Monthly Archives: October 2011

My new Ride

Posted by on October 28, 2011 1 comment

We have been toying with the idea of buying a new car, but not a car of necessity, a fun car to take on quick trips.

Well after much research and hemming and hawing, here is the new toy:

It’s super nice and fully loaded.  We got a great price on it and I am very happy.

Here are the stats on the internals:

Exterior

  • Fully automatic electro-hydraulic black convertible softtop-inc: stepless sliding-roof function, remote open/close feature, easy-load function
  • Front apron w/enlarged cooling air inlet
  • Body-color air inlet integrated into engine compartment lid
  • Body-color sport bumpers
  • Chrome-plated side air inlets
  • Black exterior trim-inc: side sills, bumper edges, wheel housing
  • Integrated mudguards
  • Chrome bezels-inc: rear lights, headlights
  • Chrome-plated window trim
  • Body-color grille
  • Integrated low/high beam auto-leveling headlights w/follow-me-home function
  • Rear center fog light
  • Body-color pwr mirrors
  • Heat insulated green glass
  • Speed-sensitive intermittent windshield wipers
  • Tailgate w/low loading sill
  • Chrome-plated door handles
  • Anti-corrosion protection system-inc: partial galvanization, phosphate treatment & cathodic dip bath, cavity sealing underfloor protection
  • The features and options listed are for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible 2dr Convertible S and may not apply to this specific vehicle.

Interior

  • Leatherette front sport bucket seats-inc: manual seat adjustment, fore/aft adjustment, driver seat height adjustment, backrest rake, seatback easy-entry, manually adjustable headrests
  • 50/50 split-folding rear seat w/fixed headrests integrated into roll-over bar
  • Center console-inc: (2) front & (1) rear cupholders, central locking switch, switches for pwr windows
  • Driver-side storage compartment underneath steering column
  • Brushed stainless-steel door sills
  • Sports leather-wrapped steering wheel w/column height adjustment
  • Aluminum alloy driver footrest & pedals
  • Instrumentation-inc: tachometer, outside temp gauge, speedometer, LCD odometer/tripmeter, fuel/engine temp gauge, warning lights
  • Service interval indicator
  • Check control vehicle monitor with pictogram display
  • Bezels around instrumentation
  • Flat tire monitor
  • Pwr front windows-inc: open/close feature, automatic window lowering when door is opened
  • Remote keyless entry-inc: central locking open/close, tailgate unlock feature, open softtop
  • Central locking system-inc: open/close feature, softtop open, convenient open, tailgate/fuel filler cap release
  • Pre-wiring for alarm system
  • Engine immobilizer
  • Air conditioning-inc: pollen micro-filter, air recirculation button
  • Rear window defogger
  • AM/FM stereo w/CD player
  • Pre-wiring for CD changer
  • Digital clock
  • Lockable climate controlled glove box
  • Smokers pkg
  • Storage compartments in front door trim panels
  • Alloy patina interior surface
  • Mechanical anti-dazzle rearview mirror
  • Front sun visors w/illuminated vanity mirrors
  • Side sun visor
  • Lighting-inc: map/reading, front footwell, theater dimming, luggage compartmen
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob
  • 12V auxiliary pwr outlet in luggage compartment
  • The features and options listed are for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible 2dr Convertible S and may not apply to this specific vehicle.

Mechanical

  • 1.6L supercharged SOHC 16-valve 4-cyl engine
  • 6-speed manual Getrag transmission
  • Drive-by-wire electronic throttle control
  • Traction control w/automatic stability control (ASC)
  • Front wheel drive
  • 55 amp/hr battery in luggage compartment w/safety terminal clamp
  • 105-amp alternator
  • MacPherson front sport suspension w/single-joint spring-strut front axle
  • Multi-link rear sport suspension w/multiple-control-arm rear axle
  • Front/rear anti-roll bars
  • P195/55VR16 all-season run-flat tires
  • 16” x 6.5” 7-fin spoke alloy wheels
  • Electro-hydraulic pwr steering
  • Ventilated front/solid rear disc brakes
  • Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) control
  • Rear park distance control
  • Corner brake control (CBC)
  • 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
  • 13.2 gallon fuel tank
  • Body-color fuel filler cap
  • Twin-pipe exhaust system-inc: intermediate silencer, (2) rear silencers, chrome covers
  • Steel car jack
  • The features and options listed are for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible 2dr Convertible S and may not apply to this specific vehicle.

