I saw a most disturbing sight on the way into work today.
Some creepy fuck decided to leave a live trap in the middle of the road ... complete with critter.
What rock do these sick bastards crawl out from?

How do you bottle up such vast amounts of hate that you would want to exicute an animal in such an obviously terror inducing manner?

Location: 10.58°N, -85.66°W Alt: ???m
	Photo Date: 30 May, 2008
	ISO: 100
	Aperture/Shutter: F/4.5, 1/40"
	Focal Length: 150mm
	Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510
Category: Costa Rica, 2008

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

I've spotted Ring-Tailed Coati, or Hog-Nosed Racoons, all over Mexico and Costa Rica. Their range is apparently huge, running from Arizona to Argentina. This little guy was particularly gracious in making an appearance for about 10 minutes (something about people throwing bananas at him). Since my arrival in Costa Rica co-incided with the start of the rainy season (and coati breeding season), food was definately a priority to feed the new or upcoming family.
I will appologize in advance for a bit of repetition, there are several good shots of him.
Believe it or not, people actually keep these things as pets, on rare occation. Their behaviour is similar to the North American Racoon, but seems far less agressive in it's tenacity to yoink snacks from the unsuspecting. This may be due to our racoons receiving more attention and the overall glutony of Canada and the US to have more wasted food available. Most Tico's and Mexican's will shoo these little dudes away as soon as they are spotted and consider them pests ... like rats and yet here we are feeding and worshipping the thing.
Loco gringos ...

Location: 47.6908°N, -80.2772°W Alt: 261m
	Photo Date: 31 July, 2008
	ISO: 100
	Aperture/Shutter: F/8, 1/100"
	Focal Length: 42mm
	Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510
Category: Miscllaneous Pictures

Elk Lake, Ontario (Near North)

Come and partake of my nuts!
Peanuts. Recently liberated by the local Chipmunk (Pictures of critter, no doubt to follow).


Behind the Lens Details

Although the subject matter is reasonably common, I was keen on this shot because of the myriad of textures. The grain of the table, the etchings of the graffiti, the shells of the nuts and even the tinges of green in the birch litter make for an abundance of occularly tasteable textures in the image.
Accentuate the weather-worn table to create a pseudo-duotone feel (to force the eye to the shells; even though the shot is in full colour), and there is something slightly more then ordinary about the shot itself.
The contrast was accentuated with a monochrome channel mix (CS-PS3) overlaid at around 60% and set to colour burn and a contrast layer set to near 50% contrast; 100% layer opacity. (fiddlies of the channel mix are much hush, hush )

No. I'm not dead, nor have I fallen off the face of the planet.
Work has just been so busy I've been a complete burn-out by the time I get home.
Making me grumpy and anti-social.
I hope to remedy this with a quick, rye-induced reset and I'll be back on my regular posting schedule.
I'll attempt to have Monday's shot up tonight or tomorrow to make up for lost time.

Location: 10.618545°N, -85.108000°W Alt: 391.7m
	Photo Date: 30 May, 2008
	ISO: 100
	Aperture/Shutter: F/7.1, 1/160"
	Focal Length: 40mm
	Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510
Category: Guanacaste, Costa Rica - 2008

Volcàn Miravalles. Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The peak of Volcàn Miravalles rises from the feral sugar cane cluttered at it's feet, while the Cordillera de Guanacaste/Cordillera de Tilarán (Guanacaste/Tilarán Mountain Range) continues it stretch to the North.
A jagged masterpiece concealing the horizon and completing this section of the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Ninja's, being inherently wic, generally demand mention when their presence is detected. As a result I feel compelled to pass on this nearly useless piece of urban mythos How-To.

Have you ever wanted to be a ninja, but lacked the funding of a major political Daimyo and/or Shogunate master?

"Always use your new ninja powers for good." - WikiHow

Well worry no longer! WikiHow has your solution in this handy 12-step programme on "How to Train to Be a Ninja With a Low Budget".
While they do miss some of the highlights, like how to make an 'awesome' ninja cowl out of your T-shirt , there are handy words of wisdom like "Having some or more knowledge of a fighting style will help".

With advice like that, I'm sure you'll be a super secret ninja dude(ette) in no time.

Location: 10.588466°N, -85.670212°W Alt: ???.?m
	Photo Date: 29 May, 2008
	ISO: 100
	Aperture/Shutter: F/5.6, 1/160"
	Focal Length: 42mm
	Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510
Category: Flora and Fauna