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gpspete

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Posts posted by gpspete

    Aurora Chase - Iceland - February 2013

    in Storm Chase USA

    Posted · Edited by gpspete

    bad luck Mark...., but you never know try again, one day soon there may me a decent Aurora visible all over England it has been photographed as far as southcoast a couple of times this year and several times last year there has been a couple realy big displays this winter that would have been easily visible except for cloud cover,

    so keep a check on forecasts solar and weather and the fact that photos have been taken in uk even when the Kp index not been big,

    i suspect it is visible in even southern england more often than people think, so i think it's always worth a look north if the sky is clear you never know !

    possibly going back to Iceland in October will be staying in same hotel on edge of Keflavic so an easy walk out of most the street lighting to get photos same as last September, Going to Oslo Norway tomorrow for a few days not able to take Canon etc. with me not enough room but i will have a couple of action cams and a decent travel camera so hoping as I will be on the northern edge of Oslo in the pine forest and about the same latitude as Shetland i may just get to see the Aurora if its a strong one.

    Aurora Chase - Iceland - February 2013

    in Storm Chase USA

    Posted

    remember Iceland is usually under the Aurora oval and if the sky is clear something usually will be visible at some time even when the sun is not very active

    look north take some photos your camera may see something that the eye doesn't you may find the Aurora is even overhead or to the south

    so scan the sky carefully

    most IMPORTANT take any filters off your lens or you will get concentric rings in your images that you will not be able to edit out

    shoot in raw so you can colour correct easy

    or if you want to shoot in jpegs if there are any street lights or amber in the sky set white balance on a canon to tungsten

    seem to work best apparently

    What Camera? Ideally Wan't To Be Able To Photograph Lightning

    in Photography Equipment / Hints and tips

    Posted

    my latest camera was purchased from Big Norman in Gibraltar they pay all duty/vat etc. so they are way cheaper in most cases

    delivery was 3 days from order for me with free delivery, with next day on some stock that they keep in uk

    they don't have every cam and you will get a euro/international spec. camera ie. different charger but they give you an adapter

    or you may get international video spec. ie. longer recording time (not time limited as per EC non video camera rules) i did say may

    you can check it out with them

    i have also purchased from Simply Electronics in the past did not realise till i see the courier tracking as they used a .co.uk web address

    that they were in Hong Kong video cam arrived in 4 days all duty's paid also but there prices are not as low but still cheaper than uk based retailers

    same as above specification types

    I have bought from jessops as at times they have special offers i got a canon 85mm lens cheaper from them then any other retailer a few months back so worth checking them out at times

    reserved and picked up in shop just in case they went tits up

    What Camera? Ideally Wan't To Be Able To Photograph Lightning

    in Photography Equipment / Hints and tips

    Posted · Edited by gpspete

    Thank you both for your replies,

    I'd like to be able to take lightning (in the UK? laugh.png ) photos like those 'crisp' clear ones you see rather than the images I've managed to catch so far. Although I think my camera had the possibility to maually set the kind of settings that are recommended for lightning, such as the long exposures 4wd points out. It's night time lightning I'm aiming for really so I might be able to get by without a DSLR for now (hopefully)

    That's also a good point about cost with all the extra lenses etc, as I have a limited budget,

    and as I normally like to go places and not have to carry a separate heavier bag and stand for a while screwing different lenses on, so might not use a DSLR enough to justify it at the moment. I will probably be better with a good compact for now and seeing if I feel the need for an upgrade later.

    Also I don't really need images of a 'super' quality for large prints that DSLR's can do, as the ones I've had still have pretty good quality.

    I went into PC World to have a look at some yesterday, and I might well get a bridge camera though if I upgrade as they have very good zoom without spending extra on lenses, and manual control still.

    Anyway, cheers for your input good.gif

    Beware of bridge cameras (just a glorified compact) they do not have all the manual settings that a DSLR will have the zooms are just not as good for lightning pics 20mm lens will be good

    looking at the present DSLR go to that well known webshop beginning with A or some of the others look at Canon EOS 1100D the best for the money cost about the same as a good compact or midrange bridge camera, or if you can afford more the all new EOS 650D

    buy with the standard lens 18 to 55mm and of course the others in between then when funds permit get a 10 to 20mm wide angle zoom these cameras also have decent video capability albeit on the the 1100D just 720p but that will be better quality than 1080p on a compact, better quality lens bigger sensor etc.

    then as the photography bug bites due to having a decent camera of course the lens collection with telephotos, macros, fish eye etc decent flash gun tripods filters, lightning trigger all have to be acquired well not really LOL sorry.gifdirol.gif

