Monday, 16 April 2012

Origin of the word Gasoline

What does gasoline mean, origin of the word? Why is it called gas when it is a liquid? Difference between petroleum and gas?
These questions sort of keep popping up and I never really understood the why?
I went scratching around and found an article at Oxford Dictionaries that has changed my understanding of the words gas and gasoline.

The article you can find at Oxford Dictionaries

Read and learn, it’s not what I expected, and contrary to the universally accepted norm that it originated in the USA/Canada during the late 1850’s.
If one looks at the dateline the word gasoline originated in Britain
But, is this the final word, so to speak?

Thursday, 17 November 2011

Point of no return

 

Parachutist just after leaving the aircraft, Robertson Skydive, Robertson
Overcast, dark and had just started raining slightly.
Nikon D200, Sigma 150-500mm lens
Click image to enlarge
Shutter priority 1/1000
Image at flickr
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Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Blue Cranes, Bredasdorp

 

Image of two Blue Cranes, taken on the road between Bredasdorp and Stormsvlei
Full image at FLICKR
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Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum

Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum. Situated in Bredasdorp CBD, easily accesible, and parking was no problem. R20,00 per person entry fee, If I can remember correctly.
Staff were friendly and helpful. Photographs were permitted, but the request was made by staff not to take images of any of the maps.
Depending on your level of interest,



one could spend between 30 minutes to maybe an hour and a half in and around the museum.
The museum has an interesting history, which I am not going to repeat here. Village Life is a good place to start if you want greater background and stuff to see.
Posters and maps are available for sale, but somehow I missed this, and need to go back for a specific map with the locations of the various shipwrecks. This specific map is to be seen in virtually every home in and around Agulhas, but can only be purchased at the Museum for about R150,00, I was told. A framed map is available from other sources for about R2,000-00.
Open daily
Update: Framed copy of map "begrafplaas van Skepe" available @ R2,300-00

Weather vane, Dutch Reformed Church, Robertson

 
Church weather vane, Robertson DRC
Image taken early morning with a Nikon D200 and Sigma 150-500mm lens.
Click image to enlarge
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Monday, 14 November 2011

Gewone Bontrokkie, African stonechat, Saxicola torquata

 

Gewone Bontrokkie, African Stonechat - Saxicola torquata
Image taken with a Nikon D200 and Sigma 150-500mm lens
Click on image to enlarge
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Thursday, 13 October 2011

Cape Weaver with Lunch (Ploceus capensis)

 
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(Double click on image for larger view)
This is one of those "it happened" images. Was busy concentrating on aircraft flying overhead and the Weaver arrived. Many days I have waited in the same position to get a good image of a weaver and the nest, without much success. Subject usually facing the other way, sun from unwanted angle, factory wall in the background, no eye contact, underexposed, overexposed etc etc. Only had time to do a 3 frame burst on the fly with aircraft settings on the camera before she dissapeared. The bonus part was that I never saw the insect until the image was uploaded. Still getting to terms with the 18-200mm Nikor zoom. What I am beginning to appreciate is that many "keepers" just "happen", and theory considerations regarding planning, tripods, depth of field , focus and rule of thirds dissapear from one's mind when you have maybe two seconds to take the shot.
The distrust of the intruder into her domain is visible in her eye
I am by no means a bird expert, sometimes I get the identification all screwed up.
http://wildcliff.org/fauna/birds/ploceus_capensis.html , for detailed information

Tuesday, 04 October 2011

Image of a Chameleon

Chameleon
This image was take with a Nikon D200 and an 55-200mm Nikor Nikon lens from a D3100 bundle.
Dark, rainy and cloudy day
f5,6
55mm
1/30
ISO 160 (Maybe I should have juiced the ISO up a
bit)

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Tandem Jump , Robertson

 
Tandem Jump. Robertson
Double click for enlarged image.
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Sunday, 18 September 2011

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

Cape Aghulhas Lighthouse from a different perspective.
 
Nikon D3100
Source: Karin
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Sunrise at Cape Agulhas National Park

Sunrise at Cape Agulhas National Park.
Image taken just before sunrise.
 
Nikon D200
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Exposure time 1/160
70mm
f6.3
ISO 100
Double click on imgage to enlarge

Thursday, 11 August 2011

What type of spider is this?

Anyone know anything about this spider?
 
Dissapearing spider
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This image was taken at the Cape Agulhas National Park a few weeks ago.(Nikon D200)
The spider was seen late in the evening, despite not being around during the afternoon. At sunrise the next morning the spider and web had dissapeared. No trace of spider or web, as in nothing. Late next evening he or she was back, only to be gone early the next morning again.
I assume the web must be eaten?
Cannot find anything on the web,(no pun intended), but still looking
Found something here
A hairy field spider.

Lighthouse: Cape Colombine



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Paternoster beach