First Video Uploaded

I mentioned the other day that I had made some videos from my Canon 5D Mark II. Without any real video editing software, at least software I'm willing to reinstall on my computer, I'm kinda stuck with what came out of the camera, speaking primarily of the length of the video. Fortunately, I made one video that is only 10 seconds long, as opposed to 5 minutes, so it lends itself to sharing on Smugmug.

The video can be quite boring, depending on your prospective, but as I mentioned it's only 10 seconds long so it shouldn't put you to sleep. This is one of a few of my favorite spots along the Cascade River along the North Shore of Lake Superior. From this rock the water thunderously passes by so to get the whole experience of being there you have to turn the volume up to the max.

Just a warning. A future video will be of High Falls on the Pigeon River separating the US from Canada. For this video you not only need to turn your volume to the max but you also need a spray bottle of really cold water to spray in your face as you watch the video. Of course you'll also have to go outside in 20 degree temperature to really get the feel of the scene but we won't take it that far.

The first video can be found here: Cascade River video.

Roger

Roadside Grouse

As I was driving down the Gunflint Trail last Saturday I noticed this gal along the side of the road. Having learned from previous mistakes I had my 100-400mm lens sitting by my side ready to use. I turned around and 'snuck' back, not so quietly though. She posed for me for a minute then slowly walked back into the woods. I missed seeing a moose, again, but she was a delight.

Roger

Geez

I go and buy a new camera, Canon 5D MII, and what does it have, video (HD video no less). So what did I do this last weekend? Fill up an 8gig CF card with videos of torrents of water flowing down 4 rivers, Baptism, Cascade, Cross and Beaver, along the North Shore of Lake Superior.



Normally I go to the North Shore to photograph not videograph but I thought it would be fun to play with this new tool. Cascade River is my favorite river along the North Shore and I've often thought it would be nice to take a book and sit by this thundering river with all the noised of the world drowned out and read (of course I would likely never do this because I would be photographing it instead). So the thought came that I could videograph the river with it's thundering sounds and put this on my TV at home and bring the Cascade River into my home. So I did. And for a little variety I videographed the 3 other rivers as well.


The most challenging of the three was High Falls on the Pigeon River, on the border with Canada. Last time I photographed High Falls I ruined a perfectly good Canon 5D thanks to the heavy mist thrown up by the falls. Well today was only slightly better. But I can prepared this time wrapping my camera in a Rainsleeve, the best rain protection for the money, it's only $4, and much better, in these conditions, then my $40 Rain Sleeve. So my camera was well protected as well as the lens, well except for the front lens. Videographing falls that throw out alot of mist is next to impossible since the front of the lens gets covered with water. I tried 3 locations, starting with the worst (I thought it would be the best) and ending with the best (I thought it would be the worst (at least I'm consistent)).

Photographically this wasn't the greatest weekend. The first image is Grand Marais in the distance from the pull out south of the town. I liked the sun rays coming thru the clouds. The middle image is 3 second exposure along Cascade River. The is the location I mentioned earlier and is where I started my videographing. The third image was taken today on my way home. The road to Palisade Rock is closed during the winter and was closed on Friday when I went by it. It was snowing pretty good as I drove by today and just had to turn around and have a look. As you can see it looks pretty miserable and it was but fortunately it wasn't to cold, just about 34 degrees.

Roger

(As always click in the image to show a larger picture.)

Mississippi Overflowing it's Banks

What with all the flooding going on, especially in the Moorehead/Fargo area something we in the Twin Cities hear alot about, this flooding is nothing. It is an annual event when the Mississippi overflow it's banks as it travels thru Elk River. This picture is from Otsego Park, a nice park to take a summer evenings stroll. The river path is covered by water now which makes it an unfamiliar scene.

Roger

DIC Photo of the Day - Riomaggiore Seaside

I just love this picture, Riomaggiore. It's part of the Italian Rivera in a section known as the Cinque Terre. Riomaggiore is the southern most of five village accessible via hiking trails or the train. One couple in our Rick Steves tour group hiked the whole length of Cinque Terre, I forget the distance but it was an all day hike with little time to rest. We hiked between some of the villages and took the train between others. Riomaggiore was the last village to visit and for me it was the crown jewel.

Roger

As a reminder DIC is the Digital Image Cafe at www.digitalimagecafe.com