BajaNomad

Manatees

Ken Bondy - 3-13-2007 at 09:06 AM

I thought you guys might want to see these. Sadly it won't be long before they will only be seen in zoos and aquariums.

From Homosassa Springs, Florida:



Belly scratch in Crystal River, Florida:



Great face from Crystal River:



Mother and calf from Crystal River. Mom is making sure that her calf doesn't get too close to the strange photographer:

Skipjack Joe - 3-13-2007 at 01:24 PM

Well, nobody is responding so I will ask my usual technical questions.

Images 2 and 3 have a different feel to them than 1 and 4. The dark halo around 2 and 3 is probably produced by the fisheye lens you spoke about yesterday. I always thought those lenses distorted images in the same way as you would see when you looked at yourself in the sideview mirror of your truck. But I don't see such a distortion here.

Anyway, I like the darkness around the animal. I also like the first image with the light being more equal on the entire picture and the reflection from the surface.

I can't figure why sailors of old found these things to be erotic. I guess being at sea for a long time will do that to you ;D

Ken Bondy - 3-13-2007 at 02:17 PM

Skipjack, they were all taken with the same lens, a Nikon 20mm which is a rectilinearly corrected lens, not a fisheye. The last three images were made in Crystal River and the water was very green and murky. The weather was overcast so there wasn't much ambient light. The first image was made in a different place, Homosassa Springs, in very clean water, probably 150 feet of horizontal visibility. It was also a very bright, sunny day. That might explain the difference in the "feel".

I agree, things must have been really rough for those old sailors if they thought manatees were erotic. Interesting, friendly, maybe even cute, but erotic??? I don't think so.

Thanks for your comments Joe.

++Ken++

Paulina - 3-13-2007 at 02:49 PM

A face only a mother could live, kind of like our bullys! Great shots Ken.

P<*)))><

Ken Bondy - 3-13-2007 at 03:01 PM

Paulina they do kinda remind me of big bulldogs!! Maybe that's why I like 'em so much! And they love their belly scratched, just like our Sarah!! But in that second picture you can really see how closely related they are to elephants. PS I'll be in Morro Bay next Monday and Tuesday, you guys gonna be in town?? ++Ken++

[Edited on 3-13-2007 by Ken Bondy]

Bajagypsy - 3-13-2007 at 03:08 PM

Those are wonderful pictures, back in the 80's I had a chance to swim with them. It was magical, they are great loveable creatures.

Oso - 3-13-2007 at 05:09 PM

For the life of me I can't see what there is in this thread that would trigger a firewall, naked manatees? Anyway, at work today I was able to get into off-topic but forbidden to bring up this thread. Mysteries of technology...:?::?::?:

Aha!, maybe it was the word "erotic".

[Edited on 3-14-2007 by Oso]

Ken Bondy - 3-13-2007 at 05:28 PM

That's funny Oso! Maybe those old sailors knew something we don't??? :biggrin: ++Ken++

Skipjack Joe - 3-13-2007 at 06:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
For the life of me I can't see what there is in this thread that would trigger a firewall, naked manatees? Anyway, at work today I was able to get into off-topic but forbidden to bring up this thread. Mysteries of technology...:?::?::?:

Aha!, maybe it was the word "erotic".

[Edited on 3-14-2007 by Oso]


Hah, that's why you tried so hard to read this thread. How disappointing it must have been for you that your reward was a swarthy manatee.

Oso - 3-13-2007 at 06:25 PM

For a moment I was afraid it was that well-traveled internet foto of a nude fatty "spouting", sometimes labeled "Thar she blows":lol:

Paulina - 3-13-2007 at 08:53 PM

Ken,
Check your u2u.

P<*)))><

oladulce - 3-14-2007 at 05:30 AM

I especially like the reflection photo. What does a manatee feel like to touch? Rubbery like a grey whale?

Ken Bondy - 3-14-2007 at 06:30 AM

oladulce, as I recall they feel kinda like a tire with hair. ++ken+

SDRonni - 3-14-2007 at 08:59 AM

I'm originally from Florida, so have always had a soft spot for manatees. Again, Ken, your photos are phenomenal. Is there anywhere you haven't dived????

Love the pictures.

DianaT - 3-14-2007 at 09:05 AM

Manatees seem like such gentle creatures---just beautiful, and as usual, you captured them extremely well.

Thanks
Diane