2014 (365), Daily Shots, Photography

01.27.14 – Until Summer

Image January 27, 2014 Dan Traun 7 Comments

Until Summer. Not a drop to spray. Another for my #Irrigation collection.

Daily Shots, Photography

01.26.14 (2) – Power

Image January 26, 2014 Dan Traun 2 Comments

Power. Becker, MN power plant stacks and cooling tower steam trails.

Photography

Local. Food. Good. McDonald’s Meats

Image January 26, 2014 Dan Traun 4 Comments

Another edition of Local Food Good. McDonald’s Meats in Clear Lake, MN is a “A Family Tradition of Quality Meats” since 1914.

Although their billboard deems them “The Jerky Stop,” their true calling is their sausage. I can see, perhaps, why they may not have wanted to call it the sausage stop. Even if so named, people would quickly find lots of different flavors of sausage and other tasty meats inside that would ease any confusion. Over 80 flavors of homemade sausage – yum.

Their sausage is featured at the Nelson Bros. Restaurant, Pub and Bakery just down the way on 24; in between I94 and Hwy 10. Their biscuits and gravy with the wild rice sausage is the best I have ever had.

McDonald’s Meats site is quite convenient as it sits in between two major corridors (I94 & Hwy 10) to Minnesota’s north county. It is hard to drive by this place in the Spring, Summer and Fall. It seems as though just about every Friday afternoon/evening they would have brats and pork chops on the grill in the parking lot; that beats fast food any day. The next time you are in the area stop in and have some samples. This establishment will not disappoint you.

This mornings wild rice sausage paired very well with an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. Happy tummy.

2014 (365), Daily Shots, Photography

01.26.14 – Turkey Jam

Image January 26, 2014 Dan Traun 5 Comments

Turkey Jam.

Gear, Photography

Photo Gear & Cutie Patooties

Image January 25, 2014 Dan Traun 4 Comments

The Rogue Flashbenders for our speedlight camera flashes arrived the other day. The Rogue Flashbender by itself is great. There is so much flexibility (literally) in shaping it (especially when using it as bounce or snoot). The malleable rods that are built into the Flashbender give you infinite adjustment and allow you to shape the light however you wish. With the addition of a diffusion panel it transforms the Flashbender into a compact softbox. The whole unit folds flat like most other styles do. I like that it is not plastic that will eventually crack. Plastic vs. fabric; there are +’s and -‘s to each I suppose. I prefer folding and storing fabric vs. plastic. Plastic over time may become brittle. I am sure that these will hold up just fine under the light use we will put them through. The build quality is plenty sturdy and I have no doubt these will last for a long while.

These do a very nice job of taming the harshness and diffusing the light while very adequately illuminating your subject(s). I am very pleased with the result of our newest gear acquisition.