 Poster: A snowHead
|
@clarky999, really 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Everything is relative.
Skiing itself is a lot of faff! Never mind off-piste. Compare to cycling, when I just roll my bike out the door and hop on. (all the things I need are ALWAYS on the bike, helmet, glove, mini-pump, spare tube, patch kit. I don't think about them at all, they're there when I need them  )
But compare to kayaking, skiing or even off-piste skiing is still a lot less faff. And as pam w explained, doesn't come even close to sailing! (well, kayaking does, since it's in the same environment. Still, kayakers typically don't go as far away from shore as sail boats)
| pam w wrote: |
| Some things are worth getting dressed and equipped for. And even being uncomfortable quite frequently and scared occasionally. And having to keep thinking straight when you just want to go to sleep. |
I'm not sure I put it that strongly. If I can't "get used to" the faff and equipped to be comfortable most of the time, I'm not sure I would continue doing the activity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
You get used to it to an extent. But being sloshed with sea water and bounced around is not going to be exactly "comfortable", just as heading up a long and exposed lift on a windy day is not going to be comfortable, even in the right gear - because if you're comfortably warm on a cold lift you'll probably be too hot once you start skiing.
Climbing into the gear is a faff, inevitably, on a moving boat. Racing crews will keep it all on and "hot bunk" around the oceans but I'm not into that sort of thing. One long night out, across the channel, maybe, then a nice French port and a meal on a table that stays still, with a bottle of vino. Like the difference between skiing for the day and going home to a good meal and a hot shower, compared to the kind of camping in the video on the thread about Baffin Island.
It was nice windsurfing in the Caribbean. No wet suit! Getting in and out of wetsuits is always a faff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@abc, kayaking is definitely up there for faff. Biggest issue is most of the time you need at least two people and two cars (or one and a bike, depending) for shuttles!
In terms of kit, drysuits take a lot of faff out of the equation though. Often boating on Scotland, if the weather was particularly miserable and I didn't fancy getting changed in a car park, I'd just pull my drysuit on over my normal clothes and go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@abc, @pam w, @clarky999, Compared to the diving I used to do (Drysuit, Offshore, Rebreather, Stages, Drop Tanks, Scooters, Deco Trapeze etc) I welcome the faff associated with skiing 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Oh yes, all that technical diving has to be very near the top of the faff league! One of my colleagues in the Pacific, a keen recreational diver used to being able to see stunning coral and marine life, and some interesting WW2 wrecks, all without much hassle at all, and was underwhelmed to find that when a friend in the UK invited him out for a dive it was on a Ford Transit in a gravel pit. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@pam w, I think I've been to the same inland dive site (aka gravel, mud and silt pot) as your friend
With that said, despite diving all round the world, some of the best wreck diving I've done has been off of our shores... That's not to say I didn't enjoy the South China Seas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| miranda wrote: |
Was just thinking that you guys were really doing a great job of putting me off watersports
|
All waters ports are just holes upon water into which we throw money! (or something about ripping up high denomination bank notes standing in a cold shower)
| Quote: |
| my blisters, bruises and bedbug bites |
That's pretty much where I draw the line. No blisters. Bruises only rarely, and usually a sign I missed something in my preparation (aka INsufficient "faffing" ).
| Quote: |
| You must also remember to switch Strava on though... otherwise, what's the point of cycling? |
I no longer have even a working cycle-computer. So I don't know how far I've traveled. Much less how fast or slow.
My enjoyment of cycling has grown much more since I "neglected" my electronic tracking apparatus.
I know the hour I left home in the morning, and the time I reach home in the afternoon. There may have been an hour (or two) when I stopped for a leisurely lunch. Or perhaps some time I loiter at a road side garden ("watching grass grow").
I also stop carrying camera with me on my outings (cycle, ski...). So at the end of the day, there will be no record of my "achievement" (or my "misery"). Only I (and my companions) know how much I/we enjoy the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@abc, did chuckle at your comments re cycling. I'm doing a big ride tomorrow and have spent a fair bit of time faffing with gear (second guessing weather etc) than I would do ski touring - but again it's what you're used to.
Kitesurfing is a huge, but necessary faff, you get your line setup wrong and launching can end up in a visit to the hospital, and I do not exaggerate, whilst windsurfing / dinghy sailing is positively pedestrian in comparison.
Time for bed says Zebedee, long hours in the saddle demain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| abc wrote: |
| ... My enjoyment of cycling has grown much more since I "neglected" my electronic tracking apparatus. ... |
Old guy input:
In the 1970s "Cycling" magazine published a little mocked up spreadsheet, on a bit of processed tree. The idea was that each day you could fill in your mileage, and total it up using cellular matter to the weekly and then monthly totals. I think there was even something called "a bit of graph paper" on the bottom so you could put a dot for each week's mileage (they were miles not klicks, how quaint), and so produce a sort of "chart" from the data.
