Arduino

I have gotten myself an Arduino Uno - open source electronics prototyping platform - in order to build some inexpensive camera traps and possibly write a small article about it to a photo magazine. The Trailmaster Infrared Trail Monitor model TM550 that I have used before is quite nice and customizable but it is not cheap @ 180 US$. A DIY solution building on Arduino will be much cheaper and perhaps even more customizable as one can program it. For instance the TM550 has a minimum wait time of 6 seconds after a triggering event. That can sometimes be limiting. With more cameras employed simultaneously, chances of success will be the increased immensely.

Also, I have ideas about making some PIR alarms for fox den surveillance as part of my fieldwork at Zackenberg in Northeast Greenland. We are supposed to spent a full day by all fox dens suspected of having pups, but it can be extremely tiring as long periods can pass without any activity or pups showing up. We do have camera traps at the dens but they don't catch everything and if things are happening behind the camera and their PIR sensors we will not know. With an Arduino based PIR alarm perhaps with multiple PIR sensors in opposite directions and with a radio link to an audio alarm close by the hideout some distance away, it will not be a disaster if one falls asleep or reads a book while on watch. 

Fjällräven Anorak No.8

Coming back from months of field work in Greenland, I noticed the new Anorak No.8 by Fjällräven. It is the 8th anorak they make and it is part of their so-called "numbers series".

I really like anoraks and this new model is very nice. Fjällräven is using a new heavy duty version of the G-1000 material on parts taking more abbrasion. Also, it has a very spacious hood with a closed foam filled rim - looks like they got some inspiration from the also Swedish outdoor clothing company Klättermusen on that one. The very long pit zips could also be inspired from Klättermusen. They go all the way from the pits to the lower rim of the anorak like on the Klattermusen Froste jacket. The side zippers seem to be very easy to replace should the need arise - it often does with zippers!

Another very nice detail is the big front pocket with side zippers. Fjällräven had a similar design on the Mårma Anorak (now seemingly only available in the US in some colours and sizes). Having side access to this main pocket, I find so great that I modified my latest Fjälräven Gutulia Anorak (see photo).

I was not satisfied with having the lower pocket (with side access) on the original design obstructed by the hip belt of my big backpack. After all I am carrying some sort of a backpack most of the time when in the field and very rarely a small one without a proper hip belt. Therefore, I was very disappointed to see how low the big front pocket was placed on the new Anorak No.8. If you look at the video bellow, you can see how part of the pocket fall under the hip belt after Johan Skullman takes off his backpack. Notice the marks of the belt above the lower seam of the pocket.

Another big criticism of this anorak is it's prize tag. It is clear that a lot of effort has been put into the design and details of this anorak but 3499,- DKK is a lot of money! Although I really like this anorak, I will probably not buy it.

Photo shooting sledge prototype ready

I now have the first prototype ready after finding parts today at Foto/C and Møller & Mammen.
A few things need adjustment but it is a good starting point.

Photo shooting sledge

At Ittorqqortoormiit we intend to try to photograph seals on the sea ice. Therefore I set out to construct photo shooting sledges. Today I gave up on finding white baby plastic skis on sale. It is prabably too late in the season. Instead I have split one of the old Swedish wooden army skis (model Vita Blixten) I had in the basement. At first I thought of a traditional shooting sledge a la this photo but I imagine it could be problematic with a big black round hole looking through the white sheet. Rather, I have been considering a solution where the camera and lens is covered in white cloth and turned perpendicular to the direction of advance (with a ball head) only to be turned at the last moment before exposure. One should then be camouflaged in a white suit as well of course.