Ah, I am home, and playing with my cameras again!!!!

Both shots were taken using two touchlites from the GoodWill, $1.99 on Visa Debit card. The studio space (Safari Explorer's cabin C2 bathroom) cost $0.00, and all the rest of the gear I already own. So that makes me happy. Clamshell lighting (top shot) is a technique that utilizes a top light and an up light on the subject, making a clamshell sort of shape (It would make sense if you were here). Anywho, it was fun, and I played with an HDMI cable I had laying around, and plugged the camera into the 32" LCD that was just installed in the cabin, so that was good too. We popped the breaker again today, after Denee purchased a few more oil heaters to keep the boat from freezing... It's a delicate balance between discomfort and comfort when the boat can only take on so much power at once. Anywho, I have to get back to biology reading, but come back soon, as I hope to be doing more of this blogging business now that the Safari Spirit is on her way down to Baja California.

Cheers,

Danny

P.S. After reviewing this posting, I must make the comment that the 2nd photo (which I've labeled "Crazypants") is the Mr. Hyde that would have popped out of me if the Safari Spirit had not sailed this last past Wednesday.

Workin' Like a Icecream Man in Hell

That would describe the last few weeks for me. Running around like a madman, yet again living off of Ramen noodles and the occasional delight that is a bean and cheese burrito. I'm currently living on the Wilderness Adventurer, at the North end of the West Wall in Fisherman's Terminal, and I still don't have a working toilet, and probably won't until the 2nd week of January (too busy right now to work on it). Anywho, I'm getting a bit blurry-eyed, and should get heading home from my night class (AutoCAD2010).

So, with no further ado....

Good night!

Danny


$2800 in paint - Proline linear polyurethane White and Endeavor Blue, along with proline vinyl-copper anti-fouling bottom paint.


Water draining from bull-works of the Safari Spirit while in Delta Marine's shipyard.

Pilothouse, aft cabin, steel version of Joshua Slocum's Spray - I desire it very much. Oddly enough, there is another one of these for sale less than 150 yards away, here.

The morning after....testing out my new car-camping mattress, thanks to the Wilderness Discoverer.

Bottom paint applied!

My old Nokia being sent into hibernation just minutes after purchasing the iPhone 3Gs(yes, I'm a dork for owning one of these things, but frankly, I've had crap phones for the past 6 years, and I'm really digging all the stuff this thing can do - and I'm stoked to play more with the camera in my off time...).

Well Lookie There!

While browsing the ol' internet I stumbled across a website, www.AmericanSafariCruises.com whose home page features two photos taken by yours truly (the big photo of the Safari Spirit, and the Three Little Bears). Yeah, and that handsome devil in the blue is me too. : ) Oh, and the picture above is the most incredible Humpback whale encounter I've ever had, at Point Retreat, AK. Kevin is on "outboard left" and I'm on "outboard right," and this photo was taken by Vanessa Franson. BTW - I could have walked off the front of the boat, into the mouths of multiple whales, we were so close. So yes, it really closer than it looks. Gosh, I love my job!

In other news, today is the 1-month anniversary of my moving onto the M/V Wilderness Adventurer, my 156' home for the next year or so. As a pre-funk for the obviously extraordinary day that today is, I brought the luxury of running water to our fine boat last night. I might even be able to take a real, hot shower by Wednesday. OMG.

Well, the teacher is requiring that we actually do work now, so I must go...

Cheers,

Danny

This is what a $2,838.50 photo looks like... : )

So I could have been diligently studying my biology text and notes for tomorrows exam, but I took some time for myself and goofed around with the camera instead. And took my bike out for some riding. And ate a bunch of junk food. THEN I started studying (with beer in hand).

Also, earlier in the day when I wasn't studying, I played with an old Grainger catalog, and Kevin Roberts joined in on the fun. Oy vey.

g'night all,

Danny

I Kissed A Girl....and I liked it!