    Uk Convective General Discussion & Forecasts - May 2012 Part 2

    in Storms & Severe Weather

    Posted

    my observation of the storm caught unaware by a close clap of thunder looked at my boltek display this looks good quick look at nw radar yikes right under storm decided not to video from home (Bicester) so out to car for a better view, pulled up in rear end off the cell which looked to be a decent hook with decent rotation in it then hit by large hail in downdraft, so back into car and head towards Buckingham see a tornado ropeout over Stratton Audley unable to get back to storm after core punching it due to slow moving traffic roads flooded due to melting hail stones see a decent wall cloud with scuds being ripped up into it so back to Stratton to see if any evidence see some small debris across road just where it looked like we saw the tornado ropeout from the A4421

    (null)

    Uk Convective General Discussion & Forecasts - May 2012 Part 2

    in Storms & Severe Weather

    Posted · Edited by gpspete

    my very brief video due to having to get in car to avoid rain then heavy marble sized hail

    went to Stratton Audley where James and I see a possible roping out tornado after trying to get back under storm (impossible due to traffic and flooding)

    was a small amount of minor debris across road small twigs dead leafs etc. more than elsewhere, didn't have time to get a photo at the time or photo on way back as work night shift beckons

    Uk Convective General Discussion & Forecasts - May 2012 Part 2

    in Storms & Severe Weather

    Posted

    That cell may be a low topped supercell. The shear environment it is in combined with the radar echo would suggest it might be. If anyone can see the top look for the slight overshoot.

    if you are talking about the cell that passed over Bicester Oxfordshire it looked very supercell type to me lots of circulation / convection in the base see a wall cloud may have been a brief tornado in Stratton Audley

    Uk Convective General Discussion & Forecasts - May 2012 Part 2

    in Storms & Severe Weather

    Posted

    Wow that cell just north of Oxford is still going strong, and has gained intensity on the last couple of updates.

    Rainfall rates of up to 200mm/hr under that, and still plenty of sferics, nice!

    Just wish it wasn't so cloudy here, I think I would have been able to see the top of that storm from here if it was clearer.

    Hi Mark just been chasing storm as it came over Bicester lots of structure lots of rotation underneath cell lots off hail then hail fog lightning frequent there must be a tornado/funnel report for this storm

    Storm Chase 2012 - Dates And Early Booking Offer

    in Storm Chase USA

    Posted · Edited by gpspete

    • Best seats on flight window seats on the Port side (left looking forward) things to look out for on way out icelandic volcanos I did see the Eyjafjallajokull erupting in the distance you may also get to see in the frozen north east of Canada a white ring the site of one of earth's largest meteorite impacts, Manicouagan in Quebec its usually frozen over till middle of June so easy to see there a couple of others that you may get lucky and see also.
    • On the way home try for a Port side windows seat again to see possible Storm cells and when it gets dark (take no notice of cabin crew asking you to pull window blind down check with persons in same row though, tell cabin crew your not flying without the blind open unless they want to land the plane because you will have a panic attack if you get any grief from them lol.) you may get lucky and see the Aurora Borealis especially this year and next, you may also get lucky and see my house in Bicester as your plane flies into Bovingdon hold for Heathrow

    Chase 2011 - Your Favourite Photo..

    in Storm Chase USA

    Posted

    Here is a video from tour 2 when we sat under an old forecourt canopy and waited for a storm to approach. This is quite close to Joplin which took a direct hit 2 weeks later. Check out the shotgun lightning around 1min 48secs - there was a streamer if you look close enough that hit the telegraph wire that was just ahead.

    I don't know how to embed you tube videos, sorry.

    my effort same lightning bolt

    Storm Chase 2012 - Dates And Early Booking Offer

    in Storm Chase USA

    Posted

    talking about insurance risk in 2010 when we stayed at the Big Texan i noticed 4 cyclists they were brits on a cycle tour around the midwest,

    didnt say anything too them about it when talking too them they did seem a bit surprised when they asked what i was doing in the area and i said storm chasing,

    but 4 brits (2 couples) touring Tornado Alley peak season on bikes didnt even see a weather radio clipped on handlebars etc. probably not even aware of the major weather risk in Amarrilo area that time of year what on earth in reality was there insurance risk compared to a car load of weather aware people with internet /weather radar and all hazards radio etc. and being able to drive away from storm if too dangerous.

    The danger potential for them if caught out in the open in severe weather would be unthinkable giant hail, lightning, possible tornado, 80mph inflow, massive downdrafts etc.

    I don't think too many locals would consider a cycling holiday in Tornado Alley in april/may june without being seriously weather aware.

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