Stick Insects at Chadron State Park, July 2020

Stick insect on a tripod leg at Chadron State Park, July 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Before this summer, I hadn't come across stick insects outside of museums. Perhaps they've passed over my shoes on previous occasions when I've been crouched in odd positions trying to photograph flowers against rock faces. These little fellows look awkward and beautiful. It's great to see them up close, and a reminder to carry that 105mm closeup lens more often.

Stick insect at Chadron State Park, July 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Stick insect on a tripod leg at Chadron State Park, July 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Wildfire South of Chadron, Nebraska, August 28, 2020

A firefighting helicopter passes over the Aristocrat Fire as a crew watches from below, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

A couple years late, but here is the next wildfire in the near-Chadron series. After the Dawes and Sioux County Complex in 2006 and the Region 23 Complex in 2012, I figured we were on a six-year cycle, and wondered how crazy 2018 would be. Turns out the weather was biding its time, and here we are in 2020 with dry conditions and lightning. The Aristocrat Fire (I will fix incorrect information as I find correct information), named for Aristocrat Peak in the Nebraska National Forest, apparently got started from one of the many lightning strikes from the evening of August 27. On August 28, we were treated to smoke over C-Hill, but so far not as much smoke as in 2006. The wind was more from the north and west on August 28, keeping the fire away from Chadron, but threatening any number of homes and structures that are dotted through the national forest.

Sunset and dust over Dawes County, Nebraska, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Smoke from the Aristocrat Fire south of Chadron, Nebraska, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Clouds pass by the moon, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset over Crow Butte, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset over Chadron, Nebraska, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

A firefighting plane, part of the response to the Aristocrat Fire south of Chadron, Nebraska, passes by the moon and Jupiter, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Small fires and burnt areas dot a portion of the hills south of Chadron, Nebraska. This is part of the area affected by the Aristocrat Fire, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Chadron, Nebraska, just after sunset, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Remembering Wildfires in Northwest Nebraska

Sunset over the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Smoke from wildfires in Colorado has drifted across western Nebraska the past several days. It's been hot, and the red flag warnings are up. The Douthit Wildfire came through this area in 2012, and the skeletal trees across the landscape show the aftermath. You get the sense of a wasteland on a day like this, far more so than on a warm June day when the grass is still green. As I left the area, lightning flashed regularly. The Spotted Tail Wildfire of 2006 started from a lightning strike.

Sunset over the Nebraska National Forest, August 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Late afternoon over the Black Hills Overlook in Chadron State Park, April 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Aftermath of the Douthit Wildfire at the Nebraska National Forest, September 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Aftermath of the Douthit Wildfire at the Nebraska National Forest, September 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Aftermath of the Douthit Wildfire at the Nebraska National Forest, September 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Security and photographers clear C-Hill the as the Spotted Tail Wildfire approaches Chadron, Nebraska. The fire crested C-Hill July 28, 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

C-Hill the day after the Spotted Tail Wildfire burned to the edge of Chadron, Nebraska, July 29, 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

C-Hill the day after the Spotted Tail Wildfire burned through, July 29, 2006. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

View through the smoky haze from the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. The nearby trees burned during the Douthit Wildfire in 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Looking through smoky haze toward Crow Butte from the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. The nearby trees burned during the Douthit Wildfire in 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

View through the smoky haze from the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. The nearby trees burned during the Douthit Wildfire in 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset over the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset over the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset over the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Smoke from the Wildfires

Sunset at the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The wildfires in the western part of the United States are sending a haze of smoke across the country. These photos are from the Nebraska National Forest and Fort Robinson State Park. The sun sets as a far dimmer disc than normal in these situations.

Sunset at the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset at the Nebraska National Forest, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset at Fort Robinson State Park, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset at Fort Robinson State Park, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset at Fort Robinson State Park, August 2020. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The Mirrorless DSLR

It may be a misnomer, but a mirrorless DSLR would be a great way to end the line.

After much shooting with the Nikon Z6, and far longer shooting with Nikon SLRs, I've got some thoughts.

I like the modern display of a mirrorless viewfinder. The Z6 has a fine viewfinder, and it's great to see the depth of field in real time. It's good to zoom in and confirm focus, both with the magnified view and configurable focus peaking. The quality of the viewfinder should only get better.

But I far prefer the body style of the professional D-series, whether it's the D1 through D6 lineage or the smaller D100 through D850 lineage. The controls on these larger cameras are simply more comfortably laid out.

