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emmaline

2012-02-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

2/1/2012, happy birthday emmaline haas:

Low-tech Top 10 for 2012

2012-01-28T15:20:00.021-05:00

Happy 2012 to all of my faithful followers, sorry that it has been so long since my last post, but the holidays and other activities of January have placed my blog on the back burner. But now, just for you, I am giving you my Top 10 low-tech tools/accessories for 2012. These are tools that I will use everyday, or devices that I think are list-worthy. Enjoy!

#1 - Keurig Single-Cup Brewer:

If you've read any of my recent blog posts, then you know that I use my Keurig Single-Cup brewer every morning. I love coffee, and this machine is a low-hassle, maximum flavor, brewing machine. I own two of these, that's how important they are, one is located at my office and the other in my house. This is a must-have for 2012 if you do not already have one.

#2 - Work Boots:

I know safety should always be first, but coffee is paramount to me. Let me explain--I'm not always in an industrial environment, but I always have coffee. Enough said.

These Thorogood work boots boast an electrically isolated Vibram sole, 75 lbs rated steel toe, 8" leather uppers, and have a classic look that will make your coworkers jealous. These really are more comfortable than they appear and will keep your feet cozy/safe all day---no matter what the situation. Every morning that I put these boots on, I know that I'm going to get a lot of work done.

#3 - Cell Phone / Calculator:

Need to phone home? The supervisor wants to talk to you? Need to find the volume of some box squared? Not a problem with my Casio G'zOne cell phone. This thing is tough, but still feature-packed.

I have integrated my cell phone into my daily routine: alarm clock, weather alerts, bank balances, texts, clock, navigation, email, calendars and more! This is my go-to device for any analytical questions I may have throughout the day. Also, it makes calls and handles voice-mail. Awesome.

#4 - Rope:

Rope is a tool? Absolutely, a tool that I use multiple times a week. In fact, it is perhaps the most important tool in my toolbox. Rope is an ancient tool and versatile for so many different situations--especially when working at height. The photo above shows my 4 main working ropes. The first 3 are 5/8" haul lines (also called Derby Rope or Braided Poly Rope), which are used for non-human hoisting/lowering. The fourth rope is an 11mm New England dynamic rope used for climbing, rappelling, or other human-contact situations. Trust me, you would be absolutely amazed what you can do with a piece of rope...

#5 - 8" Crescent Wrench:

For hanging theatrical lighting or tightening/loosening any kind of bolt, an 8" crescent will get the job done. I also have a 6" crescent that stays in my glove-box, but an 8" is a must-have for any serious stage work. This is an 8" Kobalt with a side-sliding adjustment to quickly change sizes. The side-slide adjustment is a real time-saver, but if you have to apply serious torque to a bolt, stick with a regualr Craftsman 8" wrench. I hardly ever use the built-in caliper section of the jaws, but they're there if you need them... (my wrench is pictured with a Black Diamond carabiner + Black Diamond daisy-chain, which is my preferred fall protection for my hand tools.)

#6 - Screwdriver:

I suppose any pair of Straight/Philips head screw drivers could suffice for this category, but my Klein 10-in-1 is 10x the screwdriver in the same amount of space. The driver features: 5/16 In. & 1/4 In. nut drivers, #1 and #2 Phillips, 1/4 In. & 3/16 In. slotted, #10 & #15 TORX , and #1 and #2 square-recess---all in one screwdriver! This tool is so handy that it stays in by back-pack and is always ready to be used. Worth every penny.

#7 - Canon 5DII + 50mm lens:

I love second-shooting with my wife, and I have taken more than 30,000 photos in the past 3 years, and I plan to add another 8-12,000 this year. What have I used for the majority of those photos? The Canon 5D Mark II + Canon 50mm f/1.4. Simply put, this set-up delivers the most bang-for-buck in digital photography. Don't believe me? Every photo for this post was taken with this set-up, except the photo above, which was taken with a Mk2 + 50 f/1.2 (costing nearly 3 times more than the 1.4), and you would probably never be able to tell the difference.

50mm is a great all-around focal length, and the MkII is the best sub-professional Canon body currently in production. This is a work-horse set-up and will deliver amazing images every-time. Even though I absolutely love Canon's 50mm f/1.2, this lens has no comparison for its price.

#8 - Fluke Multi-meter:

My Klein 10-in-1, my tape measure, and my Fluke multi-meter make up the trifecta of tools that live in my back pack, yes it is that handy. The Fluke's main (and most obvious feature) is its 600amp clamp-meter, which is rarely used around the house, but is essential for balancing loads on large transformers, generators, or various feeder cable.

This meter also measures Volts AC, Volts DC, and has an Ohms/continuity meter with audible alarm that I use ALL THE TIME for lamping. Peak hold features and a vivid green backlight, what else could you possibly want? Buy one used or new, it doesn't matter. They're built tough.

#9 - Sharpies:

You may not consider Sharpies (or any ink marker) as an essential for 2012, but for me they are an absolute necessity. During my drawing courses in college I discovered a love for fine-point Sharpies.In fact, before I started working on this blog post, I sketched it out (as seen above) on thick resume paper with fine-point black sharpies. I'm not sure why, but I feel the most creative and the most artistic when I use Sharpies. Sharpies have too many possible uses to mention here, plus they're only a couple of dollars for a two-pack. Take the plunge and buy a couple.

#10 - Tape Measure:

Finally, the last on the list, a tape measure. It has been said that man's greatest accomplishment is being able to measure his universe---that's why I always carry a 12' tape measure. Yes, I do have a 25' and a 200' tape measure, but this one lives in my backpack (where everything essential lives). 90% of the measurements I need fit within 12', so why lug around something larger?

Maybe I'm too analytical, but I am constantly needing to measure things. Furniture sizes, rope diameters, various flanges/caps/clamps, or widgets. My daughter Annie loves tape measures. Whenever I come home she asks to borrow my measure, and she spends hours measuring things. What do I do if I misplace this tape measure? Simple, a dollar bill is (approx) 6"x2.5" and quarters are approx 1" in diameter...but a tape measure if by far superior.

128:25 aspect ratio ornament making

2011-12-23T17:06:00.001-05:00

If you're not family, this post may not interest you...except for the fact that it uses extreme wide-screen formatting. I love it.

Jenny wanted to make homemade ornaments with the kids, and this brief video documents the saga. Enjoy.

Music by: The Wedding Present

Drip Brew vs. Keurig

2011-12-15T09:34:00.005-05:00

A few months ago, my good friend Jacob Yoder sent me an article proclaiming Keurig, or similar single-cup coffee brewers, as "the beginning of the end for great coffee". As owner of Muddy Dog Roasting Co, Jim Pelligrini's article is well written, and asserts valid points concerning the mass-production of single cup coffees---namely that licensing products such as K-cups/Tassimo prohibits diversity in coffee roasting. To be honest, I have been a long-time supporter of quality roasts brewed via french-press...except I don't have that kind of time or resources at my workstation to accomodate such complex coffee procedures, but kudos to those of you who do.

As a challenge, I would give up my trusty Keurig brewer for one month and drink only drip-brew coffee. I had so many initial questions: Which would I prefer? What are the pros and cons of the two devices? Is the flavor superior in one brewer over the other?, etc.

