View allAll Photos Tagged Rehydrate
It wasn't our initial plan to summit this stunning mountain. In fact, we only learned of it the day before we ventured out to it after finding out that the area around our first choice had been closed. What a lucky break for us! It was quite the adventure, with 12 km's of rough Forestry Service Road driven on our poor little vehicle, then 16.7 km's return distance walking and 1472 m's of total elevation gain. It was a very hot day, and it took 10 hours to complete, due to some steep scrambling, the time used to cross many snow patches, some precariously positioned, and the many stops to rehydrate.
It's a family affair.
Open North American Championship Sled Dog Races, Fairbanks, Alaska 2015, Day 3. After the final heat.
Daughter of ONAC Champion Buddy Streeper and ONAC rookie Lina Glad (6th place) of Fort Nelson British Columbia, helps by dishing out an electrolyte rich broth to the dogs after completing their final 30 mile run.
This was the 70th consecutive running of the Open North American Championship Sled Dog race. A three day race consisting of heats of roughly 20, 20 and 30 miles.
back in 2016, I backpacked over 200 miles, over 40 days, on the Sierra High Route. This particular section of the route was south of the High Route, before it began, and loosely followed the Pacific Crest Trail.
Day 7
This morning one of the through hikers from last night offered me some extra food, and I gladly excepted. I got a big bag of ramen noodles, some packets of tuna, a few cans of chicken, and a few bars. His name was Liam, and we were both headed north on the PCT/JMT so we hiked together for a few miles, he was going to try to make Rae Lakes, about 22 miles away. My goal was Wright Lakes out on the Bighorn Plateau, about 6 miles away.
Once we reached what looked like a good cross country route across the plateau we said goodbye and went our separate ways.
The Bighorn Plateau is vast, open and relatively flat, covered in rolling grasslands dotted with marshes, small lakes and ringed with towering peaks. Tawny Point (12320) to my northwest; Mt. Tyndall (14034) to the north; Mt. Versteeg (13470) to the northeast; Mt. Barnard (13990) to the east; and far off to the west beyond Kern Canyon and Kern Ridge rises The Great Western Divide and Kaweah Peaks Ridge which tops out at 13802 ft at the summit of Mt. Kaweah. As I made my way through the grassland I ended up disturbing a herd of deer that galloped away from me as I approached, this is the first significant wildlife I've seen on this journey.
I reached the largest of the Wright Lakes and dropped pack there. It was hot, and there was no shade except for a stand of pine trees a ways off to my east so I decided to head over to them.
This is the first time while I have been backpacking solo that I have felt lonely and longed for human contact, which is weird because I love being out in places like this, miles away from people, so utterly alone, and now for the first time I want people. Don't get me wrong, I like backpacking with friends and other people because you have some else to share the experience with, but there are also times when I greatly enjoy going out into the wilderness alone.
I don't like the photo opportunities here and I am wanting people, so I have decided to continue onto the bear box that my map shows near a lake, not far from the Tyndall Creek ranger station. There should be people there and hopefully better pictures. So I walked back to the PCT/JMT. I followed Wright Creek in, but I'm going straight across a large hill on the southern slope of Tawny Point to get out, that should cut off a few miles. Soon I reached the Tyndall Creek campground and people. The campground lies along the western shore of a lake. I'm going to stay here tonight.
Clouds began to build as the afternoon drew on, the talus slope on the far side of the lake was an ever shifting canvas of light and painted shadows as the clouds morphed and swirled into fantastic shapes high above. There was a good sized meadow of tall sedge grass on the southern shore where a mother deer and two young fawns grazed. My map shows that this is a chain of lakes that trails off to the north. I decided to wander uphill to them to see what kind of compositions I could find there but when I reached them they were nothing more than muddy puddles scattered with rocks. Though I did get an ok shot of a crumbling tree stump.
After exploring I went back to my campsite for a dinner of ramen and jalapeno tuna that Liam had given me earlier. While that was rehydrating I set up my tent up because the mosquitoes had begun coming out. By the time my dinner was ready to eat the alpine glow had appeared, so I hurried down to the marshy lake shore with my gear and found the best composition I could find. I photographed sunset with a cup of ramen and tuna soup in one hand and camera in the other. All the stomping around I did caused a swarm of mosquitoes to awaken and swarm around me. With both hands occupied I needed a third hand to swat at all the little blood suckers. I'm so glad I set my tent up.
Day 8
I got a late start today. I slept in too, I didn't get out of my sleeping bag until sun touch. (Sunrise is when the peaks glow pink in the alpine glow, or when the the sun rises above the horizon in a flat area, but in the mountains you might not see the sun until a few hours after it has risen because the mountains block it. So I'm making up a new term, "suntouch". Suntouch is when the sun finally rises high enough to crest the mountain peaks and the warmth of it's rays touch you and cast light upon you.) By the time I finally got out of my sleeping bag and took down my tent everyone had already left, which was no big deal, I was feeling like my normal non-lonely self again.
