Limestone caves

Limestone cave near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Limestone is amazing stuff.  We use it all the time and often are not aware of it.  It is a favourite crushed rock of gardeners; I have some of it in my dog run area.  If your lawn is too acidic you can "sweeten" the soil by adding lime, a derivative of limestone.  It is found in antacids and chalk.  The biggest use of limestone though is in making concrete.

Concrete is a mixture of lime, sand, stones, and water.  The proportions are modestly specific, but when done right produces an incompressable solid which we build skyscrapers and roadways out of.  The lime is known chemically as calcium oxide (CaO).  If you take limestone (CaCO3) and heat it up enough you blow off carbon dioxide and get lime (CaCO3  ------>  CaO  +  CO2).  The great thing about this is that it is easy; you can do it at home with a propane torch and some limestone rock.  The problem is that it produces carbon dioxide, and like we need more of that.

The other wonderful thing about limestone is that it can be dissolved.  If you take a piece of limestone and put it in a bowl of vinegar it will eventually dissolve.  To do it justice you will need a lot of vinegar and a small piece of the rock.  If you really want to be impressed you can use a strong acid like sulfuric acid (battery acid), but it is dangerous and not a great idea.  This ability to be dissolved by acids is what leads to cave development.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock and is laid down on ocean floors from the compressed exoskeletons of dead sea creatures.  It also precipitates out on its own under certain conditions.  The compressed sediments eventually form limestone, although there tend to be a lot of impurities.  When geologic uplift occurs we get limestone beds above sea level.  The top of the rocky mountains are, for example, largely made out of limestone.  If slightly acidic water comes in contact with it, the rock gets slowly eaten away. 

It turns out that water naturally becomes acidic on its own.  The air contains compounds which, when water is added, become acidic.  That is where acid rain comes from.  We make rain more acidic when we pollute the air by adding sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.  Combustion in cars causes the formation of nitric acid.  Plants produce organic acids which get into the soil and can be leached out, with the water percolating down into the water table.

It is all these acids that eat limestone away.  Water drops suspended from the ceiling carry tiny amounts of dissolved limestone in them.  If that water evaporates it leaves a deposit - stalactites.  Water drops hitting the floor cause lumps to form and grow over time - stalagmites.  Then you get all kinds of other cool structures forming as well.

I have always loved caves.  Our recent trip to "The land down under" allowed us to visit an amazing cave down there.  It has been one of the things I have really wanted to do.  We have caves here in Canada but they are small and relatively undeveloped because the glaciers wiped out ones that existed before them.  There are some amazing ones in the States I would some day really like to see.

www.ericspix.com

It's a cat's life.

Cat on a John Deere tractor

Cats.  You either love them, or you love to hate them.  My standard cat joke, "I love cats; they're good with salt," gets the kind of reaction you would expect.  Cat lovers hate the joke, and the "others" find it funny.  It is one of those polarizing things, like cats themselves.

The pros and cons of cats are many - similar to the number of ways there are to skin one.  They keep vermin populations down (pro), but they also kill birds (con).  They can be lovable pets (pro) and they can tear you to pieces (con).  Their range of behaviours are stunning, as any cat video uploaded to youtube will attest to (this happens to be both at the same time).  They can be friendly and approachable (pro) but also paranoid and aloof (con).  The list goes on.

Then there are the lives they have; nine of them.  Think of how the animal kingdom would protest if they had a voice.  Dogs only get one kick at the can, how fair is that?  Imagine if fish enjoyed the same survive-ability index that felines had.  Catch one on a line and reel it in, only to get a note on the hook saying, "eight left."  Hunters would have to use automatic weapons to take down their prey; a dozen or so rounds should do the trick. 

I happen to be a huge wildlife fan as my other blogs regarding birds, invertebrates, and non-avian vertebrates would attest to.  Cats have been a pet peeve of mine for some time.  It is estimated that they kill over two billion (that's billion with a B!) birds just in the continental US alone each year.  I have personally found the remains of quite a few birds which were the fodder of ambitious pussies.  Many of them were just toyed with to the point of death; not nutrients for an otherwise starving body. 

It is the innate tendencies which resides in cats which makes them what they are.  They are born killing machines which we form loving bonds with.  Both my sister and my son adore their fur lined shredding devices.  My favourite cat, Garfield, raises my spirits with his hilarious antics.  I also always enjoy the occasional intimate moment afforded me when one crosses my path.  I just hope it is not a black one.

A winter scene using the rule of thirds

Using the Rule of Thirds to compose a shot

A winter's moment frozen in time, this was photographed some years ago.  There is snow on my front lawn today, but it is nothing like the dump we received from this particular snowfall.  I remember the day well; a thick frosting that bent conifer branches deeply and impeded any and all traffic.  I pushed through the early morning knowing that the sites would quickly succumb to warming temperatures.  Daring to walk in a few places, I found myself hip deep in the occasional drift.