The rest of this post is dedicated to answering those questions. For the continuation of this post let us assume that I only have the capability of either the single-cup brewer or the drip-brewer, and that french presses, to-go coffees, or percalators do not excist. I brew coffee in my office and am therefore limited to these two brewing methods.

After one month of use, I created the table below [Fig 1]. This table shows a win/loss assignment for each category, then totals the number of wins/losses in the bottom row. Some categories are subjective, such as flavor, whereas others are very clear, such as electrical consumption. Essentially the drip-brew coffee maker wins in areas of price and flavor range, and the Keurig wins in categories of consistency and ease-of-use. It was surprising to see that, even with the complexity of preparation, the drip-brewer's prep-time was consistently faster than the Keurig. Although it should be noted that the average times below assume that all ingredients/materials need to brew are already set-out and ready for use. In real life I actually have to walk to first floor restroom to wash-out the pot and go to a vending machine for bottled water. Take a minute to examine the chart, the results are straight-forward:

Fig 1

What exactly is the brew process for each machine: I have broken down the two machines' brew process into the next two photo collages [Fig 2 & 3 respectively].

Here is the 9-step process for a drip brewer. The steps are: 1) Rinse-out pot 2) Add water 3) Measure Grounds 4) Place filter/grounds 5) Turn-on 6) Brew 7) Serve/Enjoy 8) Turn-off 9) Remove/Discard grounds:

Fig 2, Drip brewer process

Here is the 6-step process for a Keurig brewer: 1) Add water 2) Turn on 3) Add K-cup 4) Brew 5) Remove K-cup 6) Serve/Enjoy

Fig 3, Keurig brew process

The processes only differ by 3 steps, but it is clear that the Keurig is simpler and requires fewer products to brew a cup. The same is true where maintainance is concerend, the Keurig machine needs very little maintainance. In fact running through a no-cup cycle accounts for 90% of keeping it clean. The drip brewer however has multiple parts, a glass pot, and is difficult to clean in a men's room.

Lastly, I found that when I used my Keurig coffee maker I would only drink one (maybe two) cups per day. One cup was the perfect taste and serving size for most mornings. However, once I switched to the drip-brewer I began to drink as many as 4 cups per morning---because there was 30oz of coffee brewed and I didn't want to dump all of it down the drain, The increased amount of coffee is not favorable to me, because I found that even on the weekends I was craving more and more coffee. Its going to take me a couple of weeks to come-down from my caffeine high...

So will single-cup brewers, like the Keurig, signal the beginning of the end for great coffee? I hardly think so---afterall the microwave oven did not see the end of gourmet cooking. For me, in my office, the Keurig single-cup brewer is by far the superior choice, in terms of ease-of-use, flavor, consistency, and materials needed. It just makes sense. Yes the initial cost of the unit is 4 or 5 times more than the drip brewer, but to me it is worth it for the lack of hassles and serving size.

A Retro Package

2011-12-12T19:42:00.000-05:00

As I struggled with how to deliver videos to couples in a meaningful and utilitarian method, no off-the-shelf product seemed to fit what I was looking for...so I created something that I thought was original (until I saw it here, weeks after I completed mine below). The final product is a USB 2.0 solid-state enclosure, much simpler than Engadget's but still allows for full HD files in various formats as necessary. I reproduced a retro RCA label and pair the cassette enclosure with a well-worn sleeve. The VHS below is an 8gb enclosure for brooke & sean.

Kids. Painting.

2011-11-30T16:13:00.002-05:00

Our kids love to paint. A trait they inherited from their mother. I love it.

I am very intrigued by the still life and the ethereal. This video is a departure from my other work, so I hope you enjoy it.

Music by Bon Iver.

iPhone Stand

2011-11-21T10:41:00.002-05:00

My friend Luke Maynard really hooked me up this time. I've been looking for a better way to charge/display my iPhone4, and then it finally hit me--shove an iPhone into a piece of wood! That's exactly what we did. I found the roughest piece of wood and then Luke perfected the measurements for use in the CNC router. After some final design ideas I gave him, he delivered this beautiful iPhone stand. There are no visible fasteners, no coatings, and no sanding involved, but unfortunately 2 cross-cuts. Enjoy.

Sean and Brooke, Highlighted

2011-11-09T09:07:00.002-05:00

What an amazing wedding! Sean and Brooke are probably the two most artistic and friendly people that I've ever met. Every detail of their wedding was handcrafted or received vintage touches from Sean, Brooke, or their family. I'm so thankful to have been a part of their wedding day and I hope you enjoy the the highlights.

Music by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Thanks again to David Schmaus of 213 Studios [studio213films.com] for his talented camera work on this film.

Jack Daniels [Whiskey Taste #18]

2011-11-02T18:44:00.001-04:00

Regardless of the growing amount of traffic to my blog, this blog is intended for myself first---you get the enjoyment of peering into my head with vicarious amazement. I was never much of a journal-er, so this is my way to export thoughts from my head and re-live them from time-to-time.

For instance, at first glance all of my whiskey reviews are visually repetitive, but there is a reason to my patterns. The point of these reviews are to taste the whiskey, not stare at the bottle. Yet every time I photograph a bottle I am careful to surround it with organic elements that mimic the very drink itself. Corn, wood, autumn colors---these are the essence of whiskey flavors converted into a visual palette. Okay, I have sidetracked long enough, its time to taste a classic. Jack Daniel's Old No. 7.

There are only a handful of drinks that are iconic enough to represent an era, a region, or a way of life---Coca Cola, Budweiser, and Jack Daniel's. In fact, Jack Daniel's is the number one most sold whiskey in the world.

Jack Daniel's has been distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee since 1875 and survived two dry spells (prohibition and a brief period during WWII). There are three major factors that distinguish Jack Daniel's flavor: a Corn-based dram (and sour mash), charcoal filtration, and American Oak Casks.

Jack Daniel's is an exciting (and accessible) taste that starts with a smoky aroma followed by sweet caramel and spicy pepper---which are perfectly balanced. Jack Daniel's flavors may not be as complex as other fine bourbons or whiskies, but you could go to any restaraunt or bar in the world and they could serve you Jack Daniel's. For any occasion, you should try a bottle of this iconic whiskey.

Filmos para Fotografia

2011-09-28T14:37:00.002-04:00

Ok, so it was only partly my intent to increase Latin-American or Spanish visitors to my blog...but we'll see if it works.

We all make a journey in life. Sometimes the route we choose leads us to a different destination than we had intended, whereas other times we are able to consult maps and guideposts along the way to correct our orienteering, or maybe we have no fixed destination and therefore wander all of our days... What am I trying to say? In short, trial and error will end up as errors at least 50% of the time, its just statistics.

For example, my trials with film photography. I know the end result I want to achieve, but I know I am not there yet. Let's list-off the known errors with these photos 1) No meter used, I guessed the exposures. 2) Processed by WSU intern via Meijer film labs. 3) 1-hour film-to-disc processing---need i say more ? Nonetheless, I have learned a great deal from these 2 rolls of film.

I hate the technicalities of these photos, but I love the subjects in the frames, so get over the terrible processing and enjoy the Haas children, riding bikes...or as my Latin-American friends might say, los niños que conducen bicicletas.

