Category: Daily updates

Generally musings of the day, usually accompanied by a photograph

Flash practice

Now that I have two strobes, the accessories required to use them, and the relevant theoretical knowledge from Light: Science and Magic, I need to start getting some more practice in flash lighting of various subjects, in different lighting circumstances. I am curious about situations in which my strobes are basically the only source of light, as well as about those where they are supplementing available ambient light (with the balance established by varying shutter speeds and flash power).

Portraits are my top priority.

Spring in Toronto

Muppet in distress

This weekend, I am visiting Toronto, which always induces comparisons with Ottawa in which the capital city comes off looking badly. I like subways and shops that are open past 6:00pm. If this dire economy can provide space in Toronto for someone with no particular interest in private enterprise, perhaps I will find a way to relocate myself here over the course of the next few years.

Also, one quality for which Toronto should be praised is the availability of Gingerbons spicy and sweet ginger candy. They taste like a fantastic amalgamation of ginger and honey, and I have only ever seen them in a bulk food store on Bloor Street, a couple of blocks east of Jane.

Now, off for a late, greasy diner breakfast.

Gaffer tape

Duct tape is a material with legendary status among nerds, and has been used to build or repair countless things. Recently, I discovered that all the admirable qualities of duct tape, along with a few extras, can be found in matte black gaffer tape. The principle advantages of gaffer tape are that the adhesive won’t get deposited on materials where it is used, leaving them sticky once the tape is removed, and the more closely-spaced fibres. Like duct tape, gaffer tape can be ripped into neat strips and used without other tools. The more closely-spaced fibres allow for more control over the shape of the pieces, and neater strips overall. It can also be unstuck and re-stuck more cleanly and easily than duct tape can.

So far, I have used the new tape to repair the fraying bits on my bike handlebars, repair and reinforce the leather folder where I carry issues of The Economist, tape down the switch on the power bar beneath my desk that I sometimes hit accidentally, and strengthen the bindings on some used hardcover books. I plan to use it to make some flash accessories.

One disadvantage of gaffer tape, aside from the somewhat higher cost ($0.26 per yard rather than about $0.20), is that it is much harder to find. Since I first learned about it in a photography textbook, I thought it might be available in photo stores. After having no luck there, I ordered some online from National Hardware Sales. For those looking for something bolder than matte black, they also have the stuff in neon colours.

Book club logistics

I must say that I am surprised with the number of positive responses to my post about starting a book club. Of course, it is encouraging to see that so many people would be interested in the coordinated reading of non-fiction.

It seems to me that two things need to be decided: the dates on which book reviews should be written up and posted, and the first book we should all read. I propose that we answer these, at least for the first month, by means of an opaque participatory, but not entirely democratic, process. Namely, I propose that people nominate dates and books and, once a good number of people have commented, I will select something that doesn’t seem too far out of line with the consensus.

For dates, I nominate either the 7th of every month, or the 15th of every month, starting in April. For books, I nominate the following, in no special order:

  • Easterly, William. The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good.
  • Speth, Gus. The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability.
  • Diamond, Jared. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.

I may suggest some others while the discussion is ongoing.

On blog post timing

My current system is to produce two posts a day (sometimes one on weekends or when I am very busy). The first post includes a photo, and is generally the more substantive of the two. One post comes out at a random time between 7:00am and 8:00am Ottawa time. The other, at a random time between 6:00pm and 7:00pm.

Given that almost all the posts are written in advance, these time conventions are arbitrary. Would readers prefer for them to come out at different times? For instance, the first could be released earlier in the morning, for the benefit of those who habitually rise long before me.

Time zones are also a consideration. During the past year, there have been 22,253 visitors from across Canada, 19,789 from the USA, 5,597 from the UK, 1,314 from India, 1,297 from Australia, 642 from Germany, and less than 500 from 165 other states. The times at which posts are released matter most to regular readers, who tend to be in England (GMT), the Toronto-Ottawa area (GMT-5), and the Vancouver area (GMT-8). That means posts come out in Vancouver between 4:00am and 5:00am, as well as between 3:00pm and 4:00pm. In London and Oxford, they come out between noon and 1:00pm, as well as between 11:00pm and midnight.

Also, is the semi-random system preferable to one where they come out at the exact same moment, or would the alternative be better?

Nuclear paper published

The February issue of the St. Antony’s International Review contains my article: “Climate Change, Energy Security, and Nuclear Power.” The article is meant to be an introduction to some of the important issues surrounding nuclear power, energy security, and climate change. It remains an issue that I am agnostic about. It may be that nuclear fission is an important transition technology, useful to smooth the transition to a low-carbon global economy. It may also be that it is a subsidized, dangerous boondoggle and a distraction from superior options.

The full text is available here (PDF). Comments would be appreciated.

OC Transpo bus pass refunds

If anyone needs yet another reason to dislike OC Transpo (after this and this), it seems that they are trying to minimize the number of people who bought bus passes for December and who get the promised refunds:

Until Feb. 21, riders could bring their December passes to a kiosk and receive a full cash refund. But now that the deadline has passed, those still holding those passes must mail them to OC Transpo by Saturday and they will then receive a cheque in the mail — which may help those who gave up on the long line-ups at kiosks this past Saturday.

If riders miss the Feb. 28th deadline, they can exchange their December pass for a discount on a March pass.

The situation for those of us with annual passes remains ambiguous. We were being charged during the span when there was no bus service, and I don’t yet know what remedy (if any) will be offered.

Anyhow, those who bought monthly passes for December should mail them off as soon as possible.

On haggling

Apparently, while the economy remains in the doldrums, haggling is on the up-and-up. The Economist reports that the proportion of American consumers who have used the tactic during the past four months is at 72%, compared with 56% last year. Key places to haggle include hotels, clothing stores, and electronics shops.

On XUP’s blog, an introductory guide to haggling was recently posted. It’s something I could probably make use of myself, given the very limited extent to which I engage in the practice. The only recent occurrence I can think of was when I negotiated a modest discount on a package of photo gear, purchased at Henry’s.

New economic times bring with them the need for different skills. The fact that haggling is increasingly among them is an indication of the continuing level of financial uncertainty in the world.

If any readers have haggling stories or tips, they would be appreciated. Have any house or flat renters been able to talk down their monthy payments, on the basis of falling housing prices and rents across the economy as a whole?

Walkabout photo kit

My standard set of photo gear for walking around and taking photos has expanded considerably, of late. It now includes:

  • Canon Rebel XS dSLR
  • Canon Powershot A570IS
  • Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 lens
  • Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
  • Lens hoods
  • Canon 430EX II flash
  • PC to hotshoe adapter
  • Sto-fen omnibounce diffuser
  • CyberSync flash trigger and receiver
  • Collapsable reflector
  • Ultrapod mini tripod (for A570IS)
  • Ultrapod tripod (for Rebel XS)
  • Polarizing filter
  • Lens cleaning equipment
  • Extra batteries (dSLR and AAs)
  • Plastic zip-loc bag, to prevent condensation when moving from cold to warm places

Among these, the polarizing filter is probably the least used item. The most useful item relative to its price is the Ultrapod mini tripod.

A useful and affordable addition would be a clamp for attaching the flash to things. The addition that I think would be most useful is a 70-200mm lens. It would allow for much better wildlife photography, as well as more capability at concerts and similar events.

See also: Building a 35mm camera system.