Wilderness First Responder
Training Season is Over
Training for the 2009 season is just about done. Next week I will be taking a group of five out on lower Yellowjacket Trail in the Frank Church Wilderness. We will probably be clearing downed trees and rock/mud slides since the area burnt recently. It will be a nice opportunity to get away from the office for more than a couple days. I will be sure to post some pictures of some huge ponderosa pines we will inevitably clear with crosscuts!
Canon 5D Mark II Video Skipping
I recently upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR and couldn't be happier that I did. But one of the first things I noticed with the camera was that the video skipped when I played it on my computer no matter what player I tried. I couldn't figure out what the problem was...
After a little research, I found the answer and it is the best possible answer you could get... the video is too big and too high of a resolution for my computer to actually play.
Great, so what's next???
Convert the 1080 HD video down to a quality that you can play. I use MPEG Streamclip, it's free and simple. I just convert it down to a 780p HD video and it's good to go! No more skipping!
SCA Idaho Workskills 2009
I just finished up teaching SCA workskills along with three other instructors for the last week. I taught the tread and drainage station each day. We built waterbars(rock and timber), constructed reverse grade dips, cleared slough and reshaped backslopes. It was fun although as an instructor I would have liked a project that built on the previous days work rather than starting fresh each day. Here are some of the pictures of the SCA members hard at work. You can see more in my SCA Trail Workskills photo album.
Is Expensive Photography Equipment Necessary
Does it really matter what camera or lens is used for a picture? Yes!
My new lens, a 24-70 2.8 allows me to take pictures that a kit lens could not produce. I can use my camera in lower light situations and the depth of field allows me to have more artistic control over the photo.My current camera body is limited by noise as I try to use higher ISO settings to capture movement or take photos in low light. ISO 800 is simply to noisy to be effective in most situations. As a result, the shutter speed is slower and images often are less sharp or worse. Not to mention the obvious image comparisons between an XSI and a 5D Mark II.
I am not saying that a photographer cannot take great pictures with a point and shoot. What I am saying is that high quality equipment allows a photographer to take great pictures in more situations and have some great pictures turn out amazing.
Photography Is Taking Over My Life
It seems as though I am spending more time and money with photography these days. I am waking up to shoot at dawn or pull the camera out in the moonlight on long work days. When I am not working, I'm heading to St. Marks Wildlife Refuge or Wakulla Springs. I still have a bunch to learn, but I am having a great time with it and getting better. Much better glass has helped too!
My Gear:
I am currently using a Canon XSI with a 24-70 f2.8 for almost all of my pictures. I shoot this on the Gitzo 2440 Carbon Fiber Tripod with a RRS BH40 ballhead and L plate. I cannot stand using my older cheaper lenses anymore and will soon be getting a 70-200 f2.8 to compliment my setup. After that I will probably get some much needed accessories such as an external flash, polarizing filter, telephoto extender and neutral density filter before upgrading my camera body or purchasing a longer lens.
What I am currently trying to improve upon:
1. Setting depth of field
2. Increasing sharpness
3. Processing RAW images
New Photos
Combined Elevation Profiles: CDT, PCT, AT
Here is a great page comparing the elevation profiles of the three major long trails. It is an interesting perspective on the difficulties of each trail.
Check out the rest of Chris Johnson's maps at: http://parkaymaps.110mb.com/
War on Wildlife, Wildlife Services
Authors of the 108-page report being presented to USDA, members of Congress and the White House on Tuesday described it as the first comprehensive, national, independent assessment of the agency in 40 years.
In sum, each year, Wildlife Services kills tens of thousands of wild animals and pets,endangers public safety and the safety of its own employees, and spends millions of tax dollars (local, state, and federal) to do so. The 1994/1997 PEIS upon which Wildlife Services relies is anachronistic. Despite the $100 million annual investment in killing over one million animals each year, the GAO, and independent researchers and an economist have shown that the program is ineffective, and the costs outweigh any perceived benefits. Wildlife Services kills wild predators by the thousands using controversial and dangerous methods in futile attempts to bolster the nation’s declining sheep industry.
Link to 108 page pdf