Ted Kinsman is a scientific photographer that specializes in creating images for books, magazines, and television. His particular areas of interest are in x-ray radiography, high-speed photography, Scanning electron microscopy, and time-lapse cinematography. His work has appeared in numerous books and magazines ranging from Discover Magazine to Forbes. Recently his work has appeared on Gray's Anatomy and CSI New York. In addition to running 
B.N. (Bobbie) Sullivan has a strong affinity for the sea and everything in it. She first learned to dive in 1970 and has since logged thousands of dives. A wish to document the marine life she encountered prompted her to learn underwater photography more than 20 years ago. More recently, she began to write about the marine life she has photographed. A research psychologist by profession, she approaches her subject matter with the mindset of a scientist, but targets her writing to a general readership in whom she hopes to foster an appreciation for the ocean and its inhabitants.
B Jefferson Bolender is Training Coordinator of the State of Arizona's
program for disability awareness and assistive technology. Through
her travels she always has a camera at hand to photograph everything
from people to technology and nature. As a teacher of elementary
education, special education and art, her interests include a wide
array of subject matter with an emphasis on documentation with an
artist's eye.
Steve Jurvetson enjoys rocketry and photography and especially the pursuit of both in the Black Rock Desert. Some action photos and video links can be found 
Alex Wild is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he works on the molecular phylogenetics of various groups of insects. He is also a part-time photographer whose images appear in such venues as Ranger Rick, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, and even ScienceBlogs.
The lure of minerals is irrepressible when one sees fine crystals on display. This post is the first of four in a row featuring crystals seen at rock and gem shows in Arizona. The Tucson Rock and Gem Show is one of the oldest and largest of all such shows, with famed international reputation. The images shown in these posts display fine specimens on display and available from vendors. Most photos were taken with various point and shoot cameras using available light and no special preparation for the best photography conditions. Each image has a link where interested visitors to this blog may see larger, better versions and technical details about the minerals.
The above gigantic cluster of quartz crystals stands about 4 ½' tall outside one of the Tucson hotels that host the many shows that make up the whole of the Tucson Rock and Gem Show. Shot in macro mode with a point and shoot camera at night, the orange and yellow glow comes from low sodium lights at the entrance. The photo was chosen by the Greater Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to decorate 10' tall vertical banners to show parking areas and was featured on a guide to the many show events around the city during the 2008 and 2009 shows in Tucson.
This crate is 7' tall! Detail below
The photograph above is a close look at deeply-colored amethyst crystals in a large chunk of crystals on matrix, broken out of a vug taken from the mine. A complete, whole vug of amethyst from Brazil is pictured in a crate about 6' tall and a macro view of amethyst crystals is to the right:
Next blog post to come: rare and pure crystal specimens in many formations.
Links to higher resolution and large images of these specimens are listed below:
1. Glowing Crystals, Quart Giant
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/442116580/
2. Large Crated Vug
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/380846988/
3. Dark Yellow Crystals, Side View
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/380846992/
4. Blue Purple Red: Amethyst Crystals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/2259191409/
5. Amethyst Vug
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/380846984/
6. Amethyst with a Green Curve, Macro
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/
Comments
whenever I see such compressed beauty, I wonder what it would take to synthesize crystals like these... are there any shortcuts to the iterative algorithm of nature?
Posted by: jurvetson | July 23, 2009 9:49 PM
Why isn't this blog being updated?
Posted by: Mrs. Grackle | July 29, 2009 10:23 AM
Hey, true... nice pics, BTW, but we want more!
Posted by: TEO | July 30, 2009 2:45 PM
Thanks for this post. My friend living near the Eiffel Tower may need to look into this. However, I am skeptical at drug companies and their promises. I wonder if this will be another one of those "lifetime treatments" or cures
Posted by: rap | July 31, 2009 4:03 PM
I injured my back on July 5 and have been off work for a month with another month to go. Found out painkillers are not helpful to thinking skills. I am so sorry I have not been able to update again. If the new photographer has not started by tonight, I will get the new article posted on bismuth crystals. Thanks for asking, it has been a disappointment to me not to be able to post the next entries.
Posted by: cobalt | August 3, 2009 4:06 PM
whenever I see such compressed beauty, I wonder what it would take to synthesize crystals like these... are there any shortcuts to the iterative algorithm of nature?
Posted by: oyun hilem | May 9, 2010 9:54 AM
Thanks for asking, it has been a disappointment to me not to be able to post the next entries.
Posted by: metin2 hile | July 27, 2010 3:42 PM