DSC06320: This Is How My Drummer Drums!

DSC06320: This Is How My Drummer Drums!, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Steve Kuca with the Double Base Pedal for his drum kit.

Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 60 mm
ISO Speed: 400

DSC06298: In Your Face

DSC06298: In Your Face, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Will Zorn of the band Johnny Vancouver, playing his Gibson Les Paul Guitar in the practice secession on Saturday.

Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Computer Problems

I am in the middle of system changes and will be on and off the net for the next few days.

--
RMSTringer
+++++++++++++++

DSC06312: Waiting For Someone

DSC06312: Waiting For Someone, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

This is the guitar and effects processor used by Patric Sullivan. At the time of this photo, Patric was playing his keyboard. I like this photo because of the anticipation that it has. The empty chair beside the equipment says "come play me, i am waiting for you!"

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 22 mm
ISO Speed: 400

DSC06356: Got The Beat?

DSC06356: Got The Beat?, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Steve K on the Drums.

Exposure: 0.4 sec (2/5)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Strobe Flash Effect
Flash Settings:
1/32 Power
10 Times
10 Hz

A Band Called "JVC"

I got to set in on their practice secession today and take bunches of photos of them. Their music is really good and if they ever have a show in the St Louis Area, go and see them. Here is a link to the practice today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmstringer/sets/72157612638887603/

My Gear Used:
10.2MpSonyAlphaDslr-A200
VG-B30AM
HVL-F58AM Flash
Omin-Bounce 580 Diffuser
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6

JVC are a St Louis based "Jam Band" that plays the local bar and club scene throughout the Metro Region. They formed over 1 year ago.

JVC are:
Steve Kuca - Drums
Will Zorn - Guitar
Patric Sullivan - Guitar, Keys
Patric Guffey - Bass, Guitars, Keys
Practice Location: OFallon, IL


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Old Home.

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

Temp @ 7.34 am.

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

5 deg Sunrise

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

DSC06171: Work 2.4

DSC06171: Work 2.4, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I think that this photo is perhaps even better than the Work 2.7 photo. The color and lighting is brilliant on this photo. The bright arc is not overpowering any of the photo and you can see the orange glow of the lights in the metal shot reflecting on the metal to the left of the weld. The orange glow on the inside of the pipe si from the hot metal penetrating the pipe and welding it together.

Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 60 mm
ISO Speed: 400

DSC06179: Work 2.7

DSC06179: Work 2.7, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Taken today at work. I love the coloration of this photo. You can see that the worker does not have the MIG welding rig amperage turned up high so he will not blow a hole through the metal. I love the sparks that are being reflected from his chest.

Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 400

DSC06121: Books

DSC06121: Books, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Just another shot taken with a the DIY Diffuser. It shows lots of color without washing out any part of the photo.

Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC06124: The Slingpack 200

DSC06124: The Slingpack 200, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Lowepro Slingpack 200 AW carrying my bag of tricks!! It is very compact and tight. No movement if felt from any of the lenses or gear while i am walking. It holds the stuff well.

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC06071: Glass Globe

DSC06071: Glass Globe, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

One of my collectibles that i have had for many years. I took it and placed it on a black cloth and took some diffused flash photos of it.

Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05190: Looking Through...

DSC05190: Looking Through..., originally uploaded by RMStringer.

While on vacation in Texas for Christmas, we were at my Grandparents home on Lake Sam Rayburn. This photo is looking at the cove where you can park your boat during the summer. At the moment, the lake is very low and the cove is dry.

I had some very, very fun times on this lake during the many summers that i spent there! This is a much different looking photo than what you would see during the summer. It is a bleak, dull looking gray photo with no life. During the summer, it is a bright green "parkway" that allows you 24 hour access to the water and your boat. There are houses to the left and the right but none on this area...

At this moment in time, this photo is a dim reminder of the Winter season that we are all in but don't fret, Spring and Summer are right around the corner.

Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/1.7
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC04940: A Blurry Reflection Of The Past.

DSC04940: A Blurry Reflection Of The Past., originally uploaded by RMStringer.

This is cool!! It is a reflection of the Christmas Tree on a picture with the reflection of another window and another picture on the wall. The origional picture can be seen but it is blurry!

Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/1.7
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC06009: DDR 400 Ram 1.0

DSC06009: DDR 400 Ram 1.0, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Another Macro photo of an extra stick of DDR 400 ram. I love the close up of the vacant slot where a memory chip should be. I used the HVL-F58AM for this photo.

Componon 40mm f/4
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/14
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC06004: DDR 400 Ram 1.2

DSC06004: DDR 400 Ram 1.2, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

DDR 400 Ram Old ram i have at my house. I used the F58AM flash to take this photo.

Componon 40mm f/4
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/14
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC06017: SCSI Cable

DSC06017: SCSI Cable, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Macro shot of a 64pin SCSI cable for a computer. I love the woven pattern that the individual wire makes.

Componon 40mm f/4
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 100

DSC05888: Ming Aralias

DSC05888: Ming Aralias, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

This is a macro shot of one of the leaves on my Ming Aralias plant. I love the delicate foliage and the deep green color. The reflection of the flash is also a nice touch.

Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/13
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Blueberry Hill...

Wurlityer Jukebox Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

DSC05680: Old Truck 1.1a

DSC05680: Old Truck 1.1a, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

A Black and White version of the old truck.

Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Evening Cloud...

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

DSC05772: Multi-Flash 1.0

DSC05772: Multi-Flash 1.0, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Photo using the new flash. HVL-F58AM
1/8 power
50 times
50hz

Exposure: 0.5 sec (1/2)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200

ADI Flash Vs. TTL Flash

I saw this question posed on the Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 flickr group.

What is the difference between ADI Flash and TTL flash. I found a few articles on the subject.

Maxxum 7 TTL flash vs ADI flash system

"The ADI system helps when you have a reflective surface in the background. If you were to take a picture of someone in front of a window and you focused on the person, you might get a big reflection of the flash from the glass which would cause the camera to reduce the output of the flash leading to an under-exposure of the main subject. With ADI, the camera knows that you are focused on the person and will disregard the reflection from the glass. "

he pre-flash utelises the 'normal' 14 segment meter to evaluate the correct exposure rather than the 4 segment dedicated TTL flash meter. In theory this should produce more accuarate results. The ADI system gives extra feedback to help correct problems caused by excessively reflective surfaces in the picture.

By knowing the distance to subject, it is possible for the ADI sytem to calculate the correct flash output on its own but for some reason this only occurs when using the built-in flash. When using an accessory flash, the ADI is always used in conjunction with pre-flash.

Having said that, turning HSS off, setting bounce flash, using off-camera flash, rear curtain flash, multiple flashes or mirror lock-up cancels the ADI/Pre-flash and the whole thing reverts to TTL metering anyway.

So, if you use your flash as the main light source, on-camera, pointing straight at the subject, in conditions that may confuse the exposure system, then ADI can be useful as it 'throws a little extra into the mix' when the camera calculates the correct flash output.'

If someone out there in cyberspace can add something to this i would sure be appreciative of it. My new F58AM Sony flash came in and i have wondered the same thing.



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DSC05732: No Crop To Harvest

DSC05732: No Crop To Harvest, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I took this late Saturday Afternoon after the old home photo shoot. It was still ver foggy and damp although the temp had risen and it was about 48 degrees.

Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Slingpack 200

Slingpack 200 full! Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

F58am Tilted

Flash tilted @ 45deg. Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

New Flash: F58am

Hvl-f58am in wireless mode. Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

DSC05650: Old Bus 1.7

DSC05650: Old Bus 1.7, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Broken Glass...

This was located on the old bus that is on the property that we were photographing last Saturday. The wealth of photographable items is just staggering on this property. It is just too bad that we no longer have access to it.

Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 40 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05225_wm

DSC05225_wm, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Taken with the Componon f/4 40mm DIY lens. It is a few leaves from an Azalia Bush.

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05705: Fallen Barn 1.1

DSC05705: Fallen Barn 1.1, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Here is a more detailed view of the collapsed barn on the old property. You can see many items that were stored in the structure.

Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/18
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05699: Old Swing 1.1

DSC05699: Old Swing 1.1, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I guess that everyone can identify with this photo. I sure can. I had a swing set as a child like many others i guess. There was just a strange collection of rusted old items in and around the old house off of Milburn School road.

Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Burr! Very Cold Sunrise.

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

Mack: A Man's Not Dressed Without His Pocket Knife

 

Thanks to Mack Hall for letting me publish this.

 

A Man's Not Dressed Without His Pocket Knife

 

This last Christmas certain environmentalist groups advertised meaningful green gifts – instead of giving your child a bicycle or a football for Christmas you could donate the money you would have spent on your own kid to some stranger who's shown you a picture of a polar bear allegedly drowning.

 

It's a polar bear, citizens; it swims in the water and eats harp seals, you know, the cute widdy-biddy harp seals with the big ol' eyes.  The polar bear rips screaming baby harp seals apart with its fangs and claws, and the baby harp seals die far more horribly than if they got whacked in the back of the head, and then they get eaten.  How's that for a bedtime story, PETA? 

 

When I was a child there was nothing I would have wanted more than to stumble sleepily but excitedly into the living room to find a card (printed on recycled paper with recycled soy-based ink) giving me glad tidings that a penguin had the new cap pistol I wanted.  Sadly, my parents weren't green, and so gave me cap pistols and baseball gloves and toy trains and an ant farm.

 

Although not as exciting as a new bicycle, a good pocket knife is a far better gift than being bullied into pretending to feel good about a fish or a ground squirrel.  Giving a boy his first pocket knife is a traditional rite of passage, and having it taken away a day or two later for misuse is another traditional rite of passage.  A knife, after all, is a tool, not a toy, and owning one is a grown-up thing.

 

My ol' daddy said that a man's not fully dressed without his pocket knife; experience demonstrates that this is true.  The knife was perhaps the first tool used by humans, probably beginning with a sharp flint, and necessary for skinning a rabbit, slicing veggies, building a fire, eating, building, mending, opening, slicing, dicing, picking your teeth, and cleaning your fingernails.  Mind the order of usage, of course!  No one who lives close to the land or the sea or the workshop can function without a good knife to hand at all times.

 

Thomas Jefferson is often credited for inventing the first folding knife, which, while not as strong as a one-piece, is certainly easier to carry about.  Manufacturers began adding extra blades, and then the Swiss got the idea of adding specific tools in miniature, resulting in the Swiss Army Knife.  Where or not the Swiss Army carries Swiss Army Knives is a good topic of conversation. While these gadgets are fun, I'll bet your old grandpa could accomplish with his single-bladed pocket knife whatever task was necessary before you could find and unlimber the designated thingie out of a Swiss Army Knife or a multi-tool.

 

A friend gave me a nice little lock-back with a single blade with saw-teeth.  I found this knife so useful that a few weeks later I bought a larger model, made-in-America, even while thinking to myself that the last thing I needed was another pocket knife.  And then a few weeks after that Hurricane Rita did not hit New Orleans, and that big ol' American knife with its one large blade and saw-teeth paid for itself many times over with its survival utility.

 

Shiny things under the tree or for a birthday are fun: little plastic boxes that light up and make noise, and other little boxes that allow you to hear The Immortal Words of Our Time – "Can you hear me now?" and "She all up in my face!"  But when you are long-gone, your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will not treasure your MePod or your cell 'phone or your Brickberry, because those dinky disposables will have long since been recycled into beer cans or Chinese cars.  But they will treasure your old pocket knife, its edge well-worn from good, honest use and from many sharpenings around a winter's fire when the stories are told.

