DigitalArtograph

Reflections of the Storm

   Sitting by the pond after the storm, clean up is finished, but still no power yet thinking about how lucky we are there is no perminent damage.

Reflections of the Storm

Hope you and yours are safe.

360 view

   Click on image

My Morning View

   Have a great day.

1978 Triumph

I was doing a job in New York remodeling a kitchen, all of the cabinets were put in the garage waiting for installation, as I was going over the kitchen plan with the homeowner we started talking about a motorcycle tucked away in the corner I noticed it was a Triumph and related the story I had a 1973 Triumph Bonneville 750cc that was my first bike and how I had a first and lasting love for a Triumph. He said it wasn’t his bike that it was he’s brothers who was storing it there while he was in Europe. Well I just happened to ask if it were for sale I would be very interested. Did I mention this conversation took place in 2001. On Aug 1 2011 I got a phone call asking me if I were still interested in the Triumph, 10 years later, I was shocked and without hesitation said yes and within 2 days I had it in my garage. Sitting for 10 years it needed some work which happened to be very little, something I could do myself, but rebuilding carb and the mechanics of the rebuild I left to the Classic Triumph Mechanic. I picked up the Triumph yesterday and it started on the first kick. What a joy.  Some other views

1978 Triumph

1978 Triumph

I bought my Triumph in 1973 and had it until 1983, In 2008 I bought a Harley Davidson Fatboy

2008 Fatboy

 So now I have 3 loves in my life, My Fatboy, My Triumph and My Wife.

OOPS not necessarily in that order.

Since it’s a flower show let’s start off with an Orchard

Orchard

 

As you have seen from some of my previous posts I like to photograph bicycles.

Bicycle

 And there it was! I was shocked! A 1961 NSU Prinze, a German made amphibious car. MY FIRST CAR. It was a 2 cyclender 5 passenger car that got 50 mpg city. Wish I had it now

NSU Prinze

and as I am walking around really enjoying the PFS especially the theme is April in Paris, they have musicians playing French tunes, mimes walking around doing there mime thing, oh the joys of Paris. The show was a success in that everything was absolutely gorgeous and you really felt like you were in Paris, DA< DA< DA<DUN then I walked in the underground catacombs.

Eerie and Spoooocky

Now I have to find my way out of here. See Ya!!!!!!!!!!!

It sure was in my yard today, looking out the kitchen window I was surprises at this site.

Turkey Family

Normally at this bird feeding station I attract a variety of wild birds such as Blue Jays, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Doves you know the usual, except this morning.

Got Real Close

So I walked out the door and they just curiously looked at me so I grabbed a handful of wild bird feed, that I always keep in a small can at the back stairs, and chicky, chicky, chicky and they were at my feet gobbleing around. It was real kewl.

Eating Seed

That made my day.

On our dives so far we have seen Hard and Soft Corals, Feather Stars, Star Fish, Sea Scapes and we survived a Shark Feed. I think we should go alittle deeper in the water column and look at some deep water Sea Fans. Don’t worry, just keep an eye on your gauges and you will be fine.

Sea Fan

 

Sea Fan

 

Sea Fan

 

Close Up Sea Fan

Sea Fan

The next photo is at 100ft available light, just look at how clear the water is.

Sea Fan

Sea Fan

Do you think the next photo should be on Divers Magazine

Sea Fan and Diver

Sea Fan

This dive was a lot of fun, hope you enjoyed it to.

First let have some fun. The first photo is a hard coral with a colorful sponge next to it.

Use your artistic imagination, What does it look like?

An Elephant

Thats right I know you see an elephant.

The next hard coral is called a mushroom coral, Fungia Fungites, yes I know most of the Latin names, but don’t worry I’ll spare you.

Mushroom Coral

A Hydroid Coral is next

Hydroid Coral

As you can see I’ve started to put frames around the photos, I feel it is a better presentation and it brings out the best in the photographs.

I couldn’t find the name of the next coral, so just enjoy the mystery of it.

Mystery Coral

 

Do you wonder why the next photo is called Finger Coral

When you go diving at night, yes you do go into the dark water, you carry a light. Of course waterproof, and you can see the corals coming out of there  shells actually there individual animals called polyps and each coral mass are made up of thousands of them. In the next photo they are just transforming out to feed and then you can really see the colors. 

How about we have some more fun? The next photo is manipulated in Photoshop to bring out some very saturated colors. Just playing with single image HDR Toning.

OK  lets move on to a different catagory of coral the Soft Coral.  These were at night and the soft variety also come out to feed. 

This is a Macro shot or close up so you can see each individual.

 And here is one in all it’s glory.

That was quite a trip, What do you think?  Leave me a comment, especially since I am about to take you on a journey not to many people experience.

 On the first full moon at the beginning of summer, thats December in Australia, the corals spawn. Yes they actually lay eggs, I’m so excited to see the photos again.  The first in a series of 4 is the coral full of eggs, thats the purple tip.

In this photo the coral layed most of the eggs.  

Laying Eggs

This is a close up so you can see one polyp still has an egg while the others in that group are empty.

Only One Left

I guess this is the late bloomer.

and a close up of a happy coral mommy.

Coral Mommy

That’s it. I know it was a long post, but wasn’t it worth it? Now you have experience coral spawning in the South Pacific.

Hope you enjoyed the dive and I hope someday you can experience this miracle first hand.