You Know Your Camera Is Old When...

...there is a spider trapped inside the top LCD display!

Yes, it is true. Granted this camera is 8 years old, but who would ever get the evidence of seeing a spider curled up inside the camera body. I use a Canon 1D. That's it; no Mark II, 1Ds, or even Mark III. Just the good old classic. I am actually very thankful for it. It is a beast. Not only in its size, but in it's durability.

The other day I noticed a spider located inside the top LCD display. (Jason Halley/ProPixelographer)

I have a Canon 40D as a second camera body, but it's just not as fast. The quality is far superior, but the handling just isn't the same. Even though the 1D is only 4MP, it works great for newsprint. I just can't give it up.

The spider was curled up dead inside the left edge of the LCD display. (Jason Halley/ProPixelographer)

I received a camera when I started working at the Chico Enterprise-Record over four years ago. About 2 and a half years ago, I sent it in to be fixed. Canon Professional Services could not find a part to the camera and issued me a refurbished used camera. It felt like a new camera to me, even though it wasn't. Since then it has been bruised and battered. Tossed, dropped, soaked, thrown, and dirtied. Don't think I treat my camera with abuse. It wouldn't be if I, myself weren't tossed, soaked, thrown and dirtied with it. It goes where I go and so is damaged as I am.

The spider is very small, yet visible. (Jason Halley/ProPixelographer)

The other night I checked my settings and was shocked when I noticed a spider inside the LCD display on top of the camera. I don't know how it got in there and I don't know how to get it out. I will say that I am pretty sure this means I need an upgrade.

One Reason Newspapers Will Still Be Here In The Future

Though the hard times with the economy are seeing bursts of life, we are still on a long path of recovery. I stumbled across something that gives me hope for the need of newspapers into the following years.

It is true. Newspapers fight crime. They report on activities and keep a watchful eye on communities to be a superhero of their own. The economy has brought some pain to the reporting staff of a newspaper, but the newspaper can still be used as a crime fighter.


It is called a Laptop Case for MacBook Pro Against Crime, and it does what it says...it is against crime. You just take this cleverly disguised laptop case to give the impression that your nice expensive laptop is nothing more that a cheap crummy newspaper. And it's that simple to combat theft.

Newspapers can still have a need in the future. Just think, you can't have your "newspaper" that you carry around contain the same date and stories. No, you need it to be updated everyday you carry your laptop. I can still have a job taking pictures for a fake newspaper laptop sleeve. There is hope!

A trip down memory lane

I know that I haven't posted in a while here. I am sure you will be thinking that I have been on a crazy trip and am ready to post hundreds of pictures. While I had gone on a fantastic trip since the last post, I actually have been very lazy. I am in a rut and will try to continue in some new fashion. Until then, here is a photo I think a lot of people might enjoy. It is the group photo from my senior class of 2002 from Pleasant Valley High School.

Click HERE to see a larger image size. PVHS Senior Class of 2002 photo.

It will be a "Where's Waldo" image. Can you spot me? Or anyone you know?