I don't like Atlanta

Harryb

Hi y'all,

Not to offend anyone but I just don't like Atlanta. Gen. Sherman had the right idea about the place, IMHO. Everytime I drive there one of their lunatic drivers tries to kill me. On one visit a bunch of folks started to mutter rude and nasty things at me because I referred to the carvings of Robert E, Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis at Stone Mountain as "Loser's Monument".

We fooled 'em this time and flew in so their drivers wouldn't have a crack at us. Unfortunately when we flew out the TSA folks at the Atlanta airport hassled my wife. Linda's lip gloss slipped out of the plastic bag and they wouldn't let it through. When Linda tried to put it back in the bag she was told she couldn't touch the contents and had a choice of throwing it out or going back to the check-in and checking her carry-on bag,No one tells Linda to throw out cosmetics so she opted to check her bag. We almost missed our flight home but the lip gloss was saved.

Anyhow I wouldn't go to Atlanta but my son and his family live there. I am kind of fond of my grandson, Conner.



We decide to take in the Georgia Aquarium on this visit. A real nice place but overpriced at $24/person $16/for kids and no senior disocunts. :pissed

Jennifer and Meghan like to touch the rays.


the rest of the palce is pretty cools too. All these shots were with my D2X 85mm, f1.4 lens and SB-800 speedlight.



















My son got some shots in with his Sony-717

gluwater

Good stuff Harry. Hope the kids had fun for that much af an admission fee, look slike you had a pretty good time. I like the jellyfish and the second to last shots a lot. The second to last gives great scale to how large those grouper can get. Did you have any issues with your camera gear on the flights or just the always dangerous lip gloss?

thdizzy

Nice work...I just can't belive that they imprisioned a whaleshark there. I have dove with them in the wild and never thought they'd be at an 'aquarium.'

Harryb

gluwater wrote:

Good stuff Harry. Hope the kids had fun for that much af an admission fee, look slike you had a pretty good time. I like the jellyfish and the second to last shots a lot. The second to last gives great scale to how large those grouper can get. Did you have any issues with your camera gear on the flights or just the always dangerous lip gloss?

Hey Nick,

No problem with the camera gear at all. I was kind of surprised because in addition to the camera and three lenses I had the Epson P-2000, the Arctic Butterfly, flash and assorted chargers in my carry-on bag.

Thanks for stopping by.

SpeshulEd

Sorry to hear about your travelling woes, that sucks about the lip gloss.

I have to say that I really like the last picture with the cell phone, great image.

ESiggins

Gen. Sherman had the right idea about the place, IMHO.

HAHAHA

Bodley

Harryb wrote:

Hi y'all,

Not to offend anyone but .............I referred to the carvings of Robert E, Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis at Stone Mountain as "Loser's Monument".

Maybe your bringing your woe's upon yourself. That type statement could certainly offend people especially if your espousing it in their house. Try to respect the house your in.

Mickey57

Something fishy about Atlanta drivers
Hi Harry:
Beautiful pictures......my son will love them. I will show him when he gets home from school.
You have just added another place to visit to my list, but I think I will try the train.

Thanks for sharing

Dan

BlueHoseJacket

Being a native Atlantan...
I wish more people had your attitude...Atlanta is no longer a "southern" city. I am a minority in my hometown. There are so many transplants in Atlanta it is unbelievable. When I was in high school in the late 70's the popoulation of metro Atlanta was right at 2 million...today it is over 4 million. most of that growth is northerners realizing just how wonderful it is to live in the south and Atlanta in particular.

You may not like our southern heritage, but we do. I am not a confederate flag waving redneck from the south; I don't like the way the the Battle Flag has been used a a racist symbol . However, I had relatives who fought in the War of the States and I am proud of the battle flag and the war heros of the south.

Like a famous journalist from Atlanta once said..."If you don't like it down here...Delta is ready when you are".

Harryb

thdizzy wrote:

Nice work...I just can't belive that they imprisioned a whaleshark there. I have dove with them in the wild and never thought they'd be at an 'aquarium.'

Thanks Todd. They actually have 4 whalesharks in the tank. I have never been a big fan of zoos (although the current day zoos are much better than the zoos of my youth) of any type. I prefer to see my wildlife in their natural settings.

