ness

x2 Timeless classics that I've used (loosely) on three Brittanies over the years.

That's because you ain't cookin' them right.

Nah, don't sweat it.

You're welcome. Glad you guys found it useful. It was kind of a brain dump, and could probably be done better. Maybe I'll edit some. I've got some ideas for the understanding metering thing, but need to find some good photos to illustrate it. Oh, and the people I was sitting around waiting for on Friday have dumped their load on me. It's feast or famine here sometimes. Maybe later in the week. Tim-- I like your idea and would be willing to participate or even set it up.

I'm sitting around at work waiting on a bunch of people, and don't want to start something new. So, here goes ness' photography primer. 1) Think of light like flowing water. Photography is about putting a measured amount of light on a sensor (or film). 2) You can control the amount of light entering the camera in two ways -- the size of the 'pipe' it goes through (lens aperture, or the opening at the back of the lens) and the length of time you let it run through the pipe(shutter speed). 3) Aperture and shutter speed are both adjustable, and different combinations can allow in the same amount of light through: big pipe and short time (big aperture + fast shutter speed) = little pipe and long time (small aperture + long shutter speed). 4) Apertures and shutter speeds are measured in fractions. 5) Apertures are measured by the diameter of the hole in fraction form(in a formula I can't remember), without the numerator or top number. Just like 1/22 is smaller than 1/2, an aperture of 22 is smaller than 2 . These are expressed in 'f-stops' and written f/22 and f/2. 6) Shutter speeds are expressed as a fraction of a second, without the numerator. 1/2000 second is quicker than 1/2, and you'll see it on your camera as 2000 or 2. 7) Like I said in #3, different combinations can allow the same amount of light through. These are just examples, but give you the idea: f/8 at 1/125 equals f/11 at 1/60. 8) Adjustments to aperture and shutter speed have different effects on the photo. 9) Shutter speed freezes or blurs motion. Slower shutter speeds can allow minute hand movements to blur the picture. That's why we have tripods. 10) Aperture allows for narrow or wide depth of field (or, amount of image that's in focus). 11) The final element in exposure is the sensitivity of the sensor. Continuing with the water analogy, think of the how much water can be absorbed by sand, soil or clay. You pour water though a big pipe for a long time onto sand and you'll collect a lot of water. Pour water through a skinny pipe for a short time onto clay and you won't collect much at all. 12) Sensor (or film) sensitivity to light is measured in 'ISO'. ISO is adjustable on digital cameras, but back in the days of film, you bought a roll of film with a given ISO and had to live with it to the end. A smaller number is less sensitive to light, a larger number is more sensitive to light. So, with a given a shutter speed/aperture combination (or a volume of light) a more sensitive sensor (higher ISO) will collect more light, and the photo will be brighter. A lower ISO will collect less light and the photo will be darker. 13) Set that camera on Auto (Green, wimpy) and the camera will select a combination of aperture, shutter and ISO so that the picture is exposed to 'average brightness'. 14) Set the camera on Program ("P") and it will select aperture and shutter speed using your selected ISO. 15) Set the camera on Aperature Priority ("A") and you select the Aperture and control the depth of field. The camera selects the shutter speed that exposes to 'average brightness'. It will use whatever ISO the camera is set on 16) Set the camera on Shutter Priority ("S") and you control the shutter speed or how action is captured. The camera selects an appropriate aperture that exposes to average using the ISO. 17) Set the camera on Manual ("M", also for 'manly') and you control both aperature and shutter speed (and it uses your ISO selection). This is the BEST way to get your head around all this. That's why I suggest you do it. The little +/- bar in your viewfinder goes up and down as you adjust the two things. When it's at the center, you've got average exposure. Some examples: a -- large aperture, shallow depth of field. See how background is blurred? Large aperture is good for portraits b -- small aperture, large depth of field. See how foreground and background are both in focus? Good for landscape c -- fast shutter speed. See how the action is frozen? d -- slow shutter speed. Several second exposure allows water to blur; this was done on a tripod. If you're interested, I'll get into this further and explain this whole 'average exposure' more, and how you can go beyond what your camera's light meter suggests for exposure to get the shot you really want.

A smaller aperture (bigger number, like f/22) will increase the amount of your subject that's in focus or 'depth of field'. That said, on an extreme close up like that your DOF will be limited. Set the camera on Aperture Priorty mode (You've got MASP, choose A). Roll your aperture setting to the biggest number you can and retake the shot. Since you reduced the aperture so much, your shutter speed will slow down to compensate and let in the same amount of light to expose it right. If the camera-selected shutter speed is any slower than about 1/30 (like 1/15, 1/10, 1/2 second) and you're hand holding the camera, you won't be still enough and you'll blur the picture. So, crank up the ISO. Confused?

I cannot believe what I'm reading! You killed 6 adorable squirrels? Like the ones that sit up on their haunches, hold a peanut and cutely nibble away (before chewing a hole in the side of my house and turning my attic into their personal crapping ground/squirrel cub nursery)? I shake my head and smirk at YOU sir! Good day.

Oops. Mixed up Beaver and Moraine. But I know that spot!

