9/30/11
Jon’s dog, Zingo,
during our last moments
prior to her leaving for North Dakota
Author: Jeff Fenske Page 53 of 54
UPDATED with Jon info
– –
9/30/11
From left to right (retirees & early-outers in bold):
Seated: Carson, Judy, Beth, Reta and Reiko
Middle: Debra is Behind Beth
Main back row: Pam, Steve, Don, Michelle (behind Debra), Leah, Jeff and Jon (featuring Zingo)
Way back there: Christi and Don
We wish you all well!
Jon sent me this pic during his journey down the Alcan with Zingo and his mom,
who snapped this photo.
Jon wrote:
“I love this pic.
Everybody is looking at the camera except Zingo looking at your food! Lol”
And he said about customs:
“So far so good! Canada Customs was very helpful and unpacked the truck and U Haul for us. Unfortunately, we still had thousands of miles left to go, so Mom and I had to repack everything! Lol We have made it to Fort St. John and the roads have been good. Still plan on going thru Banff.”
FINALLY, some interesting compact cameras have been announced.
Lately, I’ve been recommending the Olympus SP-810UZ to those who want to have some fun with a super long zoom lens, but it’s also able to shoot fairly wide:
Olympus announces SP-810UZ with the world’s longest zoom lens
Olympus has announced the SP-810UZ superzoom with a 36x (24-864mm equiv.) zoom lens – the world’s longest optical zoom in a compact camera. Successor to the SP-800UZ, the SP-810UZ also boasts a 14MP CCD sensor, 3.0″ LCD and 720p HD video recording. Also included are a 3D capture mode, AF Tracking and Magic Filters including a new ‘reflection’ effect. Priced at $329.99, the camera will start shipping from September 2011.
Olympus’ website shows it’s still not available and it’s already October.
It’s impossible for a camera with a sensor this small and a lens with a zoom range this large to get super high quality resolution, but it will be good enough for many. This camera also won’t shoot in RAW format, which I’ve discussed.
And it’s also not pocketable, because of the super long lens, and weighs about a pound with battery. But this should be an incredibly fun camera, considering how far this lens will reach, and at f/5.7 when fully extended to 864mm, I should add. It ranges from f/2.9-5.7, of which f/5.7 is phenomenal for a lens this long and lightweight! This will make it easier to get handheld, sharp shots even at 864mm, in daylight anyway; though, it will require steady shooting, slowly moving only your trigger finger — aided with the help of the gyros doing the internal stabilization thing.
It is only possible to make a lens to be 36X and this small because the sensor is so small.
* * *
And Canon has finally announced the successor to the S90 and S95 cameras, the S100 [Canon was slowed down by the earthquake/Fukushima disaster]. I’m glad to see the lens starts at 24mm, which has been my main wish for it. It also zooms longer than it has — yay!:
New 24-120mm (equivalent) f/2.0-5.9 lens; S95 lens is 28-105mm (equivalent) f/2.0-4.9
DPReview has this great overview and this hands-on review.
The S100 may be the ultimate pocketable camera (3.9 x 2.4 x 1.1 in. at 7 ounces); though, many would prefer to carry it in a pouch. This will probably have fairly good image quality, like its predecessors; though, we won’t know for sure until we see the test reviews. And it will shoot in RAW.
The biggest drawback will be the lens’ small f/5.9 aperture when the lens is fully zoomed. But this is a necessary tradeoff in order for the lens to be tiny and fully retractable into the body.
It will probably be available fairly soon and in the +$400 range.
There are many cameras just as small and even smaller, but probably none that will have this high of image quality, nor will they be able to shoot in RAW, which anyone who is serious about image quality should consider:
More Reasons to Shoot Photos in RAW
* * *
Fuji has announced two cameras that I’m not as familiar with, but sound promising, especially for their probably higher image quality, because of the larger sensor (though it’s still smaller than micro 4/3rds, which is smaller than Canon/Nikon’s smallest DSLR sensor). If you’re more than just a casual shooter and don’t need a camera that will fit in a pocket, these might be for you.
This was just announced yesterday:
Fujifilm unveils X-S1 high-end superzoom and confirms Mirrorless intentions
Fujifilm has announced the X-S1 high-end superzoom and confirmed its intention to build a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The X-S1 is an addition to the company’s X-series and is built around the same 2/3” EXR CMOS sensor as the recently announced X10. Meanwhile, company president and CEO Shigetaka Komori said it will create a mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera built around a larger sensor with ‘resolution and low noise [that] will surpass the 35mm full size sensor.’ We’re not taking this to mean it will be a full-frame camera. The X-S1 features a 26x, 24-624mm equivalent F2.8-5.3 zoom and will be available from early 2012.