Safety

  • 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
  • Corner brake control (CBC)
  • Driver/front passenger airbags w/sensor to prevent unnecessary deployment of passenger airbag
  • Driver/front passenger side-curtain airbags
  • Driver/front passenger side-impact airbags
  • Front/rear automatic seatbelts w/front pyrotechnic belt buckle tensioners
  • Traction control w/automatic stability control (ASC)
  • Side-impact door beams
  • ISOFIX child seat attachments w/(2) rear anchorages
  • Crash sensor (fuel cutoff, activate hazard lights, interior lights-on, doors unlock)
  • Front/rear crumple zones
  • Roll-over protection system
  • Twin horns

Featured Equipment

  • Power convertible roof
  • 6 Speakers
  • AM/FM radio
  • AM/FM Stereo w/CD Player
  • CD player
  • MP3 decoder
  • Radio data system
  • Air conditioning
  • Automatic Air Conditioning
  • Rear window defroster
  • Power steering
  • Power windows
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Four wheel independent suspension
  • Speed-sensing steering
  • Traction control
  • 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
  • ABS brakes
  • Dual front impact airbags
  • Dual front side impact airbags
  • Front anti-roll bar
  • Integrated roll-over protection
  • Low tire pressure warning
  • Occupant sensing airbag
  • Rear anti-roll bar
  • Reverse sensing system
  • Auto Headlights
  • Delay-off headlights
  • Driving Lamps
  • Front Fog Lamps
  • Cruise Control
  • Black Bonnet Stripes
  • Bumpers: body-color
  • Power door mirrors
  • Driver door bin
  • Driver vanity mirror
  • Front Cupholders
  • Front reading lights
  • Illuminated entry
  • Leather Shift Knob
  • Multifunction Steering Wheel Controls
  • On-Board Computer
  • Outside temperature display
  • Passenger vanity mirror
  • Sport steering wheel
  • Tachometer
  • Tilt steering wheel
  • Center Arm Rest
  • Front Bucket Seats
  • Leather Seat Upholstery
  • Split folding rear seat
  • Sport Seats
  • Passenger door bin
  • Alloy wheels
  • Glass rear window
  • Speed-Sensitive Wipers
  • Variably intermittent wipers

Self Reflection

Posted by on October 21, 2011 No comments

Decided to play around a little with a different subject…Myself.  Well, myself and my son.  I picked up a set of extension tubes to play with macro photography a bit and was frustrated when I found that the AF-S lenses auto close up their aperture when you remove the lens from the camera.  Without the electronics to “make it go” the $8 extension tubes were rendered useless because the view was too dark to accomplish anything.  I found a neat trick to get around that though.  Over at Nikon Rumors this article got posted about using a bit-o-plastic to jam the aperture open.  Worked like a charm!  Also took a few portrait shots to practice.  here are the results:

Multiplicity
The Many sides of Andrew
Window to the soul
Eye See You
Stars!

Harvest Time!

Posted by on October 17, 2011 No comments

This weekend we got to visit our favorite place to pick out pumpkins, Hollin Farms in Delaplane VA.  It’s not the shortest drive for gourd gathering but the trip out there is beautiful with all the trees changing color, and the chance to visit a farm and pull pumpkins right off the vine is something everyone should do.  They have a full corn maze, and lots of stuff for little ones as well as a pick your own section to gather fresh vegetables and herbs.  The main reason to go is for the pumpkins.  With 10 acres of pumpkin vines, even the huge influx of people at the farm couldn’t gather up all the awesome pumpkins that were available.  We took home 6 pumpkins (5 to carve and 1 for pie.)
 
