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Why does California have to be 1009 miles away?

 Even though they’re already married, I shot some ‘engagement’ pictures of Jeff and Sarah on Saturday afternoon in an effort to scout out good locations downtown.  My four favorites are included below.  It looks as though I’ll have some more time to experiment after Thanksgiving, hopefully after fixing my flash.

 I got a package from Hong Kong today.  Well, yesterday, seeing as how it is 1:15.  Needless to say, getting home late tonight didn’t stop me from trying out my new wireless flash trigger.  I’ve been concocting an idea over the past week, the basis of which I’ve stolen from Strobist.  His execution is far better, in my opinion.  Remember that I am working with only 1 speedlight, compared to 3 that he needed to pull off the idea.  Here are the two best shots, straight from my camera without any photoshop trickery.

 Don’t think I’m done with this lightbulb yet.  I have several tricks up my long sleeve.  You suggestions/comments/ideas are welcomed.

 Last night I built a macro photo studio, inspired by the Strobist Blog that I’ve been reading a lot lately in anticipation of my new toy that is due to arrive from Hong Kong soon.  I stayed up way too late taking pictures that I’m not entirely excited about, but I have some new ideas after processing the batch of photos.  I have one more piece that I want to buy for the DIY studio. 

 On another note, I realized how awesome RAW files are.  My SLR batteries were dead (and my old Nikon takes better macro photos anyway), so I shot in JPEG with my Coolpix 4500.  I had to do a lot of post-exposure white balancing and exposure compensation, and the JPEG files couldn’t handle as much processing, losing a great amount of detail that would have otherwise been retained had I been editing a RAW file.  Like I said, I’m still learning.  Note to self, use the camera’s built in white balance.  On to the photos.  Let me know what you think.

 Any guesses as to what the crampons are resting on below?

 More macro shots to come, right after I clean up the disaster that is my basement.  I’ll take a shot of the setup for a later post.

 Hopefully you figured out that Barack Obama won the election.   His acceptance speech was eloquent and reverberated with the promise of change for the next four years.  We aren’t screwed because Obama was elected, and you shouldn’t be scared of what is to come, but I have a hunch that we won’t be seeing much change in the next year, or even the next four.   Unfortunately for P(E)OTUS Obama, his agenda is largely predetermined for him.  Obama now has the real world to face.  Congress ultimately has to write and pass new laws, consumers decide whether or not to buy that fuel efficient car, and public approval limits the risks a president is willing to take.  Obama surely realizes that 48% of American voters did not vote for him and that it is their support that he must gain as he rallies for change.  I also am not certain that the Democrat majority in Congress will work fully in the new president’s favor.  I’m sure there are Senators with their own ideas about health care.  Only time will tell which of Obama’s silver-lined promises are realized, and which of those are put aside to deal with more pressing issues.

 Now, on to what I would like to see as this decade comes to a close.  The economy needs to improve.  Profits are down for most companies, and the last thing they need to deal with is a tax increase.  Keep the tax cut you promised me ($500, according to the Obama website) and invest it in the NIH and NSF.  According to www.sciencedebate2008.com, Obama proposes to double the budgets of the NIH and NSF.  This promise of funding for basic research should be a priority.  New discoveries will spur new business and help to solve problems facing the world, from disease in 3rd world countries to alternative energy sources.  In addition to the economy and research, I’d like to see the world’s impression of us improve.  This is one area in particular that I think Obama can excel at.  That’s all for now.  I’m done talking about politics for a while.  I hope Senator McCain and President-Elect Obama are taking a much deserved nap right now.  I think I deserve a nap too, but chemistry calls.