Lake Manly is back

[GregW]

Every once in a while Death Valley becomes a lake. A really big one. I'm planning on going in February. Here's what it looked like a few days ago at the salt flats.

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[DrEntropy]

Woah. Is this a cyclic thing? I thought the Valley was always dry. Knew a fella from Trona and recall him saying it would never see more than an inch or so annually.

 

[GregW]

I'd use the word intermittant. I think it's too random to be called cyclic. Two years ago when Hillary blew through, then 20 or so years before that.

 

[DrEntropy]

Will we get to see images?

 

[GregW]

I just returned from there yesterday around 5PM. Goin' through the IR stuff now. Here is one.

 

[equiprx]

I just returned from there yesterday around 5PM. Goin' through the IR stuff now. Here is one.

Trippy.....

 

[DrEntropy]

Your IR images are always fun to see. Amazing how a shift in wavelength sensitivity makes things seem "otherworldly". The nearly unique setting enhances it, too.

 

[GregW]

Thanks. Here is some everyday color

 

[GregW]

This was Friday. The clouds really rolled in and even drizzled a bit. You can see that in the background here.

 

[GregW]

A wide shot in IR. A bit blurry for sure.

 

[DrEntropy]

A wide shot in IR. A bit blurry for sure.

Blur seems equal at all distance points. Camera movement? Still an interesting shot with the reflections.

 

[waltesefalcon]

This is a really good set of photos. I enjoy the heck out of your IR work.

 

[GregW]

Thank you. All said and done, 75 shots were taken between the two cameras.

 

[GregW]

Kinda disappointing how washed out the colors get when you compress a JPG.

 

[DrEntropy]

Frustrating.

 

[GregW]

Blur seems equal at all distance points. Camera movement? Still an interesting shot with the reflections.

That was shot at a 30th, so most likely the problem. I was definitely off my game. One of the cameras had reset due to the battery being out for too long. I was unable to see the screen on the salt flats because the screen setting had defaulted darker. The only thing I could think of was switching to aperture priority.

 

[DrEntropy]

hmm... your mishap may have solved a curiosity for me. Yet to pull the batteries from camera bodies for any extended time. Usually put recharged ones into the cameras after using them, before putting them back in the bag. I'd be in a miserable position if all the presets were gone while "on location". The SD cards with the settings backups live in a kit usually left at home. That may have to change!

 

[GregW]

Strangely, this was shot at a 15th. Sharper than the wide shot. Handheld, no stabilization voodoo.

 

[DrEntropy]

Looks just fine. I will assume the first shot you posted in this thread was the same 15th sec.
That is something coming only with practice and experience.

All the "VR" switches on any of the optics I've gotten since embracing this digital stuff have been in the *OFF* position. Tried that "feature" on them, the ticking annoyed me even just carrying one around. You hit that nail square on with the voodoo label. Some of the "new kids" would call VR a necessity. I know how to hand-hold at lower speeds with good results most times. I attribute it to the days of Tri-X ASA 400 and low-light in buildings and such.

Focal length and caffeine level have a lot to do with it, too.

 

[GregW]

I had to check, the 1st shot was 160th. Being in aperture priority for the first time, the shutter was all over the place. Lens for this setup was the 85mm @ f11.