Oh, and to compute the distance... you'd use "a bit of string" and a thing called a "map".
Everything new is old.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@abc, I've gone through exactly the same process as you. I've ditched the bike computer and ski tracks (or whatever it's called). However, I do sometimes record cross-country runs on an app. And I'd much rather live life than obsessively record it through a lens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Well it's a good effort to get such a thread going on powder skiing when the season is done.
I can understand where FTZ and others are coming from on this. If you get tense in fresh snow because you fear you are going to mess it up then you generally DO mess it up and you get cold and damp and your goggles steam up and then you get tired and BAH!!!
I had that experience in my third week on skis when I went away with a much better skier and we had fresh "powder". It was 1990 and the skis were skinny and my skills were.... limited.
But immersion therapy (burying my head in the snow repeatedly), hard work, watching, talking, trying again, adjusting, trying again, rinse and repeat got me to the point that I could handle most snow on skinny skis. Then skis got fatter and it got easier. Not much snow I can't enjoy these days. In fact one of the things I like about skiing is constantly blending the different skills to deal with whatever the conditions throw at you - a rewarding challenge.
Clearly there is a massive difference between skiing a foot of light powder and a 2 foot of heavy sludge.When you are learning you need to look out for the rare good conditions and make the most of them.
It is all about technique but the core skills you need to be good on piste, you need off piste. And there's not much extra you need, just a bit smoother, more centred than you HAVE to be on piste.
The thing I have found about skiing is that every time I have made a material step forward and it opens up new movements/terrain/conditions/experiences I find it hard to understand how I enjoyed it so much before - it just wasn't THIS good. This is why we get evangelical about, say, putting in the effort to get good at skiing fresh snow. But the truth is of course I did love it before and it is supposed to be fun - if anyone doesn't enjoy the process of learning and improving enough to put the effort in then that is perfectly fine too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| Quote: |
You get used to it to an extent. But being sloshed with sea water and bounced around is not going to be exactly "comfortable"
|
I like sailing but in my (fairly limited) experience the faff associated with sailing is not really about putting your wet weather gear on. It's much more to do with the ratio of cleaning and maintenance to sailing that goes on when you own a boat! But that may have been my Dad's perfectionist tendencies.
Still having chartered in Croatia and recently in the Solent I have decided while I plan on doing more sailing (Croatia again this summer) I don't plan on owning a boat - way more expensive that a ski apartment! (depreciation + maintenance + marina fees)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Per chance that rule 9 applies here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| laundryman wrote: |
| @abc, I've gone through exactly the same process as you. I've ditched the bike computer and ski tracks (or whatever it's called). However, I do sometimes record cross-country runs on an app. And I'd much rather live life than obsessively record it through a lens. |
Me too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Having said all that, I'm having a mental "faffing" regarding this coming Sunday.
I'm going to an air show with a few friends.
I've been to one. I know I'd like to take SOME photographs. The way air show works, the planes come and go in various formations. After a few minutes, it all look about the same. That is, same hugely impressive formations. So there's plenty of time to admire it. And plenty of time to take photos to commit those impressive formations to ... pixels!
Traffic will be horrendous. So I'd like to go by bike. But, we can only carry limited stuff if we go by bike. Blanket, umbrella, food, drinks... AND camera/lens!
Or, some of us could go by kayak, which can carry pretty much the whole kitchen sink! While a rolling and pitching kayak isn't the best platform for photo taking, I could conceivably beach the kayak, and I can even use it as a bench to seat on! I just need to find a launch spot close enough to NOT make it too big of a day in terms of miles paddled.
I love this kind of conundrum, how to make a good day better!
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 27-05-16 4:48; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@abc, haven't you got a rack and some panniers for your bike? Sorted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
I do have a rack for my bike. But carrying beach umbrella on a bike, even with rack and panniers, are still quite a challenge!
In a sea kayak? No sweat!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| pam w wrote: |
| Some things are worth getting dressed and equipped for. And even being uncomfortable quite frequently and scared occasionally. And having to keep thinking straight when you just want to go to sleep. |
Bring out the Gimp
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@limegreen1, ironically one company that made dry cags/trousers for kayaking also specialised in latex gimp suits for other activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| abc wrote: |
I do have a rack for my bike. But carrying beach umbrella on a bike, even with rack and panniers, are still quite a challenge!
In a sea kayak? No sweat! |
You need the Swiss patent bike ski carrying accessory AKA a length of drainpipe rigged to your seatstays.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| abc wrote: |
I'm going to an air show with a few friends.
