boyfalldown

Anybody know how Otis from the Parachute Center in Lodi California is doing as far as jump numbers go?

6 screws and a plate coming soon.

Three fractures on the fibula, and a dislocated ankle. Got my foot caught in a rut as I was sliding to a stop during a swoop.

Saturday morning a 200 foot swoop made me smile. Today my biggest joy was being able to bathe myself without assistance. Its amazing how quickly a landing can go from cool to life changing. Look out for the ground, its pretty hard...

These, because I built them 1963.5 Ford Falcon (work in progress) 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero

donation sent

Oh my god. Words are so hard to come by. While I have not been close to Shannon over the last two and a half years, love is something unchanged by time and distance. Without Shannon in my life, I would not even resemble the person I am today. Thank you Shannon. Thank you for being you, for giving the love you gave each day to everyone in your life. Thank you for the laughter, sarcasm, and joy you brought all of us each day. I'm so sorry I let my foolish pride get in the way of our friendship. It is a regret I'll live with the rest of my life. These hundreds of posts only confirm the influence you've had on this world. You are loved, and will be missed by many. Jim

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=sima+9 Sima SFX-9, so far so good, no complaints.

Wading through the replies on here I see (what seems to me) A lot of good information, but one major piece is missing. The lens you use has a lot to do with how well AF or MF will work. The kit lens has a somewhat external focus. When you rack the focus the front of the lens rotates and the lens gets longer or shorter. Even with a lot of gaff tape and rubber bands holding it in place, with just a little pressure on the face of the lens the front (rotating) objectives push back just a touch resulting in different focus from what you set on the ground, resulting in inconsistent pictures. In that case AF may be better for sharp pictures, but the down side is delay when the camera searches for a focal point, possibilities of hunting, and the camera picking the wrong subject to focus on altogether. The second type of lens would be an internal focusing lens, one where the front element does not rotate, and the lens does not get longer or shorter when the focus is changed. This is the type of lens I use and recommend for skydiving. One small bit of gaff tape will hold the focus ring in place, and no amount of pressure on the front of the lens will affect focus, great for high wind environments. In this case you get the best of all compromises, good consistent focus with no waiting. Just as a side note, I use a Tokina 17mm Pro ATX lens. It has a clutch for the focus motor. if you slide the focus ring forward or back it engages and disengages the focus motor and the manual drive ring. I set it for manual focus, set infinity (the sideways 8) at F11 and disengage the manual focus ring, which engages the motor, but since the AF is off it locks the focus in place with no tape or worries of moving the focus ring and changing focus. Also the lens is really square, there is almost no noticeable barrel distortion that is often found in lenses this short for the same price ($389)

I picked up the Sigma 24-70 EX DG ($389). It is an F 2.8 constant apature zoom (great in low light ). Popular Photography magazine rated it and said it was just as sharp as the Canon 24-70L ($1200). So far it has been a great lens and by far the most commonly used in my kit. The only downside is in being F-2.8, its rather bulky, almost 2lbs with an 82mm filter diameter. Jim

Any more whining and I'll bust out your sub 100 jump pics.

7 way in the rain with fill flash...

A CPA can be a great investment if you plan to write off you camera related expenses. While you can depreciate your previously purchased gear, you need to be careful not to show too much of a loss too many years in a row. If you show too great of a loss ( depreciate cameras and rigs and write off all your jumps and travel expense while showing little to moderate income) while also showing substantial income from another source (job) the irs may view your camera work as a "hobby" making it ineligable for those kinds of deductions. If you get audited and that happens they generally look back in to past years and ask for their money back.

Happy Birthday JP! I can't wait to drink your beer... I mean see you on Sunday. 40 hmm big number, ends in zero, why don't we make that cake a big birthday pie.

9 of 16 damn

1527:3 two back to back one a hundred jumps later

Does anyone know why they call Mad John...Mad John? I'm just wondering if I should jump with him again this year. Right now my ego is about the size of a pea.......Steve1 I don't know where he got the name, but as far as jumping with him there is no reason not to. MJ makes everyone feel more than welcome on ALL of his loads. He's more about having a good time than making people feel bad. Definitely one of the best

Make little Jimmer pay for big Jimmers antics! Need me to come by and give you a little ... support? Yes Yes make lil'jimmer pay

Sorry my camera is at home and I'm at work 50 miles away. maybe later though

I think that was NastyClown too... No scapegoat this time buddy, your "leftovers" witnessed that one

Wash the walls! Hell I still haven't gotten around to fixing the hole you put in the wall two weeks ago!

Man...you had me sweating there. Hmm... no I don't recall seeing any sweat in the picture

2 gallons of ammonia and a REALLY REALLY big mop took care of your umm umm umm little "stain"...

[ Welcome home, beautiful.. jim needs ya! *** I second that!!! Hmm fuzzy picture of a scrotum, only 1 ball, large scar... We all know who THAT is!

[Now if someone could just tell me what that picture is on the digital camera..... Um... sorry baby someone took a picture of their ballsack, since that person apparently only has one testicle and a big scar,I'll let you guess who it was...