I boiled water and rehydrated my breakfast while watching the chipmunks running around looking for food and protecting their territory. Breakfast this morning is Pad Thai, one of my favorites and highest calorie meals that I have with me. The best part is the two packets of peanut butter that it comes with. I spent the next few hours sitting quietly watching the chipmunks and enjoying the symphony of birds and the whispering wind in the pines.
(I also took a few more photos of the grassy lake shore. I like these images better than last nights attempts. The mosquitoes are nowhere to be seen now that the sun is up.) (this is the above photo)
Finally I forced myself to get up and continue on to the unnamed lake beneath Forester Pass. I was supposed to go to Lake South America today, but that was before I decided to changed my route. The hike today is all uphill, I started at around 11000 ft and the lake is at around 12340 ft.
Even though I started late I got to my destination with plenty of daylight to spare. There are no trees here, so no shade again, except for a large rock. I took a nice nap huddled in the small amount of shade the rock provided. The clouds have been building the last few days, and today they are enormous. We might get rain today, if not today, hopefully tomorrow.
I can see Forester Pass from here. The backpackers on the top of the pass are tiny little specks, just barely visible. I heard many shouts of joy and relief as they summited. Tomorrow that will be me up there on top of the highest pass on my route and on the PCT.
As sunset drew nearer the temperature began to drop and the eastern slope of Junction Peak (13888 ft) glowed golden in the setting sun and a thin ribbon of light snaked it's way along the westward facing cliffs of Diamond Mesa, of which the unnamed lake I am staying at is nestled below. As Junction peak glowed, wisps of wind played upon the surface of the lake causing the reflected light to dance and shimmer upon the disturbed surface, as though the wind where a painter, the light were her paint and the lake her canvas.
As soon as the thin ribbon of light disappeared the moon rose above the Mesa. Had the timing of that been a little sooner it would have made for another beautiful photo. I made tea, ate a cliff bar, layered up and crawled into my sleeping bag for a long cold night. There are no mosquitoes, so I will be sleeping under the star filled Sierra sky tonight. (the new belt has so far been helping and I haven't been getting chafing on my hip any more. Also, I am so tired of this trail mix, it's too sweet. The next trail mix I'm getting is going to be spicy!)
the red line is the cross country route that i took, i traveled from left (east) to right (west)
Part 3
As I worked my way up hill I eventually needed to stop for a break. I found one of the few small trees that had taken root here and I sat down in the small patch of shade it provided. After a couple of minutes two hikers appeared out of nowhere from the direction I had just come from.
“Hello.” Said the guy as he stopped.
“Hi.” I answered.
“Are you doing the Roper Route too?” Asked the guy as his wife kept moving.
“Kind of,” I replied. “I'm also doing some of my own stuff too,” I continued, “I didn't see anyone else in Bench Canyon last night, where were you two camping?”
“At the Tarn between Twin Island and here.” He said, glancing uphill towards his wife, “Well she wants to keep going so, uh, have a great day.” He pushed on ahead to catch up.
“You too, Happy Trails.” I called out after them.
She seemed as though she did not want to be bothered so I let them disappear over the next rise before I continued in the same direction.
Once I topped the rise that they had just before me the first Blue Lake (10531) came into view. Despite it's name it was no more blue than any other lake. The two hikers were standing on it's shore checking their map. As I approached the lake, while tying to keep my distance they put their map away and headed for a grassy ramp between slabs that offered an easy route up to the second Blue Lake. I refilled my water bottles here before heading to the second lake. As I knelt down to reach the water the knees of my pants got wet from the soggy grass. After filling up I followed the same route they had taken as it appeared to be the path of least resistance. When I reached the second lake (10583) they were nowhere to be seen.
From here I continued up over and around rocks and slabs while trying to stick to the grassy patches as I worked my way up to Blue Pass (11240). When I finally reached the top of the pass a wild whipping wind rose up from the west carrying the scent of smoke upon it. From this vantage point I can see the more weathered and worn Clark Range stretching across the western horizon shrouded in a haze of the smoke that I could smell, in stark contrast to the Ritter Range in the east, where I had just come from, as its jagged crest scraped the sky. Beneath me to the east lay the two Blue Lakes and below me to my west lay an unnamed lake and four smaller ones reaching into the distant landscape. The two hikers that had passed me earlier were tiny specks far off in the distance as they rounded the unnamed lake and crested the ridge on the far side, after which they disappeared and I never saw them again. I am now leaving the Ansel Adams Wilderness behind and venturing into Yosemite National Park.
