Answering a question

Paul asked about what camera I was using for my underwater photos. It's funny that you asked on the day that you did, I had just been looking for underwater housings for the D300. I'm planning on upgrading to full frame this summer so the housing is going to have to wait until at least this winter and maybe even next year. They ain't cheap! Once I have the FX camera and a few lens then I will start saving again for the underwater housing and the Nikon D300 will become my underwater camera and backup.

But until then, I am using an Olympus FE-360 8mp point and shoot. It was rated in 2010 by one of the underwater photography magazines as the top underwater camera priced under $200. The camera has two specific settings just for underwater shooting that make adjustments for being underwater.

Olympus makes their own underwater housing for the camera that is rated to 160 feet I think. I know it's rated a lot deeper than I will ever go.

The housing lets you operate every function of the camera while underwater with separate buttons for everything. You can zoom in or out or use the flash, etc. with just the push of a button.

I also purchased a "Fantasea" Big Eye lens for the housing. This is pretty much a wide angle lens that is designed to use the water to help increase the angle of view. The lens attaches to the front of the housing and can be put on or removed while underwater. The lens requires that the space between the housing and the "big eye" be filled with water to work properly.

If you can hold still enough underwater the camera rig takes pretty good pictures.

Tourists, part III?

This was taken during a "little walk" on one of Parker's vacations. I think we had only gone about a mile through the moutains at this point and he had to lay down to take a photo. LOL

I also got a photo of Paul while on vacation.

Sorry Paul, I just had too much time on my hands this weekend! I really don't mean to pick on you. Well, maybe a little! You just make it way too easy. LOL

Hearts and Roses

Alright Girls and Guys! It's St. Valentines Day and I'm sure you know what to do!

Sierra Rose, my grand daughter on the left, Alexis her friend, Charlotte my wife, visiting Heart Rock!

Located in the Wichita Mtns. of Oklahoma, and not marked on most maps, if you know where to find the large Heart of granite, it makes a special place for pictures!

Legend has it, if you both are touching the heart and kiss your significant other, a long life together will follow! I believe it works!

Must have the Roses for the day to be complete!

Also found in the Wichita Mtns. were these Heirloom Roses growing wild at the Ferguson Homestead.

It SNOWED Last Night!

Well the snow finally decided to pay a visit to Oklahoma last night! I was beginning to think the white stuff was going to miss us this year. Oh well, enjoy it while it's here because it won't hang around long. The temp is already up to 34F and climbing to 40F this afternoon, so I had to get busy if any pics were to be captured before it melted. All the pics were taken from the backyard and screened in porch. Still had my pajamas and houseshoes on! Hope you enjoy them! The pics that is!

Whether in Sunshine or Snow, may your cameras find natures handiwork and beauty in your pics today! Sometimes it's fleeting, as this snow will be!

Holding my breath

I learned two things about underwater photography on my recent trip to Hawaii. Because I had a sinus infection for most of the trip I was unable to scuba dive and could only snorkel.

The first thing I learned is that it can be difficult to get a good shot underwater when you don't have air to breath. I was working along a shallow reef one day and decided to dive down to take a few pictures. Without a scuba tank I only had about a minute and a half to find, compose and take the shot before I had to surface for air. This meant everything was rushed which made it hard to get any really good photos as you can see by the ones that I posted.

The second thing I learned is you have to watch the currents along a shallow reef. Since the water was shallow it moved around a lot more which in turn moved me around a lot more. This made for a lot of blurry pictures and a time that I was almost hamburger meat. I got just a little too close to the reef once with an outgoing wave and just about got drug over the reef. I was able to get a quick hand hold on the reef itself as I was being carried out before the wave drug me completely across it. Needless to say, I stayed a few feet farther from the reef after that!

The first two pictures were taken along the bottom of the reef and the third photo was taken from shore as a perspective. If you look closely at the bottom of the wave on the right you can see the reef through the water.

Wind and Surf

Here's a photo of someone doing something I can't. At least not long enough for somebody to get my picture. LOL

BROADWAY! Before and After!

A Pic of aPic

Photo was taken from the many pics that were displayed from various merchants doing buisness along Broadway. Friendly folks investing in their Dreams of a City on the move!

This would have been a scene that could have come from my early days when Dad and Mom brought my brother and I  to the Big Town! One or two visits a year were the norm!

Buy an Oldsmobile, And stay a Night on Us!

Just a tongue in cheek statement! But at the time this photo was taken many people came from the rural areas of Oklahoma to see the latest offerings of new and used cars that were available. An overnight stay was required. Broadway was "Automobile Alley"!  Every Brand and Dream from Detroit , Studebakers from Indiana, and many more were displayed! And I'm sure the competition was keen!

Hotel Marion

Worse for wear, check out last pic, this Guy even with a few boarded windows, is still holding court over his end of  'Automobile Alley'. Rumor has it, that the work will begin soon to bring  this building back to an 'Uptown' address.