George Dickel

2011-09-18T12:04:00.000-04:00

>>A special thanks to Connosr.com, whose tasting notes most-closely matched my experience with George Dickel<<

George Dickel holds a special place in my whiskey-repertoire. Why? Because the first bottle of whiskey I ever purchased was a bottle of George Dickel---its probably hard to believe that I still love whiskeys and bourbons. Don't get me wrong, its not that GD is bad, but this was before I had conditioned my palate to a whiskey of this strength. Needless to say, that first bottle was drank almost solely as Dickel-and-Dews.

An interestin fact, Jack Daniels and George Dickel are the only two legal distillers of Tennessee Whiskey*. Anyway, how does it taste? The first sip of GD starts with maple sugar, citrus, and spice. Even though the name insinuates 12-year aging, George Dickel is only aged for 4-years. Due to this aging, the taste is prominent with maple sugar with wood hints. There are vanilla hints and a little caramel. The spice flavors increase as it mellows on the palette. Overall, George Dickel is very lively in the mouth. The finish is not brief, building the the wood and spice flavors.

The best part about George Dickel is the price, affordable for everyday sipping--in moderation of course.

*Info provided by http://www.connosr.com

Caitlin & Gabe

2011-09-09T16:11:00.004-04:00

I know that no one wants it to rain on their wedding day---but this turned Caitlin and Gabe's wedding day into a wonderful memory they will cherish forever. (I suggest turning on HD for the highest quality playback)

A special thanks to Dave Schmaus [ davidschmaus.com ], an awesome second-shooter.

Thank you Phil Bohun for on-site audio recording

Meg & Nick

2011-09-09T16:07:00.003-04:00

Married on August 13th, Meg & Nick and their family worked incredibly hard to pull-off this creative and inspired wedding. Enjoy this short re-cap of their day. (I suggest turning on HD for the highest quality playback)

Thank you Caleb Schneider for capturing audio on-site.
Photos of this event by Jenny Haas

Peter & Lindsay

2011-09-09T16:03:00.004-04:00

Photographs are a fantastic way to document a wedding day, but no matter how talented the photographer they only represent a fixed point in time. This is why I love video, it is dynamic and represents a series of time, the story of your life.

Peter and Lyndsay's wedding was in short, phenomenal. The entire family worked for weeks preparing the details, the desserts, and the decorations. What a home-spun ambiance this wedding had. Check out our video below for the rest of their story: (I suggest turning on HD for the highest quality playback)

[Second-shooting by Cameron Braun of Braun Photography ]

Photos of this event are by Jenny Haas

August Night

2011-08-26T16:48:00.001-04:00

Its amazing how sensitive our eyes can be to the faintest light, I always feel that the night sky is more intense when you tilt your head up and see it first hand, then through capturing it with thousands of dollars in equipment.

Nonetheless, I am always surprised by exactly how many stars reside in even the darkest corner of the sky. Below are two photos centered around the Cygnus Constellation (the Northern Cross) and towards the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. The first photo is a composite of 5, 8-second exposures and the second is similar, but with an infrared filter. The B+W image displays much more of the glow that comes from the heart of our galaxy. Enjoy these images, and enjoy the night sky for yourself sometime...

WTF (With The Fam)

2011-08-01T22:04:00.001-04:00

So how's your family? Mine, they're doing really well...look how much they've grown. The other exciting part of this post is that all of the photos are digitized via 35mm negatives. I'v wanted to shoot some real film for a while, and thanks to a garage sale find (like this one) I've shot a few rolls of film. Here they are, enjoy the images and the family:

Makers Mark [whiskey taste #17]

2011-06-17T08:56:00.002-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, Maker's Mark is not just any bourbon. From its red-wax seal to its unique bottle shape and taste, Maker's Mark is iconic. In fact, in my experience, Maker's Mark completes a type of triad of important whiskeys to keep in my tasting repertoire---the other two being the ultra popular Jack Daniel's and Jim Beam.

Normally before I post any tasting notes I will cross-reference my personal taste impression with tasting notes from various other websites and blogs. However researching Maker's Mark quickly turned from tasting opinions into a history lesson. If you're really interested you can read Maker's Mark entire history here or even more in-depth here or similarly you can learn about the Whiskey Rebellion. The brief story of Maker's Mark is the story of reinventing bourbon in the post-prohibition era, building from a failed brand in the 1950's.

But what makes Maker's so special? For one, the distillery where it is produced dates back to 1805 and most of the original Cyprus (not stainless steel) distillation tanks are in use---Cyprus does not add color or flavor to the final product in the same way a metal tank would. Maker's Mark is produced using iron-free limestone spring water, not city, well, or river. Then Maker's is aged in selected American White Oak barrels. Maker's Mark is one of the few to propagate its own yeast for fermentation with cultures that they can trace back to the pre-prohibition era. Amazing.

OK, OK, so how is the flavor? The first thing you will notice when you pour Maker's into a wide-mouthed glass is the distinct aroma--not strong, but pleasant and enticing. Bryan Carey described its taste better than I ever could, "There is a certain woody character to this whiskey along with caramel and toffee. There is even a touch of vanilla in the background, and it becomes more noticeable in the aftertaste." He adds, "Maker's Mark is certainly alcoholic in taste, but it is smoother than many other whiskey products and less bitter." The best attribute about Maker's is it has plenty of smooth, complex flavors to stand alone for sipping OR it has a unique enough zest to blend well in mixed drink.

A sip of Maker's is a sip of vintage distillation and American tradition.

Grandpa's Homemade Slider

2011-05-23T17:43:00.010-04:00

My grandpa was a very crafty man. His basement was a shop full of tools and projects. Although I didn't know him very long in this life, I knew him long enough to understand how he crafted an old-fashioned, homemade, cinema slider...ok, not really, but nostalgia is always good.

I needed a table-top/portable slider, so I assembled this 32" beauty from various parts. I have included a (hastily-edited and unfinished) 45 second video clip of slide-samples following the photos. enjoy.

My 32" homemade slider, built from extruded aluminum scrap, U-channel, and a gas-pipe stub mount.

The Promaster Tripod head allows you to angle or direct the shot, but is not suitable for fluid tilts/pans.

Plexi-glass inside the U-channel glides effortlessly over the aluminum track. The adjustable-height legs are a bonus to keep it level on rough terrain or warped table-tops.

This post is personal, but you'll read it anyway

2011-05-16T23:26:00.004-04:00

If this is your first trip to my blog, you may want to start from the beginning...what is my beginning? Well, I was born in the mid-1980's when positivity was as common as one-hit-wonders. I spent most of my childhood in my father's sign shop, learning skilled trades and disciplined work ethics. I spent my free-time with various hobbies and sports. Junior high school and high school brought with it a slew of girls, all friends, but something wasn't right. I spent almost a quarter-century of my life growing up, learning, and searching for someone. I knew who I wanted to be in life and I thought I knew how I'd get there---but I never wanted to get there alone.

If there is one thing I have learned in life, it is that there is nothing worth doing in this life unless you can share it with someone, a friend, intimately. I decided in May of 2007 who that person would be---who I would be able to share every victory and defeat with. That girl was Jenny Fox.

