Post a picture... any picture

174757779801158

Comments

  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited July 2014
    Had a visitor today

    Attachment not found.
    Pretty snake, what is he?
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited July 2014
    FTGV wrote: »
    Pretty snake, what is he?

    Common Garder snake
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited July 2014
    He looked like a garter but the colouring is different than the black,dark green easterns we see here.
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,302
    edited July 2014
    He's actually a checkered garter

    Actually I'm wrong just noticed it is NJ, which is not native there. Eastern Garter
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited July 2014
    finally -- I can move the lawn and garden junk out of the garage!
    our shed came last week :-)

    14414550540_c47192aba0_b.jpgDSC_9588 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    14414617549_b0f0759839_b.jpgDSC_9586 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited July 2014
    some more long-exposure fun, from last week (we're now, apparently, post-peak, firefly-wise):

    14370733089_c21a8b4da6_b.jpgDSC_9550 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14553906861_30a5d3d183_b.jpgDSC_9561 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14534344216_c390b57064_b.jpgDSC_9575 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    14557292335_cf3b7733e3_b.jpgDSC_9562 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14370852359_d673ed5aee_b.jpgDSC_9569 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    The roughly horizontal streak is an airplane (ca. 30 second exposure); the more vertical, and fainter, streak above and to the right of the plane might have been a 'shooting star'?).
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2014
    Very nice Mark!
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    Dang! Nice sky, Mark
    Nearest metropolis must be over 100 klicks away . . .

    G
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited July 2014
    Thanks to growth in some (relatively) nearby towns, it's not as dark here now as it was 30-plus years ago when I first visited this neck of the woods... but we can still easily see the Milky Way on clear, moonless nights...which is pretty darned cool to me (having grown up in profoundly light polluted B-more).

    It's just too darned easy to take photos like that with modern digital cameras :-P I set the ISO to 3200, shutter in the range of (EDIT) 10 to 20 - or so - seconds, and lens (a 50 mm AF-S Nikkor) wide open at f1.8. Used a tripod but no clockdrive; nonetheless, I guess the world doesn't turn all that much in 20 to 30 seconds.

    As with film astrophotography, the digital sensor readily displays the difference in color (temperature) of different stars (or planets, for that matter), which is pretty cool.

    Best night sky I've seen with my own personal eyes was in Bryce Canyon, Utah -- the sky looked like black velvet; and the stars seemed as though one could reach up and touch them -- there was no sense of scale or scope, looking up.

    I understand it's pretty amazing mid-ocean -- but I haven't had that opportunity.

    14557465395_dbbbaa6bc7_b.jpgDSC_9567 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I understand it's pretty amazing mid-ocean -- but I haven't had that opportunity.

    The ultimate I've witnessed is the beauty in the UP (Michigan's Upper Peninsula). It may compare to your Utah experience. In fact, I might be going there late next month . . .

    G

    p.s. I wish I had a camera like yours to capture the beauty
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    edited July 2014
    You need to build another shed with a dome on top for a permanent mount for a scope :)

    or get a nice big Dobsonian telescope,they set up in seconds and have the best bang for the buck views.

    http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/IntelliScope-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT12i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/27/p/102014.uts?refineByCategoryId=27

    or get there classic 8" dob for $250
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited July 2014
    Well -- we have a 6" Newtonian on an old-school (manual) equitorial mount and a (no kidding) dump-find 8" Dobsonian (EDIT: not to mention an assortment of spotting scopes & binos) -- but telescopes (and real astrophotography) are a different thing -- magnification of image scale and (generally even more important) light-gathering capability... but restricted field of view, of course, is the price one pays.

    Wintertime is telescope time up here (unfortunately)! :-P

    EDIT: Our old town (Harvard, MA) was, for a long time, home to the Harvard/Smithsonian observatory on Prospect Hill -- which featured the largest reflector telescope (30 inch mirror) east of the Mississippi. My daughter took a course there once and we got to attend a field night there. Also, there was a family in town who actually had a small observatory (dome and all) attached to their house!
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited July 2014
    nice garage ;-)
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited July 2014
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    some more long-exposure fun, from last week (we're now, apparently, post-peak, firefly-wise):

    14370733089_c21a8b4da6_b.jpgDSC_9550 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14553906861_30a5d3d183_b.jpgDSC_9561 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14534344216_c390b57064_b.jpgDSC_9575 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    14557292335_cf3b7733e3_b.jpgDSC_9562 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14370852359_d673ed5aee_b.jpgDSC_9569 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    The roughly horizontal streak is an airplane (ca. 30 second exposure); the more vertical, and fainter, streak above and to the right of the plane might have been a 'shooting star'?).

    Could also be a satellite. We see them regularly in our SE Az skies at night. You can tell they're satellites because they're moving too fast for aircraft, and too slow for falling stars.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited July 2014
    true, but, upon reflection -- given the length of the streak (which should represent velocity, as long as the object stayed lighted for the time of the exposure) it actually seems to be, if anything, moving slower than the one that's definitely an aircraft (or so much higher or at an oblique enough angle to be moving more slowly).

