|
MicrostockGroup Sponsors
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Topics - ianhlnd
Pages: [1]
1
« on: September 15, 2008, 19:04 »
Hi everybody, been a while since I checked in, Here's a little adventure thats been published in a sailing rag, this is the condensed version. su amigo, Ian
Hard Aground, On Your Own
Murphy's law, as I've found works both on land and on sea.
Single handing and leaving Mazatlan to go back to La Paz across the Sea of Cortez, I'd changed fuel filters, oil, tightened all belts, I had 1/2 tank of fuel, so I felt confident I could make the 220 nm to Los Muertos, then up the Cerralvos Channel and into La Paz. But let me back up a little and start this story properly.
I'd received word by single side band that a friend of mine had found a ''Bloom" of scallops on one of the islands off the eastern coast of Baja. Being quite partial to these tasty sea creatures, I decided I'd head there before my friend ate the 500 lbs or so in the bloom. In Mazatlan, I'd re-propped following a dive of the bottom and finding a nick in the prop and a fair amount of electrolysis. Helices Kelly in Mazatlan, supplied me with a new blank, cut it for the correct shaft size, pitch, and key way, and I went from a LH 18X12 to a LH 20X18.
Theoretically the new prop will produce an increase in speed with less RPM's. Why was there a 12" inch pitch in the first place, I don't know. By the way, this brand new prop cost $330.00. In the states, it would have been $1,500. If in Mazatlan, Kelly is highly recommended, it was ready in one day.
50 miles out of Mazatlan, with a northwest wind on the nose, 5 foot seas, wind at around 35, problems began. Engine died, but with the reefed main, staysail, mizzen, I could back off the wind and still make VMG to La Paz. Long story short, 5 bleeds later, 3 days and nights at sea and still 85 miles from safe harbor, I finally figured out the problem. My fault.
Whenever something goes wrong, I usually fault something in the system, but looking at it realistically, it was running good, til I did something to it. What did I do? Changed fuel filters. Pulling off the monster Dahl filter I noticed that I had used an OEM fiter, and had omitted the gasket which is integral in the Dahl filters. Dumb, yes, let's just mark this up to fatigue. Changes made, works fine. Safe harbor was made at the end of the third day just before sunset.
Anchoring in Bahia Los Muertos (Bay of the Dead), 4 beers on board, then a fantastic meal of fresh caught Dorado, michalatas, and then with a great bottle of wine from my stock, a chilean Santa Ema cabernet, 2003. I tucked myself in for a 4 am departure. Figured I'd beat the gale force winds that run between the mainland and Isla Cervallos, laying off the island and catching the downdraft from the the mountains on the island.
With a ketch behind me, I pulled anchor and steered to the right in able to clear the ketch, and the reef off to the left. I'd notice the hydraulic helm had little response when clearing the ketch, and with a flashlight saw that the steering pedistal and deck was wet with oil.
Turning right for open sea after clearing the ketch, and continueing to turn left, no response to the helm. I immeditely put the engine in reverse, stopped all forward movement, then in neutral, big heavy boats don't stop, there's the momentum, current and wind.
The autopilot is a separtate system so I went below to steer by pilot. The pilot searching for the shortest route to the heading I'd set, couldn't make up it's mind to go left or right, it went left.
I knew I was in trouble when the bow lifted 5 feet in the air with a loud crash and bang, followed by crunches, bangs and whangs. The boat laid on it's side to it's cap rail. A quick look into the interior showed all the plates, pans, books etc, on the cabin floor. Done and done. High on a reef and seemingly hopeless.
Both sides of the Baja are unforgiving areas. No Coast Guard, Vessel Assist, and the Mexican Navy isn't interested. You're on your own, what you do is the only thing you can rely upon.
Jumping over the side with a high intensity light, I saw that the rocks were more round and worn lava than jagged coral. Swimming out from the stern, I saw the rock that I had rode over, 3 feet below the surface, 6 feet from the bottom. I figured if I could start the boat backward, I should be able to jump the rock again, and move into deeper water.
In low idle reverse, I jumped from port to starboard trying to rock this 40,000 boat, and noticed a few feet movement to stern. Waiting for the screech of the new prop on rock . . . it never came. Putting a bit more pressure on the throttle, a few more feet, then up over a rock, dipped to the other side, then freedom!
