I have a great deal of interest in digital photography, but my life is as crazy as anyone else’s. My son, family, and work keep me busy from dawn to midnight every day. I’ve never had time to cultivate any photography skills, even though I’ve always been very interested, sitting on the edge of my seat, if you will, for a chance to take some digital photos in order to learn a little about how capturing light can create astonishing works of art.

My interview with Matthew Danser had given me my long sought “excuse” to try out some photography techniques. But it also required that I put in an honest effort. The thought in the back of my head: These photos are going to suck. Probably a lot. And they will most likely be seen by the thousands of people who visit this blog monthly. Second gulp.

But I’m the kind of person so riddled with ADHD that even my paranoia about being judged on a mass scale can only last about three minutes before the audacity to try anything resurfaces and action is taken. So here’s what happens when a total amateur who has no idea what he is doing tries to “Paint with Light.”

A one-dollar flashlight from – you guessed it – the Dollar General. One dollar. Even. Gotta love it. Especially since it’s all I could afford, seeing as how I’m still paying off the aforementioned Nikon that I bought to take photos of our baby son. (True, a million pictures have been taken of him during his first year-and-a-half on Earth. However, 999,999 of those photos were taken with an iPhone. Go figya.)

THE PLAN, STAN:

The plan was to wait until it was dark in the apartment and do some light painting. I knew that I could use the Shutter mode on my camera to set it to take exposures of up to thirty seconds. I saw that my camera also had an option for bulb release, so, invoking Danser, who recalls how his girlfriend had to hold down the button on his camera for a full thirteen minutes, I determined that if I asked really nicely, I might be able to persuade my wife to hold down the trigger to get exposures longer than thirty seconds. Otherwise, thirty seconds was my window of time to do all the light painting I could.

I started off pretty timidly. I had seen photos online in which people used long exposures to create squiggly lines. The most popular examples are pictures of traffic at night, headlights and tail lights streaming, giving you a sense of the fluid motion of busy intersections. You’ve also seen those nature pics in which streams and rivers and clouds and stars become gauzy with movement because of long exposures.

But what I really like about Danser’s work is the use of color. The effect of running inside the hut and popping off red-gelled flashes shown at the beginning of this blog post (Matthew Danser! And happy lightpainting, everyone!

There’s something exciting about making a large purchase: the rush of buying, the nagging fear that you can’t afford it, the anticipation of it making your life better or easier.  This feeling is especially true when it comes to a new appliance; it’s an investment in saving you time and effort. What if the investment you just made turns out to be a dud because of overlooking the impact it would have on your electrical system?

A lot of the work of an appliance happens within the machine, we tend to not think about the fact that an appliance is really a very complicated electrical machine. In addition, we ignore that they require a lot of electricity to operate. They can really strain your electrical system. This is especially true of modern appliances; it seems like they’ve found a way to computerize everything, and that only makes the power needs of an appliance grow even when they are “Energy Star” rated. Installation of these complex modern appliances seem as easy; some almost seem like they only need to be plugged in and forgotten. This approach neglects the fact that there are important things to keep in mind with regards to appliance installations that can cause serious problems for you down the line.

Obviously, you don’t always need to call an electrician whenever you install an appliance. With that being said, there’s nothing wrong with doing so if you’re not sure what you’re doing. The Best Dallas Electrician you can hire can help you avoid a lot of potential hazards and costs down the line. If you’re still planning on installing your new appliance yourself, keep in mind the following electrical safety do’s and don’ts:

For most of us in the Boston, MA area, summer cannot get here fast enough. This past winter was, to put it mildly, a doozy. Even so, the snow is melting off and the sun feels warmer with each passing day. Before long summer will truly be upon us, in all its glory. Enticing a notion as this may be, you must also keep in mind the fact that our summer weather can easily bring with it some discomfort of its own. If you’ve been thinking about replacing your old, worn out air conditioning system, then now is the time to do it. Contact FB Electrical Services today to schedule your air conditioning replacement with a qualified professional. 

Choosing to invest one’s hard-earned money in a new air conditioning system may not be the most exciting decision to make. However, you must keep in mind just how much your comfort, and that of your family, is worth to you. Replacing an air conditioner may be just what you need to keep cool during the worst of the summer season, and there are many benefits to be had.

One reason many homeowners consider replacing their air conditioner is if it is costing too much to operate. This is a great way in which to motivate oneself into replacing his or her air conditioning system. While the initial cost of an air conditioning replacement may be considerable, the years or operation ahead, at better efficiency levels, can help to offset the sting of that initial expense. Whether your system is just old and tired, or if it was simply not manufactured to operate at the level of efficiency we expect today, a replacement air conditioner is a wonderful way in which to start anew.

It is also possible that you inherited your air conditioning system with your home, and that it may not suit your usage habits or personal preferences ideally. If you are not able to control your system and to cool your home according to your desires, then you are not much better off than you’d be with an old, inefficient system. There are a lot of air conditioning options out there today, and we’re just the experts you need to help you find the right one yourself.

Regardless of your reasons for considering an air conditioning replacement, one thing is certain; it is best not to wait for your system to break down entirely before replacing it. This can seriously put your comfort in jeopardy, especially with summer on its way. Call FB Electrical Services if you are interested in learning more about your AC replacement options.