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| Bumper sticker politicsMost of us are aware that we are headed toward presidential elections here in the good ole US of A. Here in AK, we have our share of other issues heralding us to the pols, a mining initiative, Senate and House races, that should make the trip to the firehouse a little more motivating. The past 8 years of Bush & Co have been the worst 8 years that I can recall as an adult participating in the election process. And while I look at the old guy and think "Mc-Same", and hope that the young guy is truly motivated enough by the goodness of his heart to do the right thing, I am not inspired. Not enough to put a bumper sticker on my truck supporting one, or detracting the other. Blah politics. Unispiring candidates. Petty name calling. And the electorate all a-tithers about what the minister said, did he really leave his first wife in a wheel chair, dollar bill portraits, lapel flags, fist bumps, facial moles, and on and on, as the economy flounders, the environment is desecrated, folks lose their homes and jobs and progress fails us. I'll vote come November, I'll do my duty. But not without complaining about the lack of real choices, the lack of real candidates. And not with a bumper sticker on my truck. | | |
| Springtime in Alaska Spring time in Alaska, there is still snow on the ground, but the grass, where it is showing, is turning green, trees are starting to leaf out, and of course, out in the middle of nowhere, at the base of a glacier, along the eastern edge of the Alaska Mountain Range, at what becomes the third largest city in Alaska (although it lasts for one week), it is time for.... ARCTIC MAN! Snowmachine races where the premier event is a race where snowmachiners pull skiers at speeds over 80 MPH! Other events include races without the skiers: 
And of course there is the crowd pleasing freestyle, with the mid air acrobatics, all at over 60 MPH: The ramps as seen during the day: 
But ofcourse the event is at night, just to add a little more adrenaline to this testosterone special: 
Launching: 
Midair: 
All in all the event is hard to discribe, other than to say it is a cross between the Alaskan versions of Spring Break and NASCAR. Why was I there? Providing emergency medical coverage. Other than the last 2 events, most years generate a death, plus mutiple major traumas. A friend of mine calls the event "Stupid Man". Me, I call it "Job Security." What do you think? | | |
| Crescent lunacy.Went out to try to photograph the crescent moon, but still having issues with the camera. This one shot was the best I was able to get of this event.
Not the best, I know, So any ideas or suggestions are appreciated as I am almost ready to go back to my old manual film cameras.
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| Lunacy in photography.Some great suggestions from Jennifer at S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen, (read her Night Shots entry) as I struggle with night shots. Unfortunately we are having snow showers so I don't think I will be able to try the lunar crescent shots she suggested.
But here are some earlier attempts in February of the eclipse.
Here the time lapse picks up from the start of the eclipse to almost full. Due to my lack of experience with a brand new camera, I was unable to get a shorter time lapse, so the initial full moon out-shines the eclipse.
Yes that is Spanish Moss, No I wasn't in Alaska at the time, but in Florida near Tampa.
Here is the reverse: you see a 60% eclipse at the start of the time lapse, but unfortunately the time lapse ends with an almost full moon that obscures a lot of it. If I had known then a little more of how to manipulate my settings I may of done better.
Here is an almost full moon post eclipse with clouds. I like the effect. What do you think?
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