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  Topic: Wildlife, What's in your back yard?< Next Oldest | Next Newest >  
fnxtr



Posts: 3504
Joined: June 2006

(Permalink) Posted: April 11 2012,21:22   

Lopholithodes mandtii, Puget Sound King Crab, aka lunch from outer space.

Our divers were surprised to find 3 of them this far north (Campbell River, BC)

My POS camera phone doesn't bring out the amazing purple, orange and black colour scheme.  



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"[A] book said there were 5 trillion witnesses. Who am I supposed to believe, 5 trillion witnesses or you? That shit's, like, ironclad. " -- stevestory

"Wow, you must be retarded. I said that CO2 does not trap heat. If it did then it would not cool down at night."  Joe G

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 12 2012,09:38   

Quote (fnxtr @ April 11 2012,21:22)
Lopholithodes mandtii, Puget Sound King Crab, aka lunch from outer space.

Cool!

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we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Freddie



Posts: 371
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 12 2012,16:16   

Quote (Kattarina98 @ April 05 2012,10:23)
<sigh> So many beautiful pictures and just one desktop ... I think I'll start with the Blue Tit.

This one's on my desktop right now, I took it a few weeks back at a local arboretum.  It's a Rhododendron but I don't know the variety for sure, I think it is 'White Peter' but there are so many similar variants.  Looks great in the full size.

F5 - 1/1250 - 135mm - ISO200


--------------
Joe: Most criticisims of ID stem from ignorance and jealousy.
Joe: As for the authors of the books in the Bible, well the OT was authored by Moses and the NT was authored by various people.
Byers: The eskimo would not need hairy hair growth as hair, I say, is for keeping people dry. Not warm.

  
Albatrossity2



Posts: 2780
Joined: Mar. 2007

(Permalink) Posted: April 14 2012,12:04   

Went out this morning even though it was probably too cloudy, and was rewarded with some warbler sightings. Northern Parula, which are a local breeding species, was pretty common, and I also sighted this Yellow-throated Warbler, which is not common this far west, and which I had not photographed previously.

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Flesh of the sky, child of the sky, the mind
Has been obligated from the beginning
To create an ordered universe
As the only possible proof of its own inheritance.
                        - Pattiann Rogers

   
Kattarina98



Posts: 1267
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 14 2012,15:31   

Quote (Freddie @ April 12 2012,16:16)
Quote (Kattarina98 @ April 05 2012,10:23)
<sigh> So many beautiful pictures and just one desktop ... I think I'll start with the Blue Tit.

This one's on my desktop right now, I took it a few weeks back at a local arboretum.  It's a Rhododendron but I don't know the variety for sure, I think it is 'White Peter' but there are so many similar variants.  Looks great in the full size.

F5 - 1/1250 - 135mm - ISO200

Beautiful! I wish it were spring already where I live.

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Barry Arrington is a bitch.

  
NormOlsen



Posts: 104
Joined: Nov. 2011

(Permalink) Posted: April 15 2012,17:52   


Albatross for Christ's sake!


Oh fishy, fishy, fish.  And they went where ever I did go.
(Pacific Ocean Perch).

West Coast Haida Gwaii 2010.

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: April 18 2012,19:04   

Quote (Freddie @ April 12 2012,17:16)
Quote (Kattarina98 @ April 05 2012,10:23)
<sigh> So many beautiful pictures and just one desktop ... I think I'll start with the Blue Tit.

This one's on my desktop right now, I took it a few weeks back at a local arboretum.  It's a Rhododendron but I don't know the variety for sure, I think it is 'White Peter' but there are so many similar variants.  Looks great in the full size.

F5 - 1/1250 - 135mm - ISO200

Whoa schweet shot!

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“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Schroedinger's Dog



Posts: 1692
Joined: Jan. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,06:13   

While on her way back from work today, Ali found in our neighborhood this dying specimen of Periplaneta americana (American cockroach, although they originate from Africa). That beast is huuuuuge!

Please don't mind the artistic value of the shots. But, again, this shit is HUUUUUUGE!!!

(Ruler in centimeters)













--------------
"Hail is made out of water? Are you really that stupid?" Joe G

"I have a better suggestion, Kris. How about a game of hide and go fuck yourself instead." Louis

"The reason people use a crucifix against vampires is that vampires are allergic to bullshit" Richard Pryor

   
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,06:28   

A couple of thoughts:

1. It's incredibly cool that Ali found this cool.

2. It's sad that you have to add the caveat that the ruler is in cm. When the fuck is Amurka going to pull its head out of its dark-aged ass?