Anchor was dropped, and another trip over the side showed that there was a few scratches on the 18" wide full keel, and some of the bottom paint was missing from the starboard side.
Two things saved my bacon. A fully enclased keel, and a 6" thick hull. Hardin made a solid boat!
65 nm later, 8 hours, I dropped the hook in Bahia de la Paz, the bilge pump didn't go off once, and the fuel problems were fixed. What did I learn from this experience? First of all, sh*t happens. You can't prepare for everything. Second, if something goes wrong, look at what you did to it to make it go wrong. Third, there's only you, the boat, and the sea. If you get into it, it's up to you to get out of it.
Now, safely tucked to anchor, I'm looking forward to the 70 nm or so til I get to those scallops.
Ian, lucky as hell sailor,
S/V Blythe Spirit
La Paz Mexico.
2
« on: April 28, 2008, 22:15 »
hard aground, on your own
Hey everybody, don't get the opportunity to check in very often, but I do like to hear what's going on. Here's a little tale of my last episode of insanity, or maybe just stupidity. Where's a photographer when you need one?
Murphy's law, as I've found works both on land and on sea.
Leaving Mazatlan to go back to La Paz across the Sea of Cortez, I'd changed fuel filters, oil, tightened all belts, I had 1/2 tank of fuel, so I felt confident I could make the 220 nm to Los Muertos, then up the Cerralvos Channel and into La Paz. But let me back up.
I'd received word by SSB that a friend of mine had found a ''Bloom" of scallops on one of the islands off the eastern coast of Baja. Being quite partial to these sea creatures, I decided I'd head there before my friend ate the 500 lbs or so in the bloom. In Mazatlan, I'd re-propped following a dive of the bottom and finding a nick in the prop and a fair amount of electrolysis.
Helices Kelly in Mazatlan, supplied me with a new blank, cut it for the correct shaft size, pitch, and key way, and I went from a LH 18X12 to a LH 20X18. Theoretically increase in speed with less RPM's. Why was there a 12" inch pitch in the first place, I don't know. By the way, this brand new prop cost $330.00. In the states, it would have been $1,500. If in Mazatlan, Kelly is highly recommended, it was ready in one day.
50 miles out of Mazatlan, with a northwest wind on the nose, 5 foot seas, wind at around 35, problems began. Engine died, but with the main, staysail, mizzen, I could back off the wind and still make VMG to La Paz. Long story short, 5 bleeds later, 3 days and nights at sea and still 85 miles from safe harbor, I finally figured out the problem. My fault.
Whenever something goes wrong, I usually fault something in the system, but looking at it realistically, it was running good, til I did something to it. What did I do? Changed fuel filters. Pulling off the monster Dahl filter I noticed that I had used an OEM fiter, and had omitted the gasket which is integral in the Dahl filters. Dumb, yes, let's just mark this up to fatigue. Changes made, works fine.
Anchoring in Bahia Los Muertos (Bay of the Dead), 4 beers on board, then a fantastic meal at the Giggling Marlin, michalatas, and then with a great bottle of wine from my stock, a Santa Ema cabernet, 2003. I tucked myself in for a 4 am departure. Figured I'd beat the gale force winds that run between the mainland and Cervallos, laying off the island and catching the downdraft from the the mountains on the island.
With a ketch behind me, I pulled anchor and steered to the right in able to clear the ketch, and the reef off to the left. I'd notice the hydraulic helm had little response when clearing the ketch, and with a flashlight saw that the steering pedistal and deck was wet with oil.
Turning left after clearing the ketch, and trying to turn right, no response to the helm. I immeditely put the engine in reverse, stopped all forward movement, then in neutral. The autopilot is a separtate system so I went below to steer by pilot. The pilot searching for the shortest route to the heading I'd set, couldn't make up it's mind to go left or right, it went left.
I knew I was in trouble when the bow lifted 5 feet in the air with a loud crash and bang, followed by crunches, bangs and whangs. The boat laid on it's side to it's cap rail. Done and done. High on a reef and seemingly hopeless.
