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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-09-2018, 05:07 AM
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The State of Kansas is part of what is called the " Great Plains " Huge treeless grasslands. settlers needed to find an alternative to wood for fencing off fields
It has a area called " Post Rock Country "
" The area known as "Post Rock Country" stretches for approximately 200 miles from the Nebraska border on the north to Dodge City on the south.
The limestone itself is found close to the surface and is usually uniform in thickness. One of its greatest attractions is that it is soft enough to shape when freshly quarried but hardens with exposure to the air. The feather and wedge method is most commonly used to remove the stone. A rather modest set of tools is required, often made by the local blacksmith. A drill, a hammer, a chisel, and a set of feathers and wedges are needed. After the soil is removed, holes are drilled into the limestone about eight inches apart. Feathers and wedges are placed in the holes and the wedge is hit with the hammer to split the rock.
After the rock is quarried it must be moved to the site of the fence. The posts are then set in the ground about 10 steps or more apart. They are then prepared for the wire fence. Several methods can be used but perhaps the most popular is to notch the post's edges to hold the barbed wire after which smooth wire is wrapped around the post to hold the barbed wire in place. . . .
Although the popularity of working with the stone has declined somewhat over the years, the tradition has never stopped. There have always been at least a few post rock cutters in the state who not only do repair work on old structures but also help build an occasional new structure. Recently post rock has become a cultural symbol of central Kansas, representing both the land and the people who settled it. This symbolic use of the post rock has caused a renewed interest in this Kansas folk art. "
Post Rock Cutting - Kansas Folk Art - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society
you can drive down the roads and still find upright limestone fence " poles "
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-08-2018, 10:54 PM
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My first big scale employer was ETSA. Did the same things as SEC, but one state west. Even did the same story with a coal mine and town, where I first worked with them. SEC coal was better quality than ETSA. ETSA coal: if it breaks it is coal, if it doesn't it is rocks. Back during WWII the railways used the coal. It was so bad they had to make mixed coal/oil fired steam engines - the oil was to get the coal to burn.
And your fathers story reminds me of something I saw about a particular NCO role in the army. Basically the blacksmith SgtMaj in a regiment. Originally to do farrier work for the colonel's horse. Now still a recognised title, and in those fancy dress parades this person wears a blacksmith style apron and carries blacksmith tools. The picture I saw was from the Australian army and the incumbent was a veteran of either or both Afghanistan or Iraq - the recent wars there, not the 19th century wars in A or the early 20th century wars in I.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-08-2018, 09:11 PM
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My late father was employed by the State Electricity Commission of Victora (that's the Victoria in Australia) as a ... [drum roll] ... saddler!
He never made a saddle in his life. But he did previously run a boot repair business which meant cutting leather into different shapes (!).
I think the position at the SEC was a legacy one from the olden days when they had lots of horses.
The SEC was the sole supplier of electricity in Victoria until it was broken up and privatised.
So it mined coal (open cut brown coal) built power stations, generated and distributed power all over the State.
It built and owned the town of Yallourn and effectively did all the normal municipal things - rubbish collection, road maint, ran the library & fire brigade, etc etc as well as being the landlord for every house and other building.
When the coal underneith the town became more valuable than the town itself; goodbye Yallourn.
Back to dad's job; He worked at the "municipal depot" (the base for town maint) but all of his work was for SEC instalations themselves - his laid carpet in SEC buildings, he reupholstered office chairs, he made canvas water tanks that fitted into the body of tip trucks (which were used as auxiliary fire trucks when needed).
So, he never made a saddle, but he was employed as a saddler!!
BTW Do I now qualify as a Rupert-story-type-teller?)
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 11:03 PM
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Have you forgotten our friend whom some here call Shirley and who protests about such naming, whose alias ends Poitiers?
I do not regret losing the 42C days from the Clare Valley. I used to live in a different vineyard area not far from there. That weather is part of the climate that is good for the wine flavour intensity, although too many days like that is destructive of the fruit, but very hard to grow fruit trees. I did that in my backyard, had about 25 trees and most years there was extreme weather that damaged something, and depending what time the extreme weather came, which fruit was spoiled.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 05:41 PM
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 04:52 PM
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Aw, man ... We have a word in German: fremdschämen. To experience a feeling of embarrassment due to someone else doing something embarrassing.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 09:14 AM
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Well, of course.
People over here think really interestingly. It is quite fun trying to understand them.
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 01:42 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 09:39 AM
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I was on a bus tour through Custer State Park, many passengers got mad when the driver refused to open the door when we were surrounded by a herd of bison
They wanted to get out and take photos
Bulls, cows and calves
Dumb people
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-03-2018, 09:46 AM
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I don't blame the driver. There's way too much paperwork involved when Darwin comes a'callin...