3. I love that you used a smoke for scale.

4. Shit, down here in Dixie we have roaches that are rumored to carry off small children in the night. What you got right there is itty bitty, son.

ETA: Now, if the roach was smoking that cig at the time, I'd be impressed.

Edited by Lou FCD on April 23 2012,07:30

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“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Schroedinger's Dog



Posts: 1692
Joined: Jan. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,06:52   

Aaaaannd now I can't stop laughing at the Dixie roach thing...

Here we mostly have Blattella germanica, quite tiny (1 to 1.5 cm). This one is a fucking monster compared to what we usualy have. Oh, an idea, I'll get my hand on a germanica and ask it to pose next to that bastard!

--------------
"Hail is made out of water? Are you really that stupid?" Joe G

"I have a better suggestion, Kris. How about a game of hide and go fuck yourself instead." Louis

"The reason people use a crucifix against vampires is that vampires are allergic to bullshit" Richard Pryor

   
fusilier



Posts: 252
Joined: Feb. 2003

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,07:46   

Teeny stuff.

When I was in grad school one of the profs was studying roach pheromones, and had an entire colony of Madagascar Hissing cockroaches.

5-8cm as adults.

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fusilier
James 2:24

  
OgreMkV



Posts: 3668
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,10:01   

Yeah, those a nothing compared to the wood roaches I grew up with.  

My cat would bring them to bed to play with... while I was sleeping!  But that cat had to actually wrestle with the roach and it wasn't a foregone conclusion who would win.

You definitely need to come visit SE Texas someday.

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Ignored by those who can't provide evidence for their claims.

http://skepticink.com/smilodo....retreat

   
Schroedinger's Dog



Posts: 1692
Joined: Jan. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,10:19   

Quote (Lou FCD @ April 23 2012,13:28)
A couple of thoughts:

1. It's incredibly cool that Ali found this cool.

2. It's sad that you have to add the caveat that the ruler is in cm. When the fuck is Amurka going to pull its head out of its dark-aged ass?

3. I love that you used a smoke for scale.

4. Shit, down here in Dixie we have roaches that are rumored to carry off small children in the night. What you got right there is itty bitty, son.

ETA: Now, if the roach was smoking that cig at the time, I'd be impressed.

Ok, I need to make a point-by-point for lulzies:

1. Ali is very passionate about science, zoology and enthomology. It's quite impossible for her to sqirm at anything (except earthworms and centipedes, for a reason).

2. I've heard of a certain space probe that failed because of this...

3. I would have used one of my condoms, but all of them made the roach look very, very tiny.

4. Already lulzed on that. I remember bad ass roaches when I was staying in Florida. Still, by southern France standard, little Timmy is still an abomination.


Ogre: would love to visit. One of my guitarists lives in Houston now and I have an open invitation. If it ever gets done, I'll let you know (for beers and food and stuff...)


ETA: I will donate the specimen to my city's natural history museum. I'd be curious to see if there has been any significant variations between the African and French varieties...

Edited by Schroedinger's Dog on April 23 2012,17:21

--------------
"Hail is made out of water? Are you really that stupid?" Joe G

"I have a better suggestion, Kris. How about a game of hide and go fuck yourself instead." Louis

"The reason people use a crucifix against vampires is that vampires are allergic to bullshit" Richard Pryor

   
Henry J



Posts: 5786
Joined: Mar. 2005

(Permalink) Posted: April 23 2012,11:48   

Quote
2. It's sad that you have to add the caveat that the ruler is in cm.

Didn't have to in my case; I figured it out by comparing the ruler to the fingers in the picture. Then I saw the comment quoted here.

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: April 24 2012,06:46   

Quote (Lou FCD @ April 23 2012,06:28)


ETA: Now, if the roach was smoking that cig at the time, I'd be impressed.

It is impressive when they do that...



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we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: April 24 2012,10:44   

I'm not sure that's a cigarette.

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“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 03 2012,14:23   

Funny foto of day:



This frisky Red Admiral decided my wife's sweater was a fun place to perch.

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we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 03 2012,14:27   



Peek-a-boo! Amazingly well camouflaged.

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we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 03 2012,14:34   

Couple of other shots from my brief stacation over last weekend:


Red headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)


White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

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we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Kattarina98



Posts: 1267
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 03 2012,15:20   

Congrats, Robin! The second one is extremely elegant - why don't you try to sell it to a magazine?

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Barry Arrington is a bitch.

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 03 2012,16:50   

Quote (Kattarina98 @ May 03 2012,15:20)
Congrats, Robin! The second one is extremely elegant - why don't you try to sell it to a magazine?

Wow! I think my ego just swelled 12X!