Jenny was rare. So talented, she had a voice like none other. She was the most creative girl I had ever met. She was so beautiful, I never thought I'd live up to her standards. When she entered the room, she was preceded by an unmistakable aura that let you know she was someone special. Jenny was deep, she was nostalgic, she was everything I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have...

So where am I going with all of this? Well, mostly I just wanted to say: Jenny, I love you and I can't wait to see how we continue to grow over the coming decades. Please be patient with me, because I desperately need you.

Here is an iMovie slideshow I assembled for our wedding. Its really long, but you can FF through parts if you want. If you watch the whole clip maybe it will help you to learn our story---the tale of me and jenny. enjoy:

Workflow Essential

2011-05-08T00:16:00.000-04:00

Backup:

In the hierarchy of digital work-flow, especially event photography where it is not possible to recreate the event, it is absolutely, essentially critical that all original files are kept and backed-up---without these original files you cannot proceed with the rest of the process.

The above photo shows all of the external hard drives used for 2 years of wedding photography (They're each 1TB drives, except for the two 320gb Rikki's on the ends). Yes, i realize this is overkill--and we have since streamlined our back-up procedure a little--but i use the photo to demonstrate how important we consider backing-up and/or archiving the original files.

Regardless of the method, YOU MUST DUPLICATE AND SEPARATE your data. Except for in a post-apocalyptic world in which electricity no longer exists, we need to ensure that at least our original images are safe.

What are the best methods to keep data safe? Consider this list:
1. Online Galleries - typically free for personal use, small file sizes
2. CD/DVD/BluRay Discs - good for data up to 50gb assuming you can burn BluRay
3. External Hard Drives - cheap, expandable, and come in designer enclosures
4. Tape Drives (to back-up your 1980's mainframe) - ultra-stable long-term backup, but very very costly.
5. Solid State Drives - These are somewhat less expensive than tape drive units but more stable than traditional external hard drives. Currently, these are good for about 500gb (if you can afford them).

There is one more key concept to consider when developing a back-up plan/procedure. Not only is it enough to have multiple copies of your data, in multiple places, but it is paramount that you migrate that data to new drives/storage devices every couple of years. In the migration process you should also convert antiquated files into the latest version, unless a legacy file is appropriate. Typically, all of the media formats above should be converted to new storage every 2-5 years.

The above scenario demonstrates how Jenny Haas Photography is attempting to deal with the growing consumption of hard-drive space and migrating data from one storage to another. With this procedure, we ensure all of our data is exchanged every 3 years (well within the life expectancy of the drives).

For me, backing-up digital assets is far more than a luxury, its a lifestyle because so much depends on those files!

I know I've covered a lot of territory in one brief post, so please take some time to write questions in the comment section and we'll continue the dialogue.

Bernheim [Whiskey Taste #16]

2011-05-07T23:58:00.001-04:00

Yes, I do know it's Mother's Day Eve...and Yes, I do realize that I've posted about whiskey kind of frequently lately--but I promise you, there are big things (besides bourbon/whiskey) on the horizon for [willhaas]blog that will be worth returning frequently.

With that clarification aside, I would like to introduce you to the first Wheat Whiskey ever reviewed on [willhaas]blog, Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey (yes, that is its full name). In fact, Bernheim is the only whiskey that uses wheat as the main grain since before prohibition. Bernheim Wheat Whiskey is distilled and produced by the esteemed Heaven Hill Distilleries company.

Central to Bernheim's flavor is the use of soft, winter wheat. The aroma is mildly sweet with hints of vanilla and honey. Some suggest its color is closer to scotch than other whiskeys with its bright amber blush. There is something very warm and syrupy about the taste which hints of toffee, berries and spice. The finish is "uncluttered" and clean, resolving into toasted oak and warm syrup.

My favorite feature of Bernheim is the Olympic-sized brass medallion on each bottle. I know this post is being written in May, but with its sweet and warming notes, this would be the perfect bourbon for Christmas break. Enjoy

HDSLR Project

2011-04-29T07:33:00.004-04:00

This post is something entirely different, a bit of DIY for anyone with an HDSLR camera, or anyone that loves to machine aluminum (so that should pretty much cover everyone).

Let me preface this post by briefly explaining my predicament, most camcorder/video camera have a threaded insert in their base AND a secondary hole to accept a small post from the tripod mount. Why? The second hole locks the camera's motion so it is extra stable. Well, the Canon 5D that I use only has one threaded insert and therefore has the ability to spin-free on its tripod mount.

My solution was to fabricate a custom base for the camera that would keep it from spinning on the mount, hold my diopter, and provide a solid mount for any other accessories.

I hope you enjoy, let me know in the comment section if you have any questions.

I started with a heavy-gauge aluminum plate, scribed all of my hole/slots, then went to work.

The key to the mount are two stops, located on the rear of the 5D, these keep the camera locked into position.

An overhead view of the entire set-up, the main reason the camera must be rigidly mounted is to allow the friction follow-focus to maintain constant pressure against the lens.

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select [Whiskey Taste #15]

2011-04-05T15:09:00.003-04:00

Click Play, the rest is self-explanitory:

Music: Steve Thorpe
A special thanks to N.C. Howard, who's original review was the closest to my experience with Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select.

Jefferson's [Whiskey Taste #14]

2011-02-10T10:23:00.001-05:00

January is my birthday month, and needless to say I had a few dollars to spend from gifts--so of course I spent it on bourbon. But not just any bourbon, no, this is premium small-batch bottled gold. I chose this bourbon with the special guidance of the staff at Manor Wine, they've always been a big help in selecting great-tasting, and unique bourbons/whiskeys.

The first thing I noticed about this bourbon, aside from the Founding Father peering at you from inside the bottle, is that this bourbon is lighter and much more golden in color than many of the other reviewed bourbons. My only reasonable explanation for this lighter color (yet with such robust flavor) is based on the aging process. Jefferson small-batch bourbon is aged in metal-clad warehouses that amplifies the extremes of Kentucky temperatures. This forces the bourbon farther into the cask, clarifying it and giving such intense flavors.

So how is the taste? Jefferson's is a blend of intense, yet ultra-clean flavors of vanilla and caramel (with a subtle hint of toast or dark roasted coffee beans), all of these yield an incredibly smooth taste and finish. This is an incredible special-occasion bourbon.

Pocket Waster Plus

2011-01-20T19:43:00.008-05:00

I think speedlites are really nifty. They are amazingly portable, bright, and convenient. Unfortunately camera-mounted flashes look as good as point-and-shoot flashes (unless you get tricky and Fong-Bong them or use some similar bounce device), so at some point in time you need a remote trigger. Enter the PocketWizard Plus II.

In fairness to PocketWizard, they are not totally to blame for poor performance, the real blame is with Canon (especially on the 580EXII). PocketWizard advertises usable distances of 1600ft "or more", which is much farther than most users will ever venture. However, I was lucky to get 35' of distance when using a Canon 580EXII, inside an enclosed reception hall. So what is the issue?

