Midwest Photo Safari
Midwest Photo Safari Newsletter November 2009 - Vol 1 Issue 11

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In this issue:

• what's new at MPS
• photo tip of the month ...Winter Photography Tips
• safarian "image gallery"
• our current safaris
• history tidbits

WHAT'S NEW AT MPS?

Our regularly scheduled safaris on the St Anthony Falls Heritage Trail and the St. Paul Capital area concluded for the season October 31st. These 2 tours will resume  April1  2010. We will be posting booking calendars for the 2010 season in mid November. All of our Mall of America, Hiawatha Light Rail, and Minneapolis Skyway Tours run year round. We are also developing special tours for the Holidazzle and Winter Carnival Events, as well as private one on one or small group safaris. Watch our web site and newsletters for details.

OUR CURRENT SAFARIS NOW INCLUDE:

All of these safaris, except those that include the Skyways, run Tuesdays thru Saturdays. The Skyway Tours run Tuesdays thru Fridays

for complete schedules, visit our Web Site

MPS PHOTO TIP OF THE MONTH

1.  Be careful of condensation on the lens when you expose it to the cold. Humid conditions make this effect worse.
 
2.  Snow is white.  You must overexpose your images by at least one stop to get past 18% gray. Just dial in one or more stops of OVER exposure compensation, check the result on your LCD screen.
 
3.  Use an incident light meter. This will measure the light that falls on the subject rather than reflected from it. This is the most accurate light reading you can make. If you don't have an incident light meter, use either a gray card or a sheet of newsprint and measure the light reflected from it rather than from the subject (put the card or newsprint in the subject position and take a close-up reading).
 
4.  Look for interesting patterns and textures in the snow.
 
5.  Look for diagonal lines to draw viewers into the photo. Study your surroundings for lines that cut from one corner of the image to the other. These lines help guide the viewer's eye into the photograph.
 
6.  Add color for striking contrast. A splash of vibrant color adds interest to a stark white snowfield. Look for deep reds and other bold colors to relieve the monotony of a mostly black-and-white scene. Use a person wearing a bright red jacket or holding a brightly colored umbrella.
 
7.  Try to put the human element into your photographs. A single person dressed warm against the cold, walking away from the camera down a snow-covered country lane. Perhaps it could be a little boy or girl walking a dog through the snow. You get the idea.
 
8. In winter time it's important to remember than most cameras don't like the cold and damp, so try to keep your equipment warm and dry. Wear a heavy coat and keep your camera inside so that your body heat will protect it. Inexpensive cameras and lenses have been known to lock up in cold temperatures.
 
9. Carry extra batteries. Cold temperatures will cause your equipment to use more power than normal, which means battery life can be significantly shortened. Start the day with fresh or newly charged batteries and carry an extra set in your jacket pocket.
 
10.  Have fun!
 

SAFARIAN IMAGE GALLERY

Our November image of the month is from Traci S. of North Branch, MN This image was taken on a cool, rainy day on our St Anthony Falls Heritage Trail Tour. Traci used the Arch to frame a nice winding trail in the distance, as well as the gentle curves of the railing and trail. Curves and angles abound in this area of the trail. The wet sidewalk provided some nice reflections also... Nice composition Traci!

HISTORY TIDBITS FROM OUR SAFARIS

The Hiawatha Light Rail System

 The Hiawatha Line consists of Flexity Swift trams made by Bombardier. These trains are electric powered via an overhead line system outputting 750 volts DC. Maximum train speed is about 55 MPH, but normal service speed is around 40 MPH or slower in the more congested regions.

 Tunnels are used in two areas on the line. A short tunnel parallel to Hiawatha Avenue travels under Minnehaha Parkway just north of the 50th Street station. At the Minneapolis St Paul airport, twin tunnels (one each for the northbound and southbound trains) go underground for 1.7 miles to reach the Lindbergh Terminal station, the only stop that is totally underground—70 feet below the surface. Trains return to the surface as they near Humphrey Terminal. Some of the sections under the airport required the use of a tunnel boring machine.

 Each train vehicle has a number of cameras aboard to monitor passenger activity and other areas of interest for security and safety. Stations also have cameras. Video feeds and the position of each vehicle on the line are monitored in a control room at the system's maintenance facility, located between Cedar-Riverside and Franklin Avenue stations.

 We cover more extensive history and facts during our Safaris 5, 6, and 7 where we ride and photograph the LRT.

Midwest Photo Safari will be announcing private tutoring tours in our December newsletter. Our plan is to offer one on one "mini" safaris in some sections of our popular seasonal tour areas, as well as our regular scheduled tour areas. Watch our web site for more details on this.

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