    Lookin' forward to the summer "meteor showers" up here, though! ;-)
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,504
    edited July 2014
    ....
    dump.jpg 157.7K
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited July 2014
  • charley95
    charley95 Posts: 908
    edited July 2014
    Smart parking...
    I'm applying for a patent to fit a lawnmower blade on these.
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2014
    charley95 wrote: »
    I'm applying for a patent to fit a lawnmower blade on these.
    An air conditioned riding mower....dude - you are onto something! :cheesygrin:

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,103
    edited July 2014
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Best night sky I've seen with my own personal eyes was in Bryce Canyon, Utah -- the sky looked like black velvet; and the stars seemed as though one could reach up and touch them -- there was no sense of scale or scope, looking up.

    I understand it's pretty amazing mid-ocean -- but I haven't had that opportunity.

    Just returned from a 17-day 'grand circle' vacation with the family. Hit Bryce on the final day of the astronomy festival on 6/28 (one day past the new moon). It was absolutely amazing stargazing! What a place - Bryce was one of our favorite National Parks! Although, the sunrise over the Mittens in Monument Valley (Utah/Arizona line) was pretty amazing too (photo by my 9-year old daughter)
    Sunrise Over the Mittens smaller.jpg
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited July 2014
    God Bless the Southwest!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • mark090852
    mark090852 Posts: 996
    edited July 2014
    scubalab wrote: »
    Just returned from a 17-day 'grand circle' vacation with the family. Hit Bryce on the final day of the astronomy festival on 6/28 (one day past the new moon). It was absolutely amazing stargazing! What a place - Bryce was one of our favorite National Parks! Although, the sunrise over the Mittens in Monument Valley (Utah/Arizona line) was pretty amazing too (photo by my 9-year old daughter)
    Sunrise Over the Mittens smaller.jpg

    Very nice photo! I thought maybe you and your daughter would enjoy seeing how nice her photo looked after a little post processing using Lightroom 5.5

    Sunrise Over the Mittens smaller-2 (800x567).jpg
    McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amp, LUMIN D2 Network Music Player, Yamaha Aventage RX-A840 receiver, Emotiva XPA Gen3 2 channel amp, Polk LSiM 703 speakers. Oppo UDP-203 Blu-Ray player, Polk LSiM 705 speakers. Polk Signature S20 speakers.
  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,103
    edited July 2014
    mark090852 wrote: »
    Very nice photo! I thought maybe you and your daughter would enjoy seeing how nice her photo looked after a little post processing using Lightroom 5.5

    Thanks Mark!! That looks much better; we're obviously not seasoned photographers, but my girls love to snap pictures. We had four cameras with us on the trip (not including iphones and ipods) including a GoPro, Panasonic Lumix, cheap-o Nikon P&S, and a Pentax K-x. We have (I'm guessing conservatively) between 2000 and 3000 photos and videos! It's now time to find some good ones, touch-up (new to us) and better organize and backup. Any recommendations on software? I'll look into Lightroom that you mentioned. Also looking to make some short videos from the GoPro clips and some photos (also new to us).

    BTW, you're only a stone's throw away from me (Benner Twp).
  • dbKiller
    dbKiller Posts: 316
    edited July 2014
    Home Theater: LG 60PB450; Pioneer Elite SC55; RT2000P; RT55P; CS400p; FX500; SVS PB12-Plus/2; PS3 360GB

    Office: Onkyo TX-NR616; RT2000i; RT800i; CS400i; DSW Micropro 4000; XBOX 360 250GB; LG BR370; Panasonic Plasma

    Bedroom: Sony STR-DH820; CS400p; RT55p; Sony Grand Wega 55"

    Retired: Sony STR-DN840; Yamaha HTR-6130; Sony STR-DN520; Paradigm Phantom V.3; Paradigm CS-270V.3, Cinema ADP V.3, PS1000 V.4; Polk S6; Onkyo TX-NR809; Monitor 50, CS1; FXi3; PSW350
  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited July 2014
    Great pics guys, Steve, those of the fireflies and milky way are beautiful!
  • mark090852
    mark090852 Posts: 996
    edited July 2014
    Scubalab, you have a private message.
    McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amp, LUMIN D2 Network Music Player, Yamaha Aventage RX-A840 receiver, Emotiva XPA Gen3 2 channel amp, Polk LSiM 703 speakers. Oppo UDP-203 Blu-Ray player, Polk LSiM 705 speakers. Polk Signature S20 speakers.
  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    edited July 2014
    7f973cb6-c7c6-4351-b198-cb613c4c66c6.jpg




    Inspiration for my next car. I want one of these new Avalons...same triple black combo.
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
  • quicksilvergts
    quicksilvergts Posts: 274
    edited July 2014
    Awesome pictures everybody. Great to see such a wide variety.
    Here is my second baby.
    Polk Lsi9
    Polk LsiC
    Polk Fxi3
    Pioneer SC-1222
    Parasound 1200 II w/ Kimber Kable HERO + 4TC
    SVS PB12-NSD (Bash)
    PS4
    Sharp Aquos 55"


    "If your BOLD enough to try it,
    your BOLD enough to make it happen"
  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited July 2014
    Here is my second baby.

    Wow, how did ever get hold of a hydro electric plant??? I've always wanted to own something like that!
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,898
    edited August 2014