Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by PeteE »

In St Mary at 0730. Smokey :evil:
Rising Sun CG closed to tents too.
Day is sucking already. Headi g to Logan Pass at 0740.
Wonder if I'll get a parking spot?
Take small animal pics since it'll be smokey.

pete :wink:
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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by PeteE »

More weather moving into the Flathead Valley this afternoon.
Looked ugly over toward the park but better towards the SW.
So I drove out to the West Valley. The pic below was taken on a corner of Kuhns road.
The driveway on the left runs due North. The fence line on the right runs due East
So the image is a 90 degree view looking northeast. The sun was directly behind me.
There is a little bit of a "swale" near the middle of the field that gives the appearance of some distortion.


This image is a 3 frame panographic with little editing or adjustment.
16mm Rokinon prime lens, ISO 200 f8 @ 1/750 sec
I did shoot it with a 50% soft transition .6 ND filter to emphasize the sky more.
Had to chop a little off the bottom because the of the tripod shadow.
Cool looking sky and clouds 8)

pete :wink:

The link might look better on bigger/better monitors. Not sure. My monitor isn't all that great.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-rhW ... 5BX-X3.jpg

Image
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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by Jay w »

I like the clouds. Thanks for the photo.

I see that open field and it reminds me of a story that takes too long to explain. The Swedish Vasaloppet (10,000 racers) has a sign at the end that says something like, "In the footsteps of our forefathers for the victories of tomorrow." My buddy used to use that saying in Swedish as part of his signature for posts in an xc ski forum. Someone asked what it meant and I replied, In your father's pigfield I pee." A Swede on the group quite liked my translation.

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by PeteE »

Breakfast at Pete's 8)

This is the 6th winter I've put out peanuts and kibbles for the birds -mostly crows and magpies.
My lil buddy "Droopy", the crow with an injured wing that "droops", has come every year :arrow:
I know Droopy is the same crow. He has little "habits" that I've observed over the years.
He's among the first to arrive. Most of the crows go for the peanuts first.
All of the crows will sometimes try to steal another crow's peanut...even if there's one at their feet ! :shock:
Droopy heads towards the sidewalk corner intersection to peck his peanuts open to avoid conflict.

"OwOw" the raven occasionally stops by as well to see if I left a bigger treat for him.
And there's a flicker and some bluejays that sometimes come as well.
The suet cake feeders you'll see hanging in the shrub at the end of the video are for the flicker, finches, chickadees, sparrows.

A BIG old doe and her now large fawn come around many mornings. They've learned that I feed every morning right at sunrise.
I use my sling shot on those two. Thump them in the butt with small pebbles. Doesn't hurt them.
And now just the sound of "snapping" it with no pebble will scare them off.
If I didn't chase these two off, they would stay and eat every single kibble and peanut leaving none for the birds.

Bucks don't come around very often. I let them eat because, unlike that old doe, bucks never stay longer than a couple minutes.
I've seen this buck around this fall. He walks around the neighborhood a lot at night.
Many homes here in the "Railway" district have old fruit trees that attract ALL the neighborhood wildlife--including the occasional black bear.

The background noise you hear in the video is from the Whitefish train yard.
Just as it was getting light at 8:00AM I put out the kibbles and peanuts. Heavy overcast so video is dark(ish).
I was about to slide the window shut when I saw this buck approaching from my right where those cars are parked.
I left the window open(21F out there too!!) got my lil Sony P&S and waited 30 seconds or so before slowly approaching the open window.
He's only about 15 feet away and I didn't want to spook him if possible.
I was glad he didn't bolt, even when he heard my voice. 8)

pete :wink:

Runs 2:30 minutes

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HhP ... M-1920.mp4

These are captured frames. This buck probably weighs right at 200lbs. These "town bucks" don't lose nearly as much weight during the rut as a "wilderness" buck does.
Town bucks are MUCH better fed and don't have to expend energy/calories like a wilderness buck does during the rut.
This buck is a poster boy for whitetail buck health.

Image

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by Jay w »

Pete, your yard's so clean, you can eat off the floor.

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by Sue Z »

Jay w wrote:Pete, your yard's so clean, you can eat off the floor.