After taking in this view I made my way down over talus to the shores of the unnamed lake, where, in the shade beneath a large over hanging boulder I prepared my lunch. Down here off the pass the wild wind subsided as they often do when descending from passes and peaks. When my food was ready I enjoyed it the best one can enjoy a rehydrated meal, while listening to the sound of water gently lapping the shore.
to be continued...
The brown: a month old are rehydrated following overnight rain. The white are fresh eruptions 12 hours after the rain started.
Close up of a very hairy longhorn (16mm, Crossotus plumicornis, Lamiinae, Cerambycidae, collection specimen, Tanzania, Feb 2014).
Studio work; dried specimen was rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged.
Focus stack based on 17 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), not cropped. Canon 5Dmkii, MP-E 65mm at 1.2x, ISO-100, f/7.5, 1/160s, diffused single flash.
A black and red weevil with here and there some very shiny scales (ca 10mm long, aff. Pseudapocyrtus sp., Curculionidae, collection specimen, Phillipines, exact locality unknown, 2015).
Studio work; the dried specimen was carefully rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged on a leaf.
Focus stack based on 109 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), not cropped.
Canon 5Dmkii, Canon MP-E 65mm at 2x, ISO-100, f/5, 1/160s, tracing paper diffused single flash.
I like the sweet smile of this man.
Excerpt from the telling "Why not a World Tour?"
"I had booked again at the hotel Eastern Pearl because I kept a good memory of this estabishment and especially about the beautiful smile of the porter who always welcomed us by offering us a refreshing drink, a kind of blackcurrant decoction ...
During the previous stay, returning from an exhausting visit to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum, I had drunk several glasses in a row to rehydrate.
As soon as I went out from the revolving door, he was standing there, as usual, in front of his drink dispenser and his little cups lined up on a coffee table. He recognized me at first glance, and we greeted each other with effusion. Ning-Xin translated the words of sympathy that I wanted to show him.
It was the first time that a hotel porter showed me such cordiality! "
---------
Extrait du récit : "Pourquoi pas un tour du monde ?"
"J’avais réservé de nouveau à l’hôtel Eastern Pearl car j’en conservais un bon souvenir et surtout le beau sourire du portier qui nous accueillait toujours en nous offrant une boisson rafraîchissante, une sorte de décoction de cassis…
Au cours du précédent séjour, de retour d’une épuisante visite du Mausolée du Dr Sun Yat-Sen, j’en avais bu plusieurs verres d’affilée pour me réhydrater.
Dès la porte à tambour franchie, il était là, debout comme d’habitude devant son distributeur de boisson et ses petits verres bien alignés sur une table basse. Il me reconnut du premier coup d’œil et nous nous saluâmes avec effusion. Ning-Xin traduisit les mots de sympathie que je tenais à lui témoigner.
C’était bien la première fois qu’un portier d’hôtel me manifestait une telle cordialité !"
En vente chez BoD Editions. 144 pages.
Version papier 14,99€ : tinyurl.com/y89llalu
I ran down to the lake while dinner was rehydrating and got rewarded with some of the best sights of the night. You can just make out the glacier on the far end of the valley in the middle of the those two peaks. Great site at Glacier National Park.
I continue here with my microscopic dissection of the Alyssum flowering plant. I believe that the small yellow structure shown here is the Stigma end of the Pistal. My image was created using a Nikon light microscope. Several images focused at different planes were photostacked together using Helicon Focus, with additional post processing work in Lightroom and Photoshop. The polar width of the small granules (pollen?) in this image is approximately 20 microns. You can also see many of the individual yellowisn retangular shaped cells making up the Pistal.
Further information
"The pistil is the name given to the entire female reproductive system contained in a flower. It is composed of the stigma, style and ovary, which houses the ovules that eventually become seeds. The pistil contains all the structures required to trap and grow compatible pollen tubes until they are capable of successfully fertilizing ovules.
The stigma is the sticky, swollen structure at the top of the pistil. Its job is to capture and hold onto pollen grains. As they cling to the stigma, these dry reproductive structures are rehydrated; the stigma then sends hormonal signals to the pollen grains that tell them to elongate into the pistil.
The style is a long, hollow tube that holds the stigma far enough away from the ovary to be able to catch pollen grains as they pass by or positions the stigma in such a way so pollinators will rub against it. The length of the style is different depending on the plant, helping the pistil weed out any incompatible pollen tubes when they fail to grow long enough to properly fertilize the ovules."
Source: homeguides.sfgate.com/part-flower-contains-stigma-style-6...
Some nice light, rock pools and a big rock that looks like a horse head. I can think of very few other ways I’d prefer to spend a Wednesday morning.
