BillsBayou
10th of September 2007 (Mon), 09:45
I show up at the high school football games 2 hours early to set up the seating for the band and the dance team. Several of us were working in the upper seats getting things clean so the girls wouldn't get their outfits dirty.
"What's that smell?" one of the parents asked.
"Ammonia," I replied. I then told her what the source was and to listen carefully. "You can hear them. They're just below our feet."
Once we were done with our work, I grabbed my camera and went below to take some shots. Seeing the dirty pedestrian walkways, I knew immediately where the creatures were hiding. It was mildly disgusted by the thought of the fans who came to the games each week and walked unknowing through the animal droppings.
Catching these shots required some shoot-and-hope firing. The concrete was easy to focus upon. The 2" gap, however, was pitch black. Autofocus became useless in the void.
I used my 70-200 f/2.8 with a 2X Extender, my Better Beamer, and a monopod to hold it all steady. I took these shots pointing nearly straight up. "Nearly" being the operative word. Once I figured out what I'd need to do to focus and light the scene, my only remaining concern was the raining guano.
Shot 1. Full frame. They're packed in there as tight as they like.
204375
Shot 2. 100% crop of a different shot. I'd include the bat to the right for a better framed photo, but I really did want to get this at 100%.
204376
I wonder what the other parents in the Band Booster Club would do if they knew what was beneath the seats of their sons and daughters. Given the beneficial nature of these insect-eating beasties, I think I'll let the parents remain ignorant of their "beauty."
"What's that smell?" one of the parents asked.
"Ammonia," I replied. I then told her what the source was and to listen carefully. "You can hear them. They're just below our feet."
Once we were done with our work, I grabbed my camera and went below to take some shots. Seeing the dirty pedestrian walkways, I knew immediately where the creatures were hiding. It was mildly disgusted by the thought of the fans who came to the games each week and walked unknowing through the animal droppings.
Catching these shots required some shoot-and-hope firing. The concrete was easy to focus upon. The 2" gap, however, was pitch black. Autofocus became useless in the void.
I used my 70-200 f/2.8 with a 2X Extender, my Better Beamer, and a monopod to hold it all steady. I took these shots pointing nearly straight up. "Nearly" being the operative word. Once I figured out what I'd need to do to focus and light the scene, my only remaining concern was the raining guano.
Shot 1. Full frame. They're packed in there as tight as they like.
204375
Shot 2. 100% crop of a different shot. I'd include the bat to the right for a better framed photo, but I really did want to get this at 100%.
204376
I wonder what the other parents in the Band Booster Club would do if they knew what was beneath the seats of their sons and daughters. Given the beneficial nature of these insect-eating beasties, I think I'll let the parents remain ignorant of their "beauty."