Vatican 3.0? Presbys...I guess not.

via: Flickr

Just Gorgeous

This is a stepwell - a well in which access is had through the use of multiple staired tiers. I had never seen one before, and this one - Chand Baori in India - is among the world's deepest at over 100 feet. It is also eye-poppingly impressive.

See more photos here.

Too Pretty Not To Post

This is Atlantis taking off yesterday as seen through an IR camera. Yeah, this is too small, so you simply MUST click here and check it out.

My Eyes! The Diplomatic Immunities, They Do Naahsing!

Hillary Clinton with Libyan National Security Advisor Mutassim Qadhafi, son of
the Libyan leader, at the State Department today. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
--Michael Crowley

This was The New Republic's photo of the Day yesterday. (HT: Dave).

(Stunned silence)

Death of the Camcorder

I didn't see this coming, but we may see the end of the camcorder in the next few years. The tiny format video cameras, like the Flip, shot on to the scene a few years ago and did for camcorders what netbooks did for laptops. Smaller, cheaper, and offering only those features that 90% of consumers actually needed, they quickly replaced many more expensive purchases.

Still, there was room for a higher-end market. People who wanted better video still needed more traditional camcorders. A Flip or a point-and-shoot camera that shoots video can't pump out HD quality. But the Nikon D90 DSLR can. Now, the Canon D500 can too - and in stunning 720p at 30 frames per second, saving the whole thing in iMovie-ready quicktime media files. Oh, and these babies are under $1000 with interchangeable lenses, etc. etc. etc. Already, people have designed rigs to permit amateur filmakers to use these cameras instead of bulkier, pricier digicams. The results are impressive.

Funny enough, we're getting technological convergence where we didn't expect it. Now to get a tablet netbook...

There's a Pose You Don't Learn in Yoga

Apparently, this is how they sleep. Huh. Never thought of that. I guess it would pose a problem. It's so bizarre, it looks Photoshopped.

Via: http://www.bitsandpieces.us/

Musings

It feels like years since I posted, even though I think I served something up Friday. Anyway, here is a little eye candy from the folks over at the AP and the NYT about 43. They were reviewing their favorite photos of him, dark back corner of a bar-style. Now it is my turn to editorilize a little.

You live in the spotlight for 8 years and there are bound to be a "few" of these. Still, I couldn't help looking at this and thinking, "Well, doesn't that just about sum it up?"

Then I saw this one. I just have to give the benefit of the caption, if for no other reason than to lend some credibility:

U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General
Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005. World leaders are
exploring ways to revitalize the United Nations at a summit on Wednesday but
their blueprint falls short of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s vision of freedom
from want, persecution and war. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Catch the rest here. Look, I don't think the next 8 years will be perfect, but I lived through the last eight, and I know how I feel about them. The White House just seems a little whiter now.

The Inner Sanctum

Photos from inside the Obama family suite on election night. What amazes me is how low-key the whole get-together appers to be. See the whole set here: http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157608716313371/

Not So Fast! No, really, I have a top speed of 20kh.

Boston.com/bigpicture has this shot, showing Chinese police demonstratic "anti-terrorist" activities. Interesting use of a Segway, but how are those things going to be really useful? Why not just run after someone?

Har

Thanks to http://www.darkroastedblend.com/

Lens Shake.

Someone was getting married during the recent Chinese quake. Some else was taking photos of them just as it happened. See the photos here.

Great Footage of a Great Place

Extreme Time Lapse of a Day at Fenway, but Tom Guillette (I must have misspelled that)


One Day At Fenway - Letus Extreme Film - Time Lapse - HDTV from Tom Guilmette on Vimeo.

(Nod to MH)

It's "String of Amazing Photos Day" on the Blog

The stolt surf sailed into and, more impressively, out of a massive hurricane in the north Pacific Ocean in 1977. This is what it looks like when you chug up the face of a 60 foot wave.

.... and then crest it....

...only to drop off the back side...
(picture a 45 degree drop when you look at this)

...and start over.

There aren't many photos like this because (a) it is hard to hold a camera in these seas, (b) puke and film don't mix, and (c) even if you get the shots, you still have to make it back to develop them. Not possible for many who have entered such seas.

This is What We are Working To Preserve.

Now that is what I call a Goliath grouper. The ones I have seen are teensy in comparison. Want to be floored before the weekend? Check out more at the Wildland Smith Rice Nature Photography Awards.

LOC on FlickR

MentalFloss notes that the Library of Congress has posted color photos from the 30's and 40's on FlickR. They are amazing and, as MF mentions, a reminder that life didn't magically come into color in the 50s.



Here is the FlickR Link. And a taste:

And it's sturdy!

First off, that is not a doctored photo. I have to keep looking at it to be convinced. Need proof? The lighting on the rig is correct and the whole thing is too akimbo to be anything other than organic.

Let's Go Digital's editors decided, "Let's go put ourselves in mortal danger!" They tested high end DSLR underwater housings both for the camera's underwater color performance and the case's durability, ease of use, and feel. How? By flying to the Bahamas and tossing a bunch of chum in the water. That's how I stay on my toes when attempting to learn a new $5000 piece of equipment while under water -- attract predators.

They liked the Nikon D80. The Shark thought it crunchy and tough, but it had a pleasant 'eau de yuppy'.

Would you trust this man?

What do you use as bait?

Two enterprising anglers actually caught a deer. Of course, their fishing license didn't permit deer, so they had to release it. I wish I were kidding. See the photo essay here.

Airplane Graveyard

These photos where taken by dimsumrach at Flickr. You can see them all here.