see if I could get a photo.  Every place one could pull over had a police car in it, lights flashing and officers making sure you kept driving.  I ended up circling the airport and was lucky enough to be stuck in traffic after the President boarded to leave.  The 747's engines are spooled up and 10 seconds from now, she turns tail toward the road and goes down the taxiway.  In 2 minutes, she's aloft again, winging back to the capital.

The photo was taken from the car on the road but I wasn't moving when I took it!  It's the first (and probably only!) time I saw this famous plane, and it was a stroke of luck.  A few minutes either way and I'd have missed her.

After looking at the photo on the computer I was struck by the TV trucks - I count 5 of them.  I didn't notice them at all when I drove past.  They blend in with the parking lot lamp standards; urban camouflage I guess!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/1000
Exposure Program	Manual
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Snow on the cherries

It snowed some more today.  We got something like a foot or so.  It was cold enough that it was a dry powdery snow, not a heavy, sticky fall.  Makes it much easier to clean up.  Because the wind was light, the snow piled up on every horizontal surface, even tiny branches like these.  The wind will probably reawaken and clear this off by the morning.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Manual
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Ninja fiddler crab

The lady crab got a gentleman friend to keep her company in the tank.  Not that she wasn't doing well with the African Dwarf frog, Kissing Gourami, Angelfish and Silver Dollar, but my little guy felt she'd be happier with someone her species.

This fellow has the typical single large claw and smaller opposite.  This one's a lefty.  He's somewhat territorial, and waves his arms when one of the fish swims by.  The fish are all at least 5 times larger than he is, but that doesn't seem to enter into his brain.

'Wave his arms' isn't really accurate.  He moves in spurts, first here, then there.  Not a continuous motion, like The Royal Wave, but a quick position change -- like a ninja.  He's pretty regular about it too, so he's been nicknamed the ninjatronic crab!

This isn't his best portrait, but I was lucky enough to capture his movement.

Nikon Coolpix 950 in macro mode, hand-held, available aquarium light:

F Number	3.7
Focal Length	16.9 mm
Exposure Time	1
Exposure Program	Program AE
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	No Flash

Empty mall

This is Latham Circle Mall.  Not much left now.  Most of the stores have left for more profitable places.  We were here for an Aikido class.  I was just visiting; it's my wife and our youngling who take classes.

F Number	3.5
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Program AE
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Lana enjoys the sun

This is Lana.  She's a German Shepherd Dog, a rescue.  It's been cold here of late, and she enjoys the sun coming in through the window after a walk outside.  I do, too!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Program AE
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

This was taken at Exit 24 of the New York State Thruway, in Albany.  Yes, we pay to use this highway.  Down in NY City, they pay to use bridges and tunnels too!  Anyway, cars queue up here waiting for their turn to pay the toll.

The sky was a uniform grey; just as it is today.  Today, as I type this, the snow is falling.  We're expecting 6 inches or so.  The drive home will be slow.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.

F Number	7.1
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/500
Exposure Program	Program AE
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Proctor's back door

This is the back door to Proctor's Theatre.  It's an historic building that has seen significant renovation.  Built in 1926, it was originally a Vaudeville theatre, and has managed to change with the times.  It's one of the jewels of our downtown.  There is enough space in the building (not the theatre proper) to house the Winter Market, which is where we were, picking up fresh local food for the week.

I'm experimenting with the new camera, and would like to try to record some of the details of the photo. I may get tired of doing this manually...

F Number	13.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	26.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 52.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/800
Exposure Program	Program AE
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Angel's hill

There was enough snow to go sledding  before New Year, but it was still very thin.  This hill is at Central Park, near the intersection of Bradley Boulevard and Monument Parkway.  This is the gentler of the two hills here.  It's a smooth ride down to the bottom, no bumps, no surprises.  If you can steer, you can make a right hand turn near the bottom and go even farther.

The other hill, the one the big kids use, is called Devil's hill.  It has a much steeper slope, some pretty large bumps and is easy to flip over when riding.  Plus, it's a lot steeper climb back to the top!

Cat up the tree

The kitten is exactly the right age.  Young enough to have the energy and interest to investigate everything, old enough to have the energy to climb.  We lost quite a few glass ornaments to this scamp!  Here, he investigates Star Trek's Lt Commander Data.

Christmas lights

Several neighbours string lights and illuminated decorations for the holiday season.  This is my best shot of one neighbour's work.  Night photography can be challenging.  Good thing electrons are cheap!

Monthly theme day - Best photo of 2010

Each month, the wonderful people at City Daily Photo run a theme where each of us can post a photo that realises a given idea.  This month, the theme is Best Photo of 2010.  This photo was taken at Mount Greylock, MA during the September ARRL VHF amateur (ham) radio contest.  While we often see cloudy / foggy conditions on the top of the mountain, we don't often see it clear on top and cloudy in the valley below us.  I wasn't the only one taking in the scene - a hiker paused to look over the edge.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants