Thinking Pink and Rinky Dink

<img src="img.photobucket.com/albums/v22…"  alt="The Weekend to End Breast Cancer" title="The Weekend to End Breast Cancer" />
I've known moonbeam13 (Danie) for many years now and she never ceases to amaze me in the things she can accomplish when she sets her mind to it. Even though this dogged (see also; bullheaded, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, stiff-necked, tenacious, and willful) determination of hers often leaves her so worn out that she makes herself sick she won't stop until she accomplishes the goals she's set out for herself.

I've often believed that certain people in the world are catalysts or "rallying points" around which other people — people who don't usually act on their own — flock to. I think Danielle is one of these sorts people, and I'm often proud to call her a friend... (while at other times... )

Once again I am amazed at the things the girl can do. Danielle promised to do her walk again this year, and she set her goal at a modest (for her) $2000. I just went to look at her pledge page and I see that Danielle and the people here on deviantART have achieved pledges amounting to; $6,780.62!! That just blows me away, and there's still time left for you to donate!

04-Sept-07; Danie's total donations are now $7,645.62!
05-Sept-07; Danie's total donations are now $7,845.62!

It's little things like this that make me declare Danie and her mom to be Wonder Women.






The Rinky-Dink part of my journal.

I found out the other week that Canon has just announced the release of the new Canon 40D DSLR.


At first I thought it was hot sex on toast, but now I'm still a bit torn on whether I should call this an upgrade from the 20D/30D or merely an update. We're looking at a better-built body with weather-proofing, 10.1 megapixel self-cleaning CMOS sensor (APS-C size sensor), DIGIC III technology, 6.5 fps continuous shooting (max 75 JPGs, 17 RAW), three custom user modes, a 3.0 inch LCD monitor, "Live View" with optional mirror-drop auto-focus, a larger brighter viewfinder with interchangeable focusing screens, and a quieter mirror mechanism. They also say there's a new optional combo vertical / WiFi grip which will probably cost way too much.

Ok, great, a 10.1 megapixel self-clean sensor is nice. More burst images is nice too, so is the larger LCD, although I can see that big LCD sucking up more battery life. But "live view"? How many serious photographers are going to use the LCD for composing images? Not very many. The live view is mostly for the amateur user who bought a DSLR because they heard it was better. One person I spoke to said it would be great to use live view when shooting over the top of people's heads in a crowd, but the LCD doesn't tilt, so you wouldn't be able to see through it anyway! Live view might also be used in studio settings, but I can't imagine it would be used often. Personally, I would rather use a laptop connected to the camera to control it in a studio than looking through the LCD.

At least with the Digic III technology we're going to have better images with less noise and better colour rendering. And the self-clean sensor is also a nice addition first seen on the Rebel XTi. An IR remote would've been nice too, although they're talking about being able to transfer images and commands wirelessly through the WiFi grip--I imagine this WiFi grip will be way out of the price range of most consumers though. ISO maxes out at 1600, or 3200 in "HI", it would've been nice to get ISO 3200 on the selection dial and 6400 at "HI ISO", but what can you do. Most people are going to max out at ISO 800 hand held anyway. I also hope that the 40D isn't plagued with focusing problems that have been popping up in the 1DS.

They also announce two new lenses to go with the 40D; The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, which is a nice image-stabilized lens that can replace the kit lens, and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS, a telephoto zoom with a 4-stop Image Stabilizer. Two pretty nice lenses.

Pricewise, the Canon 40D with 17-85 IS USM lens is pre-selling at my usual camera store for $1760 CDN, body only is $1400 CDN. I already have someone interested in buying my 20D, so I may get myself a 40D in the spring, I imagine the price will have dropped a couple hundred by then.


My Photos:
I've posted a couple of the photos from my UK2007 trip. I'll be posting more as soon as I get more time. In the meantime you can still visit my Flickr page at; SFoxPhotography

In the meantime, here's a couple books on Photography to check out wherever you buy books. I've got a bunch of this series from "Photo Workshop" on my wish list.

I think the book on Lighting would be particularly good for some of the stock photographers on dA to look over. There's also one on portrait photography that's pretty interesting.

<img src="img.photobucket.com/albums/v22…"   alt="Photos That Inspire" title="Photos That Inspire"/>      





Currently Reading
A Meeting at Corvallis by S. M. Stirling




This is the third and last of this particular trilogy. The series includes two other books; Dies the Fire and The Protector's War. I really enjoy the series because it includes several things that interest me; a post-apocalypse human race, Medievalism, the SCA, Wicca, and a look into the peculiarities of humanity. They say that society is a mere three meals away from total anarchy.

Ten years after modern technology and most of the human race go extinct, what was Oregon is divided among three societies...

Book Description
In the tenth year of The Change, the survivors in western Oregon have learned how to live in a world without technology-but there are those who would exploit the new world order. On one side stands Michael Havel's Bearkillers and their allies, Clan MacKenzie under the leadership of Juniper MacKenzie. On the other is the Lord Protector, Norman Arminger-the Warlord of Portland, whose neo-feudal empire rules over much of the Pacific Northwest.

The tensions between factions have been building for some time, and the only reason they haven't met on the battlefield is because Arminger's daughter has fallen into Clan MacKenzie's hands. But a plan to retrieve her threatens to plunge the entire region into open warfare. (Source: Amazon.com)

S. M. Stirling (Steve) has also told Amazon.com that he just submitted a new book called The Sunrise Lands, the first volume in a new trilogy set in the same universe.

It's Change Year 22, a generation after high-energy technology died in a catastrophe most of the human race didn't survive.  The children born after the Change are now starting to take center stage -- and Whoever or Whatever was behind the Change itself may be taking a hand in their rivalries.  An expedition must travel to Nantucket across a strange and hostile continent to find some answers.




     

These are some of the podcasts I listen to on a regular basis.

Cameron Reilly is a 30-something Australian lad who does this little podcast called G'Day World, first launched in 2004, where he talks about everything and anything under the sun. Cam has been branded as "Australia's First Podcaster" and is CEO of The Podcast Network and Australia's #1 digital media guru.

Scott Sherman and Michael Stein host The Digital Photography Show under The Podcast Network banner. Scott and Michael do a great show all about digital photography and have some great contests and prizes from WACOM. The Digital Photography Show is very popular and constantly at the top of the iTunes Store listing of photography podcasts.

Portfolio is by deviantART's own jademacalla. Portfolio is all about exploring ones creativity and Jade does a great job of hosting. Jade has done interviews of some of deviantARTs more popular names, including lockstock, LongStock, and Nisori. Portfolio is currently in Season 2, and Jade has recently made an update! Huzzah! Also Jade promises to have new episodes after he returns from DragonCon, so stay tuned to Jade's Journal or Jade's Blog for more good stuff.








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