bill_proud

Neil,

I think what Shem was referring to in getting a complete circle is the "effect" of a complete

circle, which occurs by the overlapping of the stars but yes, it takes 24 hours to get a

complete circle of any "one" star. I'll load an example of a seven or eight hour exposure. If

you look at each star, it is about one third of a circle but the effect shown is a complete

circle because of overlap.

A couple of other considerations are film brittleness at very low temps and condensation

on glass.

If you shoot film, let me suggest to advance the film slowly to prevent tearing.

Condensation may appear on the glass if it has recently snowed, check for that as well.

Allowing the camera to get cold before removing the lens cap may also help.

I would agree with those who recommend using a mechanical camera.

Good luck<div></div>

tallaght,

I've been asked to lead a photography session for our city's bird festival coming up in May

and am currently going through the same process as you. Since I sold my bird equipment

a few years back I'm looking at what is available now.

Bang for the buck is the Canon 40D. I priced it at Calumet, $1299.00. I will get a vertical

grip as well and then cards.

things I looked for were, burst rate, 40D is 6.5 fps versus the 5D, 3 fps, capture size, 10.1

Mpixels

I'm still looking at other features such as body construction. I think the 40D is magnesium

alloy and metal lens flange but not positive. If you shoot a lot you want something that will

hold up.

Also the 40D has an integrated cleaning system. Here is a link

http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/EC2740/

I've shot Canon for years, got the A2e when it first came out, owned the 1N and the EOS 3

and their focus acquisition and lock-on-target speed is phenomenal.

If you care to go to my birds gallery on my website you can get an idea of what Canon can

do.

cheers,

www.billproudphotography.com

Claus,

The Colorado parallels 128 running east. 128 comes out at Cisco onto I-70.

128 zigzags along the river and opens up into Castle Valley, or more correctly, Professor

Valley. There are at least two lodges there and also a canyonlands webcam there.

Believe!

Claus,

Utah 128 at the north end of Moab and just before the bridge across the Colorado River,

turn right, 21 miles to Castle Valley and Fisher Towers. Continue on past the turn into the

towers about five miles.

The road curves north, rises slightly and I believe crosses a cattle guard. At this point

there is a pull-off on your left. You can park here and looking back south is this view. Walk

down the hill to access the river. There is a rock in the river, close to the edge which is a

good spot in front of the Willows to get this image if the water is low enough. If you are

coming in the springtime the water will be high and fast, please do not attempt at this

time. The rock also may be covered then anyway.. You could also just fall out of your car

and shoot from the road edge if you want. There is room enough to not worry about being

hit by a passing car.

This is a longer focal length shot.

Quang,

I think one is either a B&W shooter or a color shooter. If you shoot color then it is hard to

see the nuances of black and white,.... sometimes.

I have a friend who shows me his b&w's and I just have no interest in commenting because

I see the world in color. There is no offense intended, I just don't care for most black and

white images. For some, color is too neon, everything should be a shades-of-gray

expression.

Just an aside in the small world category, I believe we had images published on the same

article in the July, 2005 Scientific American. "Simulating Ancient Societies", pps 76-82, by

Tim Kohler, George J. Gumerman and Robert G. Reynolds.

best

Chris,

Have yet to get a full moon image I'm crazy about after 14 years of trying but will pass on

what I've found if you may find it useful.

I have the McQueen image of Delicate and that is a summer full moon, 112 degrees.

November's moon will rise at 56.5 degrees and set at 301.9 degrees, well north on the

horizon. You might shoot Delicate from the finger of land to the west of the amphitheater

but will have to contend with the walls sitting between Delicate and the horizon. Delicate

at moonset/sunrise is an early morning walk and I think the moon will set too far north to

work for you.

You might get a moon through the Broken Arch. This arch is not nearly as

photogenic and I haven't tried shooting a full moon there. Balanced Rock might work for

both sunset and sunrise, not sure.

I've shot full moonset through Turret Arch but nothing inspiring as of yet. You might get a

moonrise through South Window, haven't tried. Landscape Arch would work but you would

be shooting below the horizon line and the moon would be higher in the sky before it

appeared.

Tukuhnikavitz Arch, south of Moab about 12 miles has a clear view of the east but kind of

an ugly arch and you may not get the La Sals included, depending on focal length used.

Bisti could be promising but remote. You could get both sunset/sunrise, however, it is a

20 minute walk before reaching the first set of hoodoos but 40 minutes to the better

formations IMO. I'll load a wide angle full moon in October, I think.

Hope I didn't discourage you. Whatever I didn't get, it was always great fun being there.

good luck,<div></div>

Zane,

I was talking about theoretical engineering,not projects.

Looking at the original versus the screen image I posted, it does look slightly too saturated.

I'll get my screen checked. It's a recently new 20" Apple.

Dan,

Hmm. Maybe I need to get my monitor checked. I don't suppose mentioning that it is the

cover shot for an Impact Photographic 12 card postcard pack sold at Monument Valley would

improve its standing?

I did.

Is it too cliche?

Tony,

Schneider 120 f/5.6 Super Angulon or SSXL<div></div>

I'm considering the purchase of a shrink wrap system for matted work. Are some better than others?

Also notice the shrink wrap film is PVC. I know PVC is bad for transparencies but what about prints?

Thanks,

bill proud

www.billproudphotography.com

Mike,

I forgot to mention two things. The numbers change of course based on where on earth you

are. And if you aren't on earth I can't help you.