After a quick response from PocketWizard, their engineer informed me that the 580EXII emits enough Radio Frequency information to bring down a 747 on a runway approach---apparently Canon feels the need to broadcast terabytes of data for ETTL and Slave shooting. PocketWizard's solution was to swing by Radio Shack and purchase a Ferrite Choke. The engineer is really saying that your $450 speedlite and $170 PocketWizard remote are useless without a $5.99 magnet. Awesome.

So what are my findings? I decided to use my Canon 580 EX II and a Promaster 5million (it really doesn't matter, its a promaster). Without the ferrite choke on the Canon 580 EX II, my average distance was about 35'-40', using the ferrite choke I was able to extend that range to 50'-60' (more than a 25% improvement). In addition I was able to use the Canon at closer distances with obstructions, thanks to the ferrite choke. On the other hand, the Promaster, without ferrite choke, averaged 75'-100', and after installing the ferrite choke there was little improvement (extended beyond 110').

I am certainly not giving up on improving the distance between my Canon and the PocketWizards, but it seems that if you need speedlites, save the money and purchase any non-Canon brand flash, seriously, any other flash would perform circles around the Canons in this regard. If you've had similar problems please let me know how you've dealt with improving the distance between flash and remote.

A friend/colleague of mine, Cameron Braun of Braun Photography, tried to talk me out of this set-up, I did not listen and now I am paying the price.

UPDATE: as of 6/18/2011, even with the installation of ferrite chokes I am still very dissatisfied with the off-camera consistency of the Canon 580 ex II's / Pocket Wizards. I am going to research some more and experiment with a few more variables, then report back t you with the results. If my results are still lackluster, the next blogpost may be a Craigslist posting for our Canon flashes.

For the experiment: Canon 580 EX II, Pocket Wizard Plus II's, Ferrite Choke, Promaster Flash

$5.99 Ferrite Choke, via Radio Shack

Four Roses [whiskey taste #13]

2011-01-12T15:34:00.001-05:00

Before Whiskey Taste #13, lets have a brief chat. I've received feedback from [WILLHAAS]BLOG regulars concerning my taste notes and flavor descriptions. Most of the concern regarded a mismatch of flavor at tasting compared to my notes.

First, let me preface my blog by stating that my tasting notes are my impression of flavors compared to other tasting experts or whiskey connoisseurs, but they are ultimately just suggestions. Secondly, when we discuss flavors in whiskey, we are speaking in terms of quiet, subtle flavors that must be learned--some flavors in whiskey only come to the palette because you have tasted other whiskies and have a strong comparison. The gamut of flavors available to us through whiskies are too broad to understand in one sitting. Finally, we will take some time in an upcoming post to discuss tasting methods that may yield better results in your tastings. Now, on to the tasting #13:

Four Roses (bourbon) has been around since 1888 but has been through a decline and renaissance in the past decade, and has only recently been carried by my liquor purveyor. You can tell from the crafted leather bottle choke and hand writing on the batch tag that this is a high quality bourbon, and it really is a high quality whiskey--for a reasonable price.

At 100 proof, this single barrel has a strong nose, full of spice and maple syrup flavors. Four Roses feels very rich on the palette, thick, but not like syrup. You'll really like the complex, mellow blend of spices, vanilla, and cherry. Four Roses finish is not hurried and mellows even more resolving to vanilla and cocoa. Of course, I prefer bourbon straight, but a splash of water will provide a heightened fruit taste that you may enjoy. This really is a quality, mellow bourbon. enjoy.

Christmaas 2010

2010-12-27T06:50:00.000-05:00

Here are some highlight from Christmaas 2010, including Annie's pink pony, Zane on the train, and grandparents. Awesome times. The rest of the pictures are self-explanatory so sit back, sip your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy!

Winterscape 2010

2010-12-26T16:57:00.001-05:00

There is tons of negative space in this landscape, but for some reason it just made sense to me. I love the simple curve of the power lines and the distant houses. Days like this, I love living in the middle of nowhere.

[You really must view this photo much larger for the full effect--click on photo for Flickr and more viewing options, if its still not big enough, email me and I'll give it to you full-res]

Ho, Ho, Ho [whiskey taste #12]

2010-12-18T15:23:00.001-05:00

There are a few whiskeys that I have waited a long time to review. Why? Because some of those drinks are so legendary, and so familiar to me that I may not do them justice. Well, Jim Beam [white label, aged 4 years] is one of those whiskeys---and perhaps my all-time favorite bourbon; for so many reasons.

Jim Beam [white label] is a very affordable and readily available bourbon. You only need to head to any spirits store or restaurant with a few crumbled up bills and you'll be enjoying this easy-going bourbon. Another bonus to this whiskey is that it pairs well with or without food. It finishes clean enough to let you enjoy your entree, while being just the right blend for laid-back conversations.

Many bourbon enthusiasts consider this the perfect mixing bourbon (for mixing with sprite, coke, etc), but as a purist I must argue that this is perhaps one of the best sipping bourbons. In fact my favorite description of Jim Beam [white label] is "a mellow baritone of a spirit"--which is so, so true. It is a very sweet bourbon with a smell of fresh cut apples and caramel. The initial taste is calm vanilla and sugar, which quickly gives way to oak and brown sugar flavors. The finish is long, but clean and always invites another sip of Jim Beam [i'm just being poetic here, drink responsibly].

This holiday season, open a bottle of Jim Beam [white label] with friends or family--it is the perfect conversation starter and palatable by everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Macro Lizard

2010-12-09T22:24:00.002-05:00

My original goal was to practice some macro shots on this fake lizard...why?...because we don't have any real lizards in our house right now. Whenever I get the camera + flashes out, the children always come running to see what I'm doing. Needless to say, this practice macro session turned into a speedlight-induced child photo furry. Here's just a handful of images, enjoy.

Quick Scapes

2010-11-26T14:05:00.002-05:00

These are a few 'quick scapes', meaning they were somewhat impulsive landscape photos. I just love the color and composition of these images, enjoy!

Cool moon, eerie trees

2010-11-21T15:32:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite photos are the ones i take spur-of-the-moment, the ones i don't anticipate at all. This time, the family was loaded in the car ready to leave when, i looked up and saw a powerful image. I ran inside to get the camera as fast as i could and managed to get a decent pic. Thank you family for your patience.

Russell's Reserve (Whiskey Taste #11)

2010-11-12T07:41:00.004-05:00

This is one bourbon you'll want to have nearby for Thanksgiving and other holiday parties. Russell's Reserve comes from the Wild Turkey pedigree of bourbons, through Master Distiller Jimmy Russell. I would classify Russell's Reserve as an everyday sipping bourbon. In fact Jimmy Russell, when interviewed by BourbonBlog.com, explained that Russell's Reserve is a "pleasurable bourbon and the one I drink most often." So why is it perfect for holiday parties? Because its rich flavor and price make it the perfect special occasion whiskey.

This 10-year aged bourbon has a deep amber color that begins with complex cinnamon and vanilla flavors, maturing into full-bodied sugar and nut with a warming spice and oak. The finish is long and slow, developing into pecans and mellowed warmth. This bourbon is flexible enough to mix with your favorite cocktails, but you know me--a purest--just put it in a cup and enjoy this holiday season.

Columbus, USA

2010-10-24T23:35:00.000-04:00

Consider this montage a three-photo-tour of Columbus' Arena District.