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
01-01-2018, 03:54 AM
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-01-2018, 04:37 AM
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Happy New Year folks
hate to be a downer but just wondering
1 any wild animal will defend itself if it feels it cannot retreat so there is always possible danger to the photographer
2 there is a danger of interfering with the animal, even unintentionally, driving it from its territory - imagine driving the parents from the den and leaving the young alone and undefended
3 possible answer, urge the kid to research the animal, check with " experts " on what to do and not to do before acting
4 another reason to research - is the animal protected by law from interference ?
5 I, too, support the idea of the kid getting a " real " camera and support his journey
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I, too, have done " donations " as suggested by GMounk:
" There has to be someone out there somewhere who is upgrading or has upgraded and is willing to give the kid a shot in the arm.
I would do it myself but I already gave a younger photographer a shot in the arm and gave in my Nikon D300 with a zoom lens and GPS along with a few other goodies. Its something I do. I always give my old cameras away to up and coming photographers.
So hopefully there is someone out there that thinks the same way. "
_________________
but for me, I'm in the wrong area is there someone on the forum more local that might help out??
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
01-01-2018, 02:51 AM
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Currently the parents are thinking trail cam, sadly. The lad's thinking proper camera. They are negotiating ...
There's some interesting articles about adapting PIR sensors as triggers, ie a DIY exercise. This would open up a whole load of learning options, rather than getting a trial cam and just sticking it on a tree. As GMounk says the tracking and involvement of a camera, would open up a lot of avenues. In the UK, I recall my Duke of Edinburgh's outdoor award being an exercise in tracking, building and setting up photo equipment on a hill behind my grandparents, and then spending many fruitless hours with my designs failing. All analogue of course. Still I then went onto read physics at uni and then into the electronics industry, before moving into software at IBM. These early experiences, and failures, are probably like many of us here why we still fiddle with stuff and don't just buy out-of-the-box. I'm with the lad, rather than the parents ...
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-31-2017, 07:36 PM
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While I can understand people suggesting him using a trail cam, I think he may be interested in tracking down the beasts, and then getting a picture to show the fruits of his labour. If he uses a regular camera then he has to learn to track, and also learn how to use a camera. Sure it is difficult taking low light pictures, but that doesn't mean he isn't capable of doing such. Who knows maybe he will become an expert in night photography, and will have tons of beautiful high quality pictures.
I think a camera is the way to go. We just have to hope someone is going to sell a workable quality camera for a manageable price.
There has to be someone out there somewhere who is upgrading or has upgraded and is willing to give the kid a shot in the arm.
I would do it myself but I already gave a younger photographer a shot in the arm and gave in my Nikon D300 with a zoom lens and GPS along with a few other goodies. Its something I do. I always give my old cameras away to up and coming photographers.
So hopefully there is someone out there that thinks the same way.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-30-2017, 09:04 AM
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Thanks for that. :)
Who are you trying to kid... hence my phrase "you'll need to throw several thousand of whatever local currency you have at it" :lol::lol::lol:
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-30-2017, 08:59 AM
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Now there's a thought, can stay home in the warm with a dram, while it does the work... happy days. :cool:
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-30-2017, 08:13 AM
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Aye, down in England-shire apparently to help with their Bovine Tuberculosis situation, seems not to be such an issue up here in Scotland. :)
When advice was sought after, I thought my gentle let down was far nicer than, you'll need to throw several thousand of whatever local currency you have at it, in order to get the right kit to get reasonable results. ;)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-30-2017, 08:21 AM
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never had a personal experience with a badger
but if there are no differences between those in the US and Scotland
they are reputed to be quite a fierce and dangerous animal if they feel threatened, you have " invaded " their space and they feel they have no retreat
like all wildlife, telephoto lenses are advised with cropping in pp if necessary
may not eat you but could do a lot of damage with those claws and jaws
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-30-2017, 08:41 AM
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I found I couldnae eat a whole one... not without leaving a few chips and the side salad. :lol::lol::lol:
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-30-2017, 08:48 AM
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Most of us just aren't happy unless we've recommended gear that costs as much as a good used car. The thing slowing me down is the 11 year old thing. Too bad there are no good low light bridge cameras.
I'm thinking one of those motion activated wildlife cameras with a flash might be the way to go.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-29-2017, 04:45 PM
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2 dozen posts in and everyone else resisted saying "Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers."
Good job.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-29-2017, 11:41 AM
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The normal first question to ask is... will the wildlife eat me? :eek:
I think with Badgers you'd be fairly safe. ;)
But they are timid beasties, so perhaps long lenses will be required, also they operate at night time which is not ideal for imagery. :(
This is fairly specialised photography and will require some specialised kit to get good results. Not an ideal for any eleven year old start up package, perhaps a gentle nudge into a more accessible wildlife would be a good way to go. :cool:
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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II
12-26-2017, 01:31 PM
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I mentioned something like that to my wife once.
Her reply was "You have to go to sleep sometime".
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Forum: Photo Critique
12-20-2017, 09:07 AM
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Just an occasional hobby photographer trying to improve my techniques with old gear. I use Lightroom to process. What could be improved in this photo? Any critiques appreciated.
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