This will probably have significantly higher image quality than the 36X Olympus mentioned above (if you want to make a larger than small sized print, for example); though, a zoom with this range can still only be so sharp.
And the 624mm zoom length of this lens will also be a major blast to shoot if you like shooting really long lenses.
* * *
Some photographers are really excited about this camera. It has the larger sensor (larger than the Canon s100 and G12, and the Panasonic LX5, but smaller than M43 and DSLR sensors), and I would really like the improved dynamic range option (which can keep detail in the brightest mountain and the dark shadows, but at the cost of megapixels). But I tend to rule out cameras that start at above 24mm in their field of view. I like to shoot wide, and to me, 24mm is so much nicer than 28mm. But 28mm is a great improvement over the earlier 35 and 38mm lenses.
Fujifilm announces X10 high-end enthusiast compact
Fujifilm has unveiled the X10 – an enthusiast compact with a F2.0-2.8, 28-112mm-equivalent lens. It’s built around a 2/3″ (6.6 x 8.8mm) CMOS sensor that uses Fujifilm’s EXR pixel arrangement. The 12MP sensor can produce either 12MP images in high resolution mode, under-expose half its pixels to provide 6MP images with greater dynamic range, or combine neighboring pixels for a 6MP high sensitivity mode. The X10 borrows extensively from the styling of the X100 (though its zooming viewfinder means you lose the X100’s hybrid viewfinder), to give a camera that sits conceptually between the Olympus XZ-1 and the Canon Powershot G12.
I think the X10 will be priced about about $700. Not sure.
UPDATE from DPReview.com…:
Valhalla, N.Y., October 7, 2011 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation said today that the all new premium compact FUJIFILM X10 digital camera first announced on September 1, 2011, will have a retail price of $599.95 and will be available in early November.
Building on the tremendous success of the sophisticated FUJIFILM X100 digital camera, the new premium compact FUJIFILM X10 is the latest addition to the growing FUJIFILM X-series of advanced digital cameras.
The FUJIFILM X10 features a new larger 2/3” 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor and a bright high-definition FUJINON1 F2.0 wide-angle to F2.8 telephoto 4x manual zoom lens (28-112mm)2 that produces superb image quality from edge to edge. The FUJIFILM X10 has a beautiful blackout and retro design that includes a traditional optical viewfinder with a wide 20° field of view for exceptional image composition. For more information, go to http://fujifilm-x.com/x10/en/.
If the X10 would start at 24mm, I would be more excited about it, but I should also point out that it also has a very fast lens throughout its range, which is unique for a compact, f/2.0 – 2.8!!! This is actually a really big deal. Shooting indoors, fully extended at 112mm would be so easy with a lens this fast. The Canon S100 would be so much slower. The X10 would be a good indoor concert camera.
The X10 is quite a bit bigger and heavier than the Canon S100, mainly due to the larger sensor, which requires a larger lens that also does not retract into the body. The larger sensor with the same amount of pixels as the S100’s means larger pixels that translate into less noise and higher image quality especially in low light.
The X10 is probably an enthusiast’s camera that is probably state of the art in this sensor and body size.
* * *
Of all of these, the only camera I’d personally be interested in would be the Canon 100S, because it’s so pocketable and starts wide at 24mm, but I’ll have to see the specs to see how good the image quality is with the higher MP sensor (2MP more) and greater ranged zoom lens. I’m still using the Panasonic LX5, which I’ve stated before is kind of quirky (Canons are more user friendly), and isn’t as small.
This is my favorite LX5 shot, the only one of which I plan on making a fairly large print of. This is also an example of the beauty of a very compact camera. I couldn’t have gotten this shot without having the camera on me. This was spur of the moment…
Once a full review of the S100 comes out, I’ll probably blog on it here.
I’m not interested in the Fuji X10 because I’m also now using the Olympus PEN E-P3 for higher end semi-compact shooting. It has interchangeable lenses (like an SLR but without the mirror and with a smaller sensor) that allow me to shoot much wider (including in fisheye) and much longer, but not as long as the top dog at the start of this article.
Most of the shots I’ve posted in the last two months were shot with the E-P3, but it’s too big to always carry.
* * *
One last thing
Technology is still changing fairly rapidly. We’re still seeing major improvements almost every year. In the old days, Kodak Instamatics were really inexpensive, but the price of film and developing really added up. Nowadays, all of the cameras above probably have rechargeable batteries, so once you have a memory card and camera shooting images is practically free.
It was probably more expensive to shoot Instamatics years ago than to shoot these higher end compacts even when upgraded every few years — especially when we consider how much more the dollar was worth then.