Both sides of the Baja are unforgiving areas. No Coast Guard, Vessel Assist, and the Mexican Navy isn't interested. You're on your own, what you do is the only thing you can rely upon.
Jumping over the side with a high intensity light, I saw that the rocks were more round and worn lava than jagged coral. Swimming out from the stern, I saw the rock that I had rode over, 3 feet below the surface, 6 feet from the bottom. I figured if I could start the boat backward, I should be able to jump the rock again, and move into deeper water.
In low idle reverse, I jumped from port to starboard trying to rock this 40,000 boat, and noticed a few feet movement to stern. Waiting for the screech of the new prop on rock . . . it never came. Putting a bit more pressure on the throttle, a few more feet, then up over a rock, dipped to the other side, then freedom!
Anchor was dropped, and another trip over the side showed that there was a few scratches on the 18" wide full keel, and some of the bottom paint was missing from the starboard side.
Two things saved my bacon. A fully enclased keel, and a 6" thick hull. Hardin made a solid boat!
65 nm later, 8 hours, I dropped the hook in Bahia de la Paz, the bilge pump didn't go off once, and the fuel problems were fixed.
What did I learn from this experience? First of all, sh%t happens. You can't prepare for everything. Second, if something goes wrong, look at what you did to it to make it go wrong. Third, there's only you, the boat, and the sea. If you get into it, it's up to you to get out of it.
Now, safely tucked to anchor, I'm looking forward to the 70 nm or so til I get to those scallops.
Ian, lucky as hell sailor, La Paz Mexico.
3
« on: March 22, 2008, 10:02 »
Hello from beautiful Mazatlan. A nice 86 degrees today, well, and yesterday, and last week etc. I have a question, I did a google on my handle and came up with a site that has several of my pics, called Crystal graphics. What interested me is that prints are going for $69. I checked their home, and can't find any info with whom they're affiliated. Does anyone here have any info on this site? http://www.crystalgraphics.com
4
« on: December 19, 2007, 16:18 »
Running south with a stiff breeze off the starboard, ran into sever gales one packed next to the other. Lost the masthead bringing down the rigging, and in fear of losing the main and the mizzen masts. Was able to jury rig in 50 mph winds and continue on with staysail and mizzen. The things we can do when required. Finding refuge in Bahia Tortuga sat out the storms marching south, only to be caught in another, alas, sh_t happens. The payoff is the spectacular sights:  
5
« on: October 17, 2007, 21:29 »
A sailors update.
Coming up from Mag Bay for some repairs and refits, currently N32, W117 or thereabouts, the winter weather this far north has become uncomfortable, at 79 - 80 degrees F during the day and dropping below 60 degres F at night, humidity is an unbearable 35% and my skin is starting to dry out. Funny how we adapt.
After refits, I'll head south again riding the N-NW wind flow, round Cabo and head directly to up into the Sea of Cortez for the mating or birthing of the gray whale (or whatever nasty things they do there), I've all the underwater equipment ready, and a really neat snuba set-up which allows unlimited underwater time.
I've had to repair my refrigerations system at the cost of a small Volkswagen, the watermaker needs a new membrane, and the generator needs an overhaul. Other than that, life couldn't get better.
The Dorado, or Mahi-Mahi I had sent to Leaf wrapped in newspaper was returned as "refused" probably due to the stink that you could see pouring off the package like a fog. I was able to give it away as crab bait.
My current first mate is a "pointilist" artist and botanist who is recording the flora of the rugged Baja coast, we plan to put together a monogram of the isloated and primeval locations of Guatemala and Costa Rica. It's amazing how little has been recorded in places well known.
6
« on: August 02, 2007, 23:51 »
it's all free, the eyes to see, the heart to feel, the synaptic nerve to push the shutter:
7
« on: August 02, 2007, 23:34 »
A couple days ago I uploaded a picture of a '56 corvette to the site, which was rejected 'cause I put "corvette" in the title, potential copyright infringement I re-uploaded, taking out the name "corvette", and sent support a note saying that a search showed 16 images of a corvette under search for "corvette" They agreed with me and removed the images from that search keyword. Don't you wish all sites were like that?