A shiny metallic longhorn with white hairy dots (Faustabryna metallic, Cerambycidae; Leyte, Philippines, 2017).
Studio work with a dead specimen, rehydrated and staged. Focus stack, 115 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Pmax & Dmap). Sony A7Rm3 (aps-c mode) + FE 2.8/90 Macro G OSS; ISO-50, f/4.5, 1/250s, 1 diffused flash.
0 second Chicken ramen.
Regular Chicken ramen is made with hot water spend 3minit. 0 second Chicken ramen is eaten directly. So Nisshin they made it lightly flavored, with 1/2 the amount of salt The package says that if you rehydrate it in hot water, it won't taste good. But, not so bad. It's convenient for me. Because what I limit my salt intake to lower my blood pressure. Plus, it's cheaper than Regular CR.
A brownish longhorn beetle with 6 large white hairy spots (24mm long, Protorhopala sexnotata, Cerambycidae, collection specimen, Madagascar 2015).
Studio work; dried specimen was rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged in a greenhouse.
Focus stack based on 109 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), not cropped. Canon 5Dmkii, EF 100mm macro 1:2.8L IS USM, ISO-100, f/4, -0.3step, 1/80s, mix of diffused daylight and ledlight (Lupolux).
An orange & black spotted longhorn beetle, with a black tuft on each antenna (25mm long, Aristobia approximator, Cerambycidae, collection specimen, Thailand, Lampoon, 2015).
Studio work; dried specimen was rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged in a greenhouse.
Focus stack based on 225 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), not cropped. Canon 5Dmkii, EF 100mm macro 1:2.8L IS USM, ISO-100, f/3.2, -1step, 1/30s, mix of diffused daylight and ledlight (Lupolux).
Probably the last one this year. Wish you all a fascinating 2016 with lots of great subjects to photograph.
A black and white striped weevil. (ca 18mm long, Alcidodes aff. leytensis, Curculionidae, collection specimen, Phillipines, exact locality unknown, 2015). The white stripes are composed of hairs.
Studio work; the dried specimen was carefully rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged on a tiny stick.
Focus stack based on 176 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), not cropped. Canon 5Dmkii, Canon MP-E 65mm at approx. 1.5x, ISO-100, f/4.5, 1/160s, tracing paper diffused single flash.
Hier Carbone est allé à son contrôle (insuffisance rénale). Il a repris un peu de poids (230 g) et son échographie a montré des reins de taille normale (ils étaient trop gros), mais malheureusement ses valeurs rénales sont toujours mauvaises, même si légèrement améliorées. Le bon résultat de l'échographie est dû à un nouveau médicament pour calculs rénaux, ces derniers (invisibles à la radiographie) ayant probablement provoqué l'insuffisance rénale irréversible.
Ma vétérinaire l'a déclaré au stade 3 de l'insuffisance rénale (il y en a 4, le dernier étant fatal). L'espoir est qu'il se maintienne au stade actuel, mais même ainsi le pronostic à long terme est "réservé" comme disent les vétérinaires, un mot délicat pour une réalité pire.
On va le surveiller au jour le jour et le moment venu je ne le laisserai pas souffrir et je ne m'obstinerai pas non plus à l'envoyer à la perfusion pour le réhydrater, c'est un gros stress pour un petit bénéfice.
Yesterday Carbone went to his control (kidney failure). He regained a little weight (230 g) and the ultrasound showed normal-sized kidneys (they were too big), but unfortunately his renal values are still bad even if slightly improved. The good result of the ultrasound is due to a new medicine for kidney stones, the latter (invisible on X-ray) having probably caused irreversible renal failure.
My vet said he has reached stage 3 of kidney failure (there are 4, the last being fatal). The hope is that he will stay some time at this stage, but even so the long-term prognosis is "guarded" as vets call it, a soft word for a worse reality.
We will see day by day and when time comes I will not let him suffer and I will not send him anymore to be rehydrated by drip, it's a big stress for a little benefit.
Close up from the edge of an eye of a Longhorn beetle (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Ceroplesis sp., about 25mm long (January 2012, Lubumbashi, DR Congo).
The specimen was kept dry for 12 months and rehydrated with 10% ammonia for about 20 minutes and photographed immediately after.
Stacked image based on 135 exposures about 4-6µm apart. Taken with a Nikon CF Plan 20x/0.40 epi BD/DIC elwd11mm microscope objective fixed in front of a non-reversed Rodenstock Apo Gerogon 240mm 1:9 enlarger objective (tube lens). This lens combination was given 14cm of extension (bellows) to obtain an image of about 1.8mm wide. Used 3 ledlights (Jansjo), diffused through white paper (80g/m²). Other specs: ISO100, 1sec exposure, WB 3500K). Treated in LR for CA (in the blue), seriously cropped, now just about 0.9mm wide (i.e. close to a 40x magnification). Notice that some hairs reflect the light very strongly, couldn't solve that problem ... maybe with a circular polarization filter?