When shooting, I look for places that I find visually appealing.  The size of the scene is irrelevant; as small as a Christmas decoration or as large as a forest - they are all fodder for the lens.  Coming across something warrants opening up my equipment to the elements.  The time is brief as moisture is the enemy of anything electronic.  Condensation, melting snow, even one's moisture laden breath can delay a shot or destroy a camera.  Caution is required; risk can be mitigated but not avoided.

Notice the image above; there are a few things going on which may go unnoticed.  First off is the fact that the image was intentionally overexposed from the camera's recommendations.  This is because the white snow will end up looking grey if not given the extra light.  Exposure compensation is almost always required when shooting snow scenes.  It is also often true for back lighting, white beaches, and shooting against white backgrounds.  Usually a +1 setting is enough, although I have had to, on occasion, go as high as +2.

A second point is that the scene can be clearly divided into thirds.  The rule of thirds is a cardinal axiom in photography.  The top of the bench, the planter, the tree, and to some extent the first post all are in thirds positions.  This helps the eye to move though out the scene without being stuck in the middle with little suggestion as to the environment the moment finds itself in.  The background comes through with more intensity when the subject does not take up the center.

Lastly, although the picture appears to be a still-life, notice the movement of snow falling from the tree onto the bench below.  This small bit of animation adds to the moment.  In this particular case I facilitated the event by reaching up with my left hand and tugging on a branch.  Often I will capture a static scene and then create some form of motion and capture it again, this time with some animation.  One will usually be better than the other, but it is not always the same one.

Photography is the art of capturing light.  Although it can take place in only a fraction of a second, the process of looking for and finding attractive spots, coupled with manipulating the camera properly, makes the process an ongoing quest for improvement.  My hope is that I am better now than what I was, and that I will be better again in the future than what I am now.  That's part of the fun though, trying to use the knowledge of the craft for personal betterment.

www.ericspix.com

What makes a story?

The promise of a good day is in the air.

A photograph can often tell a story.  Its ability to impart particulars doesn't have to be great, it just has to have elements of suggestion in it.  There should be some hint as to where and what, but doesn't have to include who or when.  In fact a story can be all the more interesting with those elements missing as it leaves the mind open to wander.  

The tree provides does a lot for the image itself.  The greenery gives shade which provides framing on the image on three sides - the bottom portion uses the shadow of the leaves to draw your eye into the center.  The background, although barely visible, has little foliage present and suggests an arid climate of some form.  The lightly clad bodies and trunk suggest a warm day.  You don't need to take the image apart in your mind to make that determination; it comes by itself in seconds.  

Then there are the boaters in the water, which itself is blue and inviting.  Low waves and the slowly changing colour of the water from the beach outward give the appearance of a playground ripe with summer fun.  The picnic table itself is a bastion of comfort and protection.  A place for the moment which is their own, until it is time to hand it off to the next patrons that will benefit from the shelter it offers.

We do not know who the people are or what they are up to; no food seems to be present so it is likely they are there only for a reprieve of some form.  Their manner seems relaxed - its is a great day just to exist.  The keepers of the clock are somewhere else and have been forgotten.

Chances are all this reminds you of being somewhere similar.  It could be anywhere in the world, really, but you sense a familiarity with it all.  These are the things that tell the story.  Just enough details to give some idea as to what, but not enough to make it someone else's adventure.  "Gee, that reminds me of ...", and the image has done its job.

It is always good if the photo itself is attractive.  There are a myriad of devices the pixel-smith can use to produce such a work.  Framing, thirds, silhouettes, lines, patterns, lighting, colour, contrast both in tone and objects; all these add to the effect.  An attractive image that tells a story is always appreciated, even if only for a moment.

Golden Ears Falls - going off automatic is often necessary

A low shutter speed blurs moving water - if you do it right.

The problem many people have with their cameras is that they don't take them off automatic.  There are a number of reasons for this, but the two big ones are fear and uncertainty.

We have fear because it prevents us from doing stupid things.  This includes Darwin award winning events like walking off a cliff, stepping in front of a moving bus, or running into a burning building to get warm.  This goes too far though when it comes to technology.  This is particularly true regarding using a camera.  People are scared of breaking their cameras, ruining their shots, or causing so much internal carnage as to render them useless.  The best plan is to leave it on automatic.  It certainly reduces the likelihood of making a mistake, but it is like staying in the car to not go over the edge.