Now if only the pictures would show up in my portfolio
8
« on: August 02, 2007, 23:26 »
I'm starting to worry, nice site, good commissions, but nothing going on there. 3 week approval wait? Hope they're not giving up.
9
« on: July 11, 2007, 09:51 »
Sitting on the hook waiting for some work to be done to my generator, I was in a wireless area got hooked up and to my feigned surprise, I saw one of my images hit the top 50 of the week on SS. Not only that, but a respectable number 35. Happy, Happy, Happy! What I've found being in the top 50, is that it brings more people to your gallery, Pics I had thought of deleting due to slow sales are selling. Not only that, but it's not a bikini babe business woman teleconferencing from the beach. Just a minimally isolated old car! Yea for the buyers! 
10
« on: June 22, 2007, 21:30 »
i guess I've been around stock long enough to what to do and what to look for when submitting photos. But what do you do when you submit a picture, rejected for copyright infringement.
Looking at the picture at 300%, I find what may look like a logo, and wash it out. This is working on a RAW copy. run it through Noise Ninja, and get a rejection for over sharpening. Run it through Neat image, another rejection for artifacts and noise. I'm looking at this thing at 300% and can't find it. Of the five submitted, one is accepted, and that one sold 30 times this week full of noise and artifacts and a rather bad isolation.
On another site I uploaded, all 5 pictures, the reviewer added the note "Cool"
Yeah, Yeah, I know, happens to all of us, but I guess my gripe is why can't they be consistent? If it's rejected for something, why come up with something else next time it's uploaded?
Pissed, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
11
« on: May 04, 2007, 22:40 »
I don't know yet if this is a glitch or some new policy I haven't read. Just got a 2 cent commission at FT. I've queried their support for clarification, believing this is a glitch. It was standard sized pic, sold for 1,00, normal commis is .35, account credited .02.
You may want to check your stats with this site in case you're getting the same problem.
12
« on: April 13, 2007, 09:14 »
I've been experimenting with various lights after reading the construction light thread. Due to the limited area to work in I've been using 7" clamp-on reflectors, with the Ritz camera photo lights. The problem has been the high wattage (I run off batteries and solar), heat, cost, and short life (3.5hrs).
I've gone through all the commercial brands, from 100-200 watt with ratings up to 1750 lumins. All incandescent.
At Home Depot the other day, I ran across one of these new curley tube things, florescent type, and was suprised to see that for a 100 watt bulb the output was 1300 lumens. What was even more interesting was that it was 100 watt equivalent and actually drew only 25 watts. Thats approximately 2 amps which is really nothing. The brand is n:vision daylight. Never heard of them.
Taking a couple quick and dirty shots of the first thing that came into my hand, I was very pleased with how the color was captured, it was more vivid and true to the actual subject: Better yet, life is 10,000 hrs.
Top photo with the n:vision, bottom with Ritz photo bulbs
13
« on: April 09, 2007, 21:03 »
I guess I musta missed it, but shutterstock now wants a witness for model releases. I don't get a chance to log on very often, and hadn't seen it on this site or SS, but it probably was.
I can understand the need for model releases, but a witness? If somebody is faking a model release, what would stop them from faking the witness.
What's next? photo id's, photo's of the person signing, or holding the release in a picture that's date marked, or even notarized?
If that's the policy, why not go through all the pictures and freeze the ones that don't have witnesses until a witness signs a revised release?
Confused at sea
14
« on: March 23, 2007, 21:28 »
Old Fart, well excuse me, baby boomer. Are these selling? Maybe concept or aging, or. . . . . and yes, self portrait, cheapest model I can find.
15
« on: February 08, 2007, 21:26 »
Lately, in the forums and different sites we all belong, all you see are snow pics. Ice, snow, sleet, skis, snowmobiles - Theres a photographer with the handle " freezing images", that I gotta turn on the heater to view his portfolio, and it's really great--but cold--and I hate cold. So, as you know, and you're probably getting tired of me saying it, I'm leaving for a couple years and need crew. This last weekend, the temperatures hit the 80's here in So California, about 45 mi north of LA, mild santanas were blowing (warm air out of the north), so I decided to audition crew on an overnighter to our offshore islands. Yes "audition" cause I need people shots. This is a mother/son combo. Both of us are qualified with Master's degrees and can home school through High School. Anyway, here's a couple shots, she's only about 28 years younger than me-no chicken hawk comments, this is strictly professional - I'm really getting desperate for crew. Comments? Special note to Tyler, This is what sailing is all about!