The other great reason to head up there is for the view.  The scenery is amazing.  The trees in the area are all changing, the weather was perfect, and I was able to get a few really good shots.
 
Sunflower
Corn
Skull
Apples
I did discover a new area I need to work on though, Landscape shots.  I know that a lot of Landscape shots are better taken in the golden hour simply because of the haze, but I found that anything I was shooting in a distance to get a wide area just didn’t come off that great.  Well, there is always room for improvement right?

Chat Noir

Posted by on October 14, 2011 No comments

Chat Noir

Chat Noir

Sarah was out gathering food for the evening and ran across this bottle of wine. I thought it would make for a good shot.

Strobist info: SB-600 speed light on wireless remote trigger located roughly 2 feet off to the right of camera. Camera: Nikon D5100, 50mm F/1.8, 1/125, ISO-100.

One Year of DSLR

Posted by on October 13, 2011 No comments

A year ago I posted to my blog about a new gadget I picked up.  My Nikon D3000.  Thus began a full year of getting back into Photography.  As I have mentioned to many friends, I ended up a Nikon guy by chance.  I like to kid with my Canon friends, but the truth of the matter is that if the Pawn shop I went into had an in-expensive Canon instead of a Nikon, I would be singing a different tune.  Plain and simple, both brands have their merits and flaws and really I am not sure that any one is better.  But anyways, I was talking about me now.

So, a year ago I started tinkering with an entry level DSLR with a single Prime 35mm lens.  I look back on that now and realize how much I ave learned (and re-learned) over the last year.  The first big outing I did with the D3000 was to the Pumpkin patch. No post processing, and I think a few of those shots may have been on the big Green Auto.

Since then I have learned to use Lightroom 3.x, Upgraded my DSLR to the D5100, Purchased more lenses/equipment  than my wife is happy with, and expanded on my know-how for artistic shooting.  I have also gotten the opportunity to attend an official Model shoot, attend a sporting event as a press photographer, do Wedding and Engagement shots, Concert photography, and a slew of other incredible life experiences.

I am extremly happy with how this hobby has ended up for me.  There was a scare early on that I may just be doing it as a fad, but I think the last year has really cemented it into my life now.  I hardly leave the house without my camera in tow, because you never know when there may be something.

This weekend we will be venturing back to that first pumpkin patch.  I am excited to see what kind of shots an eye with a little more experience will churn out.

Holy Cow, what a weekend!

Posted by on October 2, 2011 No comments

Just a quick note to let you know what I am working on.  This weekend was super busy.  I was given the chance to experiment with some Sports photography when the NOVA Roller Derby asked me to come and shoot their first match on Saturday!  I was super excited and also a little nervous since this was my first real shot at trying Sports Photography.  As I have learned, it’s a whole different beast from artistic or even portrait or posed photography.  Action is fast and you have to act to get the shot you want.  It certainly shed some light on some areas I need to improve on with my skill level (and some gear).  I ended up with roughly 1200 shots that need to be gone through and pull out the best of the best.  

As soon as the derby was finished I had to head down south to meet up with my friends Louis and Jen as they get ready for their wedding on Sunday!  We hung out the night before the wedding until late and then it was a full day on Sunday (for all of us, but them mostly).  I was not the prime Photographer for the wedding and was incredibly glad for that.  I really enjoyed the actual wedding and not stressing over getting the right shot.  I did, however, take a lot of Candid shots.  (About 350 before sorting).  The Wedding was amazing and we had a blast.  

So there we are, late Sunday night and I have about 1500 photos to sort through and the process the best.  I am totally exhausted.  I promise I will start working on photos tomorrow.