Forum: Photography


Subject: How to put your lunch break to good use

DarkPenumbra opened this issue on Mar 04, 2002 ยท 17 posts


DarkPenumbra posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 12:52 PM

I borrowed a tripod from a relative, but then I realized that fiddling with the shutter release doesn't really give stability, and that I needed a cable release. So I headed over to the camera shop, and it turns out I need one of those electronic cable release. No prob, I thought, until I saw the price! (over $60!) For about 3 feet of wiring and a box with a switch on it, I didn't want to pay that much so I didn't take it. I got back to work and looked at my camera. Three prongs and a non-square connector. So, no biggie, I picked up a CD audio cable from the IT parts room, filed the side, and tripped the wires to figure out which did what. After figuring that out, I looked for a 3-position switch (we usually have tons of electronic parts at work). None. So I looked for two 2-position switch. None. So now I was rather pissed off, because I took all this time to make a connector and figure out the prongs. And then: AHA! An extension cord no one was using! So I cut it in two, connected one side to two prongs, and the other to one. So now I have a cable release! If I plug one prong in the 'outlet', it turns on the meter, and if I plug the whole thing in, it's the shutter! :P So I shoved the whole thing in my camera bag, cleaned up my desk, and just as I put the bag away, someone walks in and asks "Hey, there was an extension cord around here, did you see it?" grin - darkpen PS: sorry for my lack of posting lately, things have been rather hectic (and my birthday was last Sunday :).


Maygen posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 1:42 PM

Well happy late birthday DP! Funny about the extension cord lol tsk tsk.


Rork1973 posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 1:51 PM

Happy Bday, Dark!! May your life be long, healthy and happy =) Hey btw, perhaps you should look on ebay.com, cause there's a lot of good stuff there - anything except camera's and lenses is way below the real value.....often get nice little stuff there :)


dreamsosweet posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 3:22 PM

LOL, necessity is the mother of invention! Happy belated birthday! :-)


Michelle A. posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 5:21 PM

Haha! Your good.....I would've just sat there steaming!

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com


JordyArt posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 5:48 PM

erm - was that written by a WOMAN??? lol - strange, for a moment I thought it got pretty technical - women KNOW cords are things that plug in kettles in the kitchen..... (",) and happy belated one, Darkpen - shoulda told us.....


bsteph2069 posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 6:27 PM

JORDY you are going to get so killed! Congrats Dark. BTW cords also make good strangulation devices, tie downs, escape ropes, ect. UH have you considered using the self timer? Just a thought. It's what I use if I don't need a long exposure and I don't have the cable release. SMILES a huge grin. Bsteph


Misha883 posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 6:48 PM

Happy birthday, DP.


DarkPenumbra posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 8:38 PM

Thanks all! Rork: Ebay rocks, but I hardly ever shop on there, online in general, or even mail/phone order.. I like to have my things right now when I buy them. :P Jordy: ha! you haven't seen me get technical yet ;) Bsteph: I still think duct tape has more uses than cords. :P And I was looking for something to do bulb exposures with, so the self-timer wasn't gonna be much use. Plus I need to put a plastic cover on the viewfinder if I'm not gonna be looking through it, and I tend to move the camera whenever I try to do that. grin - darkpen


dreamsosweet posted Mon, 04 March 2002 at 10:25 PM

LOL, Jordy! And cords in the kitchen also plug in frying pans, and toasters, and deep fryers, and blenders, and coffee grinders, and irons....hmmm, you could do a lot of damage with those....come into my kitchen, young man, muwhahahahaha! ;-)


JordyArt posted Tue, 05 March 2002 at 5:04 AM

ooh-er, missus!!! Best offer I've had in a LONG time!! (innit, Cat? lol) btw, thanks for the education - I may even take a trip to the kitchen to see what these items look like.... erm, where's the kitchen? (",) btw, What does it mean if your woman comes out of the kitchen to nag at you? her chain is too long.......


DarkPenumbra posted Tue, 05 March 2002 at 11:59 AM

chuckle Man, all of a sudden, my kitchen seems empty.. :P - darkpen


cat_amaris posted Tue, 05 March 2002 at 12:09 PM

Best offer in a long time eh Jordy? I wouldnt know.... didn't think u'd had ANY.. ahh well (luv ya reely) Happy birthday for last sunday mate ;)


Caledonia posted Tue, 05 March 2002 at 2:23 PM

Jordy, luv, we women are capable of anything.


JordyArt posted Tue, 05 March 2002 at 2:27 PM

Except position 139. I do believe that it's a physical impossibility. (",)


DarkPenumbra posted Tue, 05 March 2002 at 2:41 PM

Must be why they sell tickets to the space station. ;) - darkpen


JordyArt posted Fri, 08 March 2002 at 3:06 AM

Oh, yeah, you HAD to get that one in, dintcha? tch.... talk about us men sticking together..... lol (",)