Your Shot Link
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
National Geographic Daily Dozen - August 9th
I continue to enjoy the variety and unique perspectives that National Geographic selects from world-wide submissions as Daily Dozen winners. Your Shot is a great site to check out if you enjoy diverse imagery.
Your Shot Link
It's an honor to have an image appear in today's selections. This is a 4:1 supermacro of my friend's amazing eye. I was drawn to the color and patterns in her iris during a portrait shoot, and appreciated her willingness to let me setup a tedious shot with off-camera lighting.
Click on the image below to see a larger size on Flickr:
Your Shot Link
Click on the image below to see a larger size on Flickr:
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Man vs Wasp
About a week ago I was minding my own business in the privacy of my back yard, when a series of events kicked off that beggars the imagination.
It so happened that while mowing my lawn, I came into close proximity of a yellow jacket nest hidden behind a 4x4 fence post. Driven by the prop wash from the mower blade, a stream of meat bees was hurled directly at my midsection. Leaping back and employing the types of air kicks appropriate for the situation, I was somehow able to avoid getting stung. The fight was immediately brought to the hive, and order was restored to my domain.
The very next day I got home from work and went to check the mail. Imagine my surprise when, upon opening my sealed mailbox, a blast of black jackets swarmed outward mere inches away from my "vitals." In this case I performed a maneuver that would later be described by onlookers as a swimmer's backstroke in mid-air. The windmilling effect of my arms was successful in fending off the attack, due largely to my disciplined form.
Day 3 found me on high alert after back-to-back encounters with the stinging horde. Emerging from my garage, my eyes probed the recesses of the yard for telltale signs of flying insects. In so doing, my gaze settled upon a dry patch in the lawn. Having satisfied myself that the coast was clear, I grabbed the garden hose (which is kept on one of those wall-mounted spools). Peeling off about 6 feet or so, I cranked on the water. Overall my sprinklers do a good job, so the hose had not been used in several weeks. A species of wasp that remains unidentified had actually built a nest inside the tubing! Instantly, I was holding in my grasp what amounted to a roman candle from Hell which was literally spouting wasps as the whole system pressurized. Flailing the hose in a figure 8 I lunged backwards. Parry, parry, thrust, thrust. Good!
If you feel that such a string of events could not possibly continue into the 4th day, your abilities as a prognosticator leave much to be desired.
What happened actually defies description to a certain extent. I will attempt to describe it in the interest of documentation, but everything happened so fast it's difficult to put the experience into words.
Towards evening, I went to let the dogs out into the back yard. As my pointers ran out and the door shut behind me, the most horrendous whirring of wings became audible. Looking towards the Huey-like sound, a W.O.U.S. (Wasp Of Unusual Size) attacked me seemingly from out of nowhere. Now, I have spent a great deal of time in the outdoors and this was an alien species the likes of which I had never even conceived of.
It so happened that while mowing my lawn, I came into close proximity of a yellow jacket nest hidden behind a 4x4 fence post. Driven by the prop wash from the mower blade, a stream of meat bees was hurled directly at my midsection. Leaping back and employing the types of air kicks appropriate for the situation, I was somehow able to avoid getting stung. The fight was immediately brought to the hive, and order was restored to my domain.
The very next day I got home from work and went to check the mail. Imagine my surprise when, upon opening my sealed mailbox, a blast of black jackets swarmed outward mere inches away from my "vitals." In this case I performed a maneuver that would later be described by onlookers as a swimmer's backstroke in mid-air. The windmilling effect of my arms was successful in fending off the attack, due largely to my disciplined form.
Day 3 found me on high alert after back-to-back encounters with the stinging horde. Emerging from my garage, my eyes probed the recesses of the yard for telltale signs of flying insects. In so doing, my gaze settled upon a dry patch in the lawn. Having satisfied myself that the coast was clear, I grabbed the garden hose (which is kept on one of those wall-mounted spools). Peeling off about 6 feet or so, I cranked on the water. Overall my sprinklers do a good job, so the hose had not been used in several weeks. A species of wasp that remains unidentified had actually built a nest inside the tubing! Instantly, I was holding in my grasp what amounted to a roman candle from Hell which was literally spouting wasps as the whole system pressurized. Flailing the hose in a figure 8 I lunged backwards. Parry, parry, thrust, thrust. Good!
