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Taken with my Google Pixel 2 Phone.
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The also rans:
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Category ‘Six Images’.
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The also rans:
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Category ‘Six Images’.
Woods Hole Aquarium — FREE & Well Worth It!
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Click image to access the official Website.
It is FREE (i.e., U.S. taxpayer funded), it is intimate and it is impressive. We (i.e., Teischan & I) enjoyed thoroughly — and Teischan is a connoisseur of aquariums.
Exactly 15-days earlier we had visited the ‘Maine State Aquarium’ in Boothbay Harbor. That too was a small aquarium — albeit with a nominal admission fee (e.g., $7 for adults). Woods Hole was better with a more extensive array of tanks and an interesting ‘backstage’ area. They are both set by the ocean, with the Boothbay facility better situated on a much larger area. That said, the Woods Hole aquarium is right in the middle of the town just to the side of one of the main parks.
An Heads Up: The seal display is NOT in service right now. Appears the last seal died in July. Appears that they want to refurbish the outside seal tank before they even think about getting any new seals.
This aquarium is part of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — the National Marine Fisheries Service to be precise. They claim that it, established in Woods Hole in 1885, is the oldest aquarium in the U.S. It is NOT Mystic nor Boston but it is well worth a visit and the price is just right. {SMILE}
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The Picture Of The Day (Sony a7 II) + 6 Also-Rans: Woods Hole, Mass. — August 9, 2017.
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‘Maine State Aquarium’ In ‘Boothbay Harbor’ — Looks Interesting.
Click here to access their official Website.
I had never heard of it. Deanna found it on the Web and sent me a link. Looks interesting for what it is — a Maine-specific aquarium with, naturally, an emphasis on lobsters. And its prices, e.g., $7 for adults & $3 for kids, reflects its specialized scope (and possibly its ‘non-profit’ intentions).
The kids and I have been to the ‘Oceanarium‘ in Bar Harbor (Acadia), Maine and learnt quite a bit — and enjoyed it too. Its location, right of the ocean, looks very inviting and interesting too.
This certainly does not look like the Mystic or Boston (i.e., New England) but it is not setting out to be so.
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I Am Buying A Nikon D500.
I have to confess with a modicum of embarrassment and, of course, some amusement, that deciding to buy a Nikon D500 was probably the HARDEST decision I have ever made in my life!
I appreciate that I have entered into marriage, filed for divorce and even refused to have kids because I felt I was ‘too young’ with considerably less thought and deliberation. Yes, two keywords that clearly defined much of my life have been ‘impulsive’ and ‘impetuous’. I am sure that getting older, and I will be 63 soon, had to have played a role — but I don’t think that that was all of it.
And, fortunately, it hasn’t to do with the cost either. Despite what some of you may think I am very careful and conservative when it comes to matters fiscal. I live within my means and budget. Way back, nine months ago, I had budgeted for the Fuji X-T1 successor (i.e., the X-T2) and had been forced to be somewhat generous as I had no idea as to whether Fuji planned to mark it up well above that of the X-T1. So budget wise I am OK. SMILE. So the agonizing, over the last 2 weeks, was not about the costs either.
As some of you know I rented a Nikon D500, with a Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom lens, from LensRental, for 8 days (one week rental + one day complimentary). I would like to say that I fell in love with the D500 during that week. Not so.
I did not, at any stage, come anywhere close to loving the Nikon D500.
And hence the real horns of the dilemma.
I do NOT even LIKE the Nikon D500!
Yep, you read that right. So, I am going to buy an expensive camera that I do not like. Yes, that is it. And hence the soul-searching. Like an arranged marriage.
Why would I, even given my propensity for ‘craziness’, do something as crazy, if NOT outright stupid, as that.
Because during the last 3 days with the Nikon D500 I came to RESPECT it.
Over the decades I have come to realize that respecting someone or something is more important than liking that someone or something.
Let me show you.
I was lucky enough to be able to take pictures of Mystic Aquarium (in Connecticut), on consecutive days, first with the D500 (on August 17, 2016) and the next day with my now erstwhile Fuji X-E2s. I made sure I took the same subjects from the same vantage points. So have a look.