Jay
I'll give you a buck if you do.
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Re: Flathead Photos 2017

Post by PeteE »

Sue Z wrote:
Jay w wrote:Pete, your yard's so clean, you can eat off the floor.

Jay
I'll give you a buck if you do.
Better watch out making a bet like that with me Sue 8)
I'm a big believer in the "5 Second Rule".
Been known to have eaten donuts dropped on our shop floor back East at the hospital I worked at.
Helps strengthen your immune system :mrgreen:

In other news....

The Geezer went cross country skiing at the Whitefish GC Nordic Center after work today.
Perfect day. Saw the former manager of the WF Sportman's Skihaus just as he was leaving.
He told me the snow was fantastic, "smooth as butter". He would know and he was right from what I experienced.
FAR better than last weekend when it was very icy.
I didn't fall once! :arrow:

No "action" video. Gotta use my hero cam if I want to do that.
I'm slowly gettin' the hang of it.
I noticed when I finished that one ski had a big thick "clump" of snow adhering to the bottom just behind the binder.
Pay more attention to waxing? I know "sh1tall" about ski wax.
The snow was new and groomed nicely. Snow was the "wettish" sort. Temps were right at freezing--31F.

Here's a few snaps and a short "lame video".
Video runs about 1:40. Shot with phone and unedited.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6Lz ... C-1920.mp4

Nordic Center at WF Golf Course--behind that tent.

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On the "Cookie Run" a beginner's trail--perfect for the Geezer :mrgreen:
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Another shot of part of the Cookie Run
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Fanny pack is normally worn properly behind me--around front to reach phone and water
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Map of course
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All done. Snowing pretty good once more. Took me <3 minutes to drive home. I like that a LOT! :D
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pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by Ear Mountain »

Snow right around 32 F is difficult to grip wax for. It can get tricky at those temperatures.
If you have no-wax skis with a pattern on the base you can apply some Swix F4 liquid or other brands of similar products to help keep snow from sticking.
Text and photos Copyright 2007-2023.
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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by PeteE »

Ear Mountain wrote:Snow right around 32 F is difficult to grip wax for. It can get tricky at those temperatures.
If you have no-wax skis with a pattern on the base you can apply some Swix F4 liquid or other brands of similar products to help keep snow from sticking.
Thanks for the advice Ralph.
I saw the former manager of Sportsman's again today. He works with the kids program at the Nordic Center.

Coincidentally, he uses Race Paste, same stuff I have, for these marginal snow conditions--had some in his pocket.
I waxed my skis this morning and had no trouble with snow sticking to my skis. Conditions were about the same this morning, but became worse as I was leaving.
Temps warmed up to 40F :(

Sportsman's was out of Race Paste, and a lot of their other ski wax products, due to demand from recent snow.
The sales guy recommended a Swix wax called "North". He said he uses it for the type of snow we have now.
So I'll try the Swix wax tomorrow. Looks like more snow coming tomorrow :)
Temps still will be on the high side, so we'll see how it works.

This skiing is great aerobic exercise and it's "working" my legs :)
About an hour after I got home, and before I ate, my blood pressure was 113/71 and sugar was 121. Good numbers for me.
Good for me though. Along with snowshoeing, it should keep me in better shape for summer.

pete :wink:

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx. ... =-114.3376
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by PeteE »

Talked to guy who said this place was really nice for Xcountry skiing.
It's a new place. Funny I used to hunt out there occasionally 10 years ago.

https://www.dogcreeklodge.com/

There's a "Fakebook" page for those of you who have any faith in that organization. :(

If we we get any new snow, I may drive up there and see what it's like.

pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by PeteE »

I'm making an effort to reduce sodium intake which ain't easy these days with all the "processed" food around.
However this meal I concocted is virtually "salt free" other than tiny amount in a small amount of butter I used to saute the vegetables and fish.

Veggies were a simple saute of a yellow squash, broccoli florets, half a large yellow onion, and a heaping tablespoon of chopped garlic.
I live alone and I'm a garlic freak. 8)
Seasoned with black pepper and sodium free Mrs. Dash.
The fish was 3 thin filets of "Dover sole", about 6oz. sauteed with chopped garlic in maybe 1/2 Tbls of butter and a little avocado oil.
The filets were so thin they fell apart, and so they didn't "present" well 8) Like I care since I ate them off a paper plate :)
Salt free and tasted pretty good to me.

pete :wink:

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"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019-2020

Post by PeteE »

Today, May 16th, is likely to be the last nice day until later this week.
My Sony A77M2 is in for repair. The camera itself works fine but the LCD died.
The repair place said the flex cable shorted out and took the LCD circuit with it.
$368.00 to get it fixed so the government's "free money" came at the right time! :mrgreen:
It should be back by Memorial Day. Not that it matters since there are few places I want to go for pics.

