OK! Back Again! - Market Place Pictures

I'm trying to keep up here but I'm running into a lot of squeaky wheels. This post is the framed pieces that have been and will remain hanging in the "Market Place" gallery at Perry County Council of the Arts(PCCA). Every year the PCCA and Harrisburg Area Community College(HACC) put out a call to new artists and current PCCA members to fill the gallery with there 2 and 3-d art. It generally begins around the 1st weekend in Nov. with an open house then finishes up at the end of Jan. It gives the new artist some exposure and the community a venue for holiday shopping while allowing currrent members to continue displaying their works with the added traffic through the gallery. The Lion fish was taken in the Cayman Islands and the other to shots earlier at the Hershey Gardens Butterfly House.
Here is a wish for everyone to have a
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm Back!

I could offer many excuses where I've been for the last couple of months but won't. For those that kept checking back to see if I had returned, Thank You! To many projects running and that's a good thing. One of the weeks, we were gone for vacation on the Cayman Aggressor, a dive yacht in the Cayman Islands. And for those that aren't familar with these islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac, they are in the Carribean right below Cuba and set northwest of Jamaica.
The following shots are from a night dive during the trip. Those not familiar with octopus, they can change color and texure in a moment which by looking at the pictures you can begin to see what I'm talking about. These following pictures taken in a few minutes are from a series of about 15 to 20 shots of the same octopus. Enjoy!

Hershey Butterfly House - Some Residents

Some time ago, my mother won some tickets to the Butterfly House at the Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA. A couple of weeks ago, she invited me to go with her to make use of them before the end of the season.
We had wonderful weather, and not just because it didn't rain. Butterflies are cold blooded so it takes the heat of the day to warm their bodies so they become active. And since we've had a mild and cooler than normal summer, it was great that it was in the 80's. The woman that was monitoring the facility and answering questions was telling us that on some of the cooler days the butterflies didn't move from the plants and in some cases remained hidden. That would have been disappointing, but in God's providence, that wasn' t the case for us. More to follow in the next posts.

Hamlet Portraits from San Salvador,Bahamas

These images were taken while on the liveaboard boat Explorer Ventures I, both in 2005 and 2006. Hamlets are in the Bass-like family of fishes. They are colorful with interesting markings.
I think the Indigo Hamlet below expresses an attitude in its appearance. There are a few more species of Hamlets whose images I hope to capture.

Indigo Hamlet

Barred Hamlet

Shy Hamlet

Juvenile Drums - From My Dive Archives!

I was looking for some images to post. Not that I don't have any, since my catalog has grown to nearly 40,000, but its been nearly a week since my last post. I've been busy, most of my images are now stored on external HD's and I wanted something easy. Opening up some files looking for some dive images, I ran across some prepared shots of juvenile drums. These are some unique fish and express God's unique creativity. The drum has an interesting metamorphosis with a variety of changes thoughout its life span.
A few years ago while on a boat in the Casa Banks, an area about 30 miles north of Cuba in the Bahamas, I was able to get some great pics of the youngest form of this fish I've yet to see. I was returning from a dive doing my safety stop while heading back to the boat in about 15-20 ft. of water and hugging the sea floor in order to see any macro creatures that were out and about. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some really small creatures in the mouth of an opening in the coral shelf(sea floor). I stopped like a curious kid to investigate, a surprise and a treat. These juvenile drums were like little Star Wars space ships. So, I began trying to take their picture. Because they were so small and moving around the opening, it made it extremely difficult to get what looked to be, in the LCD, a useable image. With some cropping to get them to a size that can be viewed, you'll be able to see the resemblence to space ships. As for the rest of the intermediate forms of the fish you'll also get a chance to see why I think it expresses God's creativity. In the adult form a fish that starts with black and white strips, grows a streamer, then sheds it, ends up in what the icons of fashion would consider a no-no, wearing strips and poka dots together. You can compare these next images with the already posted image from February 25th, actually the kick-off post for this blog. It will be the center image of those posted on that Wednesday.

Portraits of the Week

Here are some of the shots that I took this week. It's amazing to see just how much a person can miss and how much is going on around us when we pick a small area and focus on the creatures in it. When beginning divers get to a reef, its not uncommon that they try to cover as much of the reef as fast as they can. This results in a great deal of missed reef life. In time, some find that you can settle on a small section and just hang out. Instead of you covering the reef, you stay put and let the creatures come to you or at least reveil themselves. Now, I wasn't diving this week, unfortunately, but I had been at a marsh area shooting small dragonflies. They were sitting on the leaves of plants when out of the weeds climbed a praying mantis. It basically came to me saying take my picture for your blog. I was very happy to do so. So, I know we are all busy, but the phrase,"Stop to smell the roses" can provide a nice respite during the day and remind us that there is so much we miss as we speed around.

