Digital Photo Tips

Stacking bales of straw and playing in the mud isn't how most people would body a home, but it's getting the job done for a Vista couple.

James and Josiane Petitt are building their house on Kelglen Lane, miserly South Santa Fe Avenue and Monte Vista Drive, almost completely of natural materials and with the support of friends and strangers.

Josiane Petitt said she first learned about alternative home-building methods while attending college nearby the Northern California town of Hopland, where she participated in straw-bale workshops at private homes. Now she and her soften are creating a straw-bale home of their own.

Straw-bale home building uses recycled agricultural gut ---- baled straw from harvested grain ---- to form and insulate exterior walls. Superimpose made from clay, sand, straw and water is used on both the interior and exterior instead of drywall, siding and go out on the town. The Petitts' home is framed using steel beams.

Rebecca Tasker, a straw-bale edifice consultant working with the Petitts, said straw's high insulation rating can help turn energy used for heating and cooling.

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You’ll be looking at the ‘garner’ moon, which is “the full moon closest to the northern autumnal equinox (Sept. 22),” says Latitude Weather News. “In years past, farmers depended on the light of the Harvest Moon to infer ripening crops late into the night. Now we appreciate it mainly for its beauty.”

And while we’re on the subject of the moon … Some readers have asked whether they will be clever to see NASA’s LCROSS satellite strike the moon on Friday, Oct. 9. The answer is a qualified yes, says Steve Edberg, a spokesman for the Jet Driving Laboratory in Pasadena. He says the upper stage rocket of LCROSS will hit the Cabeus A crater in the south wintry region at 4:31 a.m. Pacific on Oct. 9, followed 4 minutes later by the spacecraft. (The satellite is being reach-me-down to search for water-ice in that region.)

Edberg says that amateur astronomers using a 10-inch or larger spyglass, with 200 to 300 magnification, should be able to see the tiny glow that’s expected after LCROSS hits the moon. The resplendence will last from 20 seconds to 120 seconds.

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Most people approve of that taking a good photographer is harder than it looks. Anyone can pick up a camera, point and shoot it, but it takes actual skill and forethought to capture an image worthy of framing over the mantle.

During this time of year, with leaves changing color, it may be appetizing to step outside and shoot haphazardly.

For two amateur photographers, making the jump from yearbook standing to magazine quality photos took time, patience and a few tips from an experienced pro.

Harold Rush and Don Kisseberth are one of two students intriguing the intermediate photography class at Gila Community College this fall semester.

Photography tips

They say changing the way they regard as about photography, from rigid and scientific to artistic, has dramatically improved the quality of their images. Their three simple tips will assistants any level photographer.

Take the camera off auto. Use the manual settings to adjust for light and speed.

Skeleton the scene so you have something in the foreground and background.

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