Today I drove up to the top of Lone Pine Park here in Kalispell. It's only a ten minute ride from my apartment.
These two pics are from my Sony a6000.

This lookout point in Lone State Park is about 500ft above the valley floor.
It's just a few minutes walk from the parking lot at the visitors center.
A nice day as you can see. This is looking north. Whitefish Ski Resort is the center frame "snow patch".
I live close to the "green patch" just above the bend in US93 Bypass, also about center frame.
The orange straps on the trees on the left are hammock straps. A couple girls were literally "hanging out" enjoying the day.


Not a bad "Big Sky" picture. 8)
Image

This is a 6 frame panographic looking east across the Kalispell and the valley at the Swan Range.
It's not a very good image---16-50mm kit lens zoomed to 50mm(75 in 35mm format) and this is a pano made from resized jpegs.
It would look sharper if made from full sized DNG files, worked on in Photoshop Elements, and viewed on a good monitor.
Bad Rock Canyon is the "dip" on the far left. Doris Peak is the high point near center frame.
Gives nice idea of what the view is like from Lone Pine State Park. LPSP is a nice little park with a maze of trails all over it.
There were lots of people out there today too. :)

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This pic is from a few nights ago when I thought there might be a good sunset.
The sun set directly behind me. But it wasn't to be. :(
I'm looking east here, standing beside the overpass where Two Mile Drive crosses the US93 Bypass.
I live about 3 blocks farther down Two Mile Drive.
Time was 9:02PM

Image
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by PeteE »

I got my Sony A77M2 back from repair yesterday.
So today I drove up to Martin Falls which is near Olney MT--about 20 miles north of Whitefish.
It was mid day and clear which sucks for photography but that couldn't be helped.
Martin Falls is a nice little waterfall and easy to get too. No signs or indication where it is so ask me for directions.
There is space to park. Highly unlikely anyone will be there.
It's only about 50 yards off Martin Creek Road, a good gravel/dirt road about 8 miles off US93.
These images were made with my Rokinon f2.0 16MM(24mm 35mmequivalent) I like the lens a lot.
Viewed at pixel level they are still very sharp...imo.
Here is the original image near full size if you want to look and tell me what you think.
Shot on tripod at 1/6 second at f11

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nJm ... 9cQ-5K.jpg

Shrunk to fit here:
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Here's a selfie for perspective. Image is square to the horizon, me and the tree are leaning 8)
I'd guess the falls drops about 40-50 vertical feet?
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I can't wait till the park opens!

pete :wink:
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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by PeteE »

dpratt wrote:Oh man...not Martin Falls. Shhhh!!!!! Nothing to see here....
LOLOL!!
I wouldn't worry too much.
Most people these days can't find their own backside with both hands.

Here's some shot I made yesterday right at sunset.
It's frustrating when you wait for those few minutes at sunset and it doesn't turn out like you wanted or expected.

Taken from Lone State Park in Kalispell. Thunderstorm somewhere beyond the Swan Range in the South Fork area.
Sunset is almost directly behind me.
Here is a wide shot at about 9:27PM.(45mm in 35mm format) Practicing HDR. 3 shot pano made from 3 HDR images. I didn't get the exposure right :(
Image


One minute later at 9: 28PM this was image at 112mm in 35mm format.
Light changes quickly. Single frame of T-storm cloud reflecting sunset behind me.
Image
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Re: Flathead Photos 2017-2018-2019

Post by Jay w »

Keep 'em coming Pete.

I have a Rokinon 35 1.4 lens, and it's quite sharp. It's also big, so it doesn't get taken out for a walk much. It's a good lens for star photography. I seem to have manual focus lenses, which I love but don't use that much, and a few autofocus lenses, that get used a lot. Oh well. (I need a Sherpa.)

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