NMNE

Extreme closeness to an anemone.

Stephen likes the way they move

My blunder.

So, for those of you that don't know, there is a setting on most decent digital cameras that sets the ISO level of the camera.

For digital cameras, ISO is shorthand for the ISO 12232:1998 specification maintained by the International Organization for Standardization.

This standard specifies signal to noise ratio and brightness requirements (or saturation for cameras that are limited by well capacity) for a camera to earn a certain ISO rating. These ratings are intended to be similar to those of ISO 5800:1987, which specifies ratings for film. Thus, at a given f/stop, shutter speed, and ISO, both film and digital exposures should produce roughly the same brightness as output. Note that in practice this isn't always the case due to many factors including interpretation of the standard, different tone curves, rounding, and marketing considerations.

As with traditional film ISO ratings, increasing the ISO corresponds to an increase in sensitivity. For example, in moving from ISO 100 to ISO 200, while keeping the f/stop constant, you will achieve the same exposure by using a shutter speed twice as fast.

In practice a single camera can achieve multiple different ISO ratings by applying some form of amplification to the signal coming off the sensor. This can be done by applying analog amplification to the signal before it hits the A/D converter, or by bit shifting the results after they have gone through the A/D converter. Cameras may apply a combination of these approaches, depending upon the desired ISO. Which is best will depend upon whether amplifier noise or A/D converter noise is larger.

I had my camera set to have a ISO of 1600 that means more noise for about the last 1200 shots.

Luckily I found a great plugin for Photoshop called DeFine. It removes noise better then any other program I've used.

More Jellys

I could have watched them all day...

This could be my favorite.

This is a macro focused shot of a jellyfishes tentacles, I love the way the contrast of the light, beyond the tank and focal plane allows the tentacles to be seen in fine detail. If I didn't tell you, you might not have guessed.

Starfish Macro

A tip of a Starfishes "leg" taken at the Pacific Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon from about an inch away. Click on it and view the full image.

Worlds Largest Crabs

This crab was a runt, only about a third of the size it could get to in the wild, it was still about four feet long.

The Japanese spider crab, Macrocheira kaempferi, is the largest living arthropod; fully grown it can reach a leg span of almost 4 m (13 ft), a body size of up to 37 cm (15 inches) and a weight of up to 20 kg (44 lb). The crab's natural habitat is on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean (some 300 to 400 m deep) around Japan, where it feeds on dead animals and shellfish. It is believed to have a life expectancy of up to 100 years.

Harken unto you.

The aquarium is apparently the best place to try and recruit followers.

Shadows of the deep.

Big fish are exciting and scary.

Aquarium!

I love the light that you can get at the aquarium. Stephen, Bailey and Emma, under about 15 feet of water. IN A TUBE!!!