Thanks very much for the compliment Kattarina! However, given some of the shots Lou, Alby, and others have posted here, to say nothing of the quality of the wildlife shots found in some of the magazine like National Geographic, Audubon, and whatnot, I think I still have a ways to go before they would rank as magazine quality.   :)

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we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Kattarina98



Posts: 1267
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 03 2012,16:58   

Well, I appreciate the colours and the composition. Maybe it's not a close-up documentation of every detail of the bird, but the atmosphere is gorgeous.

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Barry Arrington is a bitch.

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: May 04 2012,08:55   

Quote (Robin @ May 03 2012,15:34)
Red headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Nice!

The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of two birds on my visual life-list that are not on my photographic life-list. (The other is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.) I am very jealous.

ETA: And P.S. There is a decidedly marked improvement in your shots over the last few months, Robin. Keep it up!

Edited by Lou FCD on May 04 2012,09:57

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“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 04 2012,13:40   

Quote (Lou FCD @ May 04 2012,08:55)
Quote (Robin @ May 03 2012,15:34)
Red headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Nice!

The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of two birds on my visual life-list that are not on my photographic life-list. (The other is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.) I am very jealous.

ETA: And P.S. There is a decidedly marked improvement in your shots over the last few months, Robin. Keep it up!

Thanks much Lou! Yeah, they're getting better, but I'm still working on a number of elements to improve the shots or keep them more consistent.

I must confess that the red-headed shots frustrated the @%@$%&&* out of me! I shot about a dozen pics of the guy and this was one of two where I was actually focused <b>on the bird</i>. I don't know what my problem is, but many of my shots are just off the subject. It pretty much happens only when I'm shooting between 200 and 300mm I'm center focusing now only, so theoretically I'm locking in on just the subject, but for some reason I'll be focused an inch behind or in front of the object regardless of what it looks like in my viewfinder or using autofocus. Grrrr...

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Freddie



Posts: 371
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 05 2012,04:53   

Quote (Robin @ May 04 2012,13:40)
Quote (Lou FCD @ May 04 2012,08:55)
 
Quote (Robin @ May 03 2012,15:34)
Red headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Nice!

The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of two birds on my visual life-list that are not on my photographic life-list. (The other is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.) I am very jealous.

ETA: And P.S. There is a decidedly marked improvement in your shots over the last few months, Robin. Keep it up!

Thanks much Lou! Yeah, they're getting better, but I'm still working on a number of elements to improve the shots or keep them more consistent.

I must confess that the red-headed shots frustrated the @%@$%&&* out of me! I shot about a dozen pics of the guy and this was one of two where I was actually focused <b>on the bird</i>. I don't know what my problem is, but many of my shots are just off the subject. It pretty much happens only when I'm shooting between 200 and 300mm I'm center focusing now only, so theoretically I'm locking in on just the subject, but for some reason I'll be focused an inch behind or in front of the object regardless of what it looks like in my viewfinder or using autofocus. Grrrr...

I have the same problem in a lot of my shots, typically at around the full length of my lens at 250mm.  I'm guessing it's multiple problems compounded by the fact that you often don't have long to focus before the bugger moves.

I've tried both manual and spot automatic focussing to see if I can improve the hit rate but no one method I use seems to be foolproof.  There needs to be a bracketing option for the focus feature :-)

Anyone have any tips for this?  I think some of the higher end cameras allow you to adjust the focus point on each lens but mine isn't one of those!

--------------
Joe: Most criticisims of ID stem from ignorance and jealousy.
Joe: As for the authors of the books in the Bible, well the OT was authored by Moses and the NT was authored by various people.
Byers: The eskimo would not need hairy hair growth as hair, I say, is for keeping people dry. Not warm.

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 05 2012,05:59   

Quote (Freddie @ May 05 2012,04:53)
Anyone have any tips for this?  I think some of the higher end cameras allow you to adjust the focus point on each lens but mine isn't one of those!

Mine either. You may be on to something Freddie. I don't have this problem (or at least, not very much) with my 18-55. I suspect that with the greater power, adjustments to the focus amount to larger and larger shifts in the focal point, but I'm just guessing here.

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
Lou FCD



Posts: 5455
Joined: Jan. 2006

(Permalink) Posted: May 05 2012,08:42   

Quote (Robin @ May 05 2012,06:59)
   
Quote (Freddie @ May 05 2012,04:53)
Anyone have any tips for this?  I think some of the higher end cameras allow you to adjust the focus point on each lens but mine isn't one of those!

Mine either. You may be on to something Freddie. I don't have this problem (or at least, not very much) with my 18-55. I suspect that with the greater power, adjustments to the focus amount to larger and larger shifts in the focal point, but I'm just guessing here.