I've been to one. I know I'd like to take SOME photographs. The way air show works, the planes come and go in various formations. After a few minutes, it all look about the same. That is, same hugely impressive formations. So there's plenty of time to admire it. And plenty of time to take photos to commit those impressive formations to ... pixels! |
I've shot quite a few, I usually cycle as it saves hassle. Oh yeah, there's one here this weekend too. I don't know precisely what the planes are mostly, but personally I'm impressed more by how different from each other they are, not how similar. Maybe you need a longer lens? 
I'm often fascinated by other photographers at air shows, who seem to hammer away shooting stuff which the light means will never come out. That would be my tip for saving time at the show and afterwards: work out where the best shots are going to be and wait until the 'planes are there before hitting the shutter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm there to SEE (& hear) the planes mostly, not to commit the planes to pixel.
The picture taking is secondary, and only for those angle that "happens" to be advantageous.
But since we're on the topic of photographing air shows, I have a question. more than one person who had done it mentioned they're taking tripod. On first thought, I can't quite see how that works. But now with the notion of "waiting" for the planes to be at a location, that seems to make more sense. Is that how you do it, setup the camera on tripod pointing to a section of the air and wait for the planes to enter the "box"?
Other tips at how to get the best photo are also welcome. How much I can implement them with my restriction (travel by bike, want the experience of BEING there first over taking picture) maybe limited.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@abc, I prefer using a monopod for events such as airshows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Whatever you do don't stand on the bypass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| Whatever you do don't stand on the bypass. |
I know I shouldn't laugh but
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| abc wrote: |
... But since we're on the topic of photographing air shows, I have a question. more than one person who had done it mentioned they're taking tripod. On first thought, I can't quite see how that works. But now with the notion of "waiting" for the planes to be at a location, that seems to make more sense. Is that how you do it, setup the camera on tripod pointing to a section of the air and wait for the planes to enter the "box"?
Other tips at how to get the best photo are also welcome. How much I can implement them with my restriction (travel by bike, want the experience of BEING there first over taking picture) maybe limited. |
I don't understand why people use tripods for this. It depends where you're located, but anything over 300 or maybe 400mm won't let you find the target quickly enough. A 300mm with image stabilization, at the shutter speeds you need (1/250 or so for propeller, as much as you can get for jets) is easily hand holdable, and then it's flexible enough to shoot anything at any speed/ location.
General thoughts:
- The flight line is not the best place to shoot from because you're in a crowd and you can mostly only see up. Maybe you can find somewhere that is better, where you can see the planes from the side, or even above.
I know my local air shows set-up: the best views aren't paying seats at all.
- Work out where the light is. There's almost no point in shooting the planes where the light is bad. Note where the sun is, and where the planes therefore will look best. It's usually about a third of the sky, and of course it moves. That's where you should be shooting. Others will be banging away everywhere else: ignore them, they know not what they do. The best light is a mix of sun, blue sky and white fluffy clouds.
- Work out how your exposure system works so you know if you need to compensate - with Canon AF letting the exposure system do its thing you'll probably need to add a stop (sky is brighter than planes).
- Area focus should work, but some cameras work better with centre spot, although it affects your composition.
- Track focus as the planes come into where you're going to shoot. Bang away as you like, but make sure you save enough for a full-frame shot as the machine goes over. Typically you can get several decent shots per pass, some will be sharper than others. They have rules about where the planes will fly, so once you've seen a few go over you can predict where they will come, and learn where they look best.
I just carry one body plus (big) 300mm lens over my shoulder on my bike to airshows. Less is more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
+1 @philwig,
As ever I am liking the cut of your jib.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Although (as I assume you roll your bodies into rugs like I do) you are a far more talented cyclist than I will ever be...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Light: that's the tricky part. We will be staring into the sun (=south) for about half of the time.
I's been using center weighted area focus for birds in flight, which seem to work out ok. I just follow their flight path and hold the shutter down (on continuous shutter mode). Planes will have a smoother and more predictable flight path than birds. I should think about taking advantage of that...
Exposure is not a big worry. Digital camera allows instant re-examination of the result so one can adjust after the first few test shots.
| Quote: |
I just carry one body plus (big) 300mm lens over my shoulder on my bike to airshows
|
I have no intention to carry multiple bodies. And these days I rarely carry more than 2 lens (zoom) either. Granted, I'm not shooting for professional quality photos, just hobbyist sort of photos.
But on top of the photo gear, I still need to carry other comfort items such as folding chair and food/drink. I want an enjoyable day, not a day at work (as a wannabe photographer).
Someone ask about whether to bring binocular. My first reaction is that's probably rather useless. But perhaps I'm wrong?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
