Traveltalkonline.com Forums


BVI Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors BVI Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics39,210
Posts317,998
Members26,633
Most Online3,755
Sep 23rd, 2024
Top Posters(30 Days)
Kennys 45
RonDon 23
bdeeley 19
Colour1 18
erb923 15
Member Spotlight
Zanshin
Zanshin
St. Lucia
Posts: 2,574
Joined: March 2008
Today's Birthdays
basilisk, gunner, legne, Tandoorii
Who's Online Now
14 members (boucharda, ggffrr11, Tom, IWIWSE, Mikel, BillR, PnPinNC, SANFILIP, socamon, 5 invisible), 2,023 guests, and 288 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#318859 05/01/2024 06:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
I recently discovered the iNaturalist website (and phone app)... a 503C organization that collects crowd-sourced nature observations.
It contains a fairly sophisticated database of computerized species identification, like reverse image search but quite a bit better.

Beyond that, there is a user base of millions, including experts in all sorts of biological organisms, who will confirm or correct the submitted observations to a high degree of accuracy.

This has added another whole dimension to my visits and photography! I had such an amazing time just a few days ago traipsing barefoot on Prickly Pear, stalking and photographing the scarlet Ibis and other birds. Learning the names and other facts about the BVI wildlife makes them that much more interesting to me.

In case anyone is interested, if you follow this link it will show the (so far small) set of observations I have made in the BVI:

MrEZgoing's BVI wildlife observations

The website is free and has no advertising. Highly recommended!






M4000 "Lio Kai"
BVI Sponsors
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 178
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 178
This is cool! Your photos are amazing. You'll have to give me a class someday 😎

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875

Thanks Matt!

I'd love to learn how you get your great drone shots!

I used to get annoyed by the little birds at Setting Point that hunt for scraps and foul the deck.
Now, I'm like "Behold! the Ruddy Turnstone!"

Also, for years I've seen those weird upside down jellyfish in the mangrove shallows of Biras Creek.
I loved finding out they carry the awesomely celestial scientific name of Cassiopea andromeda.


M4000 "Lio Kai"
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,451
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,451
Wow that is very very cool. Love your photos .


Kim

Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,428
B
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,428
Really great photos...thanks for sharing

Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 381
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 381
Thanks for sharing- what a cool website!
What camera are you using for your underwater photos?

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
I'm using an OM Systems "Tough" TG-7 in a OM housing. My first setup, I'm finding it a challenge!

Like this:

Link to Backscatter.com product page

Last edited by MrEZgoin; 05/05/2024 09:21 PM.

M4000 "Lio Kai"
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 381
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 381
I have that camera so I am partway there! It does OK (great above water) but my pics aren't crisp. Do you think the housing or the light is the key?

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 875
I haven't tried using the camera underwater on it's own, but I used to have a couple Nikon Coolpix's and they never lasted very long.
On this last trip, I didn't use the strobe at all, but used the M52 120 degree wide angle lens.

The camera should take sharp pictures underwater without the housing, but the built-in flash is probably not ideal from a backscatter perspective, and the 24mm equivalent lens underwater makes it tough to get close enough to reduce the amount of water you are shooting through.
I'm definitely working on all this myself, just getting started on UW.


M4000 "Lio Kai"
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 381
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 381
I haven't had issues without the housing (yet) and this I am going on trip #3 with it. That said, it's great for not worrying about it with sand and water at the beach but hasn't been the best at UW. I think you nailed the reason being the lens. I will look into the wide angle. Thanks! Look forward to more of your pics. smile


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5