I find I have this problem in two situations:

When I'm standing and hand-holding
When I'm hurrying my shots

When I'm standing and hand-holding the camera, and I'm tired or not paying attention to my stance, I have caught myself sort of ... weaving a little forward and back. It's kind of funny when I notice it. I usually think, "Am I drunk? wtf?" (Sometimes the answer is "yes", in which case, there's the problem, but for this purpose, let's assume the answer is "no".)

I solve this issue by either kneeling and bracing my left elbow on my knee for support, or if I have to continue to stand to get the shot, I turn my body so that I'm not square to my subject. Not quite 90 degrees, but maybe 60 or 70 or so. With my left foot pointed at the subject and my right foot almost perpendicular to the left, I find that stabilizes me better than when I'm square to the subject. I'll brace my left elbow on something if I can, or against my body as best I can if I can't.

When I'm hurrying my shots, I tend to do two things that trash my shots. I lose track of my breathing, and I pull the shutter button. I find it helpful to lower the camera and take a moment (sometimes missing the shot, but I was going to miss it anyway because of technique, so...). I think about my military experience, which at first might seem odd.

When I learned to fire a rifle, the Army taught me to breathe normally (don't hold your breath) and wait for that little natural pause between exhaling and inhaling. Your body is moving less then. When you hit that moment, gently squeeze the trigger, don't pull it. Pulling the trigger moves the rifle, and it can be enough to move your point of aim just as the rifle fires. The shot should surprise you when you hear it.

While out and about one day taking pictures, it clicked for me that the camera is just like that. It's a very precise rifle that doesn't kill its target. The minute I started treating my camera that way, I started getting a much lower ratio of shots that were unusable due to focusing issues. Wait for the pause, squeeze the shutter button.

See if those things help.

Edited for sperlingness.

Edited by Lou FCD on May 05 2012,09:45

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“Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas?

Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

   
Freddie



Posts: 371
Joined: Oct. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 06 2012,03:59   

Thanks, will give that a try!

I found a few tips elsewhere yesterday as well - one that seems to be common is:

1. Shoot in bright light (duh)

2. Set ISO to 400 or higher

3. Set aperture to 16 or higher and then hope the combination of this and ISO gives you a shutter speed you can use - having image stabilizing lenses helps.

The theory is apparently that with a larger depth of field using the higher aperture setting the point of focus on the subject is not in such a narrow window.  If it ever stops raining in the UK long enough for me to try it out I'll post some results (assuming this has some positive effect)!

--------------
Joe: Most criticisims of ID stem from ignorance and jealousy.
Joe: As for the authors of the books in the Bible, well the OT was authored by Moses and the NT was authored by various people.
Byers: The eskimo would not need hairy hair growth as hair, I say, is for keeping people dry. Not warm.

  
QED



Posts: 41
Joined: July 2008

(Permalink) Posted: May 06 2012,17:34   

I usually just lurk here, but photography's been a hobby for 35 years and I know a bit about the technical side.

Focus is always more difficult at the extremes of a long zoom because the depth of field decreases as the focal length increases (with equal apertures). Also, unless it's a "parfocal" lens, the zoom will probably require refocusing when the focal length is changed.

Some cameras do indeed allow for focus micro-adjustments. I've been playing with my new 5Dii, and have been surprised that both my Canon lenses (24-70L f/2.8 & 50 f/1.8) have required adjustment - one back-focuses and one front-focuses slightly. Normally this isn't a big deal, but when you're working with larger apertures and long lenses, it can matter. Some photographers find in time they can adjust the focus slightly in manual mode to compensate, if the body doesn't have micro-adjust. For those fortunate enough to own a 60D or 5D, there is new software called Focal that will calibrate lenses automatically while the camera is tethered to the computer by a USB cable. I'm not shilling for the developer, but he has been very cooperative during the beta trial versions.

Setting the aperture to 16 or higher will certainly give greater depth of field, but be aware that most lenses have a resolution sweet-spot between F/4 and f/11. Bumping the ISO is sometimes a better option, then deal with the increased noise in Lightroom or Photoshop.

As Lou mentions, practice makes the biggest difference in the final result. Knowing your camera and lenses well, using them until they become second nature as you work, and also the post-processing is key, after your artistic sense, of course.

Sorry to butt in - just wanted to add a few hints from an old-timer...

  
Robin



Posts: 1431
Joined: Sep. 2009

(Permalink) Posted: May 07 2012,08:46   

Quote (Lou FCD @ May 05 2012,08:42)
See if those things help.

Most excellent summary Lou! Thanks!

--------------
we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo

The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

  
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