George Dickel

>>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

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

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

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

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)

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]

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

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

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

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]

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

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]

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]

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

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]

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

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

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]

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

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

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

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)

 

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

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

Annie + Lego's

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)

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

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.