Buggy camera

[greatbear]

A couple weekends ago, during our monthly (give or take) visit north to visit to visit Jeff's parents, I took my quadrotor "drone" with me to try again to get some aerial photos of their house. I wanted to create a framed aerial photo similar to one I wrote about a while back. My first attempt was thwarted by unexpected problems with the GoPro camera that's attached to the drone. It locked up when I started the 2-second-per-photo shutter sequence (and I didn't know this until I had flown the rig for about fifteen minutes), and I had to remove the the camera from the mount in order to remove the battery and reset the camera. The glitch wiped out my settings and I had problems getting the camera to work right during the second flight, so I flew the thing around for the benefit of Jeff's youngest nephew instead due to time constraints, and figured I would try again in about a month. So after some tinkering with the camera I buzzed the yard, the neighboring farm and buffalo, and did some high-altitude shots of the general area. This time was successful. I have plenty of usable shots for the aerial photo, plus some other cool pics from up high.

While bringing the rig down, I noticed an Amish family trotting by. The kids in back noticed the drone at first and the family stopped in the street in front of the house to watch. I lowered the rig for them to see it better, but doing so, I momentarily lost it in the sun. When I moved to see it again, I was temporarily blinded and could not tell which end was which, so my attempt at getting a closer-in shot of the buggy and company ended up being several photos of the side yard and an old barn instead. All the better, anyway, since most Amish are not fond of having their pictures taken. After a few moments of looking (they seemed more to know what the floating thing was more than being totally puzzled), they trotted off up the road. I admire the Amish, they all are friendly and outgoing in this area, and despite being very traditional, they are not totally averse to some of the latest technology, as long as they can use it in their own way and it makes their work more efficient. Cell phones, cordless power tools, generators and the like help them get more work done, yet can be completely turned off and out of their lives at home. They've also treated Jeff's mom and dad very well over the years, you'll recall when their house burned down they were ready to begin cleaning up that very day and help dad begin rebuilding. I feel a bit of kindred spirit with the Amish, aside from the lack of technology and cools stuff as well as the entire religion thing, We are both very self sufficient, independent, helpful to others, and like the results of hard work and craftsmanship. If I were to get the required hat and lose the mustache from my beard, I could fit right in. But the mustache stays.

Here is my favorite shot of my buggy encounter:

Comments

[merlinwon.livejournal.com]

Awesome on the pic! :)

Your talk about the amish reminded me of that movie "Deadly Blessing"! Eeks. lol!

They somewhat fascinate me.

♥

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

They are interesting people. Of course, not every group or sect are the same. The ones around where dad lives are pretty outgoing, a bit more progressive, friendly. Some places the Amish are very closed up, obnoxious, distrusting of anyone not like them.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's very sharp, detailed photo. Well done!

I've not read the history of the question I'm about to ask ... Why do the Amish have the long beards with no mustache? Is there a hygiene issue with mustaches? I'm curious ...

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

From what I've been able to gather, the tradition is to wear a beard, and they don't consider a moustache to be a part of the beard. Why that tradition is seems to be purely religious edict rather than any concern about hygiene. Given that many ancient religious customs and commandments actually had some basis in food purity and health concerns (like kosher guidelines) as well as cleanliness, the hygiene angle might've been a part of this.

I find mustache-less beards rather odd myself. I've only seen very few people this truly looks attractive on, it seems like a compromise otherwise. Another facial hair oddity are those who wear a mustache curled into handlebars and loops regularly, and for the moment the 'stache isn't waxed into shape. It looks like their nose is part of a broom, and you can't see their mouths when they speak. Reminds me of cartoon characters. :)

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that it stems from their persecution by the military in Germany at a time when it was the fashion for officers to wear elaborate moustaches. Since at the time such officers also wore rather garish uniforms and the Amish value simplicity ... the moustache went as a symbol of such excess.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

It did seem to me that mustaches were considered adornments, but I don't know that part of their history.

[dan4behr.livejournal.com]

I spy Phil in the driveway along with a Subaru and a Silverado!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's me, Jeff's Subie, and dad's lightly toasted Silverado!

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

Lotta land!

I have a thing for the Amish. Ohio thing. My Mom still goes to Amish shops to get food. I am addicted to the Amish Snickerdoodles the sell at our Public Market here in Rochester.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

There's an Amish market a few miles from where we live here. Ironic that it is a shorter drive for us to get Amish goodies in MD then it is up there in the middle of Amish country. lol