Vegas Sharks

[gho]

Some shots for you.

A display of the Voyager and Enterprise at the entrance of "Star Trek: The Experience" at the Las Vegas Hilton.
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/abstract/thumb_20051126%20165838%208408.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6192)
Click to make bigger


Shark Approach: A shot of a shark at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef exhibit.
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/marine/thumb_20051127%20173534%208539.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6190)
Click to make bigger


Shark Fly-by
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/marine/thumb_20051127%20170202%208483.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6191)
Click to make bigger


Candy Apple: Candy apple on display at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/product/thumb_20051127%20142838%208436.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6196)
Click to make bigger


Taking a Photo of a Shark: Ximina grabs a shot of a shark as it swims by.
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/children/thumb_20051127%20173002%208527.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6195)
Click to make bigger


Something Scary Out There: Ximina looks out for sharks in the dark waters of Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay.
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/children/thumb_20051127%20172412%208518.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6194)
Click to make bigger


Alligator Peaking Out:
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/wildlife/thumb_20051127%20163410%208447.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6197)
Click to make bigger


Monitor Lizard:
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/wildlife/thumb_20051127%20164728%208463.jpg (http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/displayimage.php?pos=-6198)
Click to make bigger

[Orochimaru]

Didn't know you're a treky?

I like the candy apple!

[Anemone]

Can I click to make the candy apple less calories?

Kevin

[NicoleC]

It's a fruit. There are no calories!

[rockindacheeks]

there are calories in fruits...lol

the pic of the gator with his eyes sticking out of the water is my new desktop wallpaper... great pics

[cthetoy]

Nice pics. What lens did you use?

[jeffreylam1132]

As always, beautiful pictures!

[gho]

Originally posted by tetra
Didn't know you're a treky?

I like the candy apple!
Yup, but I don't watch too much now. As for the candy apple, wish I could say that it tasted yummy, but alas, I didn't buy it.


Originally posted by Anemone
Can I click to make the candy apple less calories?
Sure, but I'm sure it will taste pretty binary ;)


Originally posted by NicoleC
It's a fruit. There are no calories!
Well, as long as it stays on the computer screen!


Originally posted by rockindacheeks
there are calories in fruits...lol

the pic of the gator with his eyes sticking out of the water is my new desktop wallpaper... great pics
Yeah, but those are "good calories" :D

I'm flattered that you chose the gator pic for your desktop! That's the coolest compliment one can get!


Originally posted by cthetoy
Nice pics. What lens did you use?
Hmmm... Good question. I used primarily two lenses, but all the ones posted here were taken with the 50mm f/1.4


Originally posted by jeffreylam1132
As always, beautiful pictures!
Thanks!

[Bugs]

Greg, you are making me drooling over your picture taking.. It's good as usual. I just have to go over and take some lesson from you.....:D BTW, I just bought a Pentax 6.0 Mega pixels with 3X Optic zoom. Is Pentax any good?

[gho]

Well, there's always the lessons on my website... Pentax is okay. Depends on which model really. But just about any digicam on the market today can take some excellent quality photos, so don't sweat it and just take pics ;)

[Sohal11]

Nice pictures. Where did you learn how to take picture?

[bennyinca]

Nice shots Greg, really like the effects and the focus of the shots.

[sps_addict]

Nice as always Greg.

[bill624]

hey greg, is there a program that makes the files smaller? from 300kb to like 50kb but have it hold the same quality?

[Bugs]

If there is one, I would love to know too... Currently, I am using Photoshop Elements..

[gho]

Originally posted by Sohal11
Nice pictures. Where did you learn how to take picture?
Where? Hmmm... Good question... I started out in high school (saving several years to buy a manual DSLR - a Nikon F3, which later got stolen). I then snapped happily away. Took a few photojournalism classes after getting the camera (shooting for the school yearbook), and after that joined a photo club. But man that was a loooong time ago.

So I guess all my "training" was mostly self-taught (reading books, magazines, online articles, etc.), trial and error, and a wee bit of high school ghetto stuff.

[gho]

Originally posted by bennyinca
Nice shots Greg, really like the effects and the focus of the shots.
Thanks Benny, the two things I concentrate on:
1) Lighting
2) Focus (DOF)

It's really nice when someone actually noticies! Thanks!

[gho]

Originally posted by sps_addict
Nice as always Greg.
Thanks Steve!

[gho]

Originally posted by bill624
hey greg, is there a program that makes the files smaller? from 300kb to like 50kb but have it hold the same quality?
http://www.ximinasphotography.com/lessons/lesson09/reefcentral.html

(complete with freeware program recommendation too).

[gho]

Originally posted by Bugs
If there is one, I would love to know too... Currently, I am using Photoshop Elements..
Use "Save for Web" in PSE. 50K is pretty limiting though, you're gonna have a bit of quality loss. Here's a 50K sample (shot with a cheezy 3mp digicam):

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/49102starfish.jpg

[NicoleC]

Originally posted by bill624
hey greg, is there a program that makes the files smaller? from 300kb to like 50kb but have it hold the same quality?

SAME quality? No. You can reduce the height and width, which will reduce the file size a lot since most digital cameras take huge pictures.

Adobe ImageReady does a pretty good job of optimizing images for the web without damaging the appearance much -- and you can preview different settings side by side before you do the conversion.