Yeah, being home is great. : ) Aimee and I have had good catch-up time together (we watched Inglorious Basterds on Friday night - a totally sweet movie) over the past few weeks, I've been loaded up with plenty of work, and school is going well! I'm taking AutoCAD and Cellular Biology, living/working on InnerSea Discoveries' new boats the Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Adventurer, preparing for the Safari Spirit's shipyard period, and eventually I'll find some time to work on my truck. So busy would be an understatement, but I'm enjoying it. I haven't touched my cameras for nearly a month, but yesterday I picked up a little toy I'd been eyeing for awhile, and that got me to crack open the ol' Pelican case and toy around for a bit (see photos). Anywho, my battery is fading while I sit here in the Firehouse Coffee parking lot, so I'll leave it at that, and hopefully get some at-home internet by this time next month, when we move the boats to the West Wall in Fisherman's terminal.

Cheers,

Danny

Texada Island, BC - 187 miles from home

So close, yet still not there.... : ) Tomorrow will be our last full day in Canada, then we're off to Friday Harbor and Port Madison, Washington. So many thoughts, ideas, feelings - and I'm not going to even bother writing them down. I'm just stoked to be home. Ish. Above are a few photos from the past two weeks, one is a freaky rainbow spot we sighted outside of Foggy Bay, another is of a Ketchikan sunset, and the other is a Spirit Bear, a recessively-gene'd black bear that I have waited years to finally see (even if it is at a distance). So yay!

Chevrolet Campaign - Or Knot?

Phew. That, accompanied by deep breaths and sighs will be just a few of the sounds I'm going to be making on the 19th of this month, when I step off the Safari Spirit and onto Seattle soil for the first time in nearly five and a half months. Five and a half months. Where did it all go? I sailed in Glacier Bay for nearly two weeks with my buddy Christian, spent a few hours with my lady on the 3rd of July, and I did a photo shoot of a preggo (but not for long!) friend of mine. Other than that, day in, and day out, since the 1st of May, I've been checking oil, tying up the skiff, launching kayaks, fixing stuff that breaks, washing down the anchor chain, drying clothes in the engineroom, moving the Spirit from point A to B, and all of the other untold bits that make up life as a "Mate/Engineer" for American Safari Cruises.

Ahead: AutoCad2010 and Major's Biology, Retaking some classes to renue and upgrade my captain's license, seaching for a boat of my own, taking some Photoshop classes, scootin' out to New York and California for the holidays, working a bit on a few of our boats, smoking a cigar in my camry, drinking a glass of Johnie Walker Red Label on the rocks, eating Panda express (orange chicken with friend rice and firecracker pork), Cheetos Puffs, Alaskan Amber, Pyrimid Apricot, under $8 wines, GoodWill hunting, drive-in movies, people watching at the mall, jeans and a gray sweatshirt, skiing and snow, a job or internship in: (photography, boat building, electrical work, construction, digital imaging, metal/welding , and others), and ultimately relaxing.

So once again life's portal has opened, and I'm ready to jump back into the world that I haven't been able to touch for nearly half a year. YEEEHHAA!

Currenlty we're dockside in Petersburg, AK, and will be fueling tomorrow (our $16,000 top-off makes you Suburban drivers feel pretty lucky, aye?) for our trip south. We have 7 guests this week, but I can't guarantee that they'll all make it to Seattle..... : )

Wish us fair weather - the open ocean forecast has seas at 26 feet.

Cheers,

Danny

Trip #14, August 29th, 2009

OMG,

This trip has been IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE! The wildlife has been ridiculous, the weather: SUNNY! and the guests, fun as heck. I couldn't imagine a better way to end the season. Yesterday, I actually had to take a layer OFF it was so warm, as opposed to the past few weeks where my jacket's weight has been primarily due to water... Anywho, more text to come, but for now, here are a few pictures of the critters we've been seeing!

Cheers,

Danny

Trip #13, August 22nd, 2009

Well, the season here in Alaska is coming to a close, and with only one normal week left, I'm already anticipating the Fall to come. Living plans, favorite hangouts, getting together with friends, etc - all have been put on hold for the past 4 months, and I'm stoked to finally have the end in sight (even though work has been great, it's just not quite the home I love).

Right now we're on our way East towards Juneau, where we'll disembark our guests in the morning, then have a hecktic (shortened) turn-day and embark new folks at 3:00pm. Life is a bit of a merry-go-round on the boat.