If you feel that such a string of events could not possibly continue into the 4th day, your abilities as a prognosticator leave much to be desired.
What happened actually defies description to a certain extent. I will attempt to describe it in the interest of documentation, but everything happened so fast it's difficult to put the experience into words.
Towards evening, I went to let the dogs out into the back yard. As my pointers ran out and the door shut behind me, the most horrendous whirring of wings became audible. Looking towards the Huey-like sound, a W.O.U.S. (Wasp Of Unusual Size) attacked me seemingly from out of nowhere. Now, I have spent a great deal of time in the outdoors and this was an alien species the likes of which I had never even conceived of.
Multiple inches long, and sporting some considerable biomass, the wasp came right at me and rammed into my chest. After rebounding, it charged again without hesitation. Flitting like a wood nymph around the yard, I grabbed a round-nosed shovel and adopted a batter's stance. Still, the beast came. I swung hard, and the blow connected with a sound similar to hitting a marble with an aluminum bat. "DOOOOING!" My foe was launched about 25 feet out onto the grass... and immediately rose up again on wings of hate.
I struck a second time, downing the fiendish creature yet again. Without hesitation I delivered a Spartan-like stabbing motion with the blade of the shovel that cut the wasp in twain. To my amazement, the front half then went airborne and seemed even more agile without the payload of its abdomen! The horror! The horror! Leaving little to chance my next blow decapitated what I would later discover is the Giant Pigeon Tremex Horntail Wasp, Tremex colombo aureus. It turns out this species, AKA the wood wasp, cannot sting at all and I was in little danger (they can, apparently, deliver a solid bite).
Later in the week I encountered another Pigeon Horntail in the same area and took the photograph you see above. The sharp protrusion that looks like a stinger is actually an ovipositor for laying eggs in bark, and is what gives the wasp its name.
Since the events described herein, I have switched to offense - trapping and spraying all manner of stinging pests in my yard at an alarming rate.
They started it.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
SOG Trident
Fishermen and sportsmen in general tend to be blade-intensive personalities. I am no different and over the years have accumulated roughly the bulk of an adolescent pachyderm in knives.
One of my favorites for all around use is the SOG Trident, which is available in a variety of finishes. The tiger stripe version is particularly badass.
Not only is this model a great size for EDC (every day carry), but it's perfect as a fishing, camping, or hunting implement. I also really like keeping a Trident in each of my vehicles because it's an outstanding emergency tool. The notched handle creates an ideal seat belt cutter, and the butt where the pocket clip attaches is robust enough to use for breaking glass if needed.
The handle is Zytel, which is a light weight polymer that affords an easy grip wet or dry. Partial serration of the blade again adds to the versatility. SOG has also incorporated an assisted opening mechanism making one-handed access to the blade very snappy. A safety is present as a precautionary measure, locking the blade in the closed position when not in use.
Going price: About $59 bucks - a nice bargain for an edge with this many applications.
One of my favorites for all around use is the SOG Trident, which is available in a variety of finishes. The tiger stripe version is particularly badass.
Not only is this model a great size for EDC (every day carry), but it's perfect as a fishing, camping, or hunting implement. I also really like keeping a Trident in each of my vehicles because it's an outstanding emergency tool. The notched handle creates an ideal seat belt cutter, and the butt where the pocket clip attaches is robust enough to use for breaking glass if needed.
The handle is Zytel, which is a light weight polymer that affords an easy grip wet or dry. Partial serration of the blade again adds to the versatility. SOG has also incorporated an assisted opening mechanism making one-handed access to the blade very snappy. A safety is present as a precautionary measure, locking the blade in the closed position when not in use.
Going price: About $59 bucks - a nice bargain for an edge with this many applications.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Soft Water
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming, because it's frankly still hard to believe that for the past several weeks I have been fly fishing mid-elevation stillwaters in Utah. During February. No ice holes required. As in casting a fly line and having its entirety land on liquid where there would normally be 14 inches of solid ice right now.
