Coolest Belizean Tattoo Portends Future Events

So, we were on our way to go scuba diving today, when I noticed this tattoo on the water taxi captain's leg:

 

 

Shark Tattoo, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5

iso 100, f3.3, 1/320 sec.

 

Here's a little teaser of what we saw on our dive:

 

Pair of Nurse Sharks, Belize, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5

iso 100, f3.3, 1/125 sec.

 

Needless to say, it was an exciting dive trip. I really enjoyed using the Lumix DMC-TS5 on both of our dives. I can't say enough good about this little camera. More to come!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Spring is Really Here! Time To Get Back Out in the Field!

 

Fossil Hunting Crew, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.6 OIS Lens at 25mm

iso 160, f11, 1/160 sec., fill flash on

 

Cabin fever has finally reached its end. Today (Saturday, April 27, 2013), I had the pleasure of taking my daughter and two of her friends out fossil hunting with PaleoQuest founders Jason Osborne and Aaron Alford, and Science writer Kerry Klein. It was a perfect day to be out at Calvert Cliffs, on the Chesapeake Bay.

 

PaleoQuest is a non-profit organization, focused on bringing science, particularly Paleontology, into the hands of students.

 

(Click Here) to check out PaleoQuest's very active approach to improving science education.

 

I shot this fun little video (click on it) of the kids showing what it's like to find a fossil shark tooth. Really, it just gave them a chance to goof off:

Video by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

 

Here's an example of one of the fossil shark teeth found on this beach, from the largest shark that ever lived, Carcharocles megalodon:

 

Megalodon Tooth, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 400, f10, 1/800 sec

 

These are the cliffs, the source of all of the fossil material that ends up in the Bay and on the beach. This is a beautiful place, and I always enjoy being there.

The Cliffs, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.6 OIS Lens at 19mm

iso 400, f8, 1/160 sec.

 

 

Kerry recorded audio and took some photographs of the outing. Hopefully, we'll see and hear more of the trip in one of her upcoming podcasts.

Kerry Recording Audio, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.6 OIS Lens at 17mm

iso 160, f5.6, 1/1250 sec.

 

This was a great day. I find it increasingly difficult to find an activity that pleases three twelve year olds; this one did the trick. It was a blast to get out and combine family, friends, science, and photography into a single day!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Lumix DMC-TS3 and I Go Fossil Hunting Again - Lots of TS3 Images

One of my favorite local activities here in Northern Virginia is fossil hunting. I'm very fortunate to have close friends who really know their Paleontology - both academic and in the field. For more on that -

 

(Click Here) to go to paleoquest.org, my friends' non-profit organization, targeting education in prehistoric science.

 

So, Jason Osborne and I headed out on President's Day for a day of fossil hunting near Liverpool Point in Maryland. I carried my Lumix DMC-G3 and 100-300 zoom in a backpack all day, never taking it out. I did, however, shoot little vignettes of the day, all day long, with my waterproof Lumix DMC-TS3. Here they are (pretty much straight from the camera):

 

 

Bird Tracks, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, f10, 1/250 and 1/20 sec, respectively

 

Icicles, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, 3.3, 1/1000

 

Yes, it was cold in the morning. However, there was essentially no wind, no cloud cover, and it got up into the 40s later in the day. All in all, the nicest day we've seen in a while.

 

Duck Blind, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 160, f3.3, 1/1000

 

 

For some reason, I really like this shot. I knew I liked it when I shot it. Yes, the subject is centered, a compositional no-no. I like the "T" shape made by the combination of the dock and the horizon. I also like the bush sticking out of the roof.

These next two shots seem to me like they could have come from the desert southwest. I'm told this is likely holocene (recent) river bed.

 

 

Sedimentary Layers, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 160, f10, 1/100 (both shots)

 

I thoroughly enjoy shooting with the TS3. I used iAuto pretty much all day, which means that I didn't make any decisions other than composition. The small sensor provides lots of depth of field regardless of settings (except in extreme closeups), so I can trust the camera to take care of exposure for me, and not worry about it. On these fossil trips, I'm usually carrying other stuff, and in this case had multiple layers of clothing to contend with as well. Having the little TS3 in my hand was so simple.

Speaking of closeups, again the small sensor and wide focal length lens allow you to get very close. Here are a few examples.

 

Barnacles (Modern), by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, f10, 1/160

Turritella Fossil, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, f3.3, 1/250

Tracks, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, f10, 1/320

 

Oyster, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, f10, 1/320

 

And here's the real goal - a shark tooth. This one was sticking right out of the cliff side. It's nice to find them this way, as the real Paleontologists can see which layer they're in. And, they're not worn down by wave and sand. Beautiful.

 

Tooth in the Matrix, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso 100, f10, 1/160

 

Unlike most days out in the field with Jason, we didn't find anything spectacular on this trip. But, we sure had a good time walking the shore, enjoying some sunshine, and having a laugh or two.

 

The TS3 was a useful tool for grabbing some images along the way. I hope you enjoy them.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

There's a newer version of the DMC-TS3, the TS4. I would recommend this camera for a nice balance of image quality and toughness (including shock resistance and waterproof operation).

 

Fossil Hunting in Maryland with the Lumix DMC-TS3

Erosion Forces, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

 
Last Sunday morning, I got up early and headed to a place on the Potomac River known as Liverpool Point, to do some fossil hunting. The video above shows the important parts of the scene - cliffs to the right, literally full of fossil material, the waves coming in from the left, day by day eroding into them. In the middle, beach, and awesome opportunities to find fossils that have washed out of the cliffs.
 
I packed up a Lumix DMC-G3, 14-140mm and 100-300mm zooms, and carried them in a waterproof bag on my back. I never took them out. The TS3 covered everything I needed to shoot. In fact, the TS3 did far better in closeups than I could have done with the G3 and the zooms I had. Of course, if I'd brought along the Macro-Elmarit 45mm f2.8, that would have been a different story. As it was, I just used the TS3, and never worried about getting it wet, etc.
 
Here's a cross-section of the cliff, showing just how dense the fossils are in places.
 

Cliff Cross-Section, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

 
This area is known for fossilized sand tiger shark teeth. Here's one sticking out of the cliff matrix.
 
 

Sand Tiger Shark Tooth, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

 
I also found a fossilized crocodile tooth - much less common. It's amazing to think that enormous crocodiles and sand tiger sharks once prowled the waters that are now the Potomac River. These ones were from the late Paleocene, approximately 55 million years ago.
 

Liverpool Point, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

 
It is great to be able to get out and hike the shore at sunrise, collect fossils from animals that lived there 55 million years ago, and be home in time for lunch (or nearly so).
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 
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