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The Breakroom => The Water Cooler => Topic started by: cedge on May 02, 2010, 12:46:58 AM

Title: Luck and a camera
Post by: cedge on May 02, 2010, 12:46:58 AM
Today, a few friends and I attended a local open house where a collector of old machinery shared his toys. There were antique cars, a double decker bus, a couple of hit and miss traction engines, a Case traction engine, a plethora of full sized stationary steam engines as well as a number of huge Fairbanks Morse diesel engines. These were only a part of the eclectic collection the man had on display.

About noon, he rolled out his 3 inch rifled cannon for some fun. Anyone who wanted to fire it was given a turn on the lanyard and allowed to trigger a shot. I opted to take photos, but only began shooting near the end of the fun. I had only two remaining chances to get a usable picture, so I set up in rapid fire mode and waited. The first series captures the first of two incredible shots. 

(http://cedesign.net/steam/images/misc/cannon-2.jpg)

The second shot was even more unique in that it caught the firing sequence at the very point where the first of the burning gases began to exit the gun, while the fuse was still in full flare. Notice the tiny glow at the end of the barrel. One microsecond in time that could never have been intentionally planned for.


(http://cedesign.net/steam/images/misc/cannon-1.jpg)

Sometimes, it's just better to be lucky than good.....LOL

Steve
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: PTsideshow on May 02, 2010, 06:29:33 AM
 :bugeye: :jaw: :thumbup: :clap:
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: MikeA on May 02, 2010, 06:56:19 AM
Steve,

Great shots - I know you planned them that way!  :clap:

Where in the world does one pick up a 3" rifled cannon? I want one!! Bet his neighbors don't bother him much - I noticed the guy in the second photo exiting on the left is open carrying, bet long odds these photos weren't taken in NY, IL, or DC.

That is my kind of neighbor.

All the best,
Mike
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: cedge on May 02, 2010, 07:08:38 AM
Mike
The guy has two of them, one original, one reproduction and he fires them both depending on mood. The open carry thing isn't legal here in SC, but the guy was in his "War of Northern Agression" re-inactmment regalia....(grin). Funny... I never noticed him packing when we were talking.

Steve

 
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: Stilldrillin on May 02, 2010, 12:12:59 PM
Absolutely crackin` pics from a great day out, Steve!   :clap:  :clap:


"Sometimes, it's just better to be lucky than good.....LOL"

Often, you need to be good, to get that lucky!  :thumbup:

David D
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: DeereGuy on May 02, 2010, 07:53:24 PM
Great capture Cedge.....I generally always have my camera with me...
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: cedge on May 02, 2010, 11:00:02 PM
Deere....
I've gotten back into the habit of tossing the camera bag in the truck again. I got tired of missing cool stuff.

Steve
Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: tel on May 03, 2010, 05:31:53 AM
Good shootin' there Steve - grand pics! :clap: I tried to get some shots of the jousting a week back, but my lousy judgment meant the combatants were well past each other just about every time.

Title: Re: Luck and a camera
Post by: cedge on May 03, 2010, 10:54:58 AM
Tel....
No loss of dignity there.... I've also got a few thousand like that.....LOL.  One capture of the cannon was a rarity.... the second was akin to getting hit twice by lightening while indoors. It just doesn't happen.  Like I said.... better lucky than good.

Steve