[caradoc]

http://gplus.to/iaincaradoc

[caradoc]

Last night’s best activity was over Mesa, in the area bounded by the northern Loop 202 and the 60, between the 101 and Apache Junction. I wasn’t able to get out there…

There was some additional activity over the McDowells, but it was too sporadic for me to leave the house over it.

Tonight looks to be better probability – with the baby not quite three months old yet, I’m not willing to travel as much as I have in previous years to chase.

[caradoc]

I’d be careful with sand on a scanner bed. It can scratch the glass. Spiffy images, though.

[caradoc]

Bottom line – go cheap on the wired shutter release. Even if it ends up failing prematurely, you can buy 3 of them for the same price as the Canon.

I get mine from dealextreme.com for $5ish each – and I buy them in lots of five, since I seem to kill two or three cables every year slamming them in car doors when it’s time to run away from the storm.

This looks like the right cable for Canon but I could be wrong.

Shipping is usually free, but it sometimes takes a month or two for the boat to get here.

[caradoc]

Also, is this a situation where I want a low f/stop or a high f/stop?

Most lenses are sharpest somewhere in the midrange – and for most APS-C sensors, f/11 is the limit at which you’ll start seeing diffraction effects.

I usually try for f/5.6-f/8 with my f/2.8 glass (Tamron) when shooting for sharpness within DoF limits.

[caradoc]

No, I wasn’t out in that yesterday. Stayed home with the baby – the lightning counts just weren’t high enough for me to go out.

Here’s one I got a couple of years ago:

That was taken from the Tempe Butte (“A Mountain”) trail during the Scott Kelby Photowalk, and won me a book.

[caradoc]

How far east? East Mesa/Apache Junction/Gold Canyon looks like they’re going to get a nice one soon.

[caradoc]

Weird. It shows up for me. Very weird.

[caradoc]

Springfield 1911A:

This one looks like it’s been customized a bit.

[caradoc]

[caradoc]

According to the reports, the next one will be within the next eight hours or so…

[caradoc]

I’d bet a dollar Caradoc is out in it, and will have pictures for us shortly.

You’d be wrong. Low-pressure system == colicky baby. Missed that one. Major portion of the cell passed 19 miles NE of me, tracking to the NW.

[caradoc]

Check how many frames you can animate on the NEXRAD… and the paid version is ad-free. 😀

(Ad-free is a major bonus when I’m on the road, as the ads can really cut into a smartphone data plan.)

[caradoc]

We need a ‘like’ button here. I’m a big fan of wunderground.

My Wunderground account will expire 12/28/2021…

It’s very much worth the $5/year for the extras.

[caradoc]

Looks like the Phoenix area is up for storms starting this weekend. Probability is not high yet, but I have good hopes for Monday night (hooray for Nature’s fireworks on the 4th!)

Tucson may also get some activity on Monday through the evening.

(I use http://www.wunderground.com for weather predictions – the animated NEXRAD map can include lightning strikes if you check the little box.)

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