Seems like this Forum is ready for a Topic of Weather. It will keep us from posting weather info/pics/videos in many and various threads.
I will kick this off with a picture and a video. Neither terribly spectacular, but could be of some interest, particularly for Fort Worth fans, not in Fort Worth.
Pretty strong winds 408 feet above the city. It is usually quite windy up here. I have a crude line hung from my closet ceiling with a weight near the floor to measure the building sway. (Kind of a hillbilly seismograph, if you will) I have it hidden because my wife (The delightful yet endearing, Mrs. monee9696) does not like the concept of her home moving. As I spent 4 years at sea, I am great with it. (you can never feel the movement in this massive concrete building.) This building is indeed rock'n and roll'n in this tropical storm based on my closet instrument.
Come out of the closet and post a video of the hillbilly seismograph.
You are going to be very impressed that I could build an instrument of this quality and sophistication in my own home. When I said Hillbilly that's what I meant. Even the 1" inch wrench I used would have been a little classier had it been a 24mm. But noooooo.
BTW, building was moving a lot more yesterday in the Tropical Storm.
I think I have decided to put a little more thought into my instrument. For example, how about a tiny light or laser attached to the bottom of a line and then it projects to a graph on a wall. It would really magnify any movement.
And hey, how 'bout that big graduated graph I am going to paint on my wall? I will surprise my wife with that. Surely she will love it!
I would be interested in seeing a video from a stationary camera (use zip tie to secure it to rail, a la Hillbilly Handbook) during a big windstorm, or even from the next implosion! Put those City Center towers in the background to use as references... oops, they are moving too, aren't they.
I would be interested in seeing a video from a stationary camera (use zip tie to secure it to rail, a la Hillbilly Handbook) during a big windstorm, or even from the next implosion! Put those City Center towers in the background to use as references... oops, they are moving too, aren't they.
OK. Now I am really in danger of getting my Fort Worth Forum license revoked. Article 18-b (... a Forum Member that exhibits consistently boring, uninteresting or less than informative posts, shall have his Forum License revoked.) But I am going to give it a shot.
This video is I believe number 1 on Youtube. That is, the video least likely to go viral.
But, I find it interesting. You were right about a fixed mounting of the camera. As it turns out the video cam has a threaded mounting hole for attaching a tripod. Problem solved. I did have to lay my big tripod down flat on the floor to get down to the point of the matter. It is a fairly windy day. Winds are somewhat variable in direction. I find this building rocks in a pattern that I wouldn't think was consistent of a huge concrete structure. (Changes directions pretty fast and does not need to be in a long pattern.) I relate it to the Aircraft Carrier I was on. It had long slow rolls. As contrasted with little destroyers I was on that acted much more like a row boat. This huge building seems more like a row boat than a carrier.
This crude seismograph reminds me of a UFO detector I built when I was a little kid. A long wire wire suspended from the ceiling with a small magnet on the end. It then had a coil of wire close to it that would complete a crude electrical circuit that would sound a buzzer. The theory was that flying saucers would have a high magnetic flux and send my tiny magnet in motion which would sound my buzzer. Had that set up for like a year without a buzz. I concluded there were no UFOs. I now think that was accurate. (Of course, my brother used to tell me the new UFO's were not magnetic thus disproving my theory.)
Now I bet you're ready for a boring video! (In the background, you can hear my grandfather clock and the Mexican Fiesta going on Downtown today.)
LOL. No really, I laughed out loud and not at you with you. Really! Your hillbilly seismograph is identical to the setup I used to lay out recessed lighting on our ceiling. With just one person I never could mark out the spacing so I marked it out on the ground and used your tool as a plumb bob to find where on the ceiling to drill holes. As well I probably got the same look from Mrs. Longhornz32 as she caught me standing on a ladder dangling this tool from the ceiling.
You know these are really cheap, but where is the fun in something pre-made and "accurate".
The UFO detector sounds like something my Dad would tell me about as a project for me so that it would free up some golf time for him much like the story that if you sprinkle salt on a bird it can't fly and you will be able to catch it. The bird story alone freed up at least an entire weekend.
At about 11pm last night I walked over to my windows to see a pretty strange event. Low clouds (fog) rolling in. Low. Above was very bright stars. Below was cloud. Had to use an ISO of 6400 to allow a fast enough shutter speed to keep the clouds details from looking like fog. Lets take a look, shall we?
