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We have more flowers growing by our front door, so I figured I would take my Canon Rebel T7i outside and try to get some interesting shots with the Fotodiox Macro Extension Tube Set I bought ages ago.
Well, I couldn't get close enough using a tripod, so I had to hand manage the photos.
And I failed.
Try as I might, I didn't get the combinations I wanted, even though I did capture some interesting shots.
Yes, I used "manual mode" and fiddled around with the exposure. Which is also why I didn't edit the photos either. The sun is setting away from the bush, so everything is getting enshrouded in darkness, plus it's slightly windy out. I made the attempt in Photoshop to sharpen the images, but because they're meant to have some blur in sections due to the way macro is, they came out "okay".
I also used the stock lens that came with the camera, so there's a combo platter with the photos below.
I think I felt rushed with these because I could have done so much better if I took my time and set everything up properly. They feel cold and look it, for it being close to 80° this afternoon. I do like the way the close up of the over exposed ones came out; they're pretty neat. But otherwise, I know I could have done better.
I don't like standing outside too long in my neighborhood with my camera. I feel awkward and weird because I have a lot of nosy neighbors who like to cause trouble. Even though I'm taking photos of the flowers at my door, I know they're bound to ask questions.
As it is, the people who share the walkway, the man likes to attempt to stop us and ask questions about the community, yet, he's an original owner. He doesn't pay attention to the information that gets put out to the residents, so he will ask my mom. Just like a couple other people tend to do. She's made friends with some of the single men on our street, just to say hi and be neighborly. Nothing more. These are the type of neighbors you ask stuff to - what's popular, what's bad. Not the type of people you'd want to really go out and do stuff with because everyone has their own likes and dislikes. It's just enough information from each other to keep everyone sane.
But yeah, I know I need to practice more at my photos, much like I need proper editing equipment (computer, etcetera). One day I'll have the opportunity and I'll stop making excuses. Haha.
It's like the other day, I used my iPhone 11 to capture a gecko I inadvertently sucked up into the shop vac when I was cleaning out the AC pipe outside.
I did try to edit myself out (poorly) because I was a reflection in the water.
I don't know where the dude was, but he wasn't in the bucket when I put it all together. But he showed up and I put him in the flowers so he could find a new home for the moment. Let him literally hang out and dry. Catch a breath and relax. I totally scared the tar out of him because he was breathing quite heavily when he landed on the leaves.
It's funny how I've been able to get decent photos on my phone, for as much as I don't like using it as my main device. I used to carry a point and shoot around with me everywhere, so maybe I'm used to that type of aspect. Carrying around a camera case with all the accoutrements for a digital camera is hard and you're not welcome in a lot of places sometimes when establishments see such a thing. So having a camera in your pocket can be a good thing, except when you really need to hone in on a bigger unit.
To each their own, I suppose.
I guess that's about it for now. Just wanted to do a quick update with some new stuff.
Everyone we know in Fort Myers buys cases of water and keeps the plastic bottles in the garage. All through heat and humidity, rain and wind, the travel H2O is always outside, keeping space next to the car. The people grab the water when they need to, and bring it in the house to cool off and eventually drink it. But otherwise, the water stays outside all the time.
We have always wondered what the elements do to the overall bottle - doesn't it warp the plastic and ruin the liquid? People typically say it's fine when they finally get around to opening each pack and taking a drink of the now so many weeks old hydration soother. The person can't tell a difference in what they're having; it tastes like normal water once you put it in a glass with ice (or put the bottle in the refrigerator to chill).
Unfortunately for us, we learned our lesson with a 32 bottle, 16.9 ounce case of KerSplash Spring Water.
I don't even remember how we acquired it, because it's not a local water bottle company. There's no store around here that is selling it and even Amazon doesn't recognize the name. It might have been one of those cases we got after Ian when there was a supply distribution center in the Walmart parking lot and they were handing out necessities for people (water, cleaning solvents, food, toiletries, etcetera). A little more research and it seems like KerSplash is a off market brand name under the Silver Springs Bottled Water Company in Silver Springs, Florida. The company is about four hours north east(ish) of me, and the website is very basic and broad. It doesn't really delving too deeply into all their offerings and where to find them. Sure, it gives some information, but the general idea and consensus isn't there.
As we've had these bottles for a while, I've been noticing they've got some sort of deterioration going, and we are keeping them inside, in our laundry room. I'm sure it's no better than the garage due to the dryer, but at least it's more climate controlled than being out in the 100° humidity for 6 months. We may attempt to drink a lot of water, but since we have a refrigerator with in ice maker and water control on the door, so we use more of that than we use plastic. The cases are really for when we come up to rain and hurricane season, so we know we have something should we get a storm. Due to the bottles getting a little crunchy when you pick them up (they're losing air, it seems. The plastic is getting soft), we've decided we really ought to start using them at the pool and gym, and we will just buy a new case when the time comes. It'll be easier that way; know it's all fresh for the summer.
Well, we were wrong.