I don't like adapting F-mount lenses to the Z-mount mirrorless camera. The FTZ adapter works well enough, though it desperately needs an AI follower for proper indexing with my (never-to-be-chipped) manual focus lenses. A screwdriver autofocus motor be nice. Make it require a battery grip or something, I don't care. But at least give it proper AI indexing.

At some point I'll give in and buy Z-mount lenses, but that's a long time in the future considering the cost, and regardless of the quality.

What I want is a D850 without the mirror and optical viewfinder. A full-time live view D850. Give it on-sensor phase detect autofocus, even with a speed penalty because of the less efficient geometry. Even contrast detect autofocus on these modern cameras is pretty good with modern lenses. A D850 with an anteater snout and an LCD in the viewfinder. What a dream.

Beyond that, we just need some compact lenses for the Z-mount. How about a pancake 24 or 28, plus a 50, plus a 105? That would be great.

Recommended Power Strips

My preferred power strips as of July 2020. You can never have enough outlets and USB power jacks.

I'm not putting links on these, because I don't do affiliate programs, and you know how to search for things.

Belkin BV112050-06

• Six vertically arranged outlets in the middle, intended for straight cords.
• Six outlets at right angles to the center row, three on either side, intended for wall warts.
• Two USB jacks below the center row.
• Power switch above the center row, with power cord at same end.
• Cable management clamp at opposite end, below USB jacks.
• Some horizontal wall warts may interfere with the USB jacks, but there shouldn't be any issues plugging those into the power switch end.
• Mounting slots allow for horizontal mounting in either direction.
• Six foot cord

Bestek MRJ1870KU-BK-10ft

• Eight outlets arranged in two rows of four at opposing angles. The outer outlet on both sides is spaced to allow for a wall wart.
• Four USB jacks on one end, with the power switch and cord on the same end.
• Mounting slots allow for horizontal mounting with the cord on the left, or vertical with the cord hanging down.
• Ten foot cord

Bestek MRJ6001-BL

• Six outlets running horizontally with no spacing for wall warts.
• Four USB jacks on one end, with the power switch and cord on the opposite end.
• Mounting slots allow for horizontal mounting with the cord on the right, or vertical with the cord hanging down.
• Six foot cord

Belkin BZ111200-06

• Sadly discontinued. This would have been an ideal power strip with four USB jacks, but that's how it goes.
• Six outlets running vertically with no spacing for wall warts.
• Four outlets running vertically with spacing for wall warts.
• Additional outlet on outside edge, with power switch on opposite edge.
• Cable management chase running the length of the chassis alongside the outlets. The main power cord comes out of the center of the chase and can be directed out of either end.
• Hinged dust cover that encloses the outlets and cable management chase.
• Mounting slots allow for horizontal mounting with the cable management chase at the top, or vertical in either direction.

Screw Sizes for Mounting a Power Strip

When it comes to mounting electronic devices such as power strips — items that have slots molded in the back or bottom of the plastic shell — you might wonder what kind of screws to use. I have had good results with two kinds: #4 flat-head wood screws and 3mm pan-head machine screws. There are undoubtedly others, but these are the ones that I've used.

Part of the problem is that the molded slots in these devices aren't large enough. A fraction of an inch or a couple millimeters extra diameter would allow a lot more flexibility, and give you a chance to use those random screws that have been piling up in the junk drawer over the years.

I most recently bought some #4 wood screws to mount a power strip, because I was short a 3mm threaded insert. I mounted the power strip onto a 6x12-inch piece of modeller's plywood, and that onto the rungs that encircle the table that needed the power strip. The screws fit the slot like a charm.

Prior to this, I've been using 3mm machine screws along with threaded inserts when putting my devices on wooden objects. The pan heads on these little screws are also the right size to cleanly fit the slots. In one case, I tapped 3mm 0.5 threads on the metal support arms of my TV stand, so I could hang my power strip behind the TV instead of letting it collect dust and cobwebs on the floor. It will still collect dust and cobwebs, but I can vacuum it out more easily.

When measuring for the slots, put a piece of paper over the device and carefully make a rubbing of the slots. Use a center punch to transfer the spacing accurately to the mounting destination. Sometimes a device will come with a pre-printed sheet for this purpose. Double check to make sure the sheet is accurate before you start drilling.