The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[GrantBricksly]

Well, it's Monday morning (for another hour...), one of the two days I manage to get a decent amount of writing done...

But, as usual, my ex isn't picking the kids up on time... so my writing has been delayed. Hopefully, I'll get some good writing done this weekend. She never picks them up at 9 am like she is supposed to... but she is usually here around 12:30-1:00. So that should give me 3-4 hours before my wife gets home that I can sit down and write in peace...

 

[NotWise]

Yeah. I like the adage, 'The best camera is the one you have with you'

I think there's something to be said for light weight and maneuverability. A few years ago one of my daughters won a grant that bought her a new printing press and a trip to New Zealand. She had a long-time, online Kiwi friend who took her on a circuit of both islands.

He was a photography buff with the 35mm equipment you'd expect. She used her cell phone. Near the end of the tour he admitted that she was getting better pictures than he was. I think the breaking point for him was when they were both photographing seagulls around a dock, and she got some really vibrant, contrasting photos of the birds landing, and he couldn't keep up.

 

[filthytrancendence]

I think there's something to be said for light weight and maneuverability. A few years ago one of my daughters won a grant that bought her a new printing press and a trip to New Zealand. She had a long-time, online Kiwi friend who took her on a circuit of both islands.

He was a photography buff with the 35mm equipment you'd expect. She used her cell phone. Near the end of the tour he admitted that she was getting better pictures than he was. I think the breaking point for him was when they were both photographing seagulls around a dock, and she got some really vibrant, contrasting photos of the birds landing, and he couldn't keep up.

Sure, light and small certainly has its advantages sometimes. So does versatility. Being stuck with a 35mm prime on your body is limiting in a way that cell phones are not. Short primes are worst case scenario for birding unless there's just some very lucky wide shot you can get of a flock of them next to you.

I mean, that one's a little hard to explain from the photographer's perspective. In that case, the focal lengths are pretty similar (I think most cell phone lenses are around 24mm equivalents), but all the automation the phone is doing for you is a significant advantage in that case. The advantage of a short prime like 35 is you can get a really, really low f stop for cheap. But chasing seagulls around with a razor thin DoF is futile and so that advantage is suddenly a huge disadvantage. The phone smashing the plane of focus makes it much easier to capture the momentary stuff required to get good bird shots than it is to manually futz with the aperture.

On the other hand, if he were with her hauling around a big telephoto, maybe he'd be less mobile, but you don't really need to be mobile when your lens can reach a hundred yards without moving.

Long way of saying the phone is made to be extremely generalized and that is certainly an advantage sometimes. Specializing equipment risks running into a scenario where your expensive equipment is actually just useless to get the shot in front of you.

 

[MrPixel]

Depth of field is the main problem I've had with cellphones. I've not found an effective way to manipulate it.

On my iPhone SE, tap on what you want to focus on and at least it tries to adjust DoF for your indicated target. Not well, but it has made some difference in my quickie macro documentation needs.

 

[MillieDynamite]

It's been hectic the past week or so, and it looks like that isn't changing soon. I just stopped by to let you guys know I miss you. Mary (@theWollstonecraftWoman) hasn't been online for more than a few minutes at a time for months. She isn't writing right now, either. I think she's a bit depressed, but she won't talk about it. I don't know what her deal is.

 

[MrPixel]

Good to hear from you, Millie.

Mary (@theWollstonecraftWoman) hasn't been online for more than a few minutes at a time for months.

Yes, her (always amusing) snark is missed. Wish her well for us.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I will. We've texted more than talked lately. I asked Sis to check on her just yesterday. She said she would go over today and talk to her. I think turning 50 has made Mary a bit depressed.

Good to hear from you, Millie.



Yes, her (always amusing) snark is missed. Wish her well for us.

 

[filthytrancendence]

On my iPhone SE, tap on what you want to focus on and at least it tries to adjust DoF for your indicated target. Not well, but it has made some difference in my quickie macro documentation needs.

I mean, the lens still obeys the laws of optics to some extent. Meaning the closer you put something to it, the narrower the DoF will be. So something like a macro shot is possible, as you say.

But it's functionally infinite once you get more than an arms' length away from the lens. Partly because the aperture is so narrow, and partly because of the focus stacking it does in the background.

 

[GrantBricksly]

Ah...finally time to write...Only 2 hours later than I expected...and 5.5 hours later than I hoped....

I'll just be sitting over here in the corner, drinking some water (I really am trying to get off the energy drinks) and typing away...I'm hoping for 2-3k words today, which should finish out chapter 4.

 

[GrantBricksly]

I DID IT!

I have officially finished Chapter 4. Now...I just wait for Chapter 2-3 to finally get published..... and then I'll submit Chapter 4. In the meantime, I will begin working on Chapter 5. But that's for tomorrow.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

We've got a little bit of sun this morning but the weatherman is calling for showers later today. It did rain overnight so the weeds are growing like crazy today. It was good to see @MillieDynamite pop in to bring some pizazz to the joint.

