Gil's Blog

I just can’t believe it! I guess you shouldn’t let actors near guns, not in Bradenton anyway. I live in Sarasota (a few miles away), and can’t help but comment on this perfect example of ignorance and stupidity when it comes to firearm safety:

BRADENTON, Fla.: Tragedy nearly struck a group of actors in Florida when authorities say a loaded gun was accidentally used during a rehearsal. Bill Bordy, vice president of the Sarasota Senior Theater in Bradenton, was rehearsing a scene from John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” Monday evening when he picked up a pistol he had borrowed from another cast member. Bordy pointed the loaded revolver at the head of another actor, Fred Kellerman, and pulled the trigger. Bordy’s aim was off and only grazed Kellerman’s ear.

We have three nominees for the award here; only one was nearly removed from the gene pool.

First: NEVER point a real gun at anyone you don’t want to kill, even if you think it’s empty. This is the first thing any firearm instructor will teach. Too many people bit the bullet (no pun intended) because someone thought a gun was not loaded. It is especially true of semi-automatic pistols, which can have a round left in the chamber even if the magazine is removed. There are rare exceptions to this rule, but then no ammunition should be allowed anywhere near the area and the firearm must be checked multiple times.

Second: If you loan your gun to someone who is going to point it at a friend’s head, unload it first.

Third: If you are an actor and the play calls for a gun, check first to make sure it isn’t loaded. Don’t you know how Brandon Lee died? After verifying it a couple times, press the trigger with the barrel pointing to the ground. Note to Bradenton actors: Only do this if you are on the first floor, nobody is laying on the ground in front of you and do not aim at your feet. Oh, and you don’t check the gun by looking in the barrel to see if a bullet is there. Just making sure here, I don’t mean to be patronizing..

Fourth: If someone wants to point a gun at your head and press the trigger (I can’t believe I am writing this!), make sure it is unloaded. The “gunman” should show that to you, and then you should re-check for yourself. In doubt, ask him if you can shoot him first, if he says no, have a third party check the gun again.

Fifth: If you think you are pointing an empty gun at a friend’s head, and he hasn’t slept with your wife or doesn’t have an insurance policy you would benefit from, do not actually aim for his head, but at least a foot off to the side. This might not apply to certain people however who are bad enough to actually miss by a foot..

Accidents usually happen because of a succession of failures. Here, three people lacked the most elemental common sense in handling a deadly weapon. I would not be surprised if none ever had any firearm safety instruction. Blame it on ignorance if you will, but there has to be another factor in this picture. When you think you’ve seen it all, there is always someone to top the chart.. But three at the same time in the same place, WAOH!

Article source.

Photographing a lightning storm is easier than it seems, assuming you have the right camera and a bit of luck and patience. The same technique applies to fireworks. People wonder how I took the photo below right when lightning struck. I’ll let you in on the secret…

Lightning storm in Bradenton Florida

I didn’t. No amount of expresso could make anyone that fast! The shot is actually of three different lightning events a few minutes apart.

First, you’ll need a camera that has what is called a pause ‘B’ or ‘T’ speed setting. Yes, that’s what those two you never used are for! Pause B keeps the shutter open as long as you keep the shutter button pressed. Pause T keeps the shutter open until you change the setting. So, pause T is better because you don’t need to keep pressing the button and risking moving the camera, which by the way must be on a tripod.

Choose a low sensitivity film, like 25 or 50 asa/iso. Your exposure will last a few minutes and you don’t want to over-expose the background or get thick lightning looking like a defective lightsaber.. Same goes for digital cameras. A fast setting or film will increase the grain, you’ll lose details.

You’ll have to play with the f stop. I like to start with 4 or 5.6. I tend to avoid lenses that can’t open to at least 2.8. No matter what your lens is, open to at least one stop over the minimum, two is better. Lenses usually do not perform at their best at the extreme of their aperture range.

Get a thick, black piece of fabric like felt to cover the lens. A plastic cap would work, but you risk moving the camera. Make sure no light will enter the lens when you hold it in front of it. Now you just have to wait for the perfect storm! And by the way, don’t expose yourself in an open field or too close to the storm, lightning is a dangerous subject. I took the photo out of an appartment balcony for protection.

Now you’re ready! Lightning all over, your camera is up, you’re standing there in your yellow raincoat holding an old fedora to cover your lens. Open the shutter. Remove the hat! Count seconds (I tap my foot for rhythm). Bam! You got one, cover the lens (keep the shutter open) stop counting. Bam! Shit, you missed that one. Wait a bit, uncover, count… Wham! Number two is in. Close the shutter. Note the exposure time and f stop for future reference. Do it all over again…

With a bit of practice, you will produce amazing photos. There are many other interesting things you can photograph at night with a long exposure, and that are no doubt less dangerous than a storm. Look at the photo below:

Marina Jack in Sarasota

The exposure was 20 minutes! I was getting pretty bored, but the result was worth the wait. The light traces are of car headlights and taillights. You don’t see the cars because they were not long enough in front of the camera to imprint the film.

Have fun with this technique! I’d like to see pictures posted in the comments.. Questions are welcome. Merry Christmas everyone

Gil.