Anywho, here are a phew photos from this past week or so...and more to come, hopefully!

Cheers,

Danny

Trip #11, June 8th, 2009

Lightening storms in the Yukon started fires last week that blew a considerable amount of smoke into S.E. Alaska, causing visibility restrictions, eye irritation, and a great appreciation for good weather like we're having today! The pictures of the Sea Otter and the Sea Lion were taken near between North and South Inian Passes, where Icy Straight meets the Pacific Ocean. Well, I must take this opportunity to make some calls concerning school this Fall, so until later, enjoy your summer!

Danny

Trip #10, August 1st, 2009

Ah, the joys of internet! We're currently underway for Pt. Adolphus, Icy Straight, and my task for this afternoon is to solidify my Fall school schedule. Biology is a fo-sho, but other than that I'm not rock solid as of this post. AutoCAD for Engineering, and a good writing class are high up on my list, but I'm not to sure how it'll all work out. Also, South Seattle Community College appears to have a rather awesome welding program, and I've been wanting to learn TIG welding for quite some time now, so that might be something I do as well. If I end up chasing the welding class, I may just switch all of my classes to SSCC, as it would save me from driving my arse all over town. On a different note, I'd love to start doing some photography work, where it is either published, or makes me some money. Not that I need the money or attention, but rather that I'd be put in situations more often that would push me more as a photographer. Working at a kid's studio isn't my exact dream job, and neither is working a retail store - so if anyone knows a photographer searching for an assistant, or a magazine/publisher/studio that is looking, let me know! : ) I love doing free-bies, but they are often irratic in scheduling and difficult to shoe-horn into my daily life - so I'd rather just have photography take up a given section of my schedule and reside there. That said, I'll probably go buck-nutty again this winter and change up all of my plans regardless. So who knows... Anywho, I've got to get back to my class scheduling, but here is the skinny on the photos above.

Me "Safari Spirit," Russel Island, Glacier Bay, AK: Using a corded flash and a high sync speed, I did some experimentation with using the white boat paint as a flash reflector. In the shot below it, I tried some skin-smoothing in Lightroom, to some level of plasticy-success.

Me, Fredrick Sound, AK: Goofing off on the top deck last week, attempting a different perspective with the help of a lightstand and guidewires (well, lines...).


Running Bear: Pavlof Harbor, AK, being chased off of fishing grounds by a more dominant Brown bear (200yard chase, in mere seconds).

Whales, Shelter Island, AK: Humpback Whales surfacing during "bubblenet feeding," a learned behavioral pattern of joining other whales (who are normally solitary except for breeding) to conduct cooridinated feeding where they use air bubbles and their bodies to force herring to the surface, then open their jaws 90-degree plus and engulf their prey (pictured: two whales after surfacing and closing mouths).
Ta-ta for now,

Danny

Trip #9? Juneau to Auke Bay, Alaska

Whee!

A great week we've had, including sunny weather (lots of sunglasses), great wildlife (Brown bears and Humpbacks and Orcas, oh my!), and super friendly guests. I've told myself that I'm going to start writting more in these posts, as opposed to just uploading pictures, but this isn't going to be the debut. Unitl then,

Danny

Well, then is now. I've just recovered from a brutal caffine rush, which overcame me while skiffing 3 of our guest back to the boat from a float plane. One of the guests had what has now been identified as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a rather nasty critter that kills 3-5% of it's victims even today. Anywho, back to the rush. I'm blazingly writting this in crew quarters, while we have a blurb of internet service near Pt. Adolphus, where I've been making up creative words like....blazingly. The fault is mostly due to a combo of Pepsi (1 part) , Tropicana Pulp free (2 parts), Earl Gray (with an "a") Tea (1 part), and a smattering of potatos, bacon, and sausage. I stopped drinking coffee 3 years ago because of this very thing, but it's back, and I can't fight it, I can only roll with the punches (or shakes, in this case), and hammer out 50+ words per minute...

