I got really lazy way back in about 1978 (grade 12) and stopped shaving ... have had beard + moustache ever since. Have only shaved it off twice in all that time, once in about 1982 (trying to look less "scruffy" for a summer job interview) and then again in the early 1990s. That second time my wife took one look at me without the facial hair and immediately said "grow it back ASAP." I was deeply hurt until she told me why ... apparently, without the beard/moustache she thought I looked just like my dad, and she did not want to wake up in the morning and think she was in bed with my dad. I grew it back!
starlifter wrote:
I was just wondering. If your camera body and lens are both "weather sealed". Is it still necessary to take cold weather precautions such as putting your gear in a plastic bag before coming back in?
I like getting out and shooting in cold weather, esp. frozen waterfalls and other frosty scenes, sometimes at -20 to -30 Celsius. Have never encountered any condensation issues as I use my camera bag to protect camera + lens(es) when coming in from the cold. When zipped up the padded bag slows down the warm-up process and keeps the warmer air from coming in contact with the cold gear.
jerryc41 wrote:
Ah, I think you're on to something!
EDIT: I looked through the DeWalt manual, and there's nothing like that. It must be from a tool, though.
Jerry: I'm now 100% certain about my original response. I went down to my workshop and flipped over the featherboard and there it is
Bottom one looks an awful lot like the part of my "featherboard" that runs in the mitre slot of my table saw. There are two screws that go through this part, with knobs on top of the assembly. Tighten knobs and the screw heads cause this part to expand slightly and lock the part in the mitre slot so the featherboard stays put.
Assuming you are referring to the main grandstand, the front row of seats varies from about 60 ft. to 100 ft. back from the fence along the rodeo infield. The back row is probably closer to 200 ft. back, and then there is some extra distance involved if you are in the upper deck just because you are probably 100 ft. up in the air. There are other places where you can sit and be closer to the action, but I have never checked into which of those seats are available to the public and what the prices are like (though I suspect that I would have to re-mortgage my house).
With your knees pretty much touching the back of the seat in front of you, and people shifting in and out of seats with annoying regularity, I can't imagine trying to take pictures with any decent length of lens, and a monopod might not be feasible. As for whether or not you are even allowed to take certain equipment in, I assume it is easy to find out ... call them ( 403-261-0101 ). Best to know ahead of time IMO. Another issue ... just looking at their "terms of entry" online I find this statement:
"...you agree: (i) not to reproduce, perform, display or upload any photographs, videos and/or recordings, that you may take or record while at the Calgary Stampede; and (ii) upon our request, to immediately remove and/or delete any and all such photographs, videos and/or recording online or from any other media."
Hope you enjoy the Stampede, and thanks for spending some tourism dollars here :) Hope you already have your tickets secured, as I hear they are selling very quickly.
BTW, if getting "up close and personal with the action" is what you are after, there are smaller "stampedes"/rodeos happening in many small communities all through the summer. Same cowboys/cowgirls in the rodeo, same chuckwagon race drivers, etc. and in some places you can get good seats, at a decent price, almost close enough to get mud thrown on you from the action. We are big fans of the "Strathmore Stampede" (in a town about 45 minutes east of Calgary), on the first weekend of August ... they are the only one around that includes their version of the "running with the bulls" :)
Wow ... good thing those plane symbols aren't to scale!
Don't suppose I will luck out and find that you are in Canada? ... better still in Alberta, Canada?
jerryc41 wrote:
Blizzaks seem to have a good reputation, too.
Indeed they do. I have not tried those yet ... maybe next time I need to replace
Every company seems to try to find a balance between performance in snow and performance on ice, with no tire I have ever seen, tried or heard of that "nails it" on both ... those Nokians I mentioned and the X-Ice are pretty close. Studded winter tires are of course another option, if allowed by the municipality and/or highway department.
Regardless of tires, driver skill/experience in dealing with slippery and/or snowy roads remains probably the most important factor. Unfortunately, some people just don't seem to understand that and don't make any apparent effort to get better at it!
Good reminder about the directional arrow Jerry ... thanks
It does make tire rotation easier as tires stay on the same side of the car and just switch back and forth between front and back each winter. Up here we generally have the "winter tires" on from October/November through to April +/- ... though this year I recall a couple of good dumps of snow (including one in September if I recall correctly) before I switched them out, and years ago we had a major snowstorm on the May long weekend. I believe that there are at least a couple of provinces (British Columbia and Quebec) that mandate use of winter tires.
I have tried many different winter tires over the years and the Michelin X-Ice are right up there on my list of favorites, along with some amazing ones by Nokian (the "Hakkapelita" ... amazing traction but pricey and they wore out faster than any others I have tried).
Yeah, it is nice how he (or she) managed to line up the shot so the guy's horns framed that Levi Strauss sign!
Yup, still have it.
My dad bought it for me in the early to mid 70s from a place in Toronto called "Direct Camera" if I recall correctly. It had a Direct Camera label stuck over the brand name (more like a metal plate than a label) which I pried off out of curiosity. Cleaned up the glue residue et voila ... a Russian made Zenit. Sorry for the cell phone picture quality (and the dust on the camera ... disrespectful, I know
).
I have been meaning to contact Guinness and see if they have a category for the "world's loudest combination of shutter noise and mirror slap" as this one might just take the title!
Thanks for the morning smile Jerry
George Michael song "Careless Whisper" ...
"...I'm never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rhythm"