 

Sturdy, American-made pocket knives are great, traditional gifts for men and boys.  They are also perfect for skinning baby harp seals.

 

-30-

 

Hercule Poirot: I wouldn't know. I am not French, I am Belgian.
Hastings: Well it's the same thing, you both eat horsemeat.

DSC05717: Fog 1.3

DSC05717: Fog 1.3, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Taken off of Milburn School Road

Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05678: Tractor 1.0

DSC05678: Tractor 1.0, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I wonder what the story is about this tractor? To me, it looks like it was driven to this spot and that is where it stated. It really did not look in that bad of shape, but there must be something wrong with it to be left out like this. It is strange how the grass and brush is only growing in some places around it but not others. Will it rust like so many of the other items on this piece of land?


Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05706: Fallen Barn 1.0

DSC05706: Fallen Barn 1.0, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

This was a neat old barn on the property today. The barn's rood had totally fallen in and collapsed to the floor.I love the perspective that i used to take this photo. I was using the 18-70mm Kit Lens that came with the camera due to the wide angle that i could get with it. It was a gloomy, cold day taking the photos today.

Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/18
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05681: Old Truck 1.0

DSC05681: Old Truck 1.0, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I went out today with Todd Shaak and we went to a very old house that is falling down. There were lots of neat old things to shoot all over the property. This old truck was just one of many items to shoot.

I decided to use the 18-70mm lens so i could get better angles than if i had used the 50mm lens. It was about 40 degrees and very cold with lots of fog in the area.

Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 200

South on IH255

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

DSC05594: 1st Sunset of 2009

DSC05594: 1st Sunset of 2009, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Taken today, January 1, 2009. It was about 31 degrees when i took this photo. We have some bad weather heading our way for the weekend.

Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/1.7
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Minolta 50mm f/1.7 Prime Lens

Minolta 50mm f/1.7 Prime Lens, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I have this lens and i love it!! My wife gave this to me as a Christmas gift.

DSC04565: Ice Age

DSC04565: Ice Age, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Monday, December 22, 2008 Kirbyville Texas. Frozen Ferns in and around the fish pond at my Grandfathers Home.

Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200

DSC05218_wm: Clover 1.0

DSC05218_wm: Clover 1.0, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Clover with water drops on the leaf taken using the Componon Lens.

Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 40 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Last morning of 2008...

Taken with my LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel phone.
From RMStringer

DSC05054_wm: Moss

DSC05054_wm, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Tree Moss Taken with the Minolta 50mm f1/7 Prime lens.

Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/1.7
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

New Flash

From the Sony website.

The HVL-F58AM flash unit delivers flexible lighting control for α (alpha) DSLR photographers. The innovative new Quick Shift Bounce system allows the flash to pivot 90 degrees left and right to maintain a proper lighting position, even when shooting vertically. The HVL-F58AM can also wirelessly control up to three groups of flashes, and Wireless Ratio Control allows you to specify luminosity ratios for each group. Additionally, the HVL-F58AM features an effective range of more than 45 feet (14.5m) and a fast, five-second recharge time. A built-in wide panel and bounce sheet provide an even greater degree of creative control.

The HVL-F58AM Flash Unit is designed specifically for Sony® α (alpha) DSLR cameras.

Delivers high-illumination output in a compact, lightweight body, with an effective range of more than 45 feet (14.5m) and guide number 58. (Guide number measures the illumination capability of the flash; the higher the number, the higher the light output. Tested at ISO100, 105mm).

The innovative “Quick Shift Bounce” system allows the HVL-F58AM to orbit 90 degrees left and right, allowing you to maintain horizontal light distribution even when shooting vertically. In addition to pivoting side-to-side, the flash unit can also tilt down 10 degrees or back 150 degrees, ensuring customers the lighting freedom they need to capture that perfect shot.

Wireless Ratio Control allows customers to wirelessly control up to three groups of flashes, as well as specify the luminosity ratio for each group, so they can enjoy multiple-flash lighting techniques without the need for special equipment or tedious exposure settings.