Kickn' Broadway was fun and brought back memories. Perhaps we will do it again, with new angles! Automobile Alley with it's  long time association from the early days of automobiles, makes a new challange! Food for thought!

Kicken' Broadway!

fin

Bright botanicals

I took these photos as I was walking along the beach one day. Their bright colors just drew me to them.

I miss Hawaii, it was 10 ten degrees when I woke up this morning, headed for a whopping 25 degrees as a high! Where are the palm trees and the turtles? LOL

Paddlers on the Ala wai canal

Just having a look through pictures from the latest trip to Waikiki and found another picture worth posting (after cropping and minor adjustments).

Took this with the Sigma 120-400 at 400mm

Following in Paul's footsteps

If your a tourist there always has to be the obligatory photo of you taking a photo, thanks to my wife Cheryl, of course.

I thought about trying to put a tan on my legs in Nikon's NX2 but then I thought, nah, I'll just shock everyone's senses awake this mornning! There's nothing like looking at a fat old man with bright white legs to make you feel better. LOL

I really do need to move to Hawaii just to destress. Two weeks every six years just isn't enough to do the trick. Does gray hair go away???

7 ways to spot a tourist...

1. Posing with statues and other inanimate object is the first and most obvious give away.

2. Taking stupid pictures. Many times these pictures are of poor composition and quality. (Note the background is not level)

3. An aloha shirt is the sign of a tourist on holiday. Matching his and hers aloha shirts are an even surer sign.

4. Often tourists have information brochures, maps and other similar information in their hands.

5. Tourists wear clothing while on holiday that they would never be caught in dead where they really live! (this includes footwear)

6. Most tourists sport a silly don't have a care in the world smile on their faces. (And a big stack of credit card receipts in their pockets)

7. Pasty white legs! This is the surest way to spot a tourist in paradise.

Before, During and After

I can honestly say I don't recommend the "after" shot unless you are very comfortable in the water and can hold your breath really well! I took about 50 shots trying to get one like the center shot. I finally cheated and took a picture of a picture that I saw in Lahaina. Does that count? Catching the curl just at the right time and angle is extremely difficult. After about an hour of getting beat up by the waves I called it a day. The after shots were really easy to get. LOL

Out to sea

A few water shots from Maui. The first shot I was actually in the water with my underwater camera and the second shot was taken from the deck of a boat.

Reflecting

Found this stately fellow reflecting by the edge of the water... So I shot him!

With my camera of course and the Sigma 120-400 at 400mm.

Just a day in paradise

I took this while walking along the Ka'anapali Beach one day. The colors and the view seemed to say "Welcome to Hawaii!"

As a side note. I received an e-mail this morning about pre-ordering a new Nikon D800 FX DSLR. The information about the 36.3 mega-pixel camera can be found here, just in case you're interested. http://www.nikon.com/news/2012/0207_dslr_01.htm

Feeling a little Froggie

Aloha!
I wanted to share my photo taken from a point and shoot camera that Ron let me use in Hawaii. :) I spotted this little guy hanging around the pond on a beautiful sunny Hawaiian day!

Hugs;
Cheryl:)

A postcard from Coal Harbour

I was out doing some work with the boat this afternoon and snapped this picture on my way back in to Coal Harbour at the end of the day.

The weather up this way has been more what you would expect in late April not early February! If this is global warming, bring it on!

IN SEARCH OF JEWELS

Posters of current venues!

Just past the bicycle shop, and two hours of 'Kickin' Broadway', the smell of fresh brewed coffee caught our attention! Time for a pick me up!  And a break!
I think Juan Valdez must have picked the beans himself, the exotic coffees were a treat!

Art Deco Period

The coffee conversation was about how we enjoyed our walk and the appreciation for the people that were taking interest in the rejuvenation of North Broadway!

Almost, as if on cue, a spectacular jeweled reflection appeared in the next window down from the coffee shop!

It's not everyday you get to see a jeweled Buffalo,or, bison, bison! An icon of Oklahoma and the plains! The friendly lady, seen to the right, invited us in for a closer look!

All along this walk on Broadway we could feel the pride from the people that were bringing back the pulse, along with the heart and soul, of this important artery, which once led from the very heart of Oklahoma City! We both recognized that Jewels come from the Heart of The People!!

Kickn' Broadway

part 8

Twin engines

Parker asked, in jest of course, where the motor was on these things. There's two of them Parker, they're called arms!

I watched several people in these outrigger canoes while we were there. They seemed to be practicing because I could seem them coming around the bend of the beach paddling as fast and as hard as they could. They would keep this up for about 300 yards before stopping and resting for about three minutes and then they would turn the outrigger around and start back to where they came paddling hard and fast again.

I was impressed that they could paddle that hard that long. I think I would have lasted about 20 yards and then I would have needed a nap!

It's a tough crowd!

OK, so Paul isn't that impressed with the whale fins. How about some really active, slap the water tale fin action?

These were taken with the Sigma 150-500mm lens at 500mm from the comfort of the non-moving shore. I was even able to enjoy a beer while taking these shots!