Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Random things I was thinking about at six a.m. this morning.



I took this picture of the moon on Sunday. It was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds and looked really neato-mosquito, but… did you know it's really hard to photograph the moon?

People have told me this before, but I didn't really understand what they were talking about until I tried it.

For one, the moon is really bright (reflects the sun blah blah blah) but since the surroundings are so dark, the camera thinks it needs to use a really long exposure. Which, of course, completely blows out all your details. Like this:



But, if you expose properly for the moon, everything around it gets lost in the darkness because the exposure isn't long enough to capture anything BUT the moon. See?



So, I cheated. I admit it. I'm a cheater. And I also cuss like a sailor. There, I said it. Happy?

Okay, actually, cheating was much more difficult than I thought it'd be.

I took two shots. One exposed for the moon, one for the clouds. And then I thought I was so super freaking cool 'cause I'd just use magic Photoshop to superimpose one over the other and make one good photograph. (Okay, one so-so photograph.) (Hey, I'm still learning!)

Except, the moon? Yeah, it's moving. Constantly. So trying to take two photographs with the moon in the exact same spot is nearly impossible. Even after just a couple of seconds, it's in a different spot, so trying to combine the two images wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

Yeah, turns out I'm not so cool after all. Please don't tell anyone.

But, it was fun to try. Okay, moving on.

I seem to be coming across a lot of giveaways these days and, you know, that's awesome. (Who doesn't love free stuff?) But I can't help but notice that several of these "free" giveaways have a lot of stipulations. Stuff like "you must create a sculpture of what you think this blog would look like in stone and ship it to me and then post a picture of it on your blog and a permanent link in your sidebar for five years."

I understand people are trying to drive traffic to their own sites. I totally get that. Hey, I'd love to drive a lot more traffic to my own (I think), but... this space here? As small and insignificant as it may be, it's mine and what I choose to display is totally up to me. And I don't want anyone to tell me what to do.

And I want The Husband to stop giving me grief about spending money.

I know what you're going to say. I don't have to participate. No one is forcing me to. I can just shut up and leave well enough alone, but... well, it's been weighing on my mind and I don’t know why I feel the need to share, except it's Wednesday and I'm standing here thinking about it and this is what I do.

I hope I haven't offended anyone. Have I ever told you I have an absurd, ridiculous fear of offending people? I do.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject. (Really.)

I saw Benjamin Button last weekend. I thought it was freaking fantastic. I love movies that allow you to get absorbed in the character's lives. Especially when the characters themselves are so wonderful.

And, right after, we went and watched The Reader. (Yes, we movie-hopped. Yes, it's technically stealing. Yes, I feel bad. Sorta.) The movie frustrated me. I hate movies that frustrate me. But, I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it. (COUGH wait for the DVD COUGH)

So, what was the last movie you fell in love with?

I think, before Ben Button, it was Walk the Line. I had a huge crush on Joaquin Phoenix for, like, a year afterward. I think my mother still has one.

Unfortunately, I just found this very disturbing article.

Can't they just... be normal?

9 comments:

  1. Giveaways that ask you to do all sorts of things seem ridiculous. I think you get so annoyed with the blog owner that you won't become a regular reader.I love, love, love your moon shot(s). Very cool that you put two shots together to get your final image!Oh, and your #5 reason it's good to be married is great!

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  2. I think you are my west-coast counterpart. Because...1. We have the same camera2. I just took some sorta kick-ass moon pictures the other day3. Oh, I love chocolate and cookies.4. I had a big crush on Joaquim, until he flipped out recently. Did you see him on Letterman?5. I swear to you that just yesterday, I thought to myself "maybe the hubs and I will go see a movie this weekend....and then maybe we'll sneak into another movie afterwards." I've never done that, so it would be a pretty big deal for me.

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  3. I was thinking about how cool a picture the moon would make last night, but I stink at moon pictures. Your picture turned out lovely, and no one needs to know the process you used to get there!I don't normally participate in giveaways. I just think you can't get anything for free- everything has a hidden cost.

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  4. Cheater! Cheater! But boy, would Scott Kelby be proud!I gave up shooting the moon in all its darkness. So now shoot when the sun is still up and there still is light. That's how I cheat.Otherwise I cry and stomp my feet and throw a temper tamprun!

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  5. I haven't watched a movie that I've fallen in love with in a long time up until I watched "Becoming Jane" on DVD last weekend. Loved it. Totally sucked me in. Which was good, because I was beginning to fear I'd lost the ability to be swept away. Apparently I've just been watching the wrong movies.

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  6. That's funny Alias Mother! I have been thinking the same thing about books. I haven't found one in quite some time that really GOT me.

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  7. J told me about the movie hopping....What an example you are! ;)

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  8. I must not be going to the "cool" blogs because I haven't seen those kind of giveaways. The only one I ever see with giveaways is Ree, so there ya go. They can't be that dang cool, 'cause I am here and not there soooo.... You know where the cool kids hang out!"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day." Seriously sooooo great. Francis McDormand and Amy Adams. Lovely movie set during the art deco period. Just watching the sets are fun."Lars and the Real Girl" Patricia Clarkson and a bunch of people you have never seen before. It touches your heart and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Two seriously great movies. LOVE them both.

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  9. lifesignaturesFebruary 20, 2009

    Hey there, I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to do hand stands to have people come to your site. You are so right, it's your corner of the internet, as is mine. My family loves it by the way, I'm far from them. Anyway,I come to your site because although you seem the total opposite of me (I'm sorta a prude) I find you refreshing and funny (even with the language. I'm a prude, I told you so). And I love your photos of food, I think that's your calling. So please call the Food Network right now and send them to your site. You can truly work for them as a food photographer. Cheers, have fun on your trip.

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