However, caffine issues are going to be something in my past, soon, and I'm sure you're all dying to know what I haven't been doing for the past few months. I haven't been wearing jeans or a casual t-shirts, drinking Icee's from 7-Eleven, taking evening walks, visiting thrift-stores, shopping for boats, or playing much with my cameras and flashes. But not all is lost. I've gained a tremendous appriciation for how lovely my life is at home, and abroad, and time away from each really hammers home the fact that I'm doing plenty, even though there are periods of pause between the exciting peaks in life. So, I've been inceasently scheming about Fall/Winter/Spring plans, grabbing bits of internet info when possible, and taking time to remember the activities that really stand out in my mind as wonderful (at home). Here on the boat, there are also things that I'm sure will pull at my heart strings when the short winter days tighten their grasp on the winter world. The crew, no doubt, that I work with will be at the forfront of those feelings, and at times I wish that we would all find ourselves interacting and enjoying life together in some other circumstances, because this boat life is a bit of a schewed reality. This past week I went a little internally crazy when I realized that I haven't really had much alone time, something that is precious to me. The down side to realizing this in the middle of a 14-week stretch is that there isn't any quick fix, and you simply have to come up with some way to cope. So while our guests were out enjoying the sun on the bow this past week, I spent time alternatly varnishing and shooting photos on the stern. If I can get bits of personaal time where I can be creative to some degree (which is difficult, as you can't paint a mural on your walls, or set up a good work space on a boat so small), then the flicker of a spirit that is left doesn't get extinguished. I have painting and pictures from Aimee that are tacked up in my bunk, a bumpin' stereo, and I even made a little removable desk that fits between my bunk and the Chef's for my computer - but it's all just a vain attempt at what I would call a fulfilling lifestyle. Being on this boat all summer, I've had to approach life with a different attitude than I have in the past. It is one thing work for 6 weeks and then spend 2 weeks relaxing on your own, but to jump into a tunnel and be unable to see the light at the end is harrowing, especially when you're in the middle. Funny, how a capturing some images of my life onboard, and posting them for the world to see, is my proverbal candle in the darkness. God, I hope the internet doesn't crash. : )

I know everyone does repedative actions, but after figuring out the running wheel and the water bottle, I'm aching to find a way out of this little world. A friend of mine once said that the only way to keep me in one place was to keep giving me new, real challenges, otherwise I'd grow bored and quickly move on, and he really hit the nail with that one. I want to be given ideas, problems, etc, and asked to pull whatever resources I can to make something happen. I'd like someone to say "Danny, we need a boat built for purpose X, while being able to perform operations Z and Y" or "Develop a device that can put THIS over THERE and not do THAT." Washing windows and counting down to the next oil change are SO two years ago. So this Winter I'm hoping to spend some time learning TIG welding, jumping into Biology, further honing my photography skill set, upgrade my captain's license to a 200/500 Ton Near-Coastal, purchase a sailboat to call home (hopefully an ass-kicking steel tank of a boat), travel (even if it's just a road trip for a couple weeks), and learn. I want to say "I know Kung-Fu" and have Lawerance Fishbourne say "Show me." Well, maybe that's a bit much, but I have developed a love for the internet and it's vast matrix of information, and I plan to use it. I also am interested, however, in gaining first-hand experience in fields where I have less understanding. Hydraulics is something I'm interested in, as well as commerical construction (large buildings, towers, etc), and I've always wanted to work in a boat production facility. I'm definitly going to be searching the job listings this winter for these things and more, because ultimately I'd like to be able to make the same $$ that I do in Alaska, but while sleeping in my own bed, and without freezing my personal life for half the year. I can only imaging how prision must be, but at least they have internet, library, and workshop access.

Right now, and for the last 5 minutes, whales have been apparently breaching outside, and I haven't really even considered grabbing my camera, or even sticking my head outside. See, when you weigh your life in moments of personal time, the idea of rushing up stairs to stand next to yet another crowd of elated guests is somewhat dismal. Wow, that was a dreary statement. But hey, it's how I'm feeling right now! : )

And on that note, I'm actually going to scramble to the back deck, set ISO for 200, aperature for f4.0, shutter 1/1600, Continuous servo, Continuous High, and try to pull myself out of my sometimes downer mood.... (sheepish grin).

Cheers,

Danny