Christmas Edition of Security Now

I would like to recommend your listening to The Christmas edition of "Security Now."  This edition is not about security.  It is a story Steve Gibson, a software engineer, tells about an incident which occurred while he was in high school and 16 years of age.  It is very entertaining and made me laugh heartily.    He and Leo are geeks.  Steve more than Leo.  The link is to Leo's Twit.TV.  It is an encouragement to parents who are raising bright and maybe a little geeky children.  It is child friendly.  There are those people in our schools and I met some while working at Mansfield Schools. 

Incidentally, if you just can't stop listening, listen to Amber MacArthur with Leo in a podcast titled "Net at Night".  Amber is the person from Ontario, Canada who is inspiring me with ways to promote my business on the web.  Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2011!

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Rock and Crystals

Crystal growth within rock

This is another rock I bought from Pam and Dan.  I chose to put it into the rock tumbler since the crystals were protected inside.  Pam told me later that the crystals might get a film on them from the tumbler which would need to be removed to restore their luster.  This one went through only the first stage.  I did not think they looked too badly after only one stage.  Pam suggested that I use wood bleach to clean them.  I just got some at the hardware stove and intend to try it when I have time.  This might be part of a geode, I am not sure.

I am hoping that I can take this rock with me to Lowe-Volk on January 15th to learn what it is.

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Biblical Prophecy?

For those of you interested in Biblical Prophecy, you should probably listen to Steve Gibson talk about  Tag Me (with RFID).  I had been unaware of this new or maybe not so new technology.  In my younger years, I studied a little Biblical Prophecy.  Revelation 13:16 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads:  It seems to me that at the time Hal Lindsey thought that it somehow related to the "mark of the beast" as discussed in Revelation 13, 14, 17,. and 20.  I really do not know but when I listened to Steve discuss RFID, Radio Frequency Identity, I had this eerie feeling.  He even mentioned possibly putting it in the forehead.  Steve is talking about where on his body he would like this chip embedded and what it should have in it, hardware and software wise.  He says his front door could open for him and his car could recognize him if he had it.  He says that there are enthusiasts out there doing this currently.  I probably should not even mention this but I did.  Let me know what you think.

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Christmas Treat!

Christmas Tree at Capitol

We had a Christmas lunch the other day with my daughter and her family.  Afterwords we visited the state capitol building.  I had parked under it many times over the years but never visited the inside.  It was quite an experience for me.  The Christmas tree was beautiful.  The little kiddies enjoyed the open spaces.

Rotunda

I enjoyed the endless photographic possibilities.  We tried to remember our history.  The capital moved from Chillicothe to Columbus in 1816.  It was not until 1835, if I remember correctly, that they started to build at the current location.  There have been changes since then to the structure.

I found the picture of my local favorite son, Jay Goyl, who is in the House of Representatives.  I saw both chambers where the senate and house meet.  It was too cold outside, though we had excellent light that day, to photograph the building.  Maybe I will get back.

Did I mention how much I enjoyed my daughter and her family?  Merry Christmas.

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Fossil Shark Tooth

Shark Tooth Fossil

These are shark teeth turned to stone, fossilized.  Pliny the Elder who died in the Mt. Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD thought they were objects which fell from the sky during lunar eclipses.  Danish naturalist Nicolaus Steno in 1667 correctly identified them as shark's teeth.  This one and the next one look so much like a tooth I can not see how they could be mistaken. I purchased these from Pam Laurer.  I think they are very nice.  

Shark Tooth Fossil

Others, not shown look more or less triangular and I can see how they might be less identifiable.  Apparently, the teeth are about the only parts of the shark that fossilizes.  I obtained my information from Wikipedia.

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Macro Panorama

rock unknown

I photographed this rock recently.  I was, of course, doing a closeup.  The camera was a little too close and I was lazy.  Instead of moving it back and recomposing, I just rotated the camera on the tripod and stitched the images together in Photoshop.  I was remarkably pleased with the result.  The only thing that really gave me pause about it was the pattern in the background material not lining up perfectly. 

