Picture of the Day - 29 January 2010

Actually, we've got two pictures for today - it's a before and after shot. Here's the before:

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People standing way, way too close to a Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Oahu, Hawaii

29 January 2006, 12:05:58

1/350 sec @ f/11; Pentax *ist DS; 70mm focal length

Here's the "after":

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Hawaiian Monk Seal lounging on his beach.

Oahu, Hawaii

29 January 2006, 12:06:18

1/350 sec @ f/9.5; Pentax *ist DS; 70mm focal length

The event that separated the "before" and "after" shots was the seal's very clear and very definitive declaration of ownership of that particular chunk of beach.

That particular seal, by the way, is affectionally known as "Stumpy". If you look at a larger version of the first picture (click on the picture for a full-size version), you'll see that his right front flipper is a bit truncated. That, and the large scar on his side, are souvenirs of an encounter he had with a tiger shark several years earlier.

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Looking at telescopes from a long way away. Mauna Kea, as seen from Haleakala. If you click for the full size view, the observatory is just visible. Maui, Hawaii 30 October 2005 1/500 sec @ f/9.5; Pentax *ist DS; 150mm focal length, cropped. Technorati Tags: blogpix, halaeakala, maui, mauna…
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Ko'Olau Range, seen from the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology Oahu, Hawaii 17 September 2005 1/500 @ f/6.7; Pentax *ist DS; zoom lens at 43mm Technorati Tags: blogpix, coconut island, Oahu, Raw

How often do Monk seals visit Oahu? When I was there (over 20 years ago) you were really lucky to spot one off of Kauai. To have a good shot you had to go all the way to the NW chain. The only ones I've seen were at the aquarium in Waikiki.

Don't you wish your SLR had video capabilities?

Last night on our local PBS' Nature show they showed some hairy situations some nature documentary film makers have gotten into. One was about a biologist who was trying to give the antidote to a tranked elephant. Another elephant stood guard. In desparation they drove the Land Rover up and got the antidote into the downed animal, but the other attacked and pushed the landrover about 50 yards backwards totalling it.

. . . and, as always, please don't feed the animals. And don't crowd them, folks, don't crowd 'em . . .

By Crudely Wrott (not verified) on 30 Jan 2010 #permalink