The Hell you say? Well, in all past years of my lifetime you would be entirely correct in calling BS - but not THIS year. Hungry trout have been tearing the chenille off my flies right down to the bare hook because no one has told them there's another month of Winter supposedly going on right now.
It has been butt-numbing cold at times, but this is OPEN WATER we are talking about. The cure to cabin fever.
Not only that but in the town of Circleville a guy named Mike, proprietor of Butch Cassidy's Hideout, makes something called a Hash Stack. It's a conglomeration of hash brown potatoes, ham, sausage, bacon, and 2 eggs smothered in country gravy. One eats this breakfast, and then fishes all day with no additional nutrient requirements.
Early in the season I am giddy to fish and don't spend much time behind the lens. While rivers are certainly available all Winter long, stillwater trout on the fly at 6,500 feet in February... it's just unheard of.
Here's to places of extremes. See you on the water.
The Hell you say? Well, in all past years of my lifetime you would be entirely correct in calling BS - but not THIS year. Hungry trout have been tearing the chenille off my flies right down to the bare hook because no one has told them there's another month of Winter supposedly going on right now.
It has been butt-numbing cold at times, but this is OPEN WATER we are talking about. The cure to cabin fever.
Not only that but in the town of Circleville a guy named Mike, proprietor of Butch Cassidy's Hideout, makes something called a Hash Stack. It's a conglomeration of hash brown potatoes, ham, sausage, bacon, and 2 eggs smothered in country gravy. One eats this breakfast, and then fishes all day with no additional nutrient requirements.
Early in the season I am giddy to fish and don't spend much time behind the lens. While rivers are certainly available all Winter long, stillwater trout on the fly at 6,500 feet in February... it's just unheard of.
Here's to places of extremes. See you on the water.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Apocalyptic Fishing II
Alert! 303 days remain until the end of the Mayan calendar on December 21st. Yes, some experts do believe it's actually December 23rd, in which case we still have a very comfortable 305 days left.
It is now time for the second installment of Apocalypse Gear - the feature that helps you, the angler, prepare for zombies. Today's episode is a double feature, and starts out with rod selection.
You'll want to travel light with the undead roaming freely around your favorite waters, so it may make sense to select just one fly rod that can do it all. My pick is the aptly named Sage One, in a 796-4. This stick will handle everything - trout, steelhead, muskie, bass, salmon - and it won't shun light saltwater duty either. As an added bonus, the rod tube is solid enough to use as a bludgeon and will never give your position away with unwanted reflections due to the matte black coating.
It's a good idea, even pre-doomsday, to have access to a few handy pieces of cutlery when in the outdoors. As survival knives go, I haven't found anything better than the Extrema Ratio Golem for taking into the back country. The blade is 58 HRC stainless cobalt steel, an alloy that is often used for cutting other steel. It stands up very well to chopping and prying, where knives that focus strictly on sharp edges often fall short. The Golem has a tanto point, and the blade is partially serrated making tasks like rope cutting a snap. It also offers a robust dorsal saw that, while definitely requiring some effort, cuts very well. Even the lanyard loop is a solid piece of hardware than can be used for striking, glass breaking, etc.
Parry...Parry...Thrust...Cast - Good!
It is now time for the second installment of Apocalypse Gear - the feature that helps you, the angler, prepare for zombies. Today's episode is a double feature, and starts out with rod selection.
You'll want to travel light with the undead roaming freely around your favorite waters, so it may make sense to select just one fly rod that can do it all. My pick is the aptly named Sage One, in a 796-4. This stick will handle everything - trout, steelhead, muskie, bass, salmon - and it won't shun light saltwater duty either. As an added bonus, the rod tube is solid enough to use as a bludgeon and will never give your position away with unwanted reflections due to the matte black coating.
It's a good idea, even pre-doomsday, to have access to a few handy pieces of cutlery when in the outdoors. As survival knives go, I haven't found anything better than the Extrema Ratio Golem for taking into the back country. The blade is 58 HRC stainless cobalt steel, an alloy that is often used for cutting other steel. It stands up very well to chopping and prying, where knives that focus strictly on sharp edges often fall short. The Golem has a tanto point, and the blade is partially serrated making tasks like rope cutting a snap. It also offers a robust dorsal saw that, while definitely requiring some effort, cuts very well. Even the lanyard loop is a solid piece of hardware than can be used for striking, glass breaking, etc.