Nikon D500 on the left, Fuji X-E2s with the kit 18-55 lens on the right.
Yes, a more proficient photographer than I probably could have got better pictures from the X-E2s. I probably could have too, if I took more time. That is not my style. I like to shoot quick.
Yes, many will complain that the D500/Tamron is over 2.5x times the cost of the Fuji X-E2s. That is true. But my D500 is NOT a replacement for the X-E2s. I am getting a Nikon P900 to replace the X-E2s. The D500 is instead of the new Fuji X-T2.
And then there were these three pictures — all taken in and around Mystic.
Click to ENLARGE.
The first picture, taken at “Foxwoods“, when Teischan and I went there for dinner was the clincher.
I, as you know, take a LOT of concert pictures. I took this one, point-and-shoot using 300mm. I already had ISO at 8,000. So didn’t touch that. Cranked up exposure compensation ‘plus tow notches’ and shot — handheld. And I had so much more ISO left. I then realized that this was a camera to contend with.
Very personal. My camera. A LOT has to do with lenses and my shooting style. The 18-55mm was the ONLY Fuji lens that I liked — and 55mm, top end, was way too short for me. 300mm, like above, suits me. And then there is my style. I am basically a ‘point-and-shoot’ photographer who likes sophisticated cameras that give me lots of bells and whistles. Yes, I play around with ISO, exposure and White Balance. But once set for a ‘location’ I will shoot away without stopping to fiddle too much — bar checking exposure. Hence why the D500, in the end, came through.
All this said, I am not getting the D500 right now. Probably not in September. First need to get my “Brain Meditation” book published. I then want to spend at least two weeks reading up the D500 documentation and boning up on it. So, most likely order it in early October. Till then I will have the Nikon P900 to keep me amused and to provide you, with a a minimum, the “6 Images of the Day”.
OK? Yes, of course, I will keep you posted.
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Mystic Aquarium, Connecticut — The Best In New England?
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Taken with a rented Nikon D500.
These pictures taken on August 17, 2016.
We visited the aquarium 3 days running!
Attribution WILL be enforced.
Teischan (now 10) was really captivated by the ‘New England Aquarium‘, in Boston, when we visited in May 2016 (though that, by a long chalk, was not her first time). She had however never been to the one in Mystic — we having gone there prior to her birth. Given that Mystic Aquarium was now been hailed as the best in New England I decided to take her there while her memories of Boston were still fresh.
She loved the Mystic Aquarium. Said it was better than Boston — which is true. Mystic is larger and has more variety (and exhibits) with the two Beluga whales and the alligators making all the difference.
Nearly all of the online reviews I saw for this aquarium, in one way or another, mentioned that the prices were high. Well, that is NOT really the case. As a Senior I paid just $3 more than what I would have paid in Boston albeit with Teischan’s ticket $8 more expensive. BUT, here is the rub. While standing in line to buy the tickets I noticed on the HUGE ‘ticket option’ board that the STANDARD tickets (which we were buying) were valid for 3 days! Yes, I appreciate that this enticing offer will not work for everybody — BUT it did for us. We were staying just around the corner and were scheduled to be in Mystic for 3-days. BINGO. So we did visit 3 times, once each day and that was NEAT. That made it extra special. So please NOTE — tickets valid for 3 days.
Yes, Boston has a BIGGER central tank, larger jellyfish displays and a much more expansive penguin display. Plus its location right on the harbor is cool.
But Mystic has a huge outdoor area with the Belugas, sea lions, seals, penguins and turtles. They even have an aviary. And then the ALLIGATORS.
The prices for the shows, ‘feedings’ and refreshments aren’t that bad either. Nearly all the shows — and we saw “Angry Birds 4D” (and it is indeed 4D) and “Wonders of the Arctic” (in the “National Geographic” Theater). At $6/seat that was a good deal. $3 to feed the stingrays and (I think) $3 to feed the birds.
No questions. No hesitation. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience. IF you can make sure that you can at least go twice since you will definitely see more and savor things differently on the second visit.
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