Uncertainty is another imposing factor which prevents the power of the camera from being unleashed.  It relates basically to a lack of knowledge.  Most will attempt to curb this with a new device by looking at the instruction manual.  After ten minutes of utter confusion and a confirmation that all things technical are outside of their grasp, most will write off the attempt and use this new thing with as little physical contact as possible.  Cameras, it seems, can break if they are touched too much.  One of those buttons is probably for self destruction; they are better off left alone.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem.  First off you camera will have some way to counter any changes you made to it.  There is usually a reset button, menu item, or hidden actuator which will set the camera back to factory defaults.  This insures, barring some disaster, that the camera will be fully operational again and the attempt to cause malfunction was spent in vain.  The second issue deals with the confounding manual.

People often use the camera's manual as a book to read while enjoying a moment of peace and quiet.  That, of course, evaporates soon after the first few pages are turned.  Instead the manual should be used the way you might try to answer a question by accessing the internet.  You would never attempt to learn about something by reading the whole internet - that would take more time than you would have in ten life-times.  Instead, you would look up particular aspects by using key words.  You do the same with your camera's manual.  Referring to the index or table of contents, then turning to that page specifically will give you all the answers you need.

The assumption in all of this is that you know what to look for.  This is where the whole thing can fall on its face.  It also depends upon the manufacturer's ability to have a decent index at the back and to help the user problem solve.  There is, again, a solution to the problem.  It comes with education and using other research tools.  There is a lot to be gleaned on line for using your particular camera.  A search on youtube.com for your model and problem will go a long way to answering any queries.  I will talk about these later in another blog.  Until then, happy shooting.

www.ericspix.com

The Golden Ears in spring.

Golden Ears Mountain, photographed in Maple Ridge, BC

The best thing about winter is that it means spring is on its way.  Like the countdown marching to a launch, each day passed means a day closer to spring.  Although the official start isn't until 58 days from now, its presence is in the air.

We had some modest weather the last few days.  Sunny skies with cool temperatures that reminded me of what is yet to come.  The odd daffodil poked its head up from the ground, and the occasional tulip green sprouted with promised colours soon to follow.  What I liked best though was the sound of robins, eerily silent the last few months, some having returned from their southern retreat, albeit a little early.  Not too many of them, but enough to give hope.

Spring, to me, is a time of new life.  Birds breeding, flowers blooming, gardens starting to thrive - these all are wonderful in their own right; how much more when they come together?  The days are brighter and the sapping rain and diminishing snow seems to have less power than it did earlier in the year.  And suddenly, it seems that there are neighbours.  The people who have hunkered down all winter finally come out to be seen by others in the community.  The grass has to be cut and the children want to run and play.

The only sad thing about spring is that it has to eventually give way to summer.  Although summer has its own glories, spring is the majestic bride of the seasons.  I am always happy to see it come, always sad to see it go.  There is joy, though, in knowing its time will come again soon.

www.ericspix.com

Fraser River and HDR software

The Fraser River during fall; modified using HDR software

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.  Dynamic range is the amount of light, measured in stops, which a medium can represent in an image.  A typical JPEG has a dynamic range of about 8, meaning that it can represent shades of light to dark over about 8 stops.  A stop is a doubling or halving of light.  This is near the low end of dynamic range; it can capture a lot of different tones but really bright or really dark parts of a scene will have no details in them.  They will either be totally black or totally white.

If you notice the sun is behind the tree.  There are white clouds and a bright reflection coming off the water.  Then there are dark parts to the image.  The tree is backlit and there are shadows under benches and from the trees on the left.  The range of shades is far greater than 8 stops.  A camera typically records images in the forms of JPEGs and cannot possibly capture the huge range of light present.  Switching over to RAW mode, if a camera has it, will usually allow you to gain a few stops of dynamic range, moving upwards towards 12.  This will allow the photographer to capture the greater range of lights and darks showing details in places a JPEG cannot.

If you want to go beyond the RAW capabilities of your camera, you have to use HDR.  Some cameras actually have an "HDR" feature built into them, but I have never found them all that useful.  Typically they allow you to shoot only two images and the quality of the final processed image is typically poor.  The shot above consists of eight photos, each taken a stop apart.  The images were combined using a computer program (Photomatix) designed specifically for working with HDR pictures.  I have tried using Photoshop's (CC and CS) HDR processing algorithms but have found it insufficient for the job.

What I like about the proprietary application is that the final file can be manipulated in may different ways.  The exact nature of the shot can therefore be changed dramatically, going from real to surreal or from morbid to splendid.  In order to do a good job on it though there are conditions.  A tripod is a must so that each image is identical in terms of framing.  You can't have movement in the scene; people, vehicles, wind, and waves all cause ghosting which can be a problem.  You will be taking quite a few shots to compile ultimately into a single image, so there is the issue of storage space.  The person has to be able to adjust their camera using exposure compensation or manual mode, and they have to have a computer with the right software available.  Then you have to know how to use it.

HDR is very interesting and can be fun, but it usurps quite a few resources.  Having said that, you can do some pretty cool things with it.  The above photo is not realistic, but it is definitely captivating.  HDR many not be for you, but at least now you know a little more about it.