diy photography

The fall colors are peaking or have peaked in many parts of Mendocino County on the north coast of

California. These next few storms will knock most of the leaves off. Just playing around with a new

camera to replace my 10 d that died last week

God's light to all

chris<div></div>

The fall colors are peaking or have peaked in many parts of Mendocino County on the north coast of

California. These next few storms will knock most of the leaves off. Just playing around with a new

camera to replace my 10 d that died last week

God's light to all

chris

Well that didn't work. I can build blinds but I can't provide links. Just do a search or maybe

someone who is more computer literate than I am can find the pictures and plans i have

posted here years ago.

Chris

This has been discussed here on Photo.net a few times. Check it out. I love to shoot from

floating blinds,

www.photo.net/bboard/ q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000KYM&tag=

God bless

Chris

To beat a dead horse to death. Do some research on floating blinds. You can get incredibly

close to almost all types of water fowl. GBH included

God's light to all

Chris

BTW The best coastal hiking guides for Humboldt, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties are

sold by Bored Feet Press written by Bob Lorentzen. They can be reached at 888-336-6199

or check out www.bored feet.com

These guides cover a lot of little known hiking trails and each trail entry includes a

narrative of the trail plus the distance , time terrain, elevation gain/loss, best time of year,

warnings and detailed directions to the trail head.

Good luck and may God bless you,

Chris<div></div>

Dan,

Attached is a better sample of a typical foggy morning.<div></div>

Dan

I live on the North Coast in Willits, CA.. We typically don't get any rain between late June

and late October except for the rare passing shower.What we do get is fog. Plenty of fog

on the coast. It gets so thick that we get fog drip off of the trees and it seems like it is

raining. As far as rainfall goes last winter was one of the heaviest and longest rainy

seasons we have had in over 20 years. While it will be drier the further you go inland on

the coast it will still fairly damp due to the fog. Many canyons have plenty of greenery in

the form of ferns and other small plants.

I would suggest that you hit Fern canyon in Redwwod National Park. In October the stream

can be pretty low some years but it a unique experience all by itself. If you like

photographing elk this park is also the place to do it.

Hopefully you will be getting some good fall colors by then too. The maples and the oaks

and willows can be quite spectacular along highway 101 some years. Hitting the vineyards

on the way up can lead you to some nice pastoral scanes as well.

If you like rock collecting and some good coastal views don't miss out on Patricks Point

State Park. Looking for agates om the beach there is a pain in the neck experience not to

be missed.<div></div>

This may not be your case. I have an older Sigma 500 mm lens. I kept getting error 99

with my 10D. I contacted Sigma and they told me the lens was too old to be rechipped

( probably no parts). I discovered that the error was only occuring when I tried to change F

stops or shoot in P mde.

From this I figured out that the lens will work in aperture priority mode. So as long as I

shoot in aperture priority mode it works. Rather limiting but at least it is not a totally lost

cause.

Good luck and God be with you

Chris

Jack,

Those would be Birmingham Rollers.(suprisingly I used to raise them) They are a domestic

pigeon that was developed in England. There are many clubs scattered around the US and

Europe. They hold competitions for the best rollers. You are right it is really cool to watch

them do backwards summersaults as they descend. It is believed that they have a brain

abnormality that causes them to do this. Other people believe it is a response to avoid

predators. If thats the case it din't seem to work to well on the Coopers and falcons that

sometimes took my birds

Chris

Mark,

I have observed this many times with a similar species "White Tailed Kites" in California. I

never noted or even thought to observe the frequency of how often they do it though.

Chris

Jane,

While it is often true that longer lens often work better for MOST bird photography a shorter

lens will work really well in blind/hide or back yard bird photography. shooting from a blind

I often use a 200 or 300 mm lens. The attached humming bird picture was shot at a distance

of about 3 feet using a 300 mm zoom lens set to about 100mm with an extension tube to

allow close focusing.<div></div>

Jenelle,

Having grown up in Loveland I would suggest staying in Estes Park. There are some nice

B&B's even though the town is touristy. Be sure to check out the lobby of the Stanley Hotel

It inspired Stephen King for the Shining. From Loveland it is a 45 minute drive to the park.

The suggestion to look for bighorns on the way up from Loveland is a good one as stated

the park can be really busy during the summer. Just get off onto the trails though and it

can be very enjoyable. Be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms. I wouldn't miss the drive

up over Trail Ridge Rd. ( be sure to take the Fall River road portion if it is open. At the rock

cut near the top of the pass pull into the parking lot on the east side of the road. there is a

very friendly population of Marmots across the road. Look carefully and you will see Pikas

also. Take the short hike up the hill from the parking lot too and look at the alpine tundra.

you may see elk here and there if you loook hard enough.