Elevation above sea level also plays a factor. I'm posting a shot of Delicate Arch taken in June.

The posted moonrise time was 25 minutes before actual rise time because of my elevation.

cheers,<div></div>

Mike,

In practice, I try and compass measure the moon/sun points before heading out.

The sun rises/sets due east/west at the equinoxes (90/270) and then oscillates a

maximum of 30 degrees from that point throughout the year.

In the winter the sun heads south and will rise at 120 degrees and set 240 degrees at the

winter solstice.

In the summer it will rise at 60 degrees and set at 300 degrees at the summer solstice.

The earth's oscillation flattens near the solstices and accelerates around the equinoxes so

the daily degree change is greatest for the months on either side of April and October and

almost nil for the solstices.

The moon does the opposite, heading north for winter moonrise at about 60 degrees and

south for summer moonrise at about 120 degrees.

good luck,

Paul,

I don't use correction filters. I'd recommend keeping your shutter speed below the shift line

but I give a 1/2 stop extra exposure for the 1 second @ f/22/32/45 area. Velvia 50 shadows

are very black.

www.billproudphotography.com

Oops,

Just saw your print run was 40,000 so pricing will be scaled down per copy and will max out

somewhere around 10 to 15K but still should be a substantial payment. Once again it is

advertising they are doing and rates are higher.

Reprints are printouts of the text and photos that can be used for advertising, teaching or

some other form of promotion.

Pricing is usually charged for the number of printouts and a starting place might be $1.00

each or higher, so a reprint run of 500 at $1.00 each would net you $500.00

Jon,

You mentioned you shoot in the Sierra's so you know about mountain photography but if

there are some reading this thread and are coming to shoot next month there are a couple

tips that might be helpful.

Waterproof boots, warm socks and finger protection. The ground will likely be wet in early

mornings and nothing is worse than getting wet feet trudging through the grass. I

recommend either Gore-Tex or rubber boots and I wear Smart Wool socks to keep my feet

warm and dry. Cotton socks don't work for me since they don't wick the moisture away

from the feet.

For the hands, I wear these cheap felt gloves with rubber pebbles on the palms and fingers

to work the camera and carry my tripod. Others may use a different type but some sort of

finger protection is necessary or you will spend more time trying to get your fingers

thawed than shooting.

If it is very cold, I will also have ski bibs to wear.

Anyone else have other tips?

good luck,

If you will allow me a little solipsistic freedom here I'll explain myself.

"Okay Mr. Proud but no more flippancy. Is that understood?"

Myself answering myself in a humble manner, "Okay."

"Fine, then continue."

Myself beginning, "There are two reasons why I stay away from the philosophy threads. I

was educated as an engineer. In the engineering world it is hammered into your brain that

there is only one answer to the fourth decimal place. So it is hard for me to relate to the

philosophic because in the philosophic there are many answers. In fact there are no right

or wrong answers."

"Interesting", I mused, "continue."

"Well if there are no wrong answers then everyone is correct. But doesn't philosophic

thought lead to chaos?"

"Well yes it does, but consider engineering and the second law of thermodynamics. The

second law in lay terms is the entropy of the universe is going up, S=delta E, sometimes

known as the chaos theory.

So you see even in engineering everything leads to chaos."

"So philosophy and engineering are tied together by the common thread of chaos?"

"Absolutely," I answered myself. "Here is an example."

"The bridge in Minneapolis-

aside, how do you spell Minneapolis?

"It collapsed because of entropy not because of faulty design. Faulty design would have

occurred in a short time, not after 40 years of use."

"So what does all this have to do with this thread," I asked myself?

"I don't know," I answered, "You are the philosophers, you tell me what it means."

Ilia,

'if I had a clue of what that meant, I'd be steaming mad right now.'

Three guys in a mental institution sitting next to each other making motions with their

hands.

Two are making identical motions and the third is walking his fingers up his arm.

Doctor walks over and says to the first, "What are you doing?"

He answers, "I'm taking the stars from the sky and putting them in my pocket."

Doctor asks the second guy, "What are you doing?"

He answers, "I,m taking the stars out of my pocket and putting them into the sky."

Doctor asks the third guy the same question, "What are you doing?"

He answers, "I,m getting out of here, these guys are crazy!"

Here is the 2nd attempt on the 12th.

Same exposure for 5 hours. There is one meteor top center and one smaller one bottom

center. Not exactly what I'd call a shower.

I pointed the camera more to the east after reading the Luminous Landscape Tutorial.

All,

Here is my first attempt on Friday the 10th.

There are no Perseids in it. Exposure was 7 hours at f/5.6, ISO 200<div></div>

Jon,

You probably won't see many, if any, Elk in the San Juans. They are here of course but not

often seen. If your trip included RMNP you could photograph Elk during their rut. Big Horn

Sheep are also seen there but later in November when the snows drive them down to lower

elevations.

I thought Darren Kilgore's write up was excellent, included the same areas that Joe Smith

recommended and are the same areas I would suggest and will be shooting. Being close, I

usually wait for a snow before going up, but this year I may spend more time up there.

If you get over toward Telluride area you might check out Sunshine Mesa road south of

town down the Ilium Road. Although I wouldn't call it iconic, there are some great views of

Wilson Peak and the Ophir Needles.

The best place to be is near Ridgway though. So much nearby.

Best,

www.billproudphotography.com