Annie + Lego's

2010-10-21T05:35:00.001-04:00

I figured is was time for another Annie collage, don't worry Cash will have a whole series of his own collages soon...

Annie is becoming quite proficient in building with interconnecting blocks (i.e. Lego's, but these are some generic brand). Watch her mastery:

Buffalo Trace (whiskey taste #10)

2010-10-16T14:12:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it's here already--Whiskey Taste #10! And what a tasting it is going to be, imagine the potent power of a buffalo in your glass.

If you think that one sip of this bourbon will taste like a wild stampede, you're half right. This bourbon packs an unusual spice and kick, from beginning to end. What do I mean? The taste is very lively on your tongue from the second your lips part, but once the dust settles your palette is left with a bright blend of vanilla and fruit that mellows smoothly to brown sugar. The finish is smooth and clean throughout, but lasts an incredibly long time. My recommendations, save this warming beverage for a cool evening or to balance out the tang of cooked buffalo ribs. yum.

I know its not a vintage suitcase...don't sue me

2010-10-07T21:48:00.000-04:00

Jenny Haas Photography's on-location back-up and workflow begins here:

Lets face it, at the end of the day Job #1 is digital asset retention, if you're going to lose photos you might as well not even show up. I recently wrote about the stability of CF Cards and proper methods to insure that they work every time, but I'm far too retentive to stop there. This set-up allows us to get all of the data off of our CF Cards and onto mirrored working drives. In addition, I can start a workflow progression while we continue to shoot so when we arrive at home its just a simple data transfer and then Jenny can immediately start to cull/edit--this is going to be a game changer for us.

Comfort, the southern way (whiskey taste #9)

2010-10-02T20:01:00.001-04:00

Be forewarned, this is my longest post to-date, but so informative!

If you subscribe to my Feedburner or similar RSS feed, you'll notice that I had posted this review once and then immediately pulled it from my blog. The reason I initially pulled this from my "Whiskey Tastes" is because although it is a whiskey, it is technically a liquer. What's the difference between a liquor and a liquer>? To be brief, liquor is a distilled, aged beverage (not fermented like beer or wine) and liquer is an [flavored] alcoholic beverage containing added sugars. Southern Comfort 100 Proof is a liquer, not liquor, and therefore not technically a whiskey. But I don't care, this stuff is delicious.

Southern Comfort 100 Proof is deceptively strong. I often sip bourbons on the 100+ proof range (Wild Turkey 101 or Booker's 125) but neither yield the stiff results of SoCo 100--the reason was explained above. As a liquer, you should be blending this with other mixers or blends...but if you're like me you don't want the hassle of multiple blends, cups, or swizzle sticks. In fact just getting a cup becomes too much trouble. Regardless, drink responsibly.

And now the tasting notes: SoCo 100 Proof is concentrated ('cause its a liquer), so the feel is similar to a quality cough medicine, coating the tongue, palette, and throat with a warm, dark, caramel glaze. SoCo 100 is much sweeter than one would expect from a bourbon, but again its a liquer, I won't repeat this again I promise. The sweetness is from the added caramel and peaches (the peaches are very well balanced within the blend, you will not taste "peach sauce" when you drink this). The flavors last a substantial amount of time, giving you time to contemplate life, love, and the next sip. Will's recommendation is to serve this on-the-rocks. Enjoy.

Starry Night 2

2010-10-02T08:48:00.003-04:00

There is a definite benefit to living in a rural community, the stars are significantly more brilliant than in a city. Still, I'm always surprised how much light pollution is generated from the 250 people in our town---this pollution "washes" the sky with an orange-ish tint, which limits you viewing the night sky. Nonetheless, I was able to get a pretty good image of the Milky-Way, it's still extremely faint, but this represents the limits of my current hardware to capture it.

Cool, Starry Nights

2010-09-17T23:42:00.005-04:00

Back in high school I used to love astrophotography, there is nothing like taking pictures of the stars. However the methods employed take great patience, clear skies, and expensive equipment--all of these obstacles became too great to continue my hobby. Long story short, I wanted to get-back-out and try my hand at some star-trail photos; these are fairly easy to do... enjoy:

You can see the north star just below the center of the frame, as well as some trailing of the Milky-Way "clouds" running from the upper left to the lower right.

And here's the moon!

Jim Beam Black (Whiskey Taste #8)

2010-09-09T22:36:00.009-04:00

Sure the temperature is falling, the days are waning short, and soon the leaves will start changing colors---but it just isn't autumn until you break the seal on a bottle of Jim Beam Black. The bottle pictured is sporting the new Black-label, with the distinction of "double aged", that's because it is aged twice as long as Jim Beam's classic White-label---my all-time favorite bourbon.

Bourbon or Whiskey connoisseurs have their own preferred methods of drinking bourbon (i.e. with ice, a splash of water, etc.), but for me there is only one way to drink Jim Beam Black: straight from the bottle, while seated around a bonfire. I suppose you could drink it straight from a wide-mouthed glass, but if you neglect to drink it around smoke you will be missing out on a perfect pairing. Since Jim Beam Black has been double-aged, it has a complex wood flavor that is heightened by cool nights around the fire, trust me.

The smell of Jim Beam Black is tinted with wood, spice, and orange tones. The first sip reveals honeyed-caramel and dark-orange flavors, resolving to a smooth honey-finish. Lingering spice flavors of cinnamon and ginger will mellow out perfectly between sips. Enjoy!

The Omen of Autumn

2010-08-25T08:14:00.000-04:00

The flowers that line our front walkway always start to bloom in mid August, and their subtle, violet sprouts become the favorite gathering place for butterflies. I know whenever I see the butterflies start to gather that Fall is just around the corner. I'm so glad to see my friends back, and enjoying my flowers... Also, these little guys were perfect targets for the ole' macro lens...

Cash and Pretzel

2010-08-19T19:54:00.000-04:00

Since I did a whole feature of Annie + Soda I thought that I would feature Cash in a blog---I must be impartial to my children. That being said, ladies and gentlemen, Cash + Pretzel:

Annie and Cash

2010-08-13T16:28:00.001-04:00

We've been having some intermittent trouble with our 50mm lens. As a student of Roger Bacon (and science), I know that if you can recreate the symptoms then chances are you can solve the problem. To make a long story somewhat shorter, these images are the result of my tests--everything seems to be operating as expected. I guess my research isn't over yet...

Annie + Soda

2010-08-08T20:36:00.013-04:00

Annie, at the lake, with a soda. Need I say more? I'm extra proud of these because I snagged them with our Canon XTi, with the cheapest lens you can buy...hello chromatic aberration adjustments. FYI, click on the image above to see an even crisper version via Flickr. I hate you blog-spot.

Maker's Mark 46 (whiskey Taste #7)

2010-07-29T21:27:00.004-04:00

Master Distiller Kevin Smith surprised me during my last trip to the liquor counter. I'm used to perusing for new whiskeys and bourbons, but I never thought I'd see a new Maker's Mark. First of all, for all of you Maker's fans out there you'll want to try this. Its a few dollars more than the standard Marker's Mark, but the taste is refreshing and more than compensate for the price difference. The key difference with Maker's 46 is the unique recipe of bourbon and barrel.