The HVL-F58AM Flash Unit recharges approximately 55% faster than the previous Sony® high-end accessory flash (HVL-F56AM), so customers will be ready to catch the next great moment. And because it features a quiet recycle charge, there’s no whine to distract them from their subject.

Auto White Balance compensation allows for more accurate white balance in flash photography sending color temperature information from the HVL-F58AM to the camera, where it is incorporated into the camera’s white balance settings.

Modeling light capability allows the HVL-F58AM to pulse, helping photographers determine where shadows will fall before taking the picture, so they can alter lighting or subject positioning as necessary.

Stroboscopic lighting control lets the HVL-F58AM fire multiple times during a single exposure, allowing customers to capture stroboscopic images where moving subjects are frozen several times in the frame.

ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) metering enables the HVL-F58AM to work more effectively with lenses equipped with distance encoders -- combining TTL (through-the-lens) flash metering with guide number control calculated automatically according to the distance to the subject, the ambient light and the pre-flash reflectivity of the subject.

Conventional flashes only work well at shutter speeds from 1/125 to 1/250 of a second. The Sony® HVL-F58AM Flash Unit provides High-Speed Synchronization mode that enables flash sync with shutter speeds from 1/500 to 1/4000 of a second to catch fast-moving subjects.

The HVL-F58AM automatically adjusts flash for focal-length settings from 24mm to 105mm -- and a built-in, slide-out wide-angle panel increases wide-angle coverage to 16mm.

The HVL-F58AM features a slide-out bounce sheet built into the flash head, and can be used in portraits and other bounced light shots to direct light at a subject’s pupils to deliver more lively expression.

The large, easy-to-see LCD display and intuitive button layout make it easy to configure the HVL-F58AM for a variety of shooting needs.

The HVL-F58AM comes with a mini-stand that can stand on its own or be mounted to a tripod or lighting stand for increased wireless freedom. Folds up for easy storage.

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Gear Error Correction!

"I had stated that i had the HVL-F56Am flash and i did untill today. I returned it to get the HVL-F58AM flash. It is the latest and greatest flash for the Sony Alpha line of cameras. It will be here next week!!

"Sony HVL-F58AM High-Power Digital Camera Flash with Wireless Ratio Control and Quick Shift Bounce"



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Updated Geat List:

My Equipment:

Sony a200,
Sony VG-B30AM Grip,
Sony 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens,
Sony HVL-56AM Flash,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Minolta AF 50mm F/1.7,
Minolta AF 35-105 F/3.5-4.5,
Schneider-Kreuznach: Componon f/4 40mm,
Quantaray AF LD 70-300mm f/ 4-5.6 Tele-Macro,
Bower AF 2x MC4 Tele Converter,
55mm Reversing Ring Adapter,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(1) 4gig CF Card Lexar Platinum 80x
(1) 2gig CF Card Lexar Platinum 80x
(1) 2gig CF Card SansDisk Ultra II 15mb/s
6 filters( 3 @55mm and 3 @ 62 UV, Polarize, Red for B/W photography)
(2) Batteries,
A Dynex TriPod,
A Dynex MonoPod,
Gorilla Pod,
Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW,
Lowepro Nova 2 AW,
Lowepro Transporter Neck Strap,
Opteka Timer Remote Control,
Opteka Wireless Radio Remote Release,

Other:
Sony DSC-H1 5.1 Megapixel as second Camera
LGVX8600 1.3Megapixel CMOS Cell Phone

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Bower Teleconverter

Bower Teleconverter, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Bower MC4 2X AF Teleconverter for Minolta Mx / AF Lenses It has a setting of f/4 I have this in my camera bag. Photos to follow soon.

DSC05575 High Power

DSC05575 High Power, originally uploaded by RMStringer.

Stroboscopic Effect using the F56AM Flash.

10hz
10 times
1/8 Power

Exposure: 0.6 sec (3/5)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200