Hall of Mammals and Iridescence

Posted on November 22, 2008 by dr.hypercube

More sets from the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The Hall of Mammals was my favorite room – classic in both layout and contents. There were other exhibits that were better, educationally and aesthetically, but taken as a whole this room took the prize.

Mammal set here.

The Hall of Mammals also contained a lot bird mounts, as did the South American Animals room. There was a wall of hummingbird mounts in the South American room – I managed to capture this bit of iridescence:

Bird set here.

Matters aquatic

Posted on November 17, 2008 by dr.hypercube

Two oceanic items rolled in almost simultaneously – an update (via email) from J, the shark girl, and bunch of new inhabitants – the result of a collecting expedition that I wasn’t able to go on (drat) – in the touch tank down the hall from my office. I thought I’d mix passages from the email – permission having been granted – with pictures of touch tank inhabitants.

I had the chance to rock chain mail again and film 3 shark feeds for UNEXSO’s promo video!! Soooo happy to be in chain mail again and to dive with Cristina. Shark girls rock!! Filmed some dolphins as well. Ha ha! The dolphin dive is actually really cool. I enjoyed getting my kiss underwater.

The Searcher has been my home for the past 3 weeks as I finished the season as a divemaster/videographer at Guadalupe. Most amazing experience of my life!!! White sharks up close and personal and some incredible footage. My first day on the boat I had my teeth dyed blue (food coloring in my coffee) and ate the heart of a yellowtail (you have to eat the heart of your first fish). I then found 8 storm petrels (bird that flies only at night) in my room our first night at Guadalupe. After all these pranks I was accepted as crew and then joined in on harassing other members.

I went in the submersible for the first time and I cannot begin to describe the experience. Being that close, as I stood on top of the cage with nothing between me and 17ft shark but my camera, was truly life changing. Never in my shark experiences have I felt so much power from these animals or respect for them. For a brief moment I was in their world and on their terms and it gives me chills as I sit here thinking about it.

I have to agree w/ J – shark girls rock. I’m looking forward to saying hi and looking at some of her photography when she swings though over Thanksgiving. For those who are interested, the touch tank Flickrset is here.

The Glass Flowers

Posted on November 13, 2008 by dr.hypercube

Created in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Leopold (father) and Rudolph (son) Blaschka. They are amazingly realistic and beautiful pieces of work. I hesitate to call them art, only because they are intended to be neutral – an as accurate as possible representation of the subject – but they are certainly and example of craftsmanship of the first water.

Again – apologies for the quality of some of the pictures. Next time I visit the museum I’ll do a better job, I promise (Brian – thanks for the suggestion).