water drops

Had a chance to shoot more water drops the other day. This time I had a real macro lens and an pcb einstein to work with. I also used a 580ex, but can't remember which ones. For both the power was at near minimum and aimed at a red background.
For the dropper I used a ziploc bag suspended so one corner was hanging down and poked a hole there. The drops were pretty steady and not too fast or slow.
Depth of field is ridiculously shallow that close, even at f/16, so focusing was tough. I think I'd start a drip, then hold something, like the pin I used to stab the water bag, where the drops were hitting, with one hand while focusing with the other.

---

More Mei Mei and Ry Ry

some of us have decided that hijacking the jasonography blog to post baby pictures and updates was unsustainable, so we started another one:
http://meertfamily.blogspot.com
go get ur cuteness fix ;)
j

Seafair 2011

Took Ry to Seafair this year and managed to get a few photos too.
I decided to try some "slow" shutter speeds to get some panning blur.
Used a 70-200 2.8 IS + EF2xii = 400mm.
I found that when shooting planes: 1/100 mostly junk, 1/200 not enough blur, 1/160 just about right. I think that's because the planes aren't often going exactly perpendicular to me, and are usually pretty far away.
When shooting boats: 1/200 was great. They were often much closer and moving mostly perpendicular.

Chimping instead of shooting, or watching the ominous crane above.

I'm always surprised how low and close together they get. I can only imagine the conversation is constantly "dude, get off me."

Went with fast shutter speeds for the wakeboarding.

It gets really loud over those houses.

This is the event I'm always trying to catch and it keeps me coming back. I think the slow shutter speed helps show it better.

I-90 makes a nice background.

Didn't often get two lined up in the right place at the right time and in focus.

I didn't see this until I was processing later: the tail has departed the 'plane. The best part is the leftover vertical part naturally folds... right into the blazing hot exhaust... which melts it down. I wonder if they recovered the gopro?

Nice to see the tail isn't necessary for a sweet rooster tail or even finishing the race, though he did come in last.

---

by c :)

While we were thankful for Maylee's excellent care at Vanderbilt, it's so wonderful to not have to see doctors every day and not be making daily hospital trips!  God is good.  Maylee is as precious as can be and spends most of her time sleeping and eating, with some awake periods in the evening the last couple days.  We love gazing at her sweet face and every little smile in her sleep, and seeing her big curious eyes taking in everything around her when she's awake.  I saw a little dimple briefly in her cheek the other day, so she may have her daddy's dimples!  She's slowly making progress with breastfeeding and seems to be taking more milk when she does nurse, but she still isn't interested in nursing more than 10-15 minutes at a time, so she's still taking bottles after nursing.  It's challenging having to bottle feed and also pump at each feeding, but I've heard I just need to have a lot of patience... as one of my favorite nurses for Maylee would say, "she's not even supposed to be here yet."  It's wild to think she's still 2 weeks from her due date.  Ry is doing great with her (I'm sure it helps that my mom is here and he's still getting lots of attention... it's been a huge blessing to have her here with us) and does sweet stuff like wanting to give her a hug goodnight every night.  Maylee's next doctor's appointment is on Thursday, so we'll see how much she's grown then!

---

Maylee Meert

When I first saw her I thought something about her looked like my dad. And my dad's mom's name was May.
Her nickname has always been Mei Mei (which is Chinese for "little sister" and pronounced "May May"). Mei Li is Chinese for beautiful. So we decided Maylee would be a great name.

Mei Mei was born early, at almost 30 weeks, while we were on vacation in Tennessee. We woke up around midnight Friday 6/3 and found that C's water had broken. We went to the local hospital in Crossville, TN. They didn't have facilities to take on an early baby, so we were transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

At 5 am C needed IV magnesium, which is used to try to stop labor. (And for the first time in two pregnancies she complained of being too hot!). The contractions were regular for a while, then tapered off in the middle of the day and we were encouraged.

By mid afternoon the contractions picked up again, and were painful enough that C needed breathing exercises to get through them.
At about 8:30 pm they found C was 4 cm dilated, and determined that she was likely laboring and the baby was probably going to make her appearance sooner than later. The contractions were getting progressively more painful at this point, but still didn't seem as bad as with Rylan.
Around 9:30 pm C was shocked to already feel the baby's head descending. We immediately called the nurse and soon a flood of people rushed into the room to prepare to help baby as soon as she was born. C had to hold on through one contraction and urge to push. For the next, enough was ready that they gave her the okay to push. And after 2 big pushes, just minutes later, she was born!

She weighed 3 lbs 9 oz and was 16.5 in long.

---

diy lighting kits ring flash test

If you already know what this thing is, and haven't already, stop reading and add to cart. :)

Easy to assemble. Used my own black tape instead of the included white tape.

Extra bracket does a reasonable job of connecting the camera to flash/ring light. Everything flexed and twisted enough that I wouldn't call it a totally solid connection though.

I plan to add some tape to the edges of the bracket where the flash will rub and scratch it.

My 430EXi fit perfectly in the opening. My 580EXi will require some cutting to get in there. But even that is explained in the instructions.

An interesting "feature" is the rabbit ears or horns of light it produces. I haven't figured out yet if this is my fault or just what it does naturally.

It's less than a foot from the wall here. A lot of light is going straight up and a little forward on either side of the middle hole section.

I still can't think of a reason why this thing isn't worth it.

---

SBX arrives in Elliot Bay Seattle, WA

Either the "visitors" have arrived, or this is the giant x band radar dome on an oil rig that's in Seattle for a make over.

---

Tulips

by c :)

We went up to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival a few weeks ago and had fun seeing the gorgeous flowers!

Ry in the daffodils.

Ry espeically liked splashing in the puddles :).

---

Lake Sammish State Park, chocolate chip cookies, Dada's new camera...

by c :)

We got a sunny afternoon in early April and headed to Lake Sammamish State Park nearby to enjoy it.

The steering wheels at playgrounds are always a favorite.

Mmmm, a special treat... Mama's warm chocolate chip cookies and milk at snack time!

I think this camera may be a little too big for me?

Ry has a good time trying to fit in small spaces... I had just emptied this basket for recycling paper and he jumped right in.

Laughing at Dada!

---

Ry and Alejandro, KidsQuest Children's Museum, bath time...

by c :)

Our handsome little guy.

Ry and Alejandro playing on one of their favorite chairs.

Sofa pillow fort!

One relaxed kitteh.

Ry working on his Spanish during Spanish story time with Mama.

Exploring inside the semi truck cab at KidsQuest Children's Museum! This exhibit is a hit with all the kids and is always crowded. Ry also loves getting in the driver's seat of Mama's car any chance he gets.

Rylan is laughing at Dada in this one... he loves bath time and still likes his little tub.

---