outdoors: August 2008 Archives

While it might not be the world's most dangerous job, washing windows must be one of the most interesting.

This photograph, taken 20 years ago in downtown York, shows a washer hard at work, taken from an angle different than most people would see as they pass on the streets below. Maybe this picture's interest is the soap suds trails, but maybe it's more of a "wish I could try that for about a day."

Myself, I prefer a job where both feet are planted on the ground, with only an occasional fling in the air, under water, or upside down.

Waterfalls are one of the few things that can look totally different with a simple change in camera exposure.

This photo, with a tiny falls that looks delicate and soft, was shot with a shutter speed of about one-half second. Other frames were shot at a speed even slower. Use something rock-solid to steady the camera.

But turn that shutter speed up, freeze the splattering of the water on the rocks, and the waterfalls suddenly becomes a torrent of action and splashing. The higher the shutter speed the better, but at least 1/500 of a second.

It all depends on what kind of picture you're looking for-- raging action or quiet beauty. And don't dismiss the possibility that this small waterfall can look angry. Give it a try. You might be surprised.

This photo was taken while biking the Great Allegheny Passage.

While it might appear that the Big Savage Mountain tunnel in Maryland is ribbed with arches, it is just the light that makes it appear so. A biker is silhouetted against the bright light at the other end.

While bicycycle touring the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) from Cumberland, Md., to near Pittsburgh last week, the 3,200 foot-long tunnel provided welcome relief from the heat. And it was a sign that our long climb up the mountains was nearly over.

We'll have an Excursion in the Record later on, but for now, know that the GAP in an interesting path, and is easy enough for families and laid-back recreational bikers (like me).

For more information on the trail, click here