There's a fresh pot of coffee brewing and I checked to make sure the handle wasn't sticky. The teapot is hot and also sticky free. I made some brownies and they are on the counter along with some Slim Jim's for those who don't want something sweet.

I'll be over in the corner banging away at the keyboard. Another sex scene finished and only two more to go. I'm looking forward to starting on a new story as soon as I get this one done.

 

[iwatchus]

Oooh Brownies!

I am still fighting with the same sequel I have been for the last two weeks. I hate writing scenes where the characters bicker, but that is where this has to be. Oh, well. I have written two of my better stories while avoiding finishing this one. I started doing detailed character development work overnight./this morning for a romance, so maybe it will be three before I get this one off my hands.

 

[NotWise]

Oooh Brownies!

I am still fighting with the same sequel I have been for the last two weeks. I hate writing scenes where the characters bicker, but that is where this has to be. Oh, well. I have written two of my better stories while avoiding finishing this one. I started doing detailed character development work overnight./this morning for a romance, so maybe it will be three before I get this one off my hands.

My most recently posted story (Meaningless Sex ) has the two main characters bickering at least twice. I found the second one particularly hard to write, and worked backwards from the end to get it done. The first one was more fun. I put it in public and made it kind of a spectacle. I decided on the title because of that scene.

 

[NotWise]

I started bringing in the garlic. The smaller plants, which have the smaller bulbs, are the first to reach the harvest stage. My collection looks a little disappointing, but I'm sure it'll improve.

I have to decide whether I'll use my own bulbs to plant next year, or buy seed garlic. I bought seed garlic last year and used my own in earlier years. The garlic I harvested last year will probably last until the new crop is cured. That's never happened before, partly because I use part of the crop for seed.

 

[GrantBricksly]

Its Tuesday! And you know what that means...Yup, I'm sitting on a couch, in a friends house, while he and my wife record their podcast, and I'm writing on my laptop.

It's time to start Chapter 5. I've got my energy drink. (I did good yesterday, but today, i need it) already ate my breakfast (Steak egg and cheese Bagel from McD's)

So, I'm off to my corner, and ready to write!

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

I'm alive and well, and yes, a little sad. I can't say why; if I could, I would. But I can't, so I won't. Love you guys, and I'll be back when I find myself in a better place.

 

[iwatchus]

Its Tuesday! And you know what that means...Yup, I'm sitting on a couch, in a friends house, while he and my wife record their podcast, and I'm writing on my laptop.

I guess I have been spending too much time near LW. I expected a different ending to that sentence.

 

[GrantBricksly]

I guess I have been spending too much time near LW. I expected a different ending to that sentence.

Ha...yeah..no..he is super gay... he is way more into me, and very much not into her. Unfortunately for him, I am super straight...

So no..just a podcast.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, I shall not share what Sis said you said since you've said what Sis said you said, because that would be repetitive if I said Sis said you said after you said what said.

I'm alive and well, and yes, a little sad. I can't say why; if I could, I would. But I can't, so I won't. Love you guys, and I'll be back when I find myself in a better place.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

Well, I shall not share what Sis said you said since you've said what Sis said you said, because that would be repetitive if I said Sis said you said after you said what said.

That's what she said.

Take care, Mary. We wish you well.

 

[NotWise]

Voice in song and hands clapping in unison fill the air under the tent. The revivalist raises his bible and shouts over the music. "Say it sister!"

 

[filthytrancendence]

Ah man, I missed out on the brownies... I won't say no to a slimjim, though.

Another day, another cat. In loaf mode this time.



I managed to write like 500 words yesterday, but something is better than nothing. I'm stuck on a scene that's really important but I'm not excited to write.

I should probably skip it and circle back later. Or just sketch it out roughly and beef it up later. This is one of those hurdles I can feel myself tripping over but am still struggling to make myself avoid it...

 

[GrantBricksly]

Well...Podcast is over....so my writing time is over as well....but, I got 1.5k words into Chapter 5, so I'm happy with that.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Ah man, I missed out on the brownies... I won't say no to a slimjim, though.

Another day, another cat. In loaf mode this time.

View attachment 2549017

I managed to write like 500 words yesterday, but something is better than nothing. I'm stuck on a scene that's really important but I'm not excited to write.

I should probably skip it and circle back later. Or just sketch it out roughly and beef it up later. This is one of those hurdles I can feel myself tripping over but am still struggling to make myself avoid it...

Seeing that picture reminds me of the following conversation:

A.L.F. - Do you have a casserole dish?

Kate - Why?

A.L.F. - Because the cat won't fit in the toaster.

IYKYK

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's a foggy day today and they're calling for scattered shower through the afternoon before the serious storm get here about dinner time. Oh, well, it saves me from having to water the garden ...

I've got a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. Donuts and muffins are on the counter. I'm going to try to fix a peach cobbler and if there's any left tomorrow, I'll share.

I got another scene half finished yesterday. I'm going to try to finish it today, despite the weather. I'll be over in the corner working on it, so if you hear some muttering, it's just me working out the conversations between the characters ...