This morning I decided to see if I could use a pano head to shoot a closeup.  I have recently received a King Panohead from Bill King.  I had ordered it at the end of last February but because of a death in the family, Bill could not deliver it until just recently.  I wanted to try it.  I set it up and then rotated the camera down with the head so that I was rotating it at the nodal point of the Sigma 105mm macro lens.

Pano macro setup

I shot the macro pano with four parts.  The previous shot included only two.  I processed the four images and stitched them together in Photoshop.  The fabric pattern lined up and also the rock looked seamless, see below.  I was really excited that this worked.  I think that I will be able to think of other ways to apply this technique.  I have an image with about twice the pixels so that I will be able to make a big print from it.

Rock Unknown macro pano

  I think that I will try printing it on luster canvas paper and do a museum wrap with it.

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Apache Tears

Apache Tears

Apache Tears are obsidian.  Obsidian is volcano glass.  They appear opaque because of the shiny outer surface.  They are are translucent when held up to the light.  They are shaped something like a tear might be imagined to be shaped.

The legend from which they got this name comes from the 1870's.  Apparently, a group of Apache braves were fighting the Calvary which out numbered them.  They rode their ponies off a cliff rather than be killed by the Calvary.  The wives and children of these braves cried upon hearing of their deaths.  The tears they cried turned to obsidian as they fell to the ground.

I really like obsidian for some reason.  It is sometimes used on scalpels used by surgeons.  It can be sharpened to a fine edge.  I understand it is not in wide use because of the expense.

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Rock unknown

Rock unknown

This is also one which went through the tumbler.  I was intrigued by the colors.  I felt uneasy about the white bands.  I thought that I might try to clean this one.  So far, I have not been successful.  It is none-the-less beautiful!

Parts of this rock appear that they might have originated as sedimentary rock.  I have a feeling that it has metamorphosed to its current state.  What forces made this one?

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Concretion?

Concretion?

This one looks like it has "glue" holding it together.  The gray bands appear to hold it together.  I read that this might occur with sedimentary rock.  I don't know if it occurs on this scale.  This rock is about an inch and one half long.  It is no less interesting because I don't know its identity.  This is one I plan on taking to Lowe-Volk in January to get help with ID.

Concretion?

If anyone knows, please feel free to comment.  This one has been through the first stage of  tumbling.

Concretion?

The gray material looked to be Quartz to me.  After checking the hardness, I have decided that it can't be quartz.  The Mohs' hardness is greater than 9.  It is fun to look at and wonder what it might be!

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Rocks from outer space?

Tektite

I was initially attracted to this rock because of the round white part.  I was curious about what it might be and also thought that it would provide interest in a photograph.  This rock came from a bag of scraps purchased from Pam.  I intended to photograph them before putting them into the tumbler but forgot and ran this through the first stage of the tumbling process.  The edges have started to smooth off and the softer white material has worn away.  I will not continue tumbling this one.

Tektite

After making the the first image, I had to name it for my database.  I immediately noticed the outward skin on it.  I did not see it initially because tonally it is a low contrast element.  It looks like it might have been melted.  I found a picture in one of my ID guides which closely resembled this skin.  I read that originally they were thought to be meteorites but now we are not so sure about that.  I understand that it is currently thought that they could be volcanic in origin.

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Christmas Shopping

Agate Cab

Flint Cab

I purchased these as presents for a gift exchange.  I don't know who will get these.

I think that "Cab" means they are ready to wrap.  Pam makes jewelry and this is probably the step before wrapping or drilling or what ever the first step of making them into jewelry might be.  

They appeal to me because they both have crystal growth internally.  I like the crystals and I also like the colors and design of the rock.  It is amazing to me how such beauty can be found in the earth.

I hope that the person who gets this gift enjoys it!