Parry...Parry...Thrust...Cast - Good!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Apocalyptic Fishing
As Fly to Water has alertly reported in several recent posts, the Mayan calendar ends this year. The most likely cause of this situation is that the company building the calendar misrepresented it's financial statements, resulting in dramatic stock price deterioration and subsequent layoffs. All of the Mayan executives, or chiefs, retired to the Caymans. Calendar-building laborers were then faced with a large spike in temple foreclosures and ultimately relocated, leaving all the post-2012 work unfinished.
Alternatively, some kind of zombie apocalypse is going to take place this December. The dead rising from the grave, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together...MASS HYSTERIA.
While the media has buried its teeth in this topic like a gila monster on ankle flesh, the most important consideration has been totally ignored: How are we going to fly fish when the end of days arrives?
As a public service, I hereby offer up a series of posts containing gear ideas and recommendations for apocalyptic fishing.
First and foremost - at the moment of truth you don't want the heartbreak of reaching for your ammo and pulling out your flies instead. My world's first concept combines a waterproof fly box with 5.56 Nato assault rifle ammunition. One swift grab into the sling pack, and you've got access to Copper Johns and copper-jacketed .223 hardball.
Get some!
Alternatively, some kind of zombie apocalypse is going to take place this December. The dead rising from the grave, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together...MASS HYSTERIA.
While the media has buried its teeth in this topic like a gila monster on ankle flesh, the most important consideration has been totally ignored: How are we going to fly fish when the end of days arrives?
As a public service, I hereby offer up a series of posts containing gear ideas and recommendations for apocalyptic fishing.
First and foremost - at the moment of truth you don't want the heartbreak of reaching for your ammo and pulling out your flies instead. My world's first concept combines a waterproof fly box with 5.56 Nato assault rifle ammunition. One swift grab into the sling pack, and you've got access to Copper Johns and copper-jacketed .223 hardball.
Get some!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
R.O.U.S.
If you are a dog owner you know that one of the 3 perils of the uplands is the North American Porcupine, or Rodent Of Unusual Spikiness.
Having a pup get a face full of quill pig is no fun, as I can personally attest. Yesterday I was out in the field without dogs, looking for raptors with JayMorr. When you don't have to worry about your pointers, these can be fascinating creatures to watch.
Ambling about in the unconcerned manner of an animal coated in acupuncture needles, Porky is easy to approach. While the concept that quills can be launched is a myth, porcupines still have a chip on their shoulders because they place 3rd on the list of large rodents behind the capybara and beaver. No one likes to be number three. Use a little caution - as they will swat you with their tails if given the opportunity.
As wildlife goes, the quill pig is a relatively easy subject to photograph once located. The main consideration is not to be lazy and fire away from a standing position (which creates an awkward, downward-looking perspective). Go ahead and get dirty. Sitting, laying on your side propped up with an elbow, or going prone are all options that will put you at eye level with the subject for a more engaging image.
It's hard to believe it's February out there with highs in the 45° F range, no snow at mid-elevations, and copious sunshine while it should be the dead of Winter. I for one am not complaining.
Having a pup get a face full of quill pig is no fun, as I can personally attest. Yesterday I was out in the field without dogs, looking for raptors with JayMorr. When you don't have to worry about your pointers, these can be fascinating creatures to watch.
Ambling about in the unconcerned manner of an animal coated in acupuncture needles, Porky is easy to approach. While the concept that quills can be launched is a myth, porcupines still have a chip on their shoulders because they place 3rd on the list of large rodents behind the capybara and beaver. No one likes to be number three. Use a little caution - as they will swat you with their tails if given the opportunity.
As wildlife goes, the quill pig is a relatively easy subject to photograph once located. The main consideration is not to be lazy and fire away from a standing position (which creates an awkward, downward-looking perspective). Go ahead and get dirty. Sitting, laying on your side propped up with an elbow, or going prone are all options that will put you at eye level with the subject for a more engaging image.
It's hard to believe it's February out there with highs in the 45° F range, no snow at mid-elevations, and copious sunshine while it should be the dead of Winter. I for one am not complaining.
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