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Post by captbob on Feb 16, 2015 16:52:51 GMT -5
I LIKE 'EM !!They look much more comfortable than the malachite suit of armor I've been working on  ETA: I can't get in the site to see the fabric, some doodyhead ad keeps blocking the page 
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Post by gingerkid on Feb 16, 2015 18:21:30 GMT -5
They look much more comfortable than the malachite suit of armor I've been working on ROFL, captbob! Wanna see a pic of you in your malachite suit of armor with matching shoes. ETA: I can't get in the site to see the fabric, some doodyhead ad keeps blocking the page If you hit the 'ESC' button on your keyboard, it should remove the annoying ad. Looks like they are out of the geode (malachite) fabric. Sure hope they get it back in stock soon. It appears that several customers were asking about it. Darby Smart also has malachite coasters and beads (beaded necklaces) that you may make with the "geode" fabric. There's also DIY malachite napkin holders. You could make some napkin holders for your wife. Darby Smart has a Facebook page, too, but I cannot find anything about the "geode" fabric on their page. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 22, 2015 16:10:38 GMT -5
Got some interesting new specimens this week. Gotta praise my favorite mineral seller. Not a single Byssolite crystal broke off of this one in shipping. Each tiny crystal is smaller than a hair in diameter.  Interesting for the 2 tiny Calcite crystals perched on this Stibnite crystal.  Phantom Elbaite Tourmaline. Dark green coated with clear.  New find. Nail head scepter Calcite crystal. This form has only been found in one pocket in this mine.   |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 22, 2015 19:54:21 GMT -5
HOLY MOLY!!!!
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Post by gingerkid on Feb 27, 2015 20:15:14 GMT -5
I agree! Holy Moly, jakesrocks!  The color on your aqua is stunning! Love the phantom elbaite tourmaline - looks like watermelon tourmaline inside (outside?) - eyes playing tricks. Haven't seen nail head calcite and that's an awesome specimen as well as your calcite pair on stibnite. Wow @ your byssolite, and amazed and glad the needles arrived intact. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 27, 2015 20:34:12 GMT -5
Been playing with my other camera. Think I just about have it figured out. Hopefully I'll be able to post better pics soon. You'd think that a company like Nikon would supply better instructions for taking macro pics with their cameras.
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 27, 2015 22:40:57 GMT -5
You really need a camera stand (if your not using one). I use the flash and get nice results.
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 27, 2015 22:49:58 GMT -5
Glen, I have 2 or 3 types of tripods, a light tent, a stand for macro pics and half a dozen photo lamps. I've been using an old Kodak that came with great instructions for taking close up & macro pics. I broke down and bought a Nikon, hoping to get better results. The camera came with practically no instructions for shooting in macro setting, and I haven't been able to find any instructions on line, so I've just been experimenting with the camera, and just about have it figured out.
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 27, 2015 23:09:35 GMT -5
What model are you using?
With mine (I have super macro and macro)I ether use the flash with reg macro (and take the best shop out of 30 or Put it on a stand and use super macro
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 28, 2015 10:58:16 GMT -5
Glen, I have the Coolpix P 100. Couldn't afford to buy one of the better Nikons, so I bought what I could afford. Even at that, once I figure everything out, It's got to produce better pics than my cheepie Kodak.
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Post by gingerkid on Feb 28, 2015 12:08:06 GMT -5
Hi, jakesrocks! We have a Nikon Coolpix P/S S8100, and the macro setting on it looks like a flower. I figured out that after taking a pic, I could zoom in on the photo using the lens zoom, then select save picture from the settings where it would ask if I wanted to save the photo. (probably doesn't make any sense, lol) One problem I have taking pics with it is the background always appears off. For example, a white background appears blue regardless of lighting. I think I took better pics with a Kodak disposable camera... |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,064
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Post by gemfeller on Feb 28, 2015 13:47:35 GMT -5
Jan, that background problem shouldn't happen. Are you sure you're setting your White Balance correctly? I use an 18% gray card to set mine but a sheet of white paper works well.
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 28, 2015 14:04:11 GMT -5
Yeah in that case you just need to change the picture type to the flower (macro), have a steady hand, and use the flash. Thats what I do with my camera since I don't have a stand to get super macro (yet). Also if you hold down the shoot button half way after zooming in it will auto focus to get the best picture
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 28, 2015 14:34:36 GMT -5
Hey Glen, here's the copy stand I bought. Not a professional stand by a long shot, but should get the job done.  |
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 28, 2015 22:10:44 GMT -5
Hey Glen, here's the copy stand I bought. Not a professional stand by a long shot, but should get the job done. Not sure that type of stand would hold my camera (its large). I wish mine could have a longer exposure time so I could get better pics of the northern lights though.. at least I haven't found out how yet. This is a shot I took of some dull northern lights and the red moon last year, There were brighter lights this year but I didn't have my camera on me that could capture them (I was amber hunting). I did have probably the best view of them though. The pic isn't the best because my website degrades the photos but you can see a few stars and stuff. For your uv minerals, 10 sec works nice. Try to get a clear pic of the moon with your camera... my camera (when I get a good stand) will take nice photos.   This next moon photo is not full zoom on my camera. As you can see, I didn't have the best hand for 10 sec.  |
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 28, 2015 22:14:20 GMT -5
Hey Glen, I'll go out and take a pic of the moon if you'll come chip me out of the ice afterwards.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,064
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Post by gemfeller on Feb 28, 2015 22:50:11 GMT -5
Glen, those are interesting night shots. Nearly every camera I know of has a "Bulb" exposure setting. It keeps the shutter open for varying amounts of time. Five minutes is the limit on my Coolpix but some cameras allow much longer exposures. Look up "Bulb" or "Long Time Exposures" in your manual. It'll take some experimenting to find the "sweet spot" for your astro and Aurora shots but digital "film" is cheap.
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 28, 2015 23:08:25 GMT -5
Got some new specimens today. Tried something a little different for taking pics.    Nevver know what my favorite seller is going to throw in for freebies. He loaded me up this time. Moqui Marble from Utah  Citrine from Brazil  And a cute little Oco Geode  |
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Post by glennz01 on Mar 1, 2015 3:42:40 GMT -5
Glen, those are interesting night shots. Nearly every camera I know of has a "Bulb" exposure setting. It keeps the shutter open for varying amounts of time. Five minutes is the limit on my Coolpix but some cameras allow much longer exposures. Look up "Bulb" or "Long Time Exposures" in your manual. It'll take some experimenting to find the "sweet spot" for your astro and Aurora shots but digital "film" is cheap. Thanks for the tip, i'll check it out. My camera is the samsung WB110 (edit just looked and the longest exposure setting I can have is 8 sec.... I want to go longer though -,- ) Not sure what you tried this time jake but I think the white is a little bright, still a little fuzzy also |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 1, 2015 10:36:35 GMT -5
Don those are great!
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