These are really bargain prices for what we get.
Related:
Olympus SP-810UZ Zoom Test — World’s longest zoom lens really reaching out there from 24 – 864 mm!
More compact camera buying (and shooting) info
[videos] Charlie Waite: Watch what can be done with a compact camera | The LX5 to replace my G11?
“One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar. “
– Helen Keller
* * *
I visit DailyPaul almost every day,
and this is the first time I’ve seen Michael.
I am impressed!
Thank you, Michael!!!!!!!
* * *
“We want an America full of principled people —
not people who say one thing and do something else —
say anything to get elected.”
– Michael Nystrom
Founder of DailyPaul
* * *
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjUgFmQ6-bc]Salute to Michael Nystrom
Uploaded by paulunteer on Aug 7, 2010
Founder of the Daily Paul
9/30/11
Leah looks happy!
In Delta Air Freight,
but NWA freighters on the cake
9/30/11
Driving away with a smile
9/30/11
9/30/11
Taking the Early Out with
Michelle, Debra and Leah
(who has her own cake)
That’s me…
June 2003
Myself launching off a mountain in Oregon
under Kevin’s excellent guidance
Makes me want to fly again
Shot with a lousy camera
His toe just touching the mountain top
May 2003
Santa Barbara
My first paragliding instructor, Chad, playing on the beach,
going straight up and hanging
– –
How does he do it —
not going forward at all?
• facing directly into the light wind
• using the lightest harness
(no padding if something were to happen)
• no extra body fat
• flying a bigger wing for increased lift
• naturally gifted with lots of practice
After posting this, I thought I’d elaborate.
In the day when most people are in The Matrix (walking backwards, thinking they’re actually walking forwards), this may be our reality once we break out of the trance — shining as bright lights in this ever darkening world.
I often think of it as swimming upstream, which I had a dream about once. The people were in the river flowing by me as I was cruising upstream, no problem. In the dream it was easy, practically effortless. But I think effortlessness can only happen when we are 100.00% determined walk fully in Love, abiding 100.00% in the Vine (John 15) — no ifs ands or buts all in Jesus — His ways all my days.
May we be ONE in Him (John 17). Then it will really be a piece of cake.
And many will do 180s to join us in walking forward, together with us, grounded in Love.
– Jeff : )
– –
From: PetaPixel
Here’s a fun and creative idea that requires brains rather than a big budget: using an ordinary video-capable camera and some basic editing software, you can show a person walking forward through a world that’s traveling backward. For even crazier examples of this same technique, check out the music videos for The Scientist by Coldplay, Typical by Mutemath, and Drop by The Pharcyde.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytzVCrdfbGE]
9/1/11
In Delta Air Freight,
but NWA freighters on the cake
Behind Cheryl (left to right):
Steve, Rita, Don, Reiko, Christi, Leah & Beth
Cheryl took the early out
We worked together for many years
I took the photo with someone else’s camera
Do you see it?
William Wallace’s Sword
9/24/11
Hint:
–>———
Lying on its side
The Mineral That Helps Fight Fatigue, Stress, Pain, Cancer, and Wrinkles, Too
By Dr. Mercola
Sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in your body, after calcium and phosphorous. It’s an important mineral element that you get almost wholly through dietary proteins, yet it’s been over 20 years since the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) issued its last update on recommended daily allowances (RDA) for it.
In a study examining critical elements about how sulfur works in the body, researchers say the importance of this mineral may be underestimated, and that it’s possible that we may not be getting enough of it.
The Importance of Sulfur
Close to half of the sulfur in your body can be found in your muscles, skin and bones, but it does much more than benefit just these three areas. It plays important roles in many bodily systems.
Sulfur bonds are required for proteins to maintain their shape, and these bonds determine the biological activity of the proteins. For example, as explained in the featured MSM newsletter, hair and nails consists of a tough protein called keratin, which is high in sulfur, whereas connective tissue and cartilage contain proteins with flexible sulfur bonds, giving the structure its flexibility. With age, the flexible tissues in your body tend to lose their elasticity, leading to sagging and wrinkling of skin, stiff muscles and painful joints.
A shortage of sulfur likely contributes to these age-related problems.
[…]
MSM, an Organic Form of Sulfur
Methylsulfonylmethane, commonly known by its acronym, MSM, is not a drug. It’s an organic form of sulfur and a potent antioxidant, naturally found in many plants. While MSM is an important source of organic sulfur, it also has other unique properties. Common health complaints associated with low concentrations of MSM in your body include:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- High sensitivity to physical and psychological stress
- Degenerative diseases
MSM’s ability to neutralize inflammation is one of the greatest, and one of the most inexpensive, discoveries in the health field, and is thought to be particularly beneficial in the prevention of heart disease. It has been shown to break down the plaque in your arteries, which is associated with chronic inflammation.
