Earning your carbs!

I accomplished two three things today. I was outside and got some good sunlight. I danced (workout) for a good two to three hours and I grilled a bounty for a party tonight. The video seems a little long so after some more editing I should probably shorten it quite a bit more.

My setup allows me to do various things while grilling. I can choose to use the weight rack or transform it as I did today into my video editing station. :-)

Here it is:

Nordic Run

This is my early morning Nordic Run. I woke up at 4:15AM, saw a bit of the Olympics (Darra Torres) and went out for my run. Our new trail is almost complete, the bridge that connects the two sections now open. This is what it looks like when you're up early. It's just you and the trail.

Diffused light

This morning was overcast. My energy level was not as high as it has been in the last few weeks. The alarm actually go to me this time.

Two things happened. I did not get up immediately and I did not go outside either to walk. My drowsiness level therefore remained a little higher than usual.

Diffused light such as that produced by overcast day is great for photography. It's also darker as far Exposure Values (EVs) are concerned. Apparent sunrise is much later than normal even though it has already happened by 6:00AM.

Lesson learned. Even if I don't go running, I must step outside and catch the light for a little bit. Melatonin is reduced or increased by the amount of light present.

This is an excerpt from Wikipedia on Melatonin:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

" ... melatonin is produced by pinealocytes in the pineal gland (located in the brain) and also by the retina, lens and GI tract. It is naturally synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan (via synthesis of serotonin) by the enzyme 5-hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase.Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is under the influence of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus,which receives information from the retina about the daily pattern of light and darkness. Both SCN rhythmicity and melatonin production are affected by non-image-forming light information traveling through the recently-identified retinohypothalamic tract (RHT).The light/dark information reaches the SCN via retinal photosensitive ganglion cells, intrinsically photosensitive photoreceptor cells, distinct from those involved in image forming (that is, these light sensitive cells are a third type in the retina, in addition to rods and cones). These cells represent approximately 2% of the retinal ganglion cells in humans and express the photopigment melanopsin.^[11] The sensitivity of melanopsin fits with that of a vitamin A-based photopigment with a peak sensitivity at 484 nm (blue light).^[12] This photoperiod cue entrains the circadian rhythm, and the resultant production of specific "dark"- and "light"-induced neural and endocrine signals regulates behavioral and physiological

Circadian rhythms.

Melatonin may also be produced by a variety of peripheral cells such as bone marrow cells,^[13][14] lymphocytes and epithelial cells.

Usually, the melatonin concentration in these cells is much higher than
that found in the blood but it does not seem to be regulated by the photoperiod.

Melatonin is also synthesized by various plants, such as rice, and ingested melatonin has been shown to be capable of reaching and binding to melatonin binding sites in the brains of mammals.^{[15][16]' ...}

Light dependence

Production of melatonin by the pineal gland is inhibited by light and permitted by darkness.
For this reason melatonin has been called "the hormone of darkness" and
its onset each evening is called the Dim-Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO).
Secretion of melatonin as well as its level in the blood, peaks in the
middle of the night, and gradually falls during the second half of the
night, with normal variations in timing according to an individual's chronotype....

^"

The light difference and why we still live in caves!

Much is said about our modern age. We pat ourselves on the back for all our accomplishments. And rightly so, there is been a lot of good accomplished through collaboration, exploration and just plain curiosity and determination to not let one failure or one thousand ruin the party.

There is of course the dark side of the picture but we sure have so much potential. We as humans though keep tripping over our success and sometimes we just need to go back to basics. Take the issue of light in our environment. Why do we choose to still live in caves? It may seem that the two are not related but let's explore the connection.

The typical home or office has a number of light fixtures, windows and other light sources. The earth has one, Ok, two main sources. The sun and the moon. The moon reflecting light from the sun.

Why could we categorize most homes as caves. It's the difference in ambient light. Office buildings where we work are not much better. Even when large windows are present.

As a photographer, familiar with the 'sweet light', Sunrise to about Ten or Eleven AM and from Three PM till just after Sunset, it dawned on me that indoors it is dark! Yes we run inside to stay away from the heat and Ultra Violet radiation (which is really more a problem during mid day and worse I suppose near the Equator), but therein lies the problem.

Light is good for you. Especially Sunlight. I learned this when I was in Kindergarten. Something happened between the occurrence of skin cancer, and marketing advertisements that sent us all packing inside or wearing Sunglasses at all times. Common sense (which is experienced base), is necessary here.

What is the difference in ambient light indoors as opposed to being in less just say in the shade outdoors. It is amazing how much light difference there is. We just don't sense it because our eyes adjust to it.

This morning I took my light meter (I had never thought of using in it this manner) and measured the ambient light inside my home in the kitchen. It's rather bright in there. If I were taking a photo with my camera, one setting would be and exposure at 2seconds and at aperture of F5.6. So leaving setting the same, I went outside. This is the same lighting present at just before Sunrise. 2 seconds at F5.6. The brightest part of my house then (the kitchen), has the ambient light similar to pre-sunrise lighting outdoors. That is pretty dark.

I went on the web to find out when Sunrise would occur today and it turns out that would be at six AM this morning. I waited for a few minutes and measured the light again. The difference was a seven to nine exposure steps. I was amazed. It did not seem that much brighter to my eyes. My meter told a different story. Two seconds would then require and exposure of F45 or F64.

It's a cave in my home. I have fixed some of this and brought the light difference to four steps in some rooms.

The next time a calculation of what that means in terms of light and measurements at my office.