New Picture Maker

I have a new camera.  So today's photos have no particular theme, except that I'm getting acquainted with the Canon upgrade.  It's an EOS RebelT5i.

Several days ago, on the beastly hot night when Bill and I went to The Festival, my camera would not behave.  Well, the flash wouldn't. 

Trying everything possible, I could not get the flash to pop up, even in the darkest of circumstances. For a while, I thought the extreme heat was playing havoc with the camera. 

Later, I thought charging the camera battery would make a difference.  No luck.

So, I took the camera to Mike at the Image Maker, hoping he could work some magic.  He could get the flash to open by pushing the flash button and pulling it up manually.  

That's nice, but not too convenient in the midst of taking pictures.  That day I decided that the camera I have used pretty much every day for about seven years could use a replacement.

So, I ordered one.  Mike sent me home with some tutoring on how to pull open that flash if needed. 

Well, when I arrived home, I couldn't get it to open for the longest time.  Even tried praying with no luck.

Finally, however, it popped up on its own when I was taking a picture.  Aha!  I thought.  Maybe it's fixed.  

Turns out that momentary behaving was just an anomaly.  Tinkering away, I finally got it to open again AND left it open, making sure it would stay open by wrapping some adhesive tape around the flash.  

No way could it sneak back into its hole.  

Admittedly, I'm sure some eyes in the days afterward wondered what kind of urgent medical care my camera was getting as they stood eyeing that bandaged flash while posing for pictures. 

Well, I have limped along the last few days and have succeeded at getting the necessary photos for a story assignment, along with my usual hobby shots.

So, yesterday after receiving news that the new camera had arrived, I finished my morning chores and headed for the Image Maker.  Mike handed over the box with a receipt, and I wasted no time driving home to open my new toy.

The camera is an upgrade from what I've been using.  The flash does pop up on its own and at the right time, and it has an option for cleaning the sensor----a nice convenience which was unavailable in my other camera.

Plus, it has a few other features which will add to the fun of taking pictures. 

Once the camera seemed ready to go, I simply drove around and experimented.  The first water shot is very familiar to all the swimmers and floaters who like to take a dip or a trip on the Pack River. 

It's the swimming hole on Colburn-Culver just north of Selle Road. 

All the other water shots were taken at a dramatic series of falls along Rapid Lightning Creek Road.  I've actually walked to the falls, just off the road, in the winter time, but yesterday was my first summer visit.

And, yes, the snakes were out.  As I walked back up the trail toward my car, the little garter snake presented a temporary obstacle.  

Instead of being squeamish, just take its picture, I told myself.  I think the snake was rather flattered.  It went on its way down toward the water as I proceeded up the steep pathway. 

I also drove up Sugar Mountain Road where the BNSF rail car is parked in a pasture.  I believe it belongs to Matt Smart who runs the trail riding venue up at Schweitzer. 

Matt apparently likes snowboards too; maybe even collects them.  They definitely took my eye as I drove past. 

And, who hasn't seen the big herds of alpacas on either side of Rapid Lightning Road?  Right now, some fun white plants are growing in their pastures, making the scene of all those animals more interesting than usual.

When you're out with a camera, you tend to notice more about what's going on with this earth, and while driving into the Ginter Wildlife Management Area, I observed that elderberries are ripening. 

I have picked big clumps of them in years past and made jelly, but they tend to be pretty messy with all their brittle stems, so I just think of the jellies of the olden days and leave them alone. 

The sun continues to put on some amazing color displays both morning and night.  This morning's edition of the sunrise featured a brilliant hot pink, but my camera was inside.  

Last night, however, I was outside with the camera just as the sun was making its descent behind Schweitzer Mountain.  Pretty remarkable scene, to say the least. 

Anyway, it will take some more time to learn about all the features with this camera upgrade AND, of course, that will be fun. 

For now, I'm pretty happy with it. 

I'm especially happy and thrilled and proud this morning about some news our Annie shared yesterday.  

It's the kind of stuff any parent would love AND Annie's written expression in the link provided makes this old English teacher pretty proud too. 

Enjoy the link, and maybe even you'll learn some more about just how much the sport of geocaching affects our planet all around the world. 

Yay, Annie!  You're from Sandpoint, and we couldn't be any prouder!

   https://www.adlibbing.org/2018/08/22/champion-for-good-geocachings-annie-love/