Other health benefits associated with MSM include:
| Reducing chronic pain | Improving cellular uptake of many nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, D, E, amino acids, selenium, calcium, magnesium, coenzyme Q10 | Preventing cancer | Reducing or eliminating muscle soreness and cramps |
| Detoxification | Alleviating symptoms of allergies | Anti-parasitic action against Giardia, Trichomonas, roundworms, nematodes, Enterobius and other intestinal worms | Improving lung function by allowing your body to more effectively take up oxygen |
| Preventing neurological disease by repairing oxidative damage and restoring cell membrane elasticity and permeability | Preventing and reducing symptoms of autoimmune diseases by fighting chronic inflammation | Preventing diabetes by promoting healthy insulin function | Increasing strength and endurance, and reducing stress |
Related:
Avoid knee surgery — glucosamine plus the SAME AMOUNT of MSM (Schiff states this is the clinically tested amount, and it works!) — available at Costco
The Power of creativity
“Sometimes we need our telephoto eyes on
just to go into the chaos of a given day,
or a given client’s problems,
to find those elements that we can bring together
to make it all make sense.”
* * *
“And then my intuition starts screaming at me.
It says:
‘Turn around, Dewitt,
you’re shooting the wrong way.'”
– Dewitt Jones
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbHAx4zrfR8]Dewitt Jones: National Geographic Photographer, Inspirational Speaker & Authority on Creativity
Uploaded by TheBigSpeak on May 2, 2010
Dewitt Jones is one of America’s top professional photographers with a career stretching over twenty years. As a motion picture director, he had two films nominated for Academy Awards before he was thirty. Twenty years as a freelance photographer for National Geographic earned Dewitt Jones a reputation as a world class photojournalist.
Turning to advertising, Dewitt Jones rose to the forefront of corporate creative marketing, photographing national advertising campaigns for Dewar’s Scotch, Canon, and United Airlines.
Dewitt Jones is recognized as a world class speaker. His knowledge of the creative process, his relaxed and genuine style, and his ability to communicate make his presentations truly outstanding.
Hire Dewitt Jones to speak at your next event through BigSpeak Speakers Bureau.
Related:
November 2005
early AM, just after sunrise
Bodega, California
This is a photo of my first instructor, Jerry Dodrill.
Jerry, if you see this, this was processed from a really low quality scan
of a 35mm ISO 100 slide.
There would actually be shadow details and far more natural color from a drumscan,
but I still like it.
God bless!
November 2005
In front of a hollowed out Sequoia laying on its side
Sequoia National Park, California
While updating the image scanned from 35mm film
at About Jeff Fenske
I found the portrait of Mom, below
November 2005
Sequoia National Park, California
7/28/11
Cesar’s first seconds on the new forklift…
9/18/11
China Air filled house of freight
Welcome to Our World
Steel Toes Only Beyond This Point
8/19/11
.
8/29/11
Beluga Whales at Point Woronzof
(near the airport)
Anchorage, Alaska
—
8/30/11
—
8/30/11
But please help me…
I’ve watched a lot of X Games,
but I still don’t get it.
Maybe I’m old school
at almost age-54,
but I try.
What’s with the matching
underwear and rims?
Is this what expression
is now about?
: )
Also,
no, this isn’t Photoshopped.
10/25/07
Snow Shelter
from a late October snowfall
four years ago
Shot with my little Elph 4 years ago
My ’95 Eagle Talon
.
HATE EVIL — NOT PEOPLE
.
Who Would Jesus Bomb?
.
Love your neighbor
pre-emptively
.
Ron Paul For President ’08
.
Jesus Wept
.
If we don’t change directions
we’ll end up where we’re going
.
I’m for the Separation of
Church & Hate
.
God Bless All Nations
.
Perfect Love Casteth Out All Fear – 1 Jn 4 18
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Additionally (what can’t be seen in the photo)
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
.
MAY THE FORCE
BE WITH YOU…
ALWAYS
(Some may consider this new age,
but the Devil’s kingdom doesn’t work this way.
George Lucas understands:
Luke Skywalker only kept his power
if he didn’t hate!)
.
Love One Another!
.
Bless Them That Curse You – Luke 6 28
.
On the roof:
Hate Free Zone
.
Ron Paul
REVOLUTION
.
On the hood:
LOVE > FEAR
Summer 2005 – St. Paul, Minnesota
Our 30-Year Class Reunion
24% of the Class of ’75 –
St. Croix Lutheran High School
I’m standing behind Pastor Staab on the left