In this shot the clouds moving North (Right to left) would hit the Carter Burgess building and then swirl.
Interests:music, neighborhoods, kids, education, biking, politics, urbanism, food, friends, family
Posted 26 March 2009 - 02:49 PM
Wow, if that were right outside my windows I'd wonder what kind of poisonous gas was floating down the street. But I guess anything can happen at The Tower! Cool shot.
Voice & Guitars in Big Heaven Elementary Music Specialist, FWISD
Wow, if that were right outside my windows I'd wonder what kind of poisonous gas was floating down the street. But I guess anything can happen at The Tower! Cool shot.
Thank you.
For some reason it was scary being on my balcony when I couldn't see down. Seems like that would make it less scary. Partially I think because the clouds were going by fast and it sure seemed like the Tower was falling over. (Note to self... is my insurance adequate? Parachute packed? Knee pads in place?)
Wow, if that were right outside my windows I'd wonder what kind of poisonous gas was floating down the street. But I guess anything can happen at The Tower! Cool shot.
Thank you.
For some reason it was scary being on my balcony when I couldn't see down. Seems like that would make it less scary. Partially I think because the clouds were going by fast and it sure seemed like the Tower was falling over. (Note to self... is my insurance adequate? Parachute packed? Knee pads in place?)
Helmet?
I could see how that would be scarier.
Voice & Guitars in Big Heaven Elementary Music Specialist, FWISD
Dustin sure got a great shot of those crazy clouds a few weeks ago. My 3 day old camera was at home tucked away when I saw the clouds at work. But would not have got a shot that good. Really wild weather that day. Looked like a bad artist drew clouds that could not be believed. He would have received an F on his project.
Took this shot an hour ago off my balcony looking North. Have been watching the radar. Noticed a small brutal storm over the Red River and then realized I could see it. Just before dark.
Not going in the 2009's AMAZING WEATHER SHOTS book, but still worth a look.
Someone over at Carter+Burgess Plaza needs to replace their burned out lights! It looks pretty sad.
Back on topic, those shots are really interesting. I really love your photos.
John, you're not going to believe that I did not notice most of the lights out on this building. Until you mentioned it. Then, of course, it drove me crazy. You were so right. It was darn right tacky. Lately they would have been much better off with them off. I think most recently 50% or so were burnt out. Until yesterday! They are replacing/fixing them. They have, this week, fixed 95% of the bad ones. (Guessing of course. Not even I, have enough time to count/calculate) It is looking terrific! It made such a huge difference. I took a shot before I went to bed.
Nice August storm blew through Downtown this Friday morning. (As it did the rest of the Metroplex) Here are a few shots I took. Tricky business. Water on my window if shot from inside. Lightning strikes to my head when I step out on the balcony for a shot, F22 allows my long exposure but then my depth of field is near infinite (See the rain drops an inch from the lens) But still a few good ones. Let's take a look, shall we?
Just before my rain... no rain to get in my way yet.
Interests:Digital photography, computers since 1980, Panorama imaging, world travel. After 37 years retired Federal Service 1999.
Posted 21 August 2009 - 07:48 AM
Thanks for the early morning lightening pictures. That lens opened up sure adjusts the depth of field.. rain drops on windows provides good atmospheric feel to the storm event.
So far we have 1" in the rain bucket. Power fluctuated some but don't have to reset the clocks. No wind to speak of.. just rain water. OH and opened all the windows to cool the home interior. After awhile will close the windows and click the A/c on to take humidity out of the interior air. Its filling the pool, grass is going to start growing again [read more work].
Sure enough got a nice storm Downtown this evening, as most of Tarrant Co. did by my radar sites. Here is a shot I took from my balcony looking North. Lightning was getting pretty close so I retreated with a great sense of urgency. (Can't have my camera getting struck by lighting when it so recently got out of the repair center.)
Interests:Historic Buildings, Computers, Autos, Sports, Music
Posted 28 August 2009 - 11:41 PM
Judging by the approximate distance from downtown, I'm guessing that pic was taken about 7:00. I'm working in the Sinclair bldg currently and during my walk over to garage 2 I could see the intermittent lightning flashes. I was parked on level 6 and I stopped for about 2-3 minuets to watch the storm for a moment when the front edge hit, there was easily a 5 degree drop in temp and the wind just ripped through the upper garage levels. I was certainly watching my rearview mirror the whole way down 35 watching downtown get swallowed by the storm clouds.
