Thank You to Hunts and Reminder about the Panstarrs Event

I want to thank Hunts Photo and Video for having me give a presentation "Photographing Meteors, Stars and Moon" last Sunday evening.  The program was held at their Hanover store and we had 11 people attending.  A good time was had by all.
The photos in this blog are by my grandson Kyle.

I also want to remind everybody that starting Monday evening, April 1 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM and continuing all week, I will be at the Stone Barn of the Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, weather permitting, to look for and hopefully photograph the comet Panstarrs as it passes through Andromeda approaching Cassiopeia.
If the weather is going to be wet, I will post on my blog, on Facebook, and on Allens pond Facebook page, if the event is canceled, that night.
 
Register online or call 508-636-2437 to register by phone.
Register by mail: program registration form

To Sanctuary Entrance at Stone Barn Farm
From Interstate 195, in Westport, take Exit 10 (Rt 88 South). Follow Route 88 through three lights to intersection with Hixbridge Rd at 4th light. Turn left onto Hixbridge Rd and proceed 1.8 miles to stop sign at Pine Hill Rd and Horseneck Rd. Turn right onto Horseneck Rd. Proceed 3.3 miles to corner with East Horseneck Rd and turn left. Stone Barn Farm entrance will be 0.4 miles further on your right at 786 E. Horseneck Rd.

Program Night Sky Photography

Remember this is the year of the Comet so come join me at Hunt's Photo and Video in Hanover, Massachusetts, on Sunday, March 24 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM for a program on "Learning How to Photograph the Night Sky."
Register by calling Hunt's Hanover store at 781-312-1166.

I will also be hosting a Program at the Stone Barn of Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, Dartmouth, Massachusetts on  April 1st from 8:30- 10:00 PM  to View the Comet Pan-STARRS  and the Andromeda Galaxy. If the weather does not cooperate I will be there the next couple of nights. 
Register by calling
Register online or call 508-636-2437 to register by phone.
Register by mail: program registration form

To Sanctuary Entrance at Stone Barn Farm
From Interstate 195, in Westport, take Exit 10 (Rt 88 South). Follow Route 88 through three lights to intersection with Hixbridge Rd at 4th light. Turn left onto Hixbridge Rd and proceed 1.8 miles to stop sign at Pine Hill Rd and Horseneck Rd. Turn right onto Horseneck Rd. Proceed 3.3 miles to corner with East Horseneck Rd and turn left. Stone Barn Farm entrance will be 0.4 miles further on your right at 786 E. Horseneck Rd.

Wacom Intuos Tablets on Sale

My friends at Hunts Photo are having a special on Wacom Intuos Tablets.  The Medium Tablet is the model that I use in my post-processing.  This is a great value and will only be available for two weeks.  If you are thinking of a Tablet to use in your workflow, now is the time to obtain one

Wacom Intuos 5 Medium Tablet / $299.00

http://www.wbhunt.com/insivity/

Special Good through 1/15/2013

Visit www.insivity.com to see inspiring photography from some of the most adventurous photographers and artist today along with tools and techniques they use. To get special savings on Wacom products and related photo tools.

http://www.wbhunt.com/insivity/

Specials from Hunts Photo

Hunts Photo are having a special until the end of the year.  I utilize both products and wrote a Blog on the Puffin Pad previously - http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6293601039825331050#editor/target=post;postID=2120927862502860323

All Specials are good through 12/31/2012

Free Ground Shipping on all Specials!

Hoodman 3.0” Professional Loupe: Reg $79.99 // Special $69.99
HoodLoupe 3.0™ Professional is worn around your neck just like a normal loupe. When it is time to review your shot; bring Hoodloupe up to your image and place your eye up to the eye cup for complete glare free viewing. HoodLoupe3.0 has a +/-3 diopter to accommodate those with less than perfect vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4kUDOLIsds&feature=player_embedded

Puffin Pad Camera Support // $29.95

The Puffin Pad is a light-weight alternative to the beanbag. The Pad's base is made of durable automotive foam and topped with 1/2 inch of memory foam. It weighs 3.4oz. and is 7x5x5 inches.

All Specials include Free Ground Shipping!

Lightning and the Lightning Bug™

I have always wanted to capture lightning and found that just utilizing a shutter release did not work.  Earlier this year, Hunts Photo had the Lightning Bug™ available on sale and I purchased the unit and the correct cable to connect to my Nikon cameras that utilizes the ten-pin remote terminal.  When you purchase the unit, you have to make sure you order the right cable for your camera system.  The unit utilizes a standard 9 V battery for operation.  The Lightning Bug™ package also comes with a CD that includes a PDF instruction manual.  The manual has all the information that you need to set up the unit and the camera for use, including the settings for daytime or nighttime use.

I'm sorry to say that I have not been in a location that offered me wide vistas with lightning in the distance.  I have taken the unit when I've traveled to Texas in Costa Rica, and even though thunderstorms were forecast, none occurred when I was there so I could not utilize the Lightning Bug™

All of the photographs that I have taken of lightning were from the front porch of my condominium.  Also, the majority of photographs that I obtained were during the day or close to the twilight with only one episode of nighttime lightning.  My grandson, who lives with me and also is a photographer has utilized the Lightning Bug™ at night.

The nicest part of photographing from my front porch is after I set up the camera and Lightning Bug™ and cover the lens and portions of the camera with a rain cover and turn on the unit, I can be nice and dry in my house relaxing and having a drink during the thunderstorm.

Presently, Hunts Photo, again, is having a sale on the Lightning Bug™ and it can be purchased at

http://www.huntsphotoandvideo.com/detail_page.cfm?productid=LIGHTNINGBUG&mfg=MK%20Controls 

The price will increase after the first of the year, but if you order now, you will be able to get the great price.

Here are some examples of photographs that my grandson than I took of Lightning.

Lightning

Lightning

Lightning captured with a fish-eye lens

You will capture skies that were lit up by lightning, but the lightning could be outside of the angle of view of your lens

Lightning

Clouds and Sky Being Lit by Lightning

Lightning

Lightning