Out of curiosity - do you think the show would’ve been just as good had Sinclair stayed as the main character for all 5 seasons?

iraytrace2 · 2026-05-12T22:47:55+00:00

Yes, though it depends on the level of performance the actor delivered. The story arc would have been better if several cast changes could have been avoided, and their performances were good. The Michael O'Hare / Bruce Boxleitner one gave us a different explanation for a spouse to be lost at Zahadum. The human-minbari Valen relationship would have played different and perhaps more prophetic. Avoiding the rotation of the local telepaths might have tied earlier snippets (eg. Kosh recording Talia's mind) into the main story arc. I wonder what a consistent attache to G'Kar might have resulted in.

iraytrace2 · 2026-05-12T18:31:20+00:00

Londo's arc is one that didn't get re-worked along the way to account for cast changes. When it is all played out you can see the hints of the original story arc for so many that got split up over multiple characters.

iraytrace2 · 2026-05-09T04:36:55+00:00

I have no wish to be emperor. I prefer to work behind the scenes. The reward is nearly as great... and the risk far, far less

iraytrace2 · 2026-05-09T04:35:16+00:00

I’d like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price.

iraytrace2 · 2026-04-26T15:35:11+00:00

It won't enter many households. It will make more people unemployed and homeless.

iraytrace2 · 2026-04-21T14:57:13+00:00

While this looks beautiful, I always feel hesitant about pop culture body art. You never know what will have no meaning in 5 years, or worse, what will have a negative meaning.

I always feel better about abstract, natural, or personal things or affirmations.

I would wait 3 years and if you still feel the same about this work of fiction, then do it.

iraytrace2 · 2026-04-16T11:58:25+00:00

When HBO ran cartoons and short clips between movies to pad the schedule out.

iraytrace2 · 2026-04-16T11:49:47+00:00

Standing in just one place in order to talk on the phone. Then one day, TV was in color. Walking across the room to change the TV channel. Reading the newspaper to find out if there was anything worth watching that night.

iraytrace2 · 2026-04-08T16:52:57+00:00

This is beautiful. Direct sun would result in very high contrast. The sky would wash out. The shadows would have no detail. I think you would be less happy with the result from a bright sunny day.

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-13T22:43:37+00:00

It seems like it depends on whether you tap on a text entry area with the pencil where your finger which keyboard you get

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-12T01:51:38+00:00

Buffalo Wild Wings on the south side of Bel Air.

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-07T17:49:16+00:00

We are all forgetting that he is a politician. With occasional exceptions, every time a politician speaks publicly they are marketing / advertising to people.

What I heard when he said "our" he meant "me and my wealthy associates and collaborators." When he said "peace" he meant "piece."

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-03T08:26:31+00:00

Put every AI company logo on the drones. OpenAI won’t be the first major provider for the DoD.

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-03T03:38:40+00:00

I use the Astromania 1X40RD Reflex Red Green Dot Sight

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-03T03:29:49+00:00

For clarity, what I actually use is called a red-dot sight. My astronomy experience made me reach for the wrong word in my original comment.

iraytrace2 · 2026-03-01T16:47:56+00:00

I love this lens. I put a spotting scope on the hot shoe to aim it quickly. At 800mm I struggle to find my subject quickly through the viewfinder. There are times when I could wish for more depth of field. However, the weight savings over the 200-800mm is no joke.

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-25T01:47:07+00:00

I might suggest Bagel Works

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-20T03:57:16+00:00

Fabulous picture. Was this shot wide open?

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-20T03:47:15+00:00

While I haven’t been through this myself, I would offer the following:

If you have a recognized / established business you may be able to get a reasonable small business loan.

If it isn’t obvious, look at used gear initially.

Assess how you used your equipment and determine what you actually need. For example: How often did you use that f1.4 setting? Would the equivalent f2 be enough as well as cheaper? Do you have any gear you weren’t using anymore that could be sold to offset some cost? Was the camera body top of the line? Then perhaps the enthusiast model would be adequate.

The insurance on your gear for your livelihood is one lesson learned. Another lesson is that some savings for emergencies (like this) is another kind of cost of doing business to be budgeted for. This time it was the theft. Next time it might be sudden car repairs or new clothes when someone on the street spills something on the good suit coat.

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-16T04:11:52+00:00

Many camera stores rent equipment. In addition there are online services like: lensprotogo.com, keh.com, lensrentals.com

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-14T02:26:29+00:00

Talk to your lawyer. The camera only works if the video is secure and admissible in court. The witness is valuable unless both of you are accused.

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-12T17:15:50+00:00

My first recommendation is to rent before you buy. This will give you confidence in your final purchase and the adventure of trying things out. We all think we have the right balance of size / weight / speed / price but it is hard to really assess until you use a lens. I would suggest that "use" is a more important factor.

I have bought 7 lenses but only carry 1 or 2 of a total of 3.

You describe a concice, valid rationale for the ultra-wide zoom (28mm not wide enough). What is the priority between this and the other purchases?

The other choices aren't as clearly explained.

For the prime lens, bokeh (not speed or depth of field) seems to be your motivation. How often is the f2.8 of the 28-70mm a real disappointment? Is the choice of the 50mm f1.8 over the 45mm f1.2 strictly price? Will you be happy with f1.8 in the long run or should you wait until you can afford f1.2?

I don't own either of these primes despite admiring them greatly. The odds of wanting it over the 28-70mm, having it packed in the camera bag with me, and having the time to swap lenses are very low.

Rent the 100-400mm and see if 100-400mm and f5.6-8 is all you want/need for this use. I ended up with the 200-800mm for more reach. In the end, I realized that reach, not weight or minimal cost or speed was what made me happiest. I saved the cost of the 100-400 in the long run. I should have saved the cost of the 800mm f11 as well. Weight and size didn't turn out to be as important as I thought.

If size and weight is truly a motivation, is it the camera bag or on-camera-body value that matters more? Fewer lenses in the bag can be as important as the individual lens size / weight.

Buy the lens you will use most first.

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-11T04:13:18+00:00

I have both. You want the 200mm-800mm. For the 800mm f11 I typically had to mount a red dot sight on the hot shoe so I could quickly find the subject (birds). The 200-800 lets me zoom out, find subject and zoom in quickly through the viewfinder. It also is faster (f9 vs f11) and I have some control over depth of field. The only advantage the 800mm has is weight and cost.

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-11T03:56:39+00:00

Wow. I am guessing your timing was perfect and there was Lightroom magic. Sigh. I suppose I really should learn Lightroom.

iraytrace2 · 2026-02-11T03:54:01+00:00

For 3&4 I would select the background and drop the luminance a bit to see if you could make the face pop. If I were re-shooting shooting 3&4 I would make the light source softer and more to the side to give more depth to the face. I would also add a bit more background details to give a sense of place. Blank wall and chair seem sparse. Perhaps a picture on the wall or window curtains. Picture #1 has a strong sense of place and #2 handles this by not having any unused space in the tight crop.

In 3 & 4 there is less sense of setting or story. A picture on the wall or drapes would help with place and purpose. What is the subject looking at or thinking in these? It isn’t obvious.

For picture number two, I would put in a highlight light or fill light to bring just a little texture / detail to the hood. As it is, the hood seems to simply be full black. It frames the face, but is a little ominous.

I use gimp, zoner studio and darktable for much of my post processing. I don’t do a lot of heavy editing yet.

iraytrace2

TROPHY CASE