Tommyboy

Harryb wrote:

All of your pictures are quite good, IMHO. The ones I've copied small above are particularly outstanding, for one reason or another.

Your startling vitriol towards Atlanta stands in stark contrast to the peaceful beauty of your photographs. You're a study in contractions, Harry!

Harryb

BlueHoseJacket wrote:

I wish more people had your attitude...Atlanta is no longer a "southern" city. I am a minority in my hometown. There are so many transplants in Atlanta it is unbelievable. When I was in high school in the late 70's the popoulation of metro Atlanta was right at 2 million...today it is over 4 million. most of that growth is northerners realizing just how wonderful it is to live in the south and Atlanta in particular.

You may not like our southern heritage, but we do. I am not a confederate flag waving redneck from the south; I don't like the way the the Battle Flag has been used a a racist symbol . However, I had relatives who fought in the War of the States and I am proud of the battle flag and the war heros of the south.

Like a famous journalist from Atlanta once said..."If you don't like it down here...Delta is ready when you are".

You sound like me when I talk about NYC. I loved the NYC of my youth but I'm not that crazy about the current day homogenized NYC.

My main problem with Atlanta is the driving down there. I would rather drive in NYC than Atlanta. As for "southern heritage" I love the folks (mostly) I've met and I found the pace of life and the courtesy of most folks a big improvement over NYC. I love living in Florida and would never return to NYC. However I have little patience for the hype surrounding the "War of Northern Aggression". I'm a Civil War buff but I find it hard to be romantic about the butchery that killed so many.

All that aside the south did give us BBQ and I mean BBQ as opposed to grilling. For that alone I will always be in its debt. :eat

Harryb

SpeshulEd wrote:

Sorry to hear about your travelling woes, that sucks about the lip gloss.

I have to say that I really like the last picture with the cell phone, great image.

Thanks Ed.

Harryb

Bodley wrote:

Maybe your bringing your woe's upon yourself. That type statement could certainly offend people especially if your espousing it in their house. Try to respect the house your in.

I have never been a fan of PC whatever its flavor. I love my son and daughter-in-law and we have a great time together but when we talk politics and religion its no holds barred.

My remark was humorous and if you can't take a joke ...... Also it was pretty accurate. Davis was a poor excuse for a chief executive, Lee was the most over-rated general in the war and Jackson was a religious fanatic who was shot by his own men (I know they claim it was an accident but....).

System

Great pics Harry. It strikes me as both amazing and sad to see a Whale Shark in captivity. The pic of the crowd in front of the jelly fish is a winner.

Harryb

Mickey57 wrote:

Hi Harry:
Beautiful pictures......my son will love them. I will show him when he gets home from school.
You have just added another place to visit to my list, but I think I will try the train.

Thanks for sharing

Dan

Thanks Dan. I hope your son enjoys the shots. The Georgia Aquarium is well worth a visit and the train is the best way to get there.

wxwax

Altanta just sent me a memo: you drive too slow.

Harryb

wxwax wrote:

Altanta just sent me a memo: you drive too slow.

Balderdash. I average around 80 mph down here in Florida. Its easier here of course because you don't have to deal with crazed truckers trying to merge into you lane concurrently with your car. :bash

photodoug

reminds me of lyrics, "...a southern man don't need him around anyhow."

sorry, I'm from CA...we just don't get all this North vs. South stuff. Can't we all just get along? :ivar

Harryb

photodoug wrote:

reminds me of lyrics, "...a southern man don't need him around anyhow."

sorry, I'm from CA...we just don't get all this North vs. South stuff. Can't we all just get along? :ivar

I'm from Florida and I have no problem with those northerners In Atlanta. Most of the crazy drivers are from out of state.

silica

Harryb wrote:

My remark was humorous and if you can't take a joke ...... Also it was pretty accurate. Davis was a poor excuse for a chief executive, Lee was the most over-rated general in the war and Jackson was a religious fanatic who was shot by his own men (I know they claim it was an accident but....).

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."
-Bertrand Russell

Harryb

Tommyboy wrote:

All of your pictures are quite good, IMHO. The ones I've copied small above are particularly outstanding, for one reason or another.

