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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 5, 2010 12:51:57 GMT -5
I will be presenting a slide program on the photography of Blue Spring Cave at the next Nashville Grotto meeting which is I believe April 15. Author Larry Matthews will also be selling the latest NSS publication on Blue Spring Cave. The program will have images from the book and many other regions of Blue Spring Cave. Bob Biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Mar 8, 2010 13:30:37 GMT -5
Newly released
Blue Spring Cave
By Larry E. Matthews and Bill Walter, 2010 346 pages, 249 photographs, and 14 maps!
Blue Spring Cave is Tennessee's longest mapped cave with over 35 miles of surveyed passages. Although it's natural entrance has been known since prehistoric times, only 500 feet of cave had been explored as recently as 1989. In that year a group of cavers pushed a tight, blowing crawlway at the rear of the cave and discovered miles and miles of fantastic, virgin cave passages. Exploration still continues as this book goes to press.
Follow along with the modern explorers as they describe their exploration of this underground wonderland, mile by mile. The path was not simple or easy and required long-term perseverance to slowly unravel this underground labyrinth. In the process huge passages and rooms were discovered along with rare and beautiful cave formations. Divers have recently pushed in from Blue Spring for over a mile in flooded cave passages. A connection has not yet been made to the air-filled passages, but they are getting close. The story of their exploration is exciting and dangerous.
This book is lavishly illustrated with photographs and maps. Each chapter will actually show you where the explorers have gone and what they found. The maps will enable you to follow them further and further from the entrance. This book will treat you to the complete exploration of Blue Spring Cave since the breakthrough in 1989 up to the present.
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Post by Innermostphoto on Nov 22, 2009 22:59:59 GMT -5
I will be presenting a slide program of a recent six week climbing trip to the Himalaya / Everest region of the Solukhumbu, Nepal. The presentation will be at the December regular meeting of the Tennessee Central Basin Grotto. This will be Monday December 7 at the Barfield Wilderness center. See www.caves.org/grotto/tcbg/default.htm for directions. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Nov 16, 2009 22:07:32 GMT -5
I have also heard that there is mounting evidence the very same people from the well known nature corporation are largely responsible for tranferring the fungus to another cave. I see where Congress approves $1.9 Million toward WNS research. Further there have been $800, 000 issued in grants and more on the way for WNS research. What do you call that? Job security. It will continue for all it is worth at the expense of you and I. It does not matter if you agree with it, right or wrong it will continue even if visitation, cave closures, and decontamination procedures are illogical. I have said it before. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. This is the beginning of YEARS of closures and bureaucracy that some caving groups have embraced. Many have stated they will stop caving for a year in order to protect the bats well, that is your decision...but you better hang up your helmet. Its gonna be a looooong year. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Nov 16, 2009 21:48:57 GMT -5
You need to be careful about how and what photographs you put on the net. I had two photographs published in a national magazine without my permission. I called the editor and asked him to pay the going rate based on his publication distribution and size of each photo printed (there is a formula for that). He objected to that idea and my response was if he wanted to print any of my pictures then that would have been the prescribed amount. He would then had the choice to deny my price. Instead he printed them anyway so he no longer had that option. He settled out of court for my price. Remember, copyright is that of the creator plus 50 years after death. No one has the right to recreate or distribute your work without a usage right agreement. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Jul 13, 2009 13:11:56 GMT -5
We have finished photo documentation of Blue Springs Cave in preparation for Larry Matthews new book on Blue Springs Cave due to be released later this year. We shot over 1,300 photos with a usable image ratio of 85 %. Here is a few of them. innermostimagery.com/Bob Biddix Innermost Imagery innermostimagery.com/
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 15, 2009 16:20:56 GMT -5
So these 62 caves the USFW announce as indefinitely closed, are they privately or govt owned? or is this just another way to control areas they can't control? bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 10, 2009 9:07:36 GMT -5
So why doesn't the NSS and its affiliates shut down ALL caving events in the immediate 17 state affected area and abroad? I reiterate from a previous forum not related to this one The NSS in response to the WNS crisis has decided to close all of its caves within the 17 state region and they ask for cavers to complete a moratorium on caving. This comes as a direct result from the USFW directive to close all of its caves also citing it may help slow the progression of WNS. They too, ask cavers to stop all caving activities. The Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries announced they have confirmed cases of WNS in their state and the Cookeville office in Tennessee announces all cave visitation be suspended in Tennessee unless being conducted as part of an agency-sanctioned research or monitoring project. All of these new rules are being implemented to help reduce the spread of this rampant disease that is killing bats at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, caving events continue to be planned and I have yet to see anyone mention events such as the TAG Fall Cave In, SERA, or Speleofest to be canceled. If you truly believe cavers are even remotely causing the spread of WNS then Dogwood City, The Nashville Grotto, and the Louisville Grotto (and others) are in direct conflict with the NSS and other organizations. I know, you can say it is more a social event and "we" don't really go caving. Yes, a social event that promotes caving in a time when everyone else is asking you not to go. A quick review of each of the events web site lists cave trips offered during the event. But how far are you willing to take this? Well, the NSS should cancel the 2009 convention for fear of transmitting WNS to western portions of the US and for heavens sake cancel the ICS for fear of spreading WNS throughout the world! If they don't cancