Frigid New Year's Dip - cc welcome

[Pea-n-Me]

Here, it was unusually cold and blustery, even for New England:

Forecast Details from the WBZ Weather Team
11°
Blowing Snow
Wind: NW 21 mph | Humidity: 47% | Dew Point: -6 | Visibility: 7.0 mile | Barometer: 30.05 | Windchill -8

That looked like this:

But it didn't stop these nuts!

The camera brigade (and my DD running out, in pink).

My son doing the numb feet dance.

A few celebrities showed up, too!

Uncle Sam

Marilyn Monroe (or is it Kramer?? )

And even Elvis!

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

no way in the world would i do that. BUT they say if you stand in the cold air long enough than the water really feels warm.

 

[misscrossbee]

Oh no...it was so unseasonably cold here that day that I couldn't even bring myself to get out of my nice, snuggy bed to go watch the bunch of loons!

 

[alan]

I keep meaning to do the one in South Queensferry, Scotland, as it is just along the road from where I live... but somehow I've never worked up the courage!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7806037.stm

regards,
/alan

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You should give it a try next year, Alan! Thanks for the link. I see they had celebrities there, too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Forgot to say, constructive criticism is welcome.

My own thoughts:

Was happy with getting the shutter speed correct to stop the action, as that's something I'm working on.

Unfortunately, left ISO at 800 from prior shoot but was able to fix most a bit in pp. Live and learn.

Some of my horizons were crooked.

Forgot something I learned from the top of a frigid mountain a few years back. Keep a fresh battery next to your body in a warm pocket. My battery drained very quickly in the cold.

Other thoughts are welcome.

I think I liked these two the best:

though admittedly #1 seems a bit washed out and has a crooked horizon. and I wish #2 had a more shallow depth of field.

 

[DVC Jen]

Oh My gosh! I can barely bring myself to get out of the hot tub and make a quick dash for the house in the winter - let alone doing something like that.

Great photos - thanks for sharing them.

 

[jann1033]

so is the constructive criticism for the a)photos or b)participants? if a) i like the one with kramer the best if b) i think i'd find a new hobby

 

[AndrewWG]

Nice photos! I can't believe that I was dipping in the water in Mexico at the time you were standing in that. I am glad I was there rather than up here.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I can't believe that I was dipping in the water in Mexico at the time you were standing in that. I am glad I was there rather than up here.

Go ahead, rub it in.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

i like the one with kramer the best

Yes, he's great, isn't he? That was a lucky catch as I didn't initially see him, but heard some commotion as he was coming out so I fired quickly and hoped for the best.

i think i'd find a new hobby

I think you might be right, LOL.

 

[alan]

The horizon thing can be easily fixed, and you don't need expensive software to do it. Get Picasa from www.google.com/picasa. One of the things it has in it is a "straighten" option - you just choose it and it draws a grid on your picture. You've then got a slider you can use to swivel the picture round until it is just right, then say "okay". The picture's straight and the grid disappears.

As for doing the Loony Dook. Maybe some time. Maybe. This year is the year of the half marathon; I think one serious challenge per year is enough

regards,
/alan