2024: Time for a website Reboot

I recently turned 70. We recently moved to Las Vegas. The desert and city offer a lot of new stuff that my cameras will love. I’m getting the cameras out. I’ll start the new year being more intentional about my photography and my blogging.

PLUS, or maybe minus, it’s an election year. It will be difficult to keep quiet about some of those gains on. I’ll try to keep it family friendly. No promises. I DID SAY I’D TRY!

So, my tip for starting off the new year. As thorny and spiked as the cacti are, they still need protection. Gotta keep those tips from exposure to the elements.

More Car Museum Camera Fun

in ,

Classic Cars and Trucks

in ,

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum offers over 120 cars on exhibit on three levels, nine automotive themed galleries allow the visitor to experience everything from classic cars (as defined by the Classic Car Club of America), to Indiana built cars, to racing and engineering themed exhibits and the original Auburn Automobile Company showroom and company offices.

When you go, purchase a “Campus Ticket” and use it next door at the National Auto and Truck Museum as well. Two great museums right beside each other. Auburn, Indiana.

Lume Cube!

in

I love these little Lume Cube LED lights! Cordless. Rechargeable. Diffusers. Adjustable with buttons or an app. Fit on the flash shoe of most cameras. My pair did not come with the little ball heads so I added them. I also recently added the triple shoe mount for multiple light sources on one camera. These accessories also fit standard tripod mounts or the very cool and sleek adjustable light stands, which I probably have as well. None of this is cheap. It is built like a tank. Great quality. Even beautiful. Albert has a couple of the Panel GO lights and the shorter light stands that he uses for all the video calls and Zoom-type meetings he has these days. (Someone has to work.) They are an excellent work-from-home option.

I don’t do video but if you do and if you VLOG, check these out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. There are attachment gizmos for the lights to go on your cell phone. Even mounting for drones, if that’s your thing.

The only negative would be the price. They are a bit pricey. They have decent battery life but I would like to see that improved. If you’re not on at full power they last hours. Albert has his Panel GO set on about 10% and it shows a 6 hour time remaining. It’s just gonna depend on how you use them. Often I have my cubes on full power. Max set like that is about 45 minutes.

From the Lume Cube website. The Lume Cube Story…

“Who is Lume Cube?

Light shapes the way we see the world. We believe you deserve gear that guarantees the right light is always at your fingertips. 

Lume Cube is the brainchild of a group of content nerds who are committed to innovation. As creators ourselves, we’ve learned one thing for certain: better light = better content. By focusing on products that give our customers the creative flexibility they need, we’ve built a global network of hundreds of thousands of explorers, creators, and communicators who have discovered the value of a light.

We’re dedicated to providing easy to use, 
easy to carry, and unapologetically good-looking
products that let you:

Take photographs that inspire
Create content to educate, empower, and encourage.
Share moments of everyday life that connect us.
Show up to Zoom meetings looking like a well-lit boss 
Follow your work anywhere it takes you without being weighed down by heavy gear.

Your creativity doesn’t end when the sun goes down. We’re here to make sure you always have the light you need to create brighter experiences.”

Fences. Useless or Useful? Well, Which One is it?

in , , , ,

Why build border walls? We’ve been told for years that fences and walls simply don’t work. Why do they surround most celebrities homes? Why do they surround many homes of members of Congress? Why are they used in 100% of jails and prisons? Why do zoos use them? Why are there various forms of fences and barricades in multiple locations at airports across the world? Why are they now suddenly everywhere in our Nation’s Capitol and at government sites across the country? Why all the fences and barricades that “don’t work?” Why? Apparently they do work. Who knew?

I am trying exceedingly hard to not bring up the “peaceful protests” that ravaged communities across the land the past summer. “Defund the police.” “No military! It’s bad optics.” “It will make things worse.” I guess it’s a different story when Congress is scared shitless. I guess the people are just unworthy of the same protections as Congress. Short and sweet. Biting my lip. Done FOR NOW.

Some fences are more beautiful than others. Several years ago we exited our comfort zone and spent a week at an amazing dude ranch in a spectacular location. We saw these cool fences everyday we spent at a Montana dude ranch in Teton Canyon. Deep Canyon Guest Ranch