Vanilla, Toffee, and Caramel have long been the base flavors for the deep amber Maker's Mark. Maker's 46 adds a wonderful spicy edge that is surprisingly smooth and has subtle overtones of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. The nose is gentle and the flavor relaxes away on your palette for several minutes--the ideal sipping bourbon. To be honest, Maker's 46 may take the place of Jim Beam Black in my fall bourbon rotation. Excellent.

photoshop-pano

2010-06-25T15:35:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Ladera Ranch, California--Jenny's dream place to visit/live. Somehow in the midst of all of the beauty of the terrain, my panoramic photo must have put jenny to sleep, she was yawning in the last photo out of the composite of 15... Jenny told me "not to post" the original panorama I took of the area, so I made the best out of a bad situation.

Composite 180 degree view of Ladera Ranch's Riley Wilderness Park, all 15 images shot by Canon 5D, 35mm @ f/18 ISO 200 for 1/125th.

The talented Erik and Cami

2010-06-22T17:26:00.002-04:00

Jenny and I sought-out professional mentor-ship with Gabriel Ryan to fine-tune our photography and plan for our business' growth. Part of our time with Gabriel and Carlie was spent shooting this lovely couple. Erik was simply awesome, and Cami is a pro-photog to be reckoned with. The images above are a few I took, trying a slightly new technique--this is not intended to be a full-on bridal shoot; nonetheless, enjoy!

Many thanks to Gabriel, Carlie, Erik, and Cami for assisting Jenny and I in our journey...

More Cash Alejandro

2010-06-14T23:18:00.001-04:00

Cash just turned one--he's getting so big. I don't want to show too much favoritism towards one child over the other, so the next post will probably be of Annie. Check Jenny's blog often for pics/info about Cash's 1 year party, it was awesome. For the shot, Canon 5D @ 16mm f/11 for 1/200th.

11 herbs and spices

2010-06-13T09:59:00.003-04:00

This is my first attempt at a non-whiskey food photo. I know that you're supposed to use 3+ flashes, mirrors, gels, and fake smoke--but this photo is 100% on-the-grill food-tography---and yes, the chicken was delicious. I used my trusty Canon 5D, 50mm @ f/2.8 for 1/4000 sec.

Cash Alejandro

2010-05-24T20:30:00.000-04:00

Its hard to take photos of Cash because he is so mobile. I got lucky with this one...

Everglade Adventure

2010-05-20T00:34:00.002-04:00

(Simply click on a photo to view a larger version)

My wife and I had the pleasure of photographing a destination wedding in Florida. While there we took a few extra days to relax, tan, and get lost in the labyrinth of mangroves. These are just the photos from our Everglades adventure, visit Jenny's blog for more photos of our trip and the wedding... All photos were with our trusty Canon 5D and 16-35mm lens, I know its wide, but Jenny had the telephoto and wouldn't share...

Jenny Haas Photography Update

2010-05-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

This is my first engagement shoot with Jenny. She normally does them solo--but not this one. Make sure you visit http://www.jennyhaas.com/blog/ for the rest of the pics. I took the one above and a few others that made it to her site...enjoy. [Canon 5D + 50mm @ f/2.8]

Woodford Reserve (whiskey taste #6)

2010-04-01T23:28:00.008-04:00

Woodford Reserve and I go way back, it was probably the second premium whiskey I had ever tasted (second after Maker's Mark). For awhile I really enjoyed Woodford in Whiskey Sours until I realized how great it is by itself--as it was intended. The warm toffee colors of this drink also gave me a chance to play around with lighting an object on a black background, which much more difficult than I thought. Anyway, I arrived at this image with 2 Canon Speedlites, Canon 5D, and a 50mm @ f/3.2. Make sure you click on the image above to view it larger, it looks much better filling your screen.

Tasting Notes: Named for Woodford County KY, this is a quintessential small-batch bourbon. It gives off strong scents of warm vanilla and fruit. A sip of this whiskey and you'll taste hints of brown sugar, cream, and oak. The finish is long, but sweet and refreshing. This is a definite must-have for spring.

explosion of branches

2010-03-30T22:29:00.001-04:00

I never want to be that person who over-uses b&w photos...but on certain occasions the subject demands to be stripped of its hue. Case in point, my neighbor's tree pictured above. There is so much complexity to the contrast of light and shadow in this picture, and explosion of branches. Canon 5D, 16mm @ f/18.

Love (and clothespins)

2010-03-29T11:05:00.000-04:00

Its kind of our secret, but Jenny Haas Photography is actually two people; I'm the second photographer. Jenny is the creative driving force of the business, an excellent portrait/lifestyle photographer, and super-wife. Then there's me. I'm lucky enough to assist Jenny and her clients; occasionally I snap a few useful photos. Like the one above (this will be featured in Andrea/Evan Pt. 2 on Jenny's blog). Canon 5D, 200mm f/2.8.

Soilent Green, building

2010-03-17T22:30:00.003-04:00

Jenny had an engagement shoot at this textured, old building. The sun had set so she really didn't need me to hold the reflector, etc. So what did I do? Started taking pictures, of course. I was hoping to give you a full panorama of the building only through tiny vignettes of specific features of the architecture--I hope it worked. Canon 5D, 70-200mm f/2.8 (various focal lengths were used, f/2.8 was used for every photo).

I think some of the photos look better full-size, click on the thumbnails below:

Battle Studies

2010-03-12T13:33:00.003-05:00

This gun is so cool and so powerful, it probably should be outlawed--so much freedom in such a small package. I must clarify, the gun was not loaded during this shoot, and yes I was aiming it out of our window for the scoped pictures. This is a DPMS LR308/B, meant to be an 18-round, semi-auto "varmint" rifle. With the short barrel and 10x scope, its only useful out to about 600yds, but .308 rounds are regularly used to 1,000 yards. Its technically classified as an Assault Rifle, but when Jenny took offense to that category, I told her to think of it as a "Defense Rifle". [To clarify for my friend Butch, it is setup as a sniper's rifle, but since it is built from an AR frame it could be considered either.]

A special thanks to Sniper Central for helping me select this rifle.

All of the photos were with a Canon 5D, but I used almost every lens we own to photograph various details of the gun. Minimal flash was used (its a black object, you have to fill in here and there) but the overcast day provided much of the light.

Wild Turkey 101 (whiskey taste #5)

2010-03-09T16:19:00.005-05:00

Am I bold enough to post bourbon taste notes on my photo blog? Am I bold enough to pose a Wild Turkey bottle with my shotgun and appropriate shot shells? I think the picture above is the answer to both questions. This was a super fast / make-shift photo set-up since Jenny doesn't approve of mixing guns and whiskey, or posting those photos on my blog--oh well. The photo was done in about 5 minutes with a quick 2-light set-up, a Canon 5D/50mm combo, and hastily thrown props...

Tasting Notes: I've had much stronger (by alcohol content) whiskeys before, but one sip of Wild Turkey 101 and your ears heat up, yet the flavor is not overpowering, nor does it have a lingering burn in your mouth. Its flavors are on the darker, robust side; molasses, caramel, and spicy oak. It finishes very clean on the palette so this is a must with food, although it does make a fine sipping whiskey for those days you feel bold and unstoppable.