09.01.2011 - Ahhh, super hungover and trying to rehydrate with some Sprite. Last night was fun, today hasn't been, ah well, work tomorrow and movies tonight!
A rather unusual longhorn combining shiny and hairy-matted patches on the elytra (ca 21mm long, Acronia sp. or Mimacronia sp., Cerambycidae, collection specimen, Phillipines, Mindanao).
Studio work; the dried specimen was rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged in a greenhouse.
Focus stack based on 130 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), not cropped. Canon 5Dmkii, Canon MP-E 65mm at approx. 1.1x, ISO-100, f/4, -0.3step, 1/8s, tracing paper diffused daylight combined with a powerfull daylight led (see tags).
Kate and DoBe ..... are siblings who were found in a box that was taped shut and left on a town hall door step. There were a couple of other kittens as well but fortunately their mother was there. Their mom was a bit worse for wear they were but found soon enough so she could be rehydrated. The all found good homes.
I just recently backpacked over 200 miles, mostly cross country, from about 15-20 miles south of Mt. Whitney to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. I started and ended by myself, but along the way I meet and hiked with many wonderful people for short periods of time.
Day 9
Ice! Ice everywhere! I woke up this morning before sunrise and reached for my water bottle to drink, and nothing came out because it was frozen. My sleeping bag, pack, and my gear that I left out last night are covered in frost. The ground and any vegetation that has managed to get a foot hold here is covered in ice crystals. The lake, surprisingly, was not frozen, but a pond on the other side of the trail that I found while scouting out a good spot for sunrise pictures was almost completely frozen.
While waiting for the first glow of morning on Cal-tech peak (13832 ft) my feet were becoming numb inside my boots. My fingers where numb too. Finally light appeared along the jagged ridge and slowly crept down the peak. I took what photos I saw until the warm sun touched me. I was then able to warm up my toes and fingers. Once the sun touched a large rock with a slightly angled flat top I went back to my camping spot to grab my gear, especially my sleeping bag, and I put it on the rock to defrost it. While I waited I made jasmine tea, and rehydrated breakfast. Once my gear was ice free and dry I packed up and headed for forester pass.
The trail wove its way up to a saddle on the Kings-Kern Divide, overlooking the lake I had spent last night at. On the way up I heard a very loud, obnoxious person coming up behind me, every few minutes he'd let out a loud yell, followed by another yell from someone else, looking down I saw they were in a group of three.
Finally I reached the top of forester pass (13153 ft), the highest point on my route.
There were two people up there already, packs off, resting and enjoying the view and their accomplishment. I did the same. Eventually the group of three behind me reached the top. It turns out that the yelling was sneezing, very loud sneezing, and the other would yell "gesundheit!". The group consisted of two guys and a girl. One of them asked, "Could you take our photo?"
"Sure, if you can take mine after." I replied
After photos we started taking, the two guys, Reinhard and Dan, were from Phoenix, AZ, and Marion was from Austria, they had met on trail and had decided to hike together.
"Since we're going the same way would you mind if I hike with y'all for a while?" I asked, "I'd love the company."
Dan replied, "That would be great! But just so you know, I'm crazy"
"And I'm nutz!" said Reinhard, then he loudly sneezed.
"Gesundheit!" yelled Dan.
"Thats ok" I said, "I'm nuts too, I just keep my nuts to myself!" Then I took a large handful of my trail mix, which contains lots of nuts, and shoved it in my mouth.
The four of us continued hiking north together. Since I began this journey, I would tell everyone I passed on the trail, "Happy Trails". These two would sing the first verse of the Happy Trails song to everyone they passed:
"Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you,
Keep smiling until then."
I eventually gave in and began singing it with them. I told Reinhard that I have the whole song on my iPod. "Let me listen to it when we stop for lunch later, I want to write down the rest of the song."
At the first trees we came to after Forester Pass we stopped for lunch. We dropped pack and all of us removed our shoes and socks. Reinhard asked if I liked beef jerky and then said, "I make my own jerky, here try this." He handed me a piece.
It was the best beef jerky I've ever had, I can only describe it as a spicy thanksgiving dinner. Then he said, "Do you like wine? I make my own with raspberries, here try this." He handed me a squeeze pouch of it. It was fantastic!
Marion was trying to lighten her pack and gave me some smoked sausages from Austria. I had one then and saved the rest for later.
I let Reinhard listen to the song Happy Trails, and from then on we'd sing the rest of it:
"Who cares about the clouds when we're together,
Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather."
