David's Life: 2018-02

2018-02-28

For the birds...

via IFTTT

This pic makes good use of high dynamic range (HDR).

Taking a picture at two different exposures and combining them together. Crazy that today's phones do this all at the push of a button!

The boys, working intently on replacing the wheels on my Rip-Stick.

Joslyn let us each pick out one of her Spirograph designs.

2018-02-27

A little tower flying fun in the clouds

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Christopher and I had fun with a legal 1K climb. :)

Click the link to see all the pics. There's a little other weekend fun thrown in there too.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbarton/albums/72157688203768910/

We maxed out at ~1,300 feet because the clouds were too thick. We couldn't see a thing. We'll be back on a nice clear day to finish the pics. We'll probably get to about 1,800 feet then. Dizzying to look down, even from a drone...

Christopher and I were on a mission...

While I was taking some evening pictures, I saw these towers off in the distance. I decided I wanted to find them and see how high I could legally go. So, I got on Google Earth and found where they were. Now to go find them and see what happens...

Isaac and his lenses!

Isaac is SERIOUSLY into photography, and getting more so each day. He was recently able to save up for a nice camera. My mom had all these old lenses, of my dad's. Isaac figured out he could adapt some of them. A perfect use and fitting pass down! Enjoy it, man. Let's go shoot something! Would be fun together.

2018-02-26

Switching to 9mm

After struggling with more .22 malfunctions at league, Andy decided he was done and was now a 9mm guy. But he wanted to practice before Tuesday's competition. The lower right inset shows his first two shots, at 20 feet, on these half size targets. :)

You never know what you’ll find...

Andy and I were checking the pond and found THIS poor little guy floating in it. I guess the wildlife is struggling with the high levels too?

Epic rain this weekend...!

Our yard was flooded, water was rising in the barn, and TWO sump pumps couldn't keep up! Thankfully, we kept ahead of it and will enjoys our pond being full.

It's hard to see, but our driveway, to the barn, is underwater in this pic

2018-02-25

Sammy is growing!

She was the size of a quarter when Andy bought her. Now, she's spanning this eight inch wide log without even stretching...

Evening blue sky

2018-02-24

One more sunset, from last weekend.

I don't know if I can technically count this as a sunset? But it was great to watch the scene evolve as the sun dipped towards the horizon. The rays, the colors, the contrast.

One of the three or four houses, on our street, that keep horses.

I like the setting for this house. It overlooks the river valley on the horizon.

2018-02-23

I like the contrast between the blue sky, sunset, and the storm clouds coming in from the south.

It almost looks like fall colors again.

2018-02-22

Some great sunsets this past weekend...!

Cute couple. Kind of an extreme choice of clothing in these two pics.

I don't know if he and Hannah can keep up with each other? They're both setting records in the pool. I guess they're made for each other.

2018-02-21

Fun with photo spheres

I figured out a new approach to taking panoramas. It's called photo spheres. It is essentially a 360º collection of photographs that are stitched together to make a continuous view. You can flatten them out, as seen in the image below (and they look really strange). However, if you use a viewer, you can "re-create" the scene. Click the link to see it in action.

https://www.skypixel.com/photos/273dc287-4ef8-4e0b-bb70-da5c4bfaa08f

I used my drone to create this one. It automates the image collection and stitching process down to one click to grab the images (approx. 40 of them) and one click to stitch them together. Depending on the device you're using to view it (some phones and tablets), your may be able to rotate and tilt it to move through the scene. If not, you can always use your finger or mouse to pan around. I will be trying some more of these soon. I'm still perfecting the exposure techniques.

Enjoy.

Ohio weather...!

I took this picture, tooling along at almost 40mph, during a snow storm flight, on Saturday. Monday, it was over 70º and sunny!

Andy’s package from Headquarters...

You might remember the flowchart, Andy made, detailing what our Cognex vision systems do, and how they are used in factory automation. Well, Andy's work caught the eye or our CEO so much so that he sent Andy a note and his first Cogwear (our Company's tradition of giving away clothing gifts, and us proudly displaying the company logo on our clothes). Fun times.

2018-02-20

I’m proud of my nephew and his pursuits.

It's fun to see him doing something he enjoys. As a side benefit, he gives me good advice on what, where, and how to fly.

Watch how quickly those bunny ears disappear! Haha

We all made it back together, to have dinner with friends, to end the weekend.

2018-02-19

President’ Day, just like the forefathers intended...!

Quite a crazy assortment from fun to knock your arm off...!

Zooting around the neighborhood, in the snow

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What a great time, with my mom, this weekend.

For my mom's birthday, Laura had the idea that we chip in for tickets to The Sound of Music 🎶, at the Schuster. Very well done! I'd say it's best show there and best rendition I've seen.

Diverse and busy weekend

We were all in four different directions, this past weekend. As the boys get older, it happens more and more. But it's still a rarity for all four of us to be doing something different. :)

2018-02-18

Hit a neighborhood favorite, with Johnny, while Andy was snowboarding. :)

Thick cut bologna sandwich +kraut +mustard! B&B's

Andy’s been planting these little guys all around town...

They show up everywhere, even at home. Now, Julie seems to be in on it too! Haha.

Andys weekend away :)

2018-02-17

Andy is going to be a force to be reckoned with, in our competitions.

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Seriously, Isaac!? Well done.

This a reflection, in a puddle, in his front yard.

Somebody’s been up to creating something...! :)

2018-02-16

Be on your guard...

You never know when one of your sons may be sneaking up on you, around the corner.

The other day, I heard Johnny sneaking down the stairs to my office... I suspected what he might be up to and quietly reached for my Nerf. We both got a good laugh when I suddenly met fire with fire! He was really surprised since he thought he totally had the jump on me. :) What do you keep in your desk drawer? Haha.