One less thing...
... I'll be bringing to Falcon Ridge this year: the 2007 album. I realized the other night that I never got around to getting the prints last year, since I now get my processing done right to CD (cheaper right off the bat, and then less wasteful as I sort through to remove the bad photos and it saves me all of that scanning). Had I done the printing last fall before unemployment, it would have been fine. Now, I can't really justify spending the $100+ to get 600 or so prints. I love that people look through the book at Falcon Ridge, but when I think about it, only about 20 people do, and then the album just sits at home not getting used. So, since I have to buy film and a new lens, I will just try to actually get on line galleries onto my site before the fest and direct people to them. I'm still debating doing a "smaller" album, maybe 200 prints, which while still being money I don't need to spend, could be a sort of "whet the appetite" sort of thing. People would still have something concrete to look at, and I can tell them more photos are on the web.
Tomorrow I am going down to Boston to get the film and new lens (probably getting a Sigma instead since the Nikon lens is out of stock). While I am there, I think I will get in a whale watch. Debating right now from where to take it and how to structure the day. Both options mean getting up insanely early, but have some key differences...
Option 1 - right to Boston. If I leave early enough, I can go to the photo store first to get the stuff, and then go over to the New England Aquarium and take their whale watch. Could test drive the new lens. Plus side, whale watch is a little cheaper with my membership and I could go spend some time in the Aquarium afterwards. Downside, if I park at the Aquarium that negates the ticket savings. And, the NEAq boat is much larger than most whale watch boats meaning bigger crowds, and the naturalists in the past have left a lot to be desired. This year could be different and if I do the morning trip, *maybe* it won't *quite* as crowded. I do get frustrated when I have to fight for rail space, but I do somehow manage.
Option 2 - go to Gloucester and take my preferred whale watch from there. Means more for the ticket but also potentially a little bit longer on the water. Parking is certainly cheaper though the ride to Gloucester takes longer than getting to Boston. We'd be back at the dock early enough to get down to Boston to get film and lens. The boat is smaller though it can still be relatively crowded (less rail space for everyone to spread out on).
I might go with #1 because next Saturday, if the weather cooperates, I could get in another watch. Mom is having a bunch of her high school classmates over for a party so I will want to be scarce anyway. I could do Gloucester then. And, despite my mixed feelings about the NEAq experience, I want to keep an open mind that it can get better. And yes, I really am just finding more excuses to take more whale watches (who needs money, anyway?)
Tomorrow I am going down to Boston to get the film and new lens (probably getting a Sigma instead since the Nikon lens is out of stock). While I am there, I think I will get in a whale watch. Debating right now from where to take it and how to structure the day. Both options mean getting up insanely early, but have some key differences...
Option 1 - right to Boston. If I leave early enough, I can go to the photo store first to get the stuff, and then go over to the New England Aquarium and take their whale watch. Could test drive the new lens. Plus side, whale watch is a little cheaper with my membership and I could go spend some time in the Aquarium afterwards. Downside, if I park at the Aquarium that negates the ticket savings. And, the NEAq boat is much larger than most whale watch boats meaning bigger crowds, and the naturalists in the past have left a lot to be desired. This year could be different and if I do the morning trip, *maybe* it won't *quite* as crowded. I do get frustrated when I have to fight for rail space, but I do somehow manage.
Option 2 - go to Gloucester and take my preferred whale watch from there. Means more for the ticket but also potentially a little bit longer on the water. Parking is certainly cheaper though the ride to Gloucester takes longer than getting to Boston. We'd be back at the dock early enough to get down to Boston to get film and lens. The boat is smaller though it can still be relatively crowded (less rail space for everyone to spread out on).
I might go with #1 because next Saturday, if the weather cooperates, I could get in another watch. Mom is having a bunch of her high school classmates over for a party so I will want to be scarce anyway. I could do Gloucester then. And, despite my mixed feelings about the NEAq experience, I want to keep an open mind that it can get better. And yes, I really am just finding more excuses to take more whale watches (who needs money, anyway?)