NateFollmer

Sounds good! Thanks BobP. I was reading some of you're other advice here and over on TU - good stuff! I'll agree with you on the Createx palette. I love some of the Auto Air colors, but I think I'll keep it simple to start I don't want to buy a ton of colors and then completely suck at this.. I'm sure you'd all buy my stash up though

Nope, going to try my hand at the Bassmaster's Opens in 2011 though... Even if I lose, it's worth it to me to pay $300 to fish with a pro

This is a conspiracy guys! That's just plain spooky... Great pics though haha

I usually fish Walker, Faylor, Raystown and Colyer Lakes. I'm almost always fishing the Juniata River though. The only time I'm not at any of these places is in the winter and then I'll be on one of the creeks for trout

Try to use a tripod whenever you can, but if the objects are moving it isn't going to help much. I try and use a tripod with any shot that the shutter is set to 1/20 or slower. I get pampered with having Steady Shot in my camera I usually turn it off though because when you use a tripod, it can actually make things a little less sharp.

Haven't been there yet. I usually fish in the central part of the state. Another good smallie/walleye technique is get the air injected earthworms. They seem to be more active. I know some people that use earthworms that were dipped in green glow paint, they work awesome for walleye. A few places around here used to sell them, but I can't find them anymore (have to dip them yourself ).

That 75-300mm isn't working? I have a Minolta 75-300mm F4-5.6 and I use it for wildlife and some faster moving objects. I usually run my ISO (indoors) at 400 and try and keep the aperture open as far as I can (lower F stop means bigger opening). Getting a longer lens at a low F stop is going to get costly. I haven't priced Canon lenses, but I know something like that for my Alpha would probably run about $600 for a cheap one. I did some quick looking on B&H Photo and about the cheapest telephoto at F2.1 was going to run you about $370 (and that was only 100mm). Look on ebay or craigslist for used ones. I have a few used lenses from ebay that look and work like a new lens.

They only get you so far. Those loans only covered about half of my schooling. I had to come up with the rest myself I should probably try to get back in school since I have a kid (and 1 on the way). I have like 3 months of classes left and I'm done! Scholarships? Or gasp!! They could go to work... I know, heaven forbid todays babies actually working for something that mommy or daddy could just give them.... just saying, there are plenty of options available that don't involve a parent putting their credit on the line for a child. That's not really something I'd want to do, that's for sure. Let's not even go there... I have been working full time since I left high school and have been doing my schooling myself. I never asked my parents for help, if I did, I'd be finished by now. It's not as easy as it was a few years ago to get money for school, they have really been cracking down. Scholarships are about a joke anymore too. Unless you play a sport, you're lucky to get anything that will help. Out of the countless scholarships I applied for, I think I received maybe 1 or 2 and those were only about $400 (which is equal to about 1 credit hour). I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but that still isn't enough to cover the costs.

Graves At National Cemetery by nate.follmer, on Flickr

They only get you so far. Those loans only covered about half of my schooling. I had to come up with the rest myself I should probably try to get back in school since I have a kid (and 1 on the way). I have like 3 months of classes left and I'm done!

Heck a clean xp install with all it's updates can be almost 15 gigs (if you just to auto update and don't control what updates you take). I have 1.5 TB and with all my 3d models, textures and reference images I almost have it full. My point is, you'll never have enough space I would get an external and offload whatever you can. I like to get Windows it's own hard drive, I install programs on another and have all my files on the third drive.

how long has it been since your son got those loans? I think he can get your name off the loan if he has a decent credit score now. I have a serious hatred toward school loans... Id be finished by now if they made it easier for us credit-less people to get school loans

This technique is as old as the hills. I don't use it anymore because it works on just about any fish. You'll catch a ton of bluegills and sunfish this way. I find using any technique but this one keeps the other fish away Nothing wrong with using a worm though, I just hate all the bonus fish ;D

Heck I'm addicted to just designing the body styles at the moment. I'm going to have to test a lot of these to see if they will actually run well before I go painting junk body styles I thought I could save money by doing this, but I'll probably have more money wrapped up in testing

That doesn't make any sense to me. I certainly haven't noticed that happening on any of my lures painted with fluorescent colors, but then I only started airbrushing this summer. At any rate, if you use a UV-protected topcoat the paint should be fine. BTW I use Createx fluorescent yellow on my baits. Here's where I saw it: http://www.galaxyairbrush.com/paints/createx.buttons/c.5403.cart.htm radioactive cranks will produce monster bass... Literally!

That's good to know because I know you do a lot more than I ever will What Flo. Yellow do you buy? The Createx flo. colors say they shouldn't be used as a permanent soultion because they are constantly decaying??? What the heck kind of paint are they selling ha!

Thanks guys! I figured for the cost, the paint should last longer than I thought, but I've never been good at quantity judgement I just have a feeling once I start, I'll never stop so may as well stock up now

Well I'm not going to do everything white, I was just trying to think of an example 2 oz to me sounds like I blow through it in a few cranks, but maybe I'm wrong I was thinking of just getting like an 8 oz white, an 8 oz black and then a few 2 oz colors. I guess I should figure out patterns before I go and buy a kit and have a bunch of odd ball colors I'll never use

Silly question i know, but I'm trying to see if buying a kit would be better or just getting the bottles individually. How long can I expect a 2oz. bottle of airbrush paint to last? I know it depends on how much is actually painted, so just a rough estimate will do. Let's say for example I get a 2oz white bottle and I want to paint all my cranks with a white base, how many cranks do you think that would paint?

waitin' for the day he can fish with Dad. Had him out once... He wanted to cast the entire time. I'd throw his worm out, he would keep 'casting'. After I got him over that, he wanted to chase the minnows. I'll give him a few more months and try again It's great though, I have him trained. Every time we pass any form of water (lake, river, stream, etc...) all we hear out of him is "FISHY, FISHY!" Mom is so proud of me

Great stuff gents! If we are whipping out the kid shots: Griffin Gate by nate.follmer, on Flickr

Oh my, I have been laughing for 30 minutes now and I just can't stop... Thanks! I'm going to have a hard time talking to customers today without laughing. Glad to make your Day. Don't take offense to it. It's a crappy photo, I'm sure the blur clears when you see it in person? That was my guess. I know the webcam I have out in the living room is pure garbage. The autofocus is a joke. If you fart next to it, it'll blur the image. You are just making gold today. I finally got over the laughter of the first post and then you go and do this... Laughing again! I just picture you trying to take a webcam shot and lettin' one rip and the camera focuses on something in the background... Yes, I get bored at work!

All you guys doing photo finishes are freakin' amazing! Good stuff, I love that sunfish!

That's so adorable :'(

Get ahold of me when you come to Gettysburg. I may be able to show you some things in the area and there is also a great microbrewery in town if you like to have a beer. I smell a man-date. I won't deny that.... Speeds a fine looking gentlmen... Just sayin'!