We continued on towards Vidette Meadows. Along the way I found a blueberry bush and we had a wonderful snack and I finally found some wild onions too! We are finally below the tree line once again, and thick forest began to close in around us.
Once we reached Vidette Meadows (9840 ft) I stopped. We said goodbye and they continued on to Rae Lakes.
I caught four fish in Bubbs Creek, three of them got away, and one I ate. We can't have fires so I boiled it with some of the onions. I used the water that boiled it to rehydrate the extra meal I was given by the Boy Scout Troop. The forest here is too thick for a good sunset photo and I'm too tired to go wandering around looking for one so I will take tonight off. The mosquitoes are bad here so I will be using my tent.
for anyone who is interested, I am making a book of this journey, it will include photos, maps and the story that I have been including in the descriptions of these photos.
I will let y'all know when it is finished.
Back in September, I placed this amaryllis bulb in the darkness of a closet to go domant. A few weeks ago, I rehydrated it and placed it in the light - and it has revived - a welcome presence of growing green in the winter month of January. From this angle, it suggests a pareidolia figure.
This is the result of a test aiming at recovering dried insects for macrophotography. Usually I do this with a 5-10% ammonia solution, it works fine, but it stinks and ammonia doesn’t really clean the specimens. Recently Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel proposed a method using Decon90 [extreme-macro.co.uk/restoring-insects/]. I got a test sample from Johan today (thanks!) and I tried as soon as I got home.
The test
I used two beetles (same species, Anthia sp., Carabidae) that were collected at the same place in Benin (West Africa), at the same time (July 1998) and kept almost 16 years in a dry collection. Before photographing, the beetle on the left was placed for 5 minutes in a small glass jar with a 50% water-Decon90 solution. Temperature of this 'bath' was warm (40°C). After 5 minutes (five) the specimen was taken out and rinsed several times (3x), again in warm water (40°C). The specimen on the right had no treatment, no cleaning or anything of that kind.
The result:
Decon90 (at 50%) is a very good alternative, if not better, than the ammonia solution I used before (see image below). It recovers eyes very fast and really helps a lot to remove old dust/dirt as well. This is a major advantage and I was quite surprised! More tests are needed to check if color shifts occur (permanent or temporary), but I think not if the treatment is kept short and the temperature well under 50°C.
Studio stack based on 63 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), uncropped
Canon 5D mkii, MP-E 65mm at 1.2x, ISO100, f/9, 1/160sec, tracing paper diffused flash.
These beautifully colored tiny wasps (6-7mm, Cuckoo wasp, Chrysidoidea) are parasites, ... from bees.
Every year we find a few of them in the greenhouse. This one couldn't get out and was found dead under the glass.
Studio work. Specimen rehydrated and staged on a small rose bud. Focus stack based on 74 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker, not cropped.
Canon 5D mkii, Canon MP-E 65mm at 2.9x, ISO-100, f/4, 1/160s, tracing paper diffused flash, circular polarisation filter.
Wandering Reine in the middle of the night after days of living off rehydrated food and we smell...what's that? Fried fish! The aroma conjures up visions of piping hot battered fish, dripping oil on the crispy fries on the plate below as you take that first bite. Is that restaurant still open? It's 12:05am, our fingers are crossed... kitchen closes at midnight. Bah! And that's it, because I can't write all that much about fish and chips I didn't get to eat.
This is a nasicorn beetle (38mm, Oryctes boas Fabricius, 1775; ID credit: Noel Mal) collected in a dense forest in the south of Bénin (West-Africa, Niaouli sanctuary, October 1998).
Studio work. This specimen was preserved in a dry collection for 16 years, it was rehydrated, prepared and staged for stacking.
Focus stack based on 108 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax), treated in GIMP and Lightroom, not cropped.
Canon 5D mkii, EF 100mm macro 1:2.8 USM, ISO-100, f/5, 1/3s, diffused natural light (slightly cloudy).
Red-spotted lily weevil (ca. 35mm long, Brachycerus ornatus, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, collection specimen, Tanzania, 2015).
Studio work; the dry collection specimen was carefully rehydrated, cleaned, prepared and staged on fine substrate.
Focus stack based on 128 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax). Canon 5D mkii, EF 100mm macro 1:2.8L IS USM, ISO-100, f/4, 1/13, diffused daylight led (Lupolux).
Find a closeup of those rusty patches in the first comment line
After each Oktoberfest, the Sony forum has an afterparty, and this year I am raising a glass to the UK's most civilised country on No Brexit Day. This is a new festival but rapidly became so popular that it's celebrated twice per year. A group of twenty or so white middle-aged men gather outside parliament to scuffle with police while their equally rough womenfolk jeer and scream obscenities. This makes them very thirsty so they rehydrate in a branch of Wetherspoons, a downmarket pub chain.