10 pointer, I believe our avatars are from the same national park. Big T/Beaver Meadows in yours?

C'mon Drew -- I see you lurking down there in the 'reading this topic' thing. Redeem yourself! As for you anarchists and conspiracy theorists: Did anyone consider that, perhaps, MDC read up on this a little and decided to try to reduce the chances of didymo ruining our precious and rare cold water streams? Maybe, just maybe, because that would be a good thing for everybody? Not to sell shoes, increase taxes, take property, gain a little more control over the population, whatever? It must be hell to be haunted by these boogeymen. Relax and buy some freakin' new boots. Or fish somewhere else.

Yeah -- take a look at my factious post above and my serious one above that. Who's gonna be able to prove a vicious polecat didn't try to attack me? Or refute that my little kitten was eaten alive by one of these blood-thirsty monsters? MDC is feeling their way through this and giving the benefit of the doubt where they can't prove otherwise. Sooner or later some knucklehead will blow his story, go to jail or get a hefty fine. In the meantime, the new will wear off, THR's will realize these things really don't pose a threat (like the folks out west do) and leave them the hell alone. It takes time. Relax. Go shopping for some new rubber-soled boots. Peace out.

Hah! Figured somebody would take it wrong. Want me to put it back?

Trigger-happy redneck: 'I was doing target practice/hunting deer/sighting my rifle/ when this vicious mountain lion charged right at me.' CA: 'But he's been shot in the butt.' THR: 'First shot missed.' CA: 'Have a nice day.'

I suppose all this criticism of MDC was inevitable. But the problem lies with the fact that there are no witnesses to refute the claim, and that endangering livestock or humans isn't easily proven anyway. MDC is just working with what they've got, which ain't much. They're not going to be able to do a freakin' CSI-style investigation on these. Bottom line is these lions are new to MO and people are scared of them. Folks out west that have lived with them forever are used to them. They know that the vast majority of the time they aren't a danger to people or livestock. Best thing MDC can do now is to educate people. Eventually someone will get busted, and I bet they bust him hard. We're just gonna have to sit back and wait until that happens. That's what'll make people think twice about pulling the trigger.

That's a very cool development, and sounds very well thought out. One of the nicer things about a float tube is the ability to use your feet and keep your hands free, but they've got a whole lot of limitations and this addresses many of them. I predict copycats soon and prices well below $1,500.

I've been through Iowa a number of times, and have always thought the eastern half of the state is the prettiest farmland I've ever seen. Last month on my way to Driftless Area I was sooo impressed by the beautiful rolling hills with corn -- and good looking, green corn -- planted on just about every square inch of it. Vast fields of corn stretching to the horizon, and very few pastures or man-made ponds; some beans here and there, but not much. They plant corn right up to the edge of the yard in a lot of cases. And the farms are very well-kept and prosperous looking too. The downside though is that there is drastically less CRP land than there was 20 years ago, and all the goodies that go along with that. The scenery changes pretty abruptly up in the NE corner to larger hills with much more forestation. Sort of like the Ozarks, but again you won't see much pasture land -- and if there aren't trees there will usually be corn. There are dozens of spring creeks all within a relatively small area. Many have self-sustaining populations of brown trout, lots have stocked rainbows and there are even some native brookies up there. There's plenty of public access, the landowners are often accommodating to fishermen, the streams are generally too small to float (so none of those problems), and it's hard to get too, so lightly fished. It's a small stream guys dream. Too bad it's a 7+ hour drive for me.

Here's one, and I'm guessing I speak for hundreds of folks who haven't posted: No big deal. I'll get some new boots if I have to.

I try to avoid generalizations, but since this is a positive one I'll go ahead. I found the area as a whole to be well kept, and the people to be very friendly too. It was interesting to see the references to Vikings, the many country Lutheran churches, and Norwegian (I think) flags in Decorah.

OK -- that's where I draw the line.

Here's a pic I took of the store, and the campground is to the right. Cool spot. We stayed in Decorah, but I'd definitely consider this campground based on how you described it.

Great report and nice photos. That's a beautiful area. I was up there at the beginning of August, and we hit some of the same places (South Bear, Pine). I'd swear I fished right at that rock where your rod is bent! That store in Highlandville is a great store, isn't it? Mine was a whirlwind trip though (only three days including travel), and I left wanting more -- a LOT more. I hope to get back up there soon.

Told ya

Yeah, yeah I know. I think I stated in the Camp Zoe thread some time ago that all laws are imperfect, and law is ever-changing. It'd be nice if it was always rock-solid from the start, but it never is. As an example, look at the good 'ol US Constitution. It got 10 amendments right off the bat, and another 17 since then. My point is it's premature to get 'your panties in a bunch' (as my high school gym teacher loved to say) when it's so preliminary. They decided to ban felt in some places. Details to follow. Oh, and I love you too, man.

Check yer law books to be sure 'fiend, but I think this was all addressed in Coyote v. Roadrunner.

Simmer down boys. There'll be some official rule-making before any of this goes live. Like copfisher said, these are just things they've decided on at their meeting. Stay tuned. And...I too caught the Wire Road purchase. WRCA doesn't all front Crane, but it would be nice if they added to it at the lower end.