Your startling vitriol towards Atlanta stands in stark contrast to the peaceful beauty of your photographs. You're a study in contractions, Harry!

Glad you liked the shots Tommy. Heck, I went easy on Atlanta you should get me started on NYC then you would hear some vitriol.

wxwax

Harryb wrote:

Balderdash. I average around 80 mph down here in Florida. Its easier here of course because you don't have to deal with crazed truckers trying to merge into you lane concurrently with your car. :bash

There's more room in those lanes than you realize, you know. Those truckers are professionals, they know what they're doing. If they think they can fit into the same space as you at 80pmh, then I say you should trust their professionalism and let it happen. I'm sure they're insured.


:hang

Harryb

wxwax wrote:

There's more room in those lanes than you realize, you know. Those truckers are professionals, they know what they're doing. If they think they can fit into the same space as you at 80pmh, then I say you should trust their professionalism and let it happen. I'm sure they're insured.


:hang

:lol4

Harryb

truth wrote:

Great pics Harry. It strikes me as both amazing and sad to see a Whale Shark in captivity. The pic of the crowd in front of the jelly fish is a winner.

Thanks for the kind comments. Its amazing to see such a great fish close up but once you get past that you start to wonder how good it is for the fish.

If I had to shoot it over again I would concentrate less on the fish but on shots of the folks viewing the fish. I'm still kicking myself for not catching on to that sooner on my visit.

wxwax

Funny you should say that.

I've not been eager to go to the aquarium because I wasn't sure how to shoot it.

After looking at this thread, I concluded that the best shots were those with people in the foreground.

bfjr

Excellent indoor work

Some are truly stunning !!

More details please and thanks

Harryb

wxwax wrote:

Funny you should say that.

I've not been eager to go to the aquarium because I wasn't sure how to shoot it.

After looking at this thread, I concluded that the best shots were those with people in the foreground.

I was a bit dense when I got there and just concentrated on the fish but the peopel watching the fish are the real show. The kids especially are wonderful to shoot. They get so caught up with the exhibits before them.

Harryb

bfjr wrote:

Excellent indoor work

Some are truly stunning !!

More details please and thanks

Thanks Ben for commenting. Now you want details too, seesh what a pain!

As I said before I shoot with the D2X, 85mm 1.4, the SB-800 and I shoot at ISO 500 and 640. I wish I could have used a tripod but they ain't permitted and I left my monopod home.

The aquarium had excellent lighting for an aquarium and the glass was extremely clean which mad it a tad easier. I opted for the 85mm 1.4 over my 28-70 2.8 because I wanted the option of shooting more wide open to keep my shutter speeds higher. I wished I had taken the 28-70 also but I wanted to travel light. There were a number of shots where I wished I had the ability to go wider than the 85mm.

Most of the shots were at a shutter speeds of 1/30 to 1/60 sec and aperture settings usually between 2.2 and 3.5. I used the SB-800 for most of the shots and bounced the flash to avoid reflections off the glass.

My keeper rate was lower than normal and I had quite a few shots that were too soft ot blurry due to camera shake and subject movement.

bfjr

Harryb wrote:

Thanks Ben for commenting. Now you want details too, seesh what a pain!

As I said before I shoot with the D2X, 85mm 1.4, the SB-800 and I shoot at ISO 500 and 640. I wish I could have used a tripod but they ain't permitted and I left my monopod home.

The aquarium had excellent lighting for an aquarium and the glass was extremely clean which mad it a tad easier. I opted for the 85mm 1.4 over my 28-70 2.8 because I wanted the option of shooting more wide open to keep my shutter speeds higher. I wished I had taken the 28-70 also but I wanted to travel light. There were a number of shots where I wished I had the ability to go wider than the 85mm.

Most of the shots were at a shutter speeds of 1/30 to 1/60 sec and aperture settings usually between 2.2 and 3.5. I used the SB-800 for most of the shots and bounced the flash to avoid reflections off the glass.

My keeper rate was lower than normal and I had quite a few shots that were too soft ot blurry due to camera shake and subject movement.

See that wasn't so hard :lol
Thanks

Harryb

bfjr wrote:

See that wasn't so hard :lol
Thanks

Yes it was. Don't forget, I'm old and feeble.