Sheldon Reynolds at Ricketts Glen

This is one of the many shots that was taken at Ricketts Glen during the 4th of July weekend, in between the days spent in Harrisburg at the American Music Fest. For those that are not familar with Ricketts Glen, it is a PA state park and has 22 named water falls. It is located about 30 miles north of Bloomsburg. We spent quite a few hours there and got lots of exercise. Sheldon Reynolds is a bridal falls and has a drop of about 36'. It is the 2nd falls as one hikes the trail from the Route 118 parking area. If you ever get the chance its well worth the day hiking amidst the flowing waters.

Perfect Landing

Well, as usual, I've been pretty busy this week. But, I still wanted to get something posted. I have been prepping pictures for uploading to the blog but I've run into a dilemma. I wanted this site to reflect some of the wonders of God's creation as the title expresses, "Allinsixdays". Some of my photography has taken a side trip and even though it still technically falls within it, it doesn't have the same flavor as initially intended. Like the steeplechase pics, they were interesting and the hats were a fun subject to shoot. They really don't fall in the nature, wildlife aspect. So I've decided to spin off a new blog which will share the images I shoot at events like the steeplechase, shows like the American Music Fest, and other events that I've shot or will be shooting. Soon I imagine I will be pushed into a web site, but for now I'll work from blogs. So that should allow me to showcase new and different photographic skills as they are honed and broadened.
As for the current posted image, I shot this this week while waiting for a dock door in State College. I can see why most everyone that has this lense likes it. The 100mm macro is one from which I'm sure I'll get a lot of mileage.
I'll be back soon to post here and to reveal the link to my sister blog. I know some bands from the American Music Fest are anxiously waiting to see what I captured.

Recent Portaits

Here are some animal portraits I shot a few weeks ago at Zoo America at Hershey Park, Hershey,PA. The Red Tail Hawk was not in his cage for this shot. I was able to play with one of my newest lenses, the 100mm macro. I've been shooting bugs and very small things and very close. I think, from the subject to the camera sensor, the minimum distance is a little less than a foot. (bugs,flowers,etc.)

Red Tail Hawk

During the week, I was sharing with a few people how with the right position of the subject, in these pictures the cats away from the fence and the camera located as close to the fence as possible, the fence will nearly be eliminated from the image. So, here are two shots where the fence is all but eliminated from the image.

Lynx

Mountain Lion

Also,I decided to crop a portion of the last posted image because I wasn't sure how well you were able to see the intricate tangled mess of this creature. As I said in the previous post, this is the way you would find it during the day.

Why Night Dives?

Well, here it is again, almost another month since my last post. But today I mailed out two cd's containing over 200 images which were taken at my family reunion last July. Much of my spare time was spent making minor adjustments and some cropping. As I understand, they will be used for a slide show at this years reunion. Hence the need to only spend time working on them and nothing else. However, I haven't stopped shooting during this last month. Besides the usual Amish/Menonite pictures, landscapes, flowers, birds, I've taken a fair amount of shots at the Heritage Days in Carlisle, Shakespeare in the Park in Harrisburg, Arts Fest in Harrisburg, Zoo America and the Park at Hershey, Founders Day in Boiling Springs and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. Maybe some of them will find there way on here in the future, maybe.
Recently I had a discussion with a certified diver, that has yet to do a night dive and she seemed leary of attempting one. Then I began explaining the unique experience which I will share with you as well. Just as we have animals that are nocturnal, so it is with the sea. Other than in pictures , the only way you would be able to see these creatures is to do a night dive.
One of the examples I used to explain the difference in behaviors from day to night, was a Basket Star. Looking at the top center of the posted picture, you will see a jumbled mess in a ball shape. This is generally what you would see during the day. You may see them affixed to a sea fan or some soft corals with a nearly choke hold on its host. Now look below that jumble in the picture to the opened Basket Star which has extended its arms out in the current in order to feed. I have seen them in a variety of colors and size.

Basket Star

Another example is the Orange Cup corals. During the day, they have the appearance of cut off thumbs, short and stubby. But the inward tucked tenacles unfold and extend themselves up and out in to the currents as you can see from the pictures previously posted in March. "The Wall at Rappel" that was posted on 3/28, depicts the Orange Cups during the day. The earlier post on 3/21 shows them extended and feeding. These are just a couple of simple examples among many that make night diving so interesting. Also dives during the transitions, from day to night and night to day, are are also something to see. During these times, you see the most activity. The fish from the day are hiding themselves in the crevices from those that are waking up and heading out to hunt. Also, the other behaviors that can be seen are the pairing of fish for courting. The morning transition isn't as dramatic, but is still interesting, that's just my opinion. Maybe that's because in doing a before breakfast dawn dive, I'm still waking up!

More Jumping!

Star Spangled Banner and the Main Events!

And More!

And if you didn't have a hat and felt the need to have a hat, there were vendors to help supply you with a hat.

This image is one of my most favorite of the day. I think it is just a bit mysterious and I like the shallow depth-of-field.




I love the capture of her just eyeing up the rest of her cookie!

And More Hats!

More Hats!