16
« on: January 26, 2007, 10:12 »
Now that I've retired my Canon A1 due to shutter failure and the cost to repair is more than I paid for it in 1978, I guess it's time to move completely into the digital age. Web site or blog?
My son is a web site developer and he's offered (read after a lot guilt laid on him from me) to build either one for free. From what I can gather, a web site needs more technical skills to update and if updated on a frequent basis could become very work intensive. A blog, on the other hand can be updated by me whenever I can without a lot of effort.
Am I wrong?
I will be on a more extensive voyage for the next 5-7 years, down the west coast, baja, sea of cortez, guatamala, costa rica, and then into the south pacific - or - back up through panama and into the caribe.
Which format (site or blog) do you more experienced technical people suggest. Something that I can update from rather remote locations although with internet connections, show some pictures, and make a log of the trip for friends, family, and interested persons?
Suggestions and experience with these formats is appreciated
17
« on: January 13, 2007, 22:17 »
I just don't get it. God help me but it just doesn't make sense. I shoot with a 10+ mp camera, and to get them up to Alamy specs of 54 megabytes Can somebody give me the work flow working from RAW to get it to their specs. AND, after doing all this, how does it look at 100%. Mine look like a blur? 
18
« on: January 13, 2007, 22:03 »
I found two or three posts on this forum about this site, and just wondering if anyone else is posting there.
They seem to be more current event and topical than the other "beautiful business woman in bikini bottom on the beach with cell phone" sites. And they seem to frequently send out emails with current assignments on them from magazines, periodicals, and newspapers.
Any feedback?
19
« on: December 29, 2006, 14:57 »
YIKES!! print? Yeah, I know this is a microsite forum, but this is anything not relating to micro isn't it?
I have a question for those more experienced than myself. I've been reading on other pro photo forums that many of the members sell prints on line, particularly fine art type prints. To my understanding, the host keeps something like 15% of digital download prices with the photog getting 85%. For prints they do, the photog gets a small commission plus an 85% of the download price. I hope that makes sense.
In general, there is a hosting fee of about $150 US for a year. The one that's recommended is "smug....something"
Does anybody here use this type of outlet for print sales? Results? As some of you may know I'll be traveling for about 3 years or more, and something like this would be an asset as most of the pictures I take will be fine art or travel related.
Any Ideas?
Ian
20
« on: December 04, 2006, 19:16 »
I need some help on a camera that was given to me.
I was at a yard sale, and was looking at this thing and the seller asked if I liked it, and then proceeded to give it to me for free. Not to turn anything down, I took it, now what to do with it. It's in 110 format, as I recall some kind of cartrige. It's a nifty looking camera, and from what I read it's good for down to about 12 feet underwater. I know with 35mm I can get large sizes when developed, but what about 110? I don't presume to be able to shoot stock with this unless it's on some of the sites that accept 800mp.
Does anyone here have any experience with one of these, either above or below water? Do they still sell film? I stopped at a couple stores and the clerk just looked at me kinda funny
It's called a Minolta Weathermatic with a big A on it. Any input will be appreciated.......ian
21
« on: September 14, 2006, 18:19 »
After leaf's recent thread on site policy, I want to tone this down a little, so just for info, if you search for "fotolia", or "shutterstock" on this site, you will come up with 476 hits. usstockphoto.com started with a really user friendly format with fast reviews, but it seems the lights on, but nobody's home.
22
« on: August 08, 2006, 22:54 »
Is anyone doing anything on this site? More than a month now and zip, zero, nada, zilch, nil, nod, zap???
23
« on: April 19, 2006, 06:46 »
just went to upload a few images and saw the note that the site may be for sale?? This is usually when the yearly hosting fee isn't paid. Anyone have any info on this site?
Pages: [1]
|
Sponsors
Microstock Poll Results
Sponsors
|
Show Posts