Kids, just kids (maybe a dinosaur)

2010-03-01T21:21:00.004-05:00

Jenny was away from the house tonight and she made the mistake of leaving her cameras; this is what happened. I love both of my kids, but for some reason I am obsessed with the toy dinosaur, it is becoming a familiar face on WillHaasblog. Enjoy.

Dino vs. Cash

2010-01-30T16:21:00.005-05:00

The dinosaur attacked Cash out-of-the-blue, I'm just lucky to have been there with a camera to capture the incident. Yes, 911 was called and everyone is ok. Canon 5D, 24mm @ f/2.8.

Disposable Camera New York

2010-01-29T06:26:00.001-05:00

I took this photo in the spring of 2002 with a disposable film cameras. The image lost some sharpness after I scanned it (only had access to a cheap scanner then), the original 4x6 was much crisper. I'm guessing the film was 400 ISO, and maybe f/8? The composition of this image makes it perfect for my desktop background.

Evan's Single Barrel (whiskey taste #4)

2010-01-06T23:20:00.011-05:00

I saved this aged bourbon for a special occasion, a snow day. To clarify, a single barrel whiskey is not a blend of whiskeys from multiple distiller's barrels, but rather from a single, choice barrel yielding very distinct flavors. In fact the master distiller has actually written on the back of this bottle--that's not print, that's pure Sharpie!

Tasting Notes: First of all, this is an 86 proof uncut whiskey so drink with caution. The taste of this whiskey begins with strong woody and slight metallic flavors but mellows to tones of toffee, caramel, and vanilla. This is a fairly dark bourbon yielding complex characters on the palette. Enjoy before or with dessert.

The photo was taken on my desk (I had to clear off my computer and papers), using a few lights from around the house, theatrical gel, and an on-camera flash. In hind-sight the bottle needed some back light to enhance its silhouette.

House before the storm

2009-12-19T11:28:00.001-05:00

I managed to catch this photo before the big storm whipped through. Canon 5D w/ 50mm (I wish I would've had my 16-35).

Fall Retreat 2009

2009-11-22T21:22:00.006-05:00

While driving home from setting-up Fall Retreat 2009 my friend and I counted this year as the seventh fall retreat that we've provided event production for. Jenny took some pictures--there are more on her blog. I took a few, but mostly just planned the staging, etc. A very special thanks to Tommy, Ben, Caleb, Johnny, Jenny, and Misty for their help.

If you're curious about the shot info, they were all taken with a Canon 5D 70-200mm @ f/2.8, ISO 800 with post-process noise reduction to smooth the image out.

Newport Aquarium

2009-11-11T21:14:00.002-05:00

We spent veteran's day doing something truly patriotic; looking at fish. Annie had a blast on the frogs, and I got to see scuba divers cleaning off the shark tunnel glass, what a trip! All of the pictures were taken auto-white balanced on our trusty Canon 5D + 50mm combo. It was pretty dark at Newport so some of the images are slightly noisy at full size, not too bad for 1000 ISO.

Trainscape

2009-11-09T21:45:00.004-05:00

I took several versions of this photo; overpass alone, overpass with cars, and finally overpass with train--which I think worked the best. Jenny thinks I should have blurred the train with a slower shutter speed--I think it looks better with a static frame. This photo was taken @ ISO 200, 16mm and f/20.

1792 (whiskey taste #3)

2009-10-24T21:06:00.005-04:00

I'm not sure why I began taking pictures of every bottle of whiskey/bourbon I buy, but I can't quit now--its tradition. Notice the books and platter circa 1790's (?), I borrowed them from Jenny, in fact the books might look familiar. Anyway, this was a Canon 5D 35mm @ f/2.8, the backdrop is the curtains in our living room...

Tasting Notes: this is a barrel-proof whiskey, but you won't know it from the first sip--man is it flavorful and smooth. This bourbon is comparable to Booker's for its alcoholic-stealth, meaning that you won't notice it's 93 proof until it is too late. 1792 is extremely fruity, but finishes nicely with tones of honey. Its worth reaching up to the top shelf for this bourbon.

Urbanscape 1

2009-10-15T12:14:00.003-04:00

A slight departure from my landscape trials, an urbanscape. Still perfecting my methods...

Leaves

2009-10-13T17:18:00.003-04:00

Some apple-tree leaves. It was windy when I took this photo so there is just the tiniest amount of one leaf in perfect focus. This makes an excellent desktop image (email me if you want one sized for your desktop). Anyway, It seems redundant, but in case you need to know this was a Canon 5D, 35mm at f/2.8.

Annie and apples

2009-10-12T16:09:00.003-04:00

Annie picking apples on Columbus Day 2009. I believe those are Red Delicious or Red Fuji Apples, but I was using my Canon 5D w/ 16-35mm lens, in the neighborhood of f/2.8-3.0.

Wright Bros. Memorial Park

2009-10-02T05:59:00.002-04:00

I stopped by the Wright Brother's Memorial Park after work, just to unwind and snap a few pics. I love the simple lines of the monument and the contrast with the surrounding landscape. This was with my 5D, 16-35mm lens and all were shot around 100 ISO. If you click to see the large-size image, it may take a while to load since its 1280 x 960.

B&W Tanks

2009-10-01T22:26:00.006-04:00

This is an industrial landscape photo, actually military base landscape, but that's beside the point. I shot it @ 100 ISO on a 5D, around 18mm and f/10. I used a software green filter in addition to a B/W process.

Red Stag (whiskey taste #2)

2009-09-15T20:01:00.010-04:00

Maybe I should focus primarily on advert photos. This was the good ole' 5D + 50mm around f/2.0, and I can't forget to mention the craft-paper background. The real secret to this photo was the lighting--which I really don't want to share...this photo might have looked more appealing with an unopened, full bottle.

Tasting Notes: if you drink this straight-up (my preferred method of appreciating bourbons) you'll swear you were drinking cough syrup. However, mix some of this Stag into a Coca-Cola and you're set for the best tasting Beam/Coke taste combo.

Horse Head

2009-09-05T21:57:00.004-04:00

I really like our 50mm lens, yet I really hate it. Here is a good example of why I love it. I used a Canon 50mm @ around f/1.8 on a Canon XTi body. White-balanced for shade around ISO 100. Pretty nice job for an XTi. Also, I have done absolutely NO editing to this photo--take that Photoshop!

Follow this link to see some more of my horse pics...

Cash

2009-09-05T21:43:00.002-04:00

Cash had his picture taken before the Knob Creek photo-shoot. I still used the 5D w/ 50mm set-up and a CFL light bulb.

Knob Creek (whiskey taste #1)

2009-09-05T21:41:00.008-04:00

I had almost finished the bottle when I thought it would make a neat picture. What do you think? (I used a Canon 5D w/ a 50mm lens, a towel, a flash and a CFL @6500k--not bad, huh?)

Tasting Notes: Knob Creek has a very strong bite to it, extremely tasty and reminiscent of the prohibition era (or so says they're website). Strong notes of vanilla and coco with a long spicy finish.

Self Portrait

2009-09-05T21:37:00.002-04:00

My self portrait/head shot. I did this in our spare bedroom with a flash and a CFL...