I also wouldn't miss the drive into Bear Lake. the shuttle would be easier on weekends.

This is a beautiful spot. There are some wonderful day hikes in this area. I used to love the

one up into Fern Lake. A car shuttle on the other end makes this one easier.

Check out the park website and see what there is to see The hike up Longs Peak is

incredible but you have to be in very good shape due to the high altitude. Have fun and

God bless

Chris

If it is to be mostly studio work then i would suggest making bookend reflectors out of

foamcore. These are basically two large pieces of foamcore taped together along one edge

to make a hinge. this allows them to be free standing and able to be moved most

anywhere you want to put them. They work great.

Ayone else have some ideas out there?

Good luck and God's light to you

Chris<div></div>

I think foam core board would be much easier to handle and use than PVC as it is much

lighter. Unless of course it is outside and windy and you need a heavier reflector. Basically

any reflective substance can be used as a reflector. I have used white cotton t -shirts and

even pieces of white computer paper when shooting macro.

What exactly do you want to use it for?

Chris

I use a variety of homemade refectors. The most common one being those metallic

sunshades for cars. They fold up just like the regular reflectors or come in accordian style

in numerous colors. These are very durable and last a long time.

I also make refectors using metallic wrapping paper and those white cardboard project

boards that fold out into three sections. These are great because the are free standing,

All you do is spray the board with 3M mounting spray and then roll the wrapping paper

over it and snooth it out. Toal cost about 6 bucks or cheaper. Colors only limited to the

variety of metallic mylar wrapping paper that you can find in your area. Luckily I live near a

Dollar store and they always seem to have a variety of colors available,

Good luck and let your imagination soar.

God's light and love to all

Chris<div></div>

It is commonly done to get more magnification. It is done by by first putting an extension

tube on the macro lens and then putting the extender on next. The extension tube allows or

gives more room for the extender to fit othewise it would hit the back of the lens in front of

it.

God's light to you

Chris

Alligators are found in almost any body of water in that part of Florida! I wouldn't miss

Corksrew Swamp. In June and July there is not as much wildlife to be seen but it is a place

to see how that part of Florida used to be. Early when they open is best. The alligator

mating calls in June are not to be missed either.

God's light to you

Chris

Jason,

I forgot to mention if you are interested in a bit of a hike. In Robert Louis Stevenson Park

north of Calistoge the is a trail to the top of Mount St. Helena one of the highest peaks in the

area. The trail itself isn't that great as it is a fire road. But the views are great.

Chris

Jason,

I wouldn't miss Beringer Winery or the California Culinary Academy. Hope its still called

that. I didn't look when I drove through there a few weeks ago. Both have buildings that

are both historical as well as architectually interesting. BTW the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

Port is superb. Just to let you know many wineries now charge for tastings, Usually about

five bucks.

Now from a nature perspective If you want an interesting and very windy drive out of the

valley into Sonomas Valley of the Moon take the Oakville Trinity Road .This is great for

early morning fog shots and scenics. Make sure you have a desingnated driver if you do a

lot of tasting.

God's love to all

Chris

I live roughly 4 hours south of the park on 101 and we are heading towards the end of the

bloom here. Based upon that i would guess they are right in the middle of the bloom up

there. Call the park and find out!

God's light to you.

Chris

Califronia is a huge state. Landscapes. Death Valley , Point Reyes,Alabama Hills Eastern

Sierras. Yosemite, Black Rock Desert. Modoc County. North Coast Wine Country, Redwood

National Parks just to name a scattered few. Wildflowers Carizzo plain, Bear vallet,

Antelope Valley, Pt. Reyes check out Carol Leighs site on Ca Wildflowers. There are tons of

books out here as well/ More than you can photograph in a lifetime<div></div>

What about all the waterfalls along the lower Columbia River Gorge? There is

somthing like over 40 of them. I have visited just a few of them and they are

spectacular.

God's light to you

Chris

I wouldn't use anything less than a 300mm lens. I would also use a ground

blind. Keep it stored outside to keep human scent down. Cabella's sells a

great pop up blind called a doghouse. Bass probably carries it too. Nice light

and portable. Easy to set up and take down. Just minutes actually once you

master the wrist twisting technique.

That said deer and turkeys are in abundance here in Northern California

where I live. Approachability varies with time of year and location. Around

houses not during hunting season you can walk almost right up to them.

Good luck and have fun

Chris<div></div>