What is it?

To demonstrate just how romantic geeks can be, I'm posting this on Valentine's Day.  Although my wife and I stopped exchanging gifts on this day many years ago because it's become so commercialized, I did purchase her a gift and it's somewhat unique, so I may take some photos and post them later.  

What is this? I'll give you a useless hint.  It's metal and the little particles are dust. I think this is a really cool photo, but that just reinforces the whole geek thing. 

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 15.0 sec @ f10
ISO 400
Aperture Priority
no adjustments





I used my flash for this.  I had it fire on the second curtain.  In this mode, the flash 'pre-fires' when the shutter opens, then fires again just before the shutter closes.  Pretty slick. 

Give up?  How about a second hint?  It's not going to help.  Different angle showing the relative height.  I kinda like the first one better. 

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro lens
Exposure 13.0 sec @ f10
ISO 400
Aperture Priority
no adjustments






OK, here's another hint.  Not likely this is going to be much help either.  Most people would not know what it is because they've never seen anything like this before, unless you're a computer geek like me. I shot this one a few days prior using my telephoto, the ones above were with the macro.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens

102mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f4.0
ISO 400
Curves adjusted for contrast

 Give up?  Don't feel bad. 

This is the heat sink from an Intel Pentium II microprocessor that came from a 'vintage' personal computer.  The microprocessor is the chip that runs the instructions generated by a programmer.  Microprocessors consume a lot of power for their size, thus they get very hot.  Heat sinks attach directly to the surface of the microprocessor and have a very large surface area.  This helps move the heat away from the microprocessor helping it remain cool. 

Way more information than you really wanted. 

'Vintage' in computer terms is anything older than about 3 years.  The Pentium II was initially released in May 1997 and the last release was January of 1999, so this baby really fits the 'vintage' bill.

Wet reflections

First things first ... I've been a bit busy tending to cleaning up of our recent massive snowstorm, so I have not had time to visit and comment on your blogs.  I hope to resume shortly. 

I took this 25-January-10 after we had received 2 inches of rain in 4 hours.  I work in Horsham, PA (the complex I work in can be seen in the background of the photo).  Horsham has a lot of low places that flood easily.  This picture is shot on Davis Grove Road facing Babylon Road.  If you look at the google map link, this stream crosses the road at the number '908'. 

I though this would be good for Weekend Reflections #21

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
50mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/50 sec @ f4.0
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

If you headed the opposite way on Davis Grove, there's an old stone bridge that crosses a creek and you can see it's way over the bank.  If you look very carefully a little to the right of center, you can see a swing hanging from a tree.  If you can't find it, look at the right-most tree.  There are two more trees to the left of it that are similar distances from me.  It's to the left of the third tree. 

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
24mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f5.6
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

Burger anyone?

So, it's been snowing here for 24 hours.  We're currently have received about 20" and it's still snowing like mad.  I took a shot of our grill completely entombed in snow.  Behind the grill is a hot tub that is currently not used.  I completely cleared the snow from the hot tub a few hours earlier.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
24mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f4.0
ISO 400
Flash used

This is a shot out the laundry room door.  This leads to a fenced in area for our dog.  Since she's a small dog, I've already cleared this area TWICE today with the snow blower and it's up to her belly AGAIN. 



Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
24mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/60 sec @ f4.0
ISO 400
Flash used

My oldest son, Nick, clearing the driveway after the township plow cleared the street and blocked our driveway.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
96mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/200 sec @ f5.6
ISO 200
curves adjusted for contrast




These shots were taken 3 hours apart. 

 

Bad photo

We all have them. We don't like to talk about them and we certainly don't post them on our blog for our friends to view
 
or do we?


Our local township recycles Christmas trees. They grind them up and make mulch, which is good for Mother Earth. What you can't see is the sign behind the pile of trees that tells you to "Drop Christmas Trees here". Forgive the out of focus. I didn't check the camera LCD.  Shame on me. 

I love taking these shot - things that contradict themselves or just don't make sense.  Here's a link to one I posted last summer, but it's a bit more subtle.  

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
55mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/15 sec @ f4.0
ISO 800
Curves adjusted for contrast

Help!

 We have a troll in out landscaping.  He seems to be having a bit of difficulty after our recent snowstorm.  The black thing in front of him is an  LED landscaping light.


Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
47mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/380 sec @ f5.6
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast

Snow!

Well, we got a bunch of snow last night and this morning.  I measured 12 inches this morning, but the snow did not stop falling for several more hours.  I think we finished with ~16 inches (~40cm).

I shot a bunch more later in the day.  The sun came partially out and cast a beautiful, orange shade on the snow.  I'll post them some other day. 

Here's Zephyr up to her ears (literally) in the white stuff.  Silly me, the camera was in aperture priority mode at f10, and she was moving like a rocket, but your get the idea.

Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
45mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/50 sec @ f10
ISO 500
Curves adjusted for contrast

My oldest son has only been driving for one year and being the overprotective parent, I drove him to work today.  On the way, I noticed that the train tracks were covered, indicating that the trains were not running. 



Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
24mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/320 sec @ f13
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast

Near my home, we have a one lane bridge that crosses the Reading creek.  The bridge is thought of as a nuisance in this modern, hurry-up world, but I find it the be almost charming - a throwback.  Here's a shot of the creek.


Canon EF 24-105mm L f4 IS USM lens
35mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/160 sec @ f10
ISO 200
Curves adjusted for contrast

Bridge of 8 arches

This is a shot of the 8 arch bridge that spans the Neshaminy Creek (you see that name a lot in this blog, don't you?).  This bridge is directly parallel to Rt 263 (York Rd) just north of Middle Bucks Institute of Technology.  I literally stumbled upon this as I was driving around at lunch one day.  This bridge is closed to vehicles, but it's OK to walk across. Behind where I'm standing is a modern, ugly, 4 lane bridge that carries all the traffic.  Those traveling it probably don't know this gem exists.

This google map link below shows the two bridges.  You make a turn off York Rd as if you were entering Big Brothers/Big Sisters, then turn left before you hit their parking lot.  You'll be driving towards the bridge.  Just before the bridge, you can make a left and pull into a parking lot.

James, I finally followed the reflection rule #1 (photo contains a visual reflection).  I tend to get caught up in the moment and neglect that little fact.  For more reflections, visit Newtown Area Photo

Note that all these shots all made use of a circular polarizer, which enhances the blue in the sky. 

Submitted for Sunday Bridges

Wide angle view of the entire bridge.  We had snow the night before, which has enhanced the ice.


Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/160 sec @ f8.0
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

Here's a closer shot revealing the reflection of the arch in the water a little better. 

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/125 sec @ f7.1
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

Here's a shot from the bridge deck. Not all that exciting.


Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/320 sec @ f11
ISO 200
Curves adjusted

Lastly, a shot of the creek from the bridge.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.4-3.5 USM lens
10mm Focal Length
Exposure 1/125 sec @ f7.1
ISO 200
Curves adjusted