The spectacle is understood to be a ritual protest against imaginary oppression.
It wasn't our initial plan to summit this stunning mountain. In fact, we only learned of it the day before we ventured out to it after finding out that the area around our first choice had been closed. What a lucky break for us! It was quite the adventure, with 12 km's of rough Forestry Service Road driven on our poor little vehicle, then 16.7 km's return distance walking and 1472 m's of total elevation gain. It was a very hot day, and it took 10 hours to complete, due to some steep scrambling, the time used to cross many snow patches, some precariously positioned, and the many stops to rehydrate.
Don't forget to rehydrate often this summer. I can't begin to describe the dire consequences if you do not. Do yourself a favor, and those around you as well to drink up! Kampai!
This West African buthid scorpion (ID: ...; Buthidae) comes from the woodlands near Monts-Kouffé in Bénin (West-Africa, Wari-Maro village, June 1997). Found it in a pitfall trap (open arid area). Preserved it in ethanol for a month, then for about 18 years in a dry collection.
Studio work. Cleaned, rehydrated and staged specimen, illustrating defensive posture.
Focus stack based on 137 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Pmax). Canon 5D mkii, EF 100mm macro 1:2.8 USM, ISO-100, f/4, -0.3step, 1/160s, natural light combined with strong daylight led, diffused with tracing paper.
The interior part of Alaska receives the same amount of annual precipitation as Tucson, Arizona, but its landscape is far from desert-like – picture vast spruce forests punctuated by streams and fields of wildflowers. This abundance is made possible by the ways in which water is stored on the landscape (often in solid form). For example, snowpack from the winter slowly melts over the spring and summer to continually rehydrate the soil. As climate change brings about warmer temperatures and less snowfall, scientists at the Alaska Climate Science Center, managed by the USGS, warn that drought has the potential to seriously disrupt vegetation, wildlife habitat and migration, and the traditional hunting and gathering activities of native people…not to mention increasing the frequency and extent of wildfires. Read more: go.usa.gov/cmnPh. Photo credit: Shawn Carter, USGS.
Summer in the city, what better place to go than to the water on a hot day. Make sure you keep hydrated 💦 because the sun is sticking around. Two @TransLinkBC buses head north on Granville Street to rehydrate at Waterfront Station. Captured in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ~ July 12, 2018 🏪🏤
Studio stack of a specimen (Pale giant horse fly) found dead on a windowsill in Latvia (Kolka).
Stack based on 245 images (ISO100, f/5.6, 1/160sec, paper diffused flash), Assembled in ZereneStacker (several Pmax), uncropped, 3.5x, i.e. 10mm high.
Rehydrated in 10% ammonia for 10 min before shooting.
Day 16
It rained again last night, a few sprinkles on and off, then around 3:30 or 4:00 (I'm guessing) it poured for a good hour at least. Once that passed I got up and headed back to the pond for sunrise. The rain had moved over the Royce Lakes area and I could see the bands of rain streaming down from the clouds. There were too many storm clouds for there to any alpine glow this morning.
After breakfast, I dismantled my tent and dried it the best I could with a sock (I hate packing it up all wet). The morning clouds have broken, giving me a glimpse of the blue sky above and the moon setting over the unnamed peak that towers over Merriam Lake. This shot will make up for missing out on sunrise.
Then I got an early start on today's section. I made my way over to the waterfall on the northern end of the lake and began to climb up. The blue sky was now gone, hidden behind gray clouds once again. As I was going up a couple, man and woman, were coming down. They had spent the night at the first small tarn just after the waterfall. They pointed out a falcon circling above that they had been watching. They said that there is no trail between here and Gabott Pass. I thanked them for the info and sang Happy Trails as we parted ways.
I attempted swimming in the creek I was following, but after only getting in up to my knees my toes were already numb, so I settled for a splash bath.
I continued on to the first tarn. I like this place, I should have stayed here. (I need to come back here.)
While I was photographing this tarn I heard the day's first rumble of thunder. Its starting early today, I'd estimate its only 10 am. I continued hiking across the flat terrain towards La Salle Lake and Feather Pass, but I didn't get much further before there was more, closer thunder and rain began falling. I water proofed my pack and put my jacket on. There is no shelter here. More thunder. I headed for a small hill with an over hanging rock just big enough to shelter me and my pack. The majority of the thunder and rain appears to be over the bear lakes area, where I am going to be tonight and tomorrow.
I sheltered there until the thunder subsided, then continued on to La Salle Lake in the rain. Three different periods of thunder started and stopped causing me to seek shelter each time. Slowly I made my way past three more tarns, up another waterfall, and finally I reached La Salle Lake (11562). Most of the rain had stopped now but the energized air of the thunderstorms lingered. I expected another one to roll through but none came. What there was had all moved off. From here I made a wrong “turn”. Instead of following the creek up, I began climbing the rocky cliffs on the south side of the lake, eventually coming to an impassable drop off. After realizing my mistake I retraced my steps back down to the lake. Then, following the creek, I made my way up to the last little tarn before the final ascent up Feather Pass (12320), all the while under cloudy skies.