Sure enough got a nice storm Downtown this evening, as most of Tarrant Co. did by my radar sites. Here is a shot I took from my balcony looking North. Lightning was getting pretty close so I retreated with a great sense of urgency. (Can't have my camera getting struck by lighting when it so recently got out of the repair center.)
Got some lighting shots tonight. Here are my favorites.
As some months ago, a transformer gets hit in the vicinity of Spur 280 on the East end of Downtown. These first three shots are the progression of the hit, and then lights out.
A bolt hits a transformer
Explosion
And lights out!
Many hits
Ouch!
Direct hit to Bass building plus many other shots (time to get out of the pool!)
Interests:Digital photography, computers since 1980, Panorama imaging, world travel. After 37 years retired Federal Service 1999.
Posted 22 September 2009 - 07:06 AM
Yes, that is about what it looked like last night. Our Cancun - DFW flight landed at 6:45pm about an hour before that storm arrived. Took an hour to get through customs and immigration.
LOLLLL We were hoping they would declare us illegal and send us BACK to Cancun. But sigh, not!
Got to the car at the South Parking Spot lot about the time it started raining. As we drove through the Fort Worth Mixmaster, we were in the middle of weather front, sheet rain, and lightening every few seconds. Traffic was sparse. Driving speed = crawl. No time for picture taking. Got home about 9pm.
Yes, I think we were going through downtown about the time Monee took those GREAT photos. Thanks for the view from the other camera angle.
I just wish I could hook up a windshield wiper on one of my windows. My best lightning shots came from nights where it was not raining at my place yet. In fact my all time best lightning shots were a year or so ago when it never rained a drop on my building. (All near-by storms slinging lighting my way)
I just wish I could hook up a windshield wiper on one of my windows. My best lightning shots came from nights where it was not raining at my place yet. In fact my all time best lightning shots were a year or so ago when it never rained a drop on my building. (All near-by storms slinging lighting my way)
Hey monee - have you considered using RainX or some other polish on the outside of the glass...if it is reachable from your balcony, of course...
Also, my T1i and Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM were delivered in the mail yesterday
I just wish I could hook up a windshield wiper on one of my windows. My best lightning shots came from nights where it was not raining at my place yet. In fact my all time best lightning shots were a year or so ago when it never rained a drop on my building. (All near-by storms slinging lighting my way)
Hey monee - have you considered using RainX or some other polish on the outside of the glass...if it is reachable from your balcony, of course...
Also, my T1i and Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM were delivered in the mail yesterday
Excellent suggestion. You are right. I can reach it all from one of my balcony's. I think I even have some rain-X. I do wonder if I can do a small area without doing the rest. (Try it on your windows. I'll give you a dollar!)
My wife always says, "remember you are 34 floors up" to which, of course, I say, "it really isn't any worse than being 5 floors up... actually better, as I have more time to pray on the way down."
Now the thing that makes me laugh is that I hold my glasses on my head when I am looking over. I spend all day looking down at the accounting on my desk at work and my glasses have never once fallen off of my head. It is as though there is some magic sucking force pulling them off of my head.
I will say I am very cautious. I never hang over with my camera that is not well strapped to my neck. Even when it is on my tripod I have the strap around my neck. It would sure kill somebody below me or worse, I could sure ruin a new L series lens.
2 shots from last night. (3am this morning) 1.4" of rain in 60 minutes at Meacham Field. I love it as it bodes well for clean air in the next week. (Settles the dust, pollen and other junk out of the air.)
I see that rwolfe has a great rainbow shot in the Museum Place thread. BTW, if you live at Museum Place, quite holding out on us and tell us what it is like...
Here is a shot I took tonight around 7:30. Had a lightning strike at least seem to hit pretty close to me on my balcony. Made it back inside pretty quickly.
Is that a rainbow or something from your camera? If it was the rainbow that is pretty cool.
MIke
That is all real rainbow. Was a double rainbow but my 17mm lens could not get the top (2nd) rainbow and some of downtown too. So I picked some of downtown.
EDIT: Picture will be on Channel 8 (WFAA) tonight at 10pm. (Friday June 25)
