Posts Made By: James Brown

Consummate sun bathers!

A view into the lava tube.

#3

Hi Phil:

Neat pic!

Was he sitting in an "old gum tree, eating all the gum drops he could see"?

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Jim

The second is a pair of Kapuhili (oval butterfly fish)

Another NuNu (cornet fish)
These guys were easy to photograph, because at least they would stay still!

Scott Mortimer said:

these are beautiful! Where were you staying in Hawaii? Where'd you get the waterproof case?

-Scott

Hi Scott:

We were staying in Puako, about 45 minutes north of Kona. We rented a small 1950s era house. All of the turtle pictures and most of the other pictures were taken 30 or 40 yards from the waters edge, right in front of the place we rented. It was really cool. We wentout in the morning basically every day.

The following link is from a great web site (shorediving.com) if you like to dive or snorkel with your own gear from the shore. The house we rented actually sort of shows on the aerial photo. It is across the street from the church and about 3 houses up. Scroll all the way down this page for the photo:

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/TBI/Puako_Church/index.htm

We also snorkeled once each at the "Place of Refuge" and Captain Cook Monument, south of Kona. These sites were very nice, but popular. We were basically alone at Puako.

I got the case from B&H Photo. They carry a size/shape to fit virtually every Canon camera made. I also bought an external flash, but it was unnecessary in shallow water on a sunny day. I'm ready to go on a deeper water photo-safari if I ever get scuba certified though!

Jim

Hi Floyd:

You are asking for opinions of course. The following is only my opinion!

I went through this mental exercise two years ago. I determined that for me, the best bang for the buck was a Starlight Xpress SXV-H9 (monochrome). It is extremely low noise, and has small pixels that match well with my refractor. The cost was/is about $2800.00. That is plenty of ouch of course, but a lot less that the large format cameras from SBIG, Finger Lakes etc. that I lust over.

What really sold me were Adrian Oradean's images taken with this camera. They are in the Anacortes Gallery here:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/gallery/customer_home.asp?c=27279

I think Adrian's images are about as good as it gets with moderately priced equipment. Talent really does matter in this hobby. His skills allow super bang for the buck.

I am happy with the SXV-H9. Some of my better images are linked to my profile. (I'm working on a couple of good ones right now.) Still working up the learning curve!

Some day I will own a large format camera though. I'm just waiting for those prices to come down even more!

Jim

Tinchi Lee said:

kudos to Columbia for giving ahmandinejad a chance to speak, however unagreeable many may find.

THAT is the core of free speech, don't you think?

Hi Tinchi:

The First Amendment protects free speech, and the right to free association too.

What do you think of your alma mater's ban on the ROTC, since 1969. It is my understanding that the students at Columbia recently petitioned for the re-establishment of an ROTC program, but that their efforts were squashed by Columbia's president Bollinger. I believe that Bollinger cited the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy as the basis for his opposition to the ROTC. Apparently he can not tolerate that level of discrimination... so no damn reserve officers are going to disgrace his campus!

Of course Ahmadinejad summarily executes gays, just for being gay. Not our business or Bollinger's concern, I suppose....

What do you think of the long standing ROTC ban at Columbia? What do you think of Bollinger's opposition to re-establishment of an ROTC program?

Jim

Maurice Clark said:

Hi all,

Only a short time after not knowing which country he was in and not knowing which international gathering he was attending, it would appear that president Bush believes that Saddam Hussein killed Nelson Mandela!!! 8O

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/22/2040473.htm

If this is really the best that you guys can come up with as a leader... then the rest must really be hopeless!!!!!!

Cheers,

Maurice

I think you've possibly been fooled this time Maurice. Details provided elsewhere.

Cheers!