After finally reaching the top of the pass I stopped for a break. I finally got a good view of two of the Bear Lakes, Bear Paw Lake and Ursa Lake (11200). After a good long break I continued down the north side of the pass, weaving my way through a maze of large talus blocks the size of cars, most of which looked like they had recently broken loose. Where Feather Peak and the unnamed peak just west of it converge a stream of melt water trickled down from the pass. I followed that and it led me to a small rock ringed tarn. From there I followed it to the east, then down a waterfall into the Bear Lakes Basin. The stream now snaked its way through a beautiful green meadow before emptying into Bear Paw Lake.
I found a good spot to make camp, so I set up my tent. I had spent all day on trail and daylight was almost gone. I wasn’t expecting any alpine glow or sunset because there was still cloud cover to the west. I boiled water and rehydrated some dinner. I had just started to eat when suddenly the sun poked through a line of clear sky along the horizon, illuminating the jagged ridgeline of feather peak in a bright pink light. I set my dinner down, hurriedly grabbed my camera gear, ran back to the meadow and hastily started taking photos. I hadn't had time to scope it out so I just took as many as I could while moving around trying to find the best composition. Finally I found one I liked and slowed down to get it just the way I wanted. The glow then faded and I walked back to my tent, finished eating and went to sleep. Today was a long day.
This time of the year this part of the world doesn't offer too much insects to photograph outdoors. Many of us then revert to insects kept in ethanol or dry, either in a box at room temperature or in the freezer. This method works well, but dried specimens often show weird patters on the eyes ... It is a problem because it can seriously affect the quality of the image.
The above picture shows the blue blister beetle (earlier post) photographed before (A) and after (B) treating the eyes with ammonia. I used ordinary household ammonia (25%) and diluted it with water to obtain a 10% ammonia solution. It was carefully applied to the eyes, mouth parts and base of the cephalon (I did that under the stereoscope). It took a couple of minutes to recover the normal aspect of the eyes and color of the joints. Ammonia is known to alter colors of mushrooms and plants, maybe also insects, but in this case I did not see any degradation.
Both pictures are stacks (40 exposures, Pmax) taken in exactly the same conditions as in the earlier post. Both images were cropped for the sake of positioning and joining them.
earlier post:
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/andredekesel/8561010614/]
pale beige monotones in Mendocino County where colors are normally rich and vibrant. Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor) are also normally much more vibrant. The pale color of these suggests they are several years old and weathered. They were dry due to drought but will normally rehydrate when moisture becomes available.
Rehydrating bees spotted at the bar at Montacute Priory. I was fascinated to see how they came to drink in groups rather than alone. They left briefly but, again, returned in a group of half a dozen or so.
Possibly one of the better results in some time from my fast-decaying zoom lens.
Cherry cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. The layer below the cheese is dehydrated cherries that I rehydrated overnight in half a cup of Chambord liqueur, before baking. I reserved and pureed some of the soaked cherries to spread in a layer between the top of the cheese and the whipped cream. Grated dark chocolate on top.
I had some great rehydrated asparagus, so far my favorite rehydrated veggie from Self-Service Restaurant Node 1!
Credits: ESA/NASA
[122A4522]
A carabid beetle (26mm long; Anthia cf crudelis, Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the miombo forests of Katanga (Lubumbashi area, DR Congo, January 2014, pitfall trap, collection specimen).
Studio work. Cleaned, rehydrated and staged specimen (on lateritic sand from the locality).
Focus stack based on 191 images (necessary because of the very low angle), assembled in Zerene Stacker (Pmax & Dmap). Canon 5Dmkii, MP-E 65mm at 1.2x, ISO-100, f/6.3, 1/125sec, paper diffused flash.
I love Autumn! It is the time of year when the street vendors set up on the side of the road to sell their Chile Pepper Ristras. In September the chile peppers mature to a vibrant red color. The peppers are traditionally harvested and strung into colorful strings called ristras. The chile is allowed to dry in the warm sun, then is stored on the ristra for using in cooking delicious Mexican dishes. The peppers are soaked in water to rehydrate, then blended to a hot and spicy puree.
Chile Ristras are often used as a decoration in the southwest. You will find them hanging on front doors to greet visitors or hanging inside the home. The ristras are different sizes according to the type of chile peppers. These are very small bundles, but some ristras are over two feet long! They can also be formed to heart shapes or circles to make a lovely wreath to adorn your door.