For over a week, I've been using this brand and have noticed something gritty as I'm sipping the water in my cup. I've got ice and electrolyte powder (because I use a 30oz Yeti Rambler and fill it with some sort of hydration powder) for after the gym and I tend to just keep putting more water in once I'm finished. Just refill the cup until I go to bed.
As an added bonus for when I want to do some errands and still stay hydrated, I strap my Yeti into a nifty neoprene sleeve with carrying handle and off I go. This sleeve saved my butt a few times because the Yeti is so hard to hold without it's own handle. Plus, you can unstrap the buckle and put it through a belt loop or a bag loop. Having a 4 pack means if I wear one out, I don't have to go buy a single sleeve when one breaks. I've got backups and quite honestly, the quality is good enough that I'm on number two of four for the pack and I purchased them during the height of the pandemic.
If you're wondering about all the water I'm drinking, no, I am not constantly running to the bathroom. I pee regularly, but not enough that I can't go out and do things. I'm not prohibited from leaving the house because I tinkle too much.
Anyway, back on topic.
Drinking this KerSplash, I noticed grittiness. It was a sand like additive in the liquid and I know I've fully dissolved the powder. There is just some left over feeling in my mouth, and when I move my jaw, my teeth feel the roughness. It's almost like when you go to the dentist and they ask you if you feel any dirt and grit or anything else after they use their toothpaste. It's that kind of weird. I know that when I don't use this bottled water, I'm using the fridge water, things are always fine. I've also used other bottled water and have had no problems. It's just this specific brand that seems to be a challenge.
I decided to take a look at one of the bottles we've got in the refrigerator, to see what the problem is. If there's stuff inside or if the brand is way too old. What's the frequency, Kenneth? What's the deal? What's happening?
Again, not really remembering when we got it or from where, what I saw floating in the bottle I grabbed, was a little shocking. Not "oh my god, we are all going to die" shocking, but a "Am I looking at this correctly? Is this really what I've been tasting and drinking?? Is this aging water? Decay? Hmm".
There were little pieces of what looks like plastic, floating in the bottle. It seems to be the inside is breaking down on itself. Which explains why the bottles are getting warped and thinning out.
I don't know if it's the fact we've kept this water for more than a year or if it's decaying because we have kept it in our laundry room and the dryer is heating the bottles. Maybe it's because the best by date was March of 2024 or there's something else as the underlying cause. However, I ended up throwing out 24 bottles after I took this video. There's no way we were going to keep drinking the water with the plastic floating in it.
Yes, we all eat, drink and breathe things that get into our system and shouldn't be in our bodies. The lotions, makeup, solvents we rub on ourselves have little micro plastics in them too, but we still turn the other cheek (literally) and beautify ourselves. But having tasted the plastic and wonder what I'm drinking (prior to this), to then see good solid pieces in the bottle, this is uncomfortable and weird.
Sure, other brands (including straight tap from your sink) have microcosms and strange biomes floating around. We can't siphon those out. But to have an unopened bottle and actually see solid pieces of the bottle shifting around like a snow globe, no. Nope; can't get down with it.
This is a level I don't want to play. Can we bypass it somehow?
Even though season is fast approaching and we're going to need to have water on hand, my mother and I decided not to keep the bottles on hand, if only for toilet flushing. I know it's not much, but part of me is like "this plastic can build up in our pipes and we're already having issues in the community", especially since the 16 ounce bottles have decayed to this point, what are they going to look like when we really need them? The little pieces inside are going to bring friends and then what? We're pouring stuff down drains that can do some damage to things. I know it wouldn't be major catastrophe damage, but if the plants and trees are already causing problems for the PVC, the little plastic pieces could get stuck in whatever the roots haven't touched yet. Ignorance is bliss, sometimes.
So I ended up pouring them all outside into the grass. Watering the mulch, which is no different than pouring them down the drain, but at least I saved the internal stuff a little more indirectly.
Therefore, let this be a lesson for everyone:
Watch what you're buying and where you're storing it, and for how long. Cheap brands may very well be cheap, and you don't know what you're getting. It could happen to the major brands too, so you just never know.
Be mindful of what you're storing where, because I know there are preppers out there, getting ready for whenever some apocalypse happens. We won't know when or for how long our world will go right side up, but watch what you're buying. It's like the aluminum cans. If you're having to buy them, they too start deteriorating after a while. The better, smarter, people know about canning in mason jars.
Not that I have my own basement full of stuff, because I don't. I've talked to enough people who hoard certain items as well as seen enough reality television to know that this is one tin foil hat arena you have to watch your wallet in. The price of admission is strange with this lot and there's nothing wrong with it. You just have to be diligent and vigilant.
Stay wise;
Cheers
See Also:
* In the Youtube video description, I started with a quote from the movie IT: 'They float, Georgie, and when you’re down here with me, you’ll float, too'
* Youtube video taken on an iPhone 11 and edited in Pinnacle Studio. The background music is Pinnacle stock music, "Electronica | Reaction Time | For The Road"
* "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" is off REM's 1994 Monster album (track 1).
