Love The Groundhog!

Groundhog Hole

 Groundhog Day has become a very special day for me as I have aged.  I enjoy winter less and less.  Lately, as I am indoors, I don't feel the emotional pressure for the advent of spring like I used to.

I was out on Sunday taking my trash to curb and my neighbor walked over to say, Hi!"  She observed that she had seen two dandelions blooming as she walked across my yard.  I immediately asked what I should do.  I'm exceedingly conscious that my neighbors want me to keep them, the dandelions, at bay so they won't propagate in neighboring yards.  As the conversation progressed, she mentioned that she had heard spring bird sounds.  I recollected hearing the same sounds previously but without the joy in my heart I previously experienced.  I was grateful for her visit since I was able to catch up on the neighborhood gossip.  Secretly, I was relieved that I am not in trouble about the dandelions.   It was nice to talk to you, Marleen.

I remember that Groundhogs were hated varmints on the farm where I grew up.  Father tried to eradicate them from digging under the Trobridge barn undermining the foundation.  I remember seeing a groundhog while plowing beans near that barn.  I grabbed a wrench out of the toolbox, and hit the ground running.  My tractor was closer to the ground than present day tractors which have cabs.  It was quite a chase but I think I had more stamina and after several misses throwing the wrench, he turned to face me.  He snarled, showing his teeth.  He did this over the wrench making me afraid to pick it up.  I think that I ran toward him, this might be likened to a "shoot fake" in basketball.  He flinched first and backed off.  I picked up the wrench and did the dastardly deed.  I have friends who are animal rights activists and I suppose that I should apologize to them for this act.  The world was a different place back then.  We knew nothing of sexual harassment.  It was more, the survival of the fittest.

Groundhog, AKA Marmota  monax

The only pleasant thought I can muster for the groundhog is groundhog day.  I suppose that I am more than a little ambivalent about the groundhog because he/she has let me down with the GD prognostication more that once.  I think my feelings toward him may have moderated since I don't get out much anymore.  I, like Marlene, am looking forward to spring but realistically I don't think it will come until some time after March 21st.

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!

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Macro Lenses and Filters

(You can click the above to see it enlarged)

Macro Lenses and Filters

I have been working on this for quite a while.  I did it because it was fun for me.

This is a summary of my macro/micro photography using my equipment.  It is quite useful to me as I do my work.  Here's how!

1.  I can get a general idea of what setup I might want to incorporate as I photograph a given subject.  The column "Relative Size"  gives me a smallest to largest continuum. 
2. I can look at the associated setup correlating to the relative size I have chosen.
3. After installing the lens on the camera and the camera on the tripod or copy stand, I can look at "working distance" to find a not too rough measurement as to how far the end of the lens should be from the subject.
4. I then shine my flashlight through the viewfinder.  It projects on the the subject platform.  I can then move the subject until it is in the lighted area.  I can fine tune the focus and begin. 

This is based on my equipment.  I have discussed my process for at least a couple months here.  You can look back for data on my equipment.

I have also made this available for you to download if you wish.  It is a PDF file with printable resolution.  Download it here. 

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Calcite Thomsonite

Calcite Thomsonite

This sample comes to us from Globe Oregon, USA.  The view size is 3.8mm and it is 6.6x on the sensor.  Wikipedia states the the two minerals are visually indistinguishable.  Testing would be required to identify each.

Calcite Thomsonite

Optical calcite was used in bombsites during WW II.

Thomsonite is desirable to collectors and for jewelry.

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Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Another of the prairie grasses growing at Goman is Big Bluestem, AKA Andropogon gerardii.  It has been reintroduced at Gorman because Gorman and Mansfield are near the edge of the prairies of Northeast Ohio.  I liked this location at dawn for its rapidly changing light.

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