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Negative keywords, emotions and misspellings

I just read an article by Helen A. S. Popkin on MSNBC.  The following summarizes it.  "Helen A.S. Popkin's negative keywords, emoticons and misspellings will generate a social group from nowhere."  I would like to generate a social group on the internet but not that way.  I have always had a difficult time with creative writing. I try to keep my negative emotions to myself if possible.  And I am still trying to learn to spell.  It looks like I cannot be successful at generating a social group for my product, photographs of nature and outdoor subjects, if Helen A. S. Popkin's statement is accurate.

I have always felt more comfortable working than socializing.  I am not a party person.  I can do parties, but they take effort on my part.  My goal with this blog is to express who I am.  Maybe I make people uncomfortable because of this goal.  The hope I still hold is that there are people out there who can relate to me.

I have always been prone to depression.  I have my "dark" times.  I have learned over the years that I must endure those times and that a brighter time will come.  I want to express my positive feelings.  I want to look on the brighter side of things.  I want to find the beauty of nature and share it.  I have been told by people, viewing my work, that it exudes a peacefulness.

I received A's in spelling in middle school.  I studied my spelling list faithfully which helped me with the grades.  When it was all over, however; it all was lost somewhere.  I became a phonetic speller.  As you no doubt know, the English language does not lend itself to that sort of spelling.  My mother would grade my letters from college on spelling.  I did not do well.  

Maybe all my effort to draw people to my photography is to no avail.  Maybe people don't want to feel that peaceful feeling.  It would seem, since I have no followers, that that might be the case.  I think that the Christmas season is a time of peace.  Maybe there is still a chance.  What do you think? 

Colorful!

Color caused by impurities

I like seeing the colors caused by other element's presence.  I love seeing the fractures, lines and shapes!

This is an extreme closeup made using a 105mm macro lens with a 50 mm lens reversed and used as a closeup filter.  I like to try to imagine how this formed.  It must have been very hot at some point!  The white portion on the left was not hot enough to flow into the the orange but hot enough to meld with it.

Melded rock

This is possibly quartz with was encased in the Flint or Chert. It looks like a sperm swimming upstream across some sort of barrier.  I find myself feeling much curiosity about this.  I really wish I knew more about rocks and minerals!

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More cloesups!

I'm guessing Quarts with impurities

It is hard to visualize these shots because I do not see the complete shot through the viewfinder.  With this kind of closeup, you have almost no Depth-of-field.  I must capture many shots and combine them with the computer.  It seems well worth the work to me.  I love what I get.  This might be Milky Quartz with impurities.  

another color

This one is a hard one.  On a scale of 1 - 10, it is about 8 - 8 /12.  I originally thought that it might be Labradorite but it is harder, so I do not know what it is.  I like the lavender and yellow. 

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Slide Show

A suburban interface between man and nature!

Gorman Nature Center

The suburban interface between man and nature.

A slide show

It is Christmas and I would like to show you pictures of Gorman Nature Center.  It is my gift to you and yours.

I have been thinking for some time that I need to organize and reorganize my slide shows to include just shots from Gorman.  I have found myself increasingly limited to walks there.  I enjoy those walks very much.  I see much beauty which I would like to share.  I did most of the work of reorgainization this morning and can be ready for a show soon.  I thought that maybe I could show to family and friends during the holiday season.  I have my own projector and screen if needed.  I would travel within Ohio.

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Beautiful Flint!

Flint with Crystals

Flint with Crystals

I recently purchased some rough flint from the Lauers who collect it, cut, polish it and make jewelry.  I wanted to run some in my rock tumbler and photograph it.  I am starting to think that it is better to photograph closeups before it goes through the tumbler.  I look for interesting patterns, shapes, colors, lines, and textures.  Some of the flint I recently obtained also has crystalline growth, probably quartz, on it which also adds interest.

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Rocks & Minerals

Polished Flint mounted in Silver Wrap

Carol and I went to Ontario Craft Fair on Saturday.  We found Pam and Dan Lauer who do Gems and Jewelry.  They are from Crestline.  Pam wrapped the above stone a year ago for me.  I gave it to Carol.   

I met the Lauer's at Lowe-Volk Park, near Crestline in January 2010.  They were at the Rock and Fossil Day.  The 2011 edition is coming on January 15, 2011 at the same location.  The Lauers will be there.  The time is 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  http://www.crawfordparkdistrict.org/Final__Winter_2010-11.pdf

I have found that I become interested in rocks and minerals during the winter season.  I find myself walking the streams collecting them.  I like to photograph them.  I tumble them in my rock tumbler.  The above rock is one I picked up and had no idea how it might look until I tumbled it.  I  then wanted to use it for a piece of jewelry.  It is flint.

The Lauers sold me some rough flint which I am currently photographing.  I am also tumbling some of it.  I also plan on purchasing two cabs of flint which contain crystal deposits from them for Christmas purposes.  They are finished and ready to mount.  I am meeting them in Galion on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Moose Lodge where there is a show 9-4.  I will pick up the cabs there. 

Pam sells lots of jewelry that she has made with rocks they have collected.  If you get a chance, see their display.

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Art for Christmas!

If you want a special gift for someone that is not mass marketed or mass produced or both, art may be the answer.  Two Mansfield area art galleries are currently showing art for sale:   


Henne Art Cellar Gallery
at 110 W. Third St.,


 Winter Festival of Art IX

at Henne's 

runs from November 26 to January 14.

Henne Art Cellar Gallery

Gallery Hours:  Mon. 8am - 6pm, Tues.-Fri. 8am - 5pm,  Saturday 10am - 2pm, Closed Sunday.

Henne Art Cellar Gallery

 

Mansfield Art Center
at 700 Marion Ave.


2010 Holiday Fair 
at Mansfield Art Center

runs November 20 through December 31.

Mansfield Art Center

Mansfield Art Center hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11-5 and Sunday 12-5.  

Mansfield Art Center

Mansfield Art Center

  I think it is a good idea to shop at these locations and support local artists.  I am planning on doing that very thing.

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Still watching.

Limb in Frog Pond

I am still watching this little limb.  I saw this variation the other day.  I still think that I must photograph it with a soft back-light.  The water level is also a factor.  As you can see, the water level came up a little from the previous rain.  It then turned cold and the water receded.  I suppose that I should make the effort to get there at a more opportune time since the water level will undoubtedly be too high later in the season. 

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Just in time!

Lichen

I remembered how to do the Helicon Focus composites just in time to capture the image of this little lichen "forest." (see post for 11-24-10)  The frost looks like Christmas tree decorations or little ice supports for the "trees."  I did not have to get so low for this one.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  I wonder how it might look with a dusting of snow?

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lichen and closeup techniques

apothecia on foliose lichen

I think that I have "relearned" how to shot the multi-image closeups for Helicon Focus.  I had not used it for some time for these kind of closeups.  I used a closeup filter to produce this.  The depth of field is so slight that I must use very small focusing increments as I collect the captures for the final image.  For this one there were 25 captures which were combined.  I also think that incorporating an out of focus region adds to the composition.

apothecia on foliose lichen

I find that I am deciding about what I want in focus and what not as I create the composition.  I liked the circular line which I wanted to be in focus in the final shot.  I think it adds some tension to the composition.

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Fungus!

Turkeytail Fungus

I looked over this fungus when I shot the first lichen.  (see Nov. 23 Blog)  I had not really looked at it but I knew it was there.  We had a frosty morning the other day and I looked closer at it.  I thought that it made an interesting if not beautiful composition.  I am sure that I notice things at particular seasons.  It must mean that I have a hierarchy of interests at any given time.  I, probably, would not take time to make this shot during insect season.  It was still beautiful then, I am sure.  I can rejoice at its beauty now.  It is growing on a dead tree trunk.

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A walk at the lake.

Clearfork Reservoir

I deviated from my usual routine.  I went for a walk at Clearfork the other morning.  I noticed how low the lake has become.  This shot was to show that.  If my memory serves 60% of the water for the City of Mansfield comes from this lake.  I heard and saw two birds one of which is not in my collection.  They were the belted kingfisher and the downy woodpecker.  The shots were only good for a record and to make an ID.

I noticed lots of limbs on the ground and some pieces of bark all of which had lichen on them.  I collected them and made images.  Following are a couple.  

Lichen Squamulose

Apothecia on a Foliose Lichen

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Christmas Card

Christmas 2010 Note Card

I was walking down this trail as usual when I spotted this little malformed tree.  The light was such that the green stood out strongly against the background.  I really liked the bird nest in the foreground on a different plant.  I made the shot because of the light.  I came home and processed it and thought that it would make a nice Christmas Card.  It reminded me of the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  I borrowed some balls from Carol and went back the next day.  The light was different, of course, but it was also good light.  The green tree did not stand out so dramatically but I thought I could rectify that in Photoshop.  I had already decided that the bird nest needed a bird.  What better bird for a Christmas card than a Cardinal.  I found a shot of one in my database from Jan. 2004.  The image was a digital capture of the bird sitting at the bird feeder in my back yard.  Back in those days I sat in the bird blind near the feeder to photograph birds.  

I think this is the perfect card to receive from Larry's Images.  It is my style with a few embellishments gesturing toward modern commercialized holiday tradition.  I am working up a way to sell it in a box containing ten cards and envelopes.  I just ordered the boxes.  When they come, I will know what shipping will cost.  The box of cards will cost 19.95 plus shipping.  The cards are 100% Cotton paper.  They are Museo Artist Cards and you will not find higher quality.  The ink used is pigment based Epson Archival Ink.  These are quality, one of a kind cards.  You won't find them anywhere else for this price.  Get them while they last!

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The new calendar.

2011 Larry's Images Calendar

I said that I would not do it again this year.  Last year it turned out to be extremely expensive.  It seems that I could not help myself.  I thought that the one picture version might be decidedly less expensive.  I than thought that I would need to select one image for us to look at an entire year.  I made this one not thinking about using it on a calendar.  If fact, I was still in the mode of I will not make one this year when I shot it.  The then read an article in one of my magazines (see Nov. 9 post) which described the ideal landscape shot.  I found myself thinking of this image as I read the article.  I decided that it was good enough to look at for a year and made the calendar.  I calculated the cost which is a difficult task.  The printer does not have a cost estimator as some do.  I used the best information I could find on the web to calculate the cost.  I decided that I could sell it for $9.00.  I think that it is a nice usable calendar.  I know that some people do not like wall calendars.  I grew up with them and find that I like to have a calendar where I can glance when making plans.  I also like to know in what phase of the moon we are.  I like knowing when the seasons change as well as the time.  I like to look for what holidays are coming.  I like knowing that I have one month before and one month after the year so that I can continue to function until I get a new calendar.  This calendar has all of those features.  It is for sale at Gorman Nature Center and on my website.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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Further lichen discovery.

lichen unknown

This is a lichen I have walked past for years.  It is on the ground.  I don't get down very comfortably and so it had gone ignored until my interest in lichen was raised from a previous shot (see yesterday's blog).  I remembered its presence and made this shot.  It looked to me like there were little "mushrooms" growing in it.  I decided that I needed a lower perspective to really show them. 

lichen closeup

I found that I had much difficulty getting the little mushroom tops sharply focused even using Helicon Focus.  I re-shot it several times without success.  The best that I could do was this tight crop of the largest one.  This is close to the realm for which Helicon Focus was created.  I finally decided that a different angle might help.  That increased the pain factor for me but my interest was peaked and I wanted you to see them.

most recent closeup

I think that this is very intriguing!  It has been there all along and I had not taken time to get down and look.  It is otherworldly!  You may notice that I still have some sharpness issues with some of the "mushroom" tops.  It does, however; give a feeling for this little world within a world.  When walking on the trails at Gorman be careful where you walk.  You might be stepping on something like this.  Thankfully I haven't.

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A new plant?

xanthoparmelia lavicola lichen

This time of year, I start seeing different things.  This lichen has been there but I have paid little or no  attention to it.  I photographed it the other day knowing that it was a lichen.  I also made a closeup image of it.

closeup

In this image you can see that moss is also growing on this log.  It is unrelated to the lichen as far as I can learn.  I came home and looked up lichen in Wikipedia.  They had shots of this particular lichen and I was able to identify it.  I learned that a lichen is a composite organism.  It is a symbiotic association between a fungus and either alga or cyanobacterium.  The green component is the alga or cyanobacterium.  It must have light and carry on photosynthesis to produce its food.  Generally speaking, a symbiotic association is one where the two organisms mutually benefit one another.  The article I read is still difficult for me but I am trying to simplify it so that I can grasp it.  Please bear with me.

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Crow in a surreal sky

Crow in a Surreal Sky

I think my first thought was that it was a rain storm in which the crow was flying.  It was certainly something that invoked my interest.  I had another image made during this shoot which had a normal looking sky that I did not like nearly as well.  I suppose that the interest comes from not knowing what the sky shows.  The bird is not really the center of interest.  What is that sky?  Well, it was not a rain storm.  I had to stop and think because I could not remember seeing that sky.  I was shooting with my long lens hand-held.  I was following the bird in flight.  I was manual focusing.  That was my center of attention as I made the shot.  Something passed between my lens and the bird.  It might have been a tall plant.  It was not out far enough to be in focus. I was moving the lens to follow the bird.  I think that I would walk across the room to get a closer look at this one just to see if I could figure out what made that sky. 

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Limb, water, grass

Limb in pond

I spent some time viewing this limb the other morning.  I felt some kind of draw but struggled to decide what it was.  I like the frost on the grass and the limb.  I liked the ambiguity of the parts of the limb.  On another morning I notice that more the limb extends onto the "dry" part not shown here.  That formed an almost surreal view with the light coming from the top rather than from the left top.  It looked like the limb was not there where it was under water.  In this image, however; you can see it under water.  It draws me in.  I decided that I would walk across the room if this were on the wall.  I would want to see more closely what there was to see.  I am not sure that I am satisfied as I look closer.  I really like the reflection of the blue sky on the water contrasted with the green of the grass.  If memory serves, those colors are adjacent on the color wheel and seem to create for me a feeling of peace.  I am unsure that the final word has been thought or written on this limb in the nearly dry pond.  

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A new plant

Willow Herb

I have walked past this plant countless times.  It has never captured my attention until recently.  I noticed it before sunrise as I passed it.  The empty seed pods form the "bouquet."  They have split open and released their seeds on parachutes.  I suppose that the draw for me was the soft appearing texture contrasted with the harsh sharp texture of the plants growing around it.  I use Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, but it requires that you observe the flower which for most plants is unavailable at this time of year.  I asked Steve McKee for help with it and even he, had to think before he could answer.  He believes this to be a Willow Herb.  We will have to wait until next season to determine for sure which one it is.

The image does not have a lot of tonal contrast.  It has little color contrast, also.  I looked at it as a B & W image but I thought that it lost something.  I think that I find the warm brown tones appealing.  One interpretation I considered was a completely neutral rendition, color wise, but I rejected it.  I can't really see anyone wanting it on their wall, but there is something that I like about it.

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Lack of rain.

vernal pool this year

This usually happens to some degree during the fall of most years.  This year seems that it has happened to a much greater degree.  The vernal pools are lower than usual.  This is a help to the shrimp eggs laid there in previous years as well as this year.  I am told that some shrimp eggs must undergo a complete dry-out before they can hatch.  If that is true, we should have a bumper crop of Fairy Shrimp next year!  These are what wikipedia calls "winter eggs."  They have thicker shells.  Wikipedia also says that there are "summer eggs" which hatch immediately after being laid.  Irregardless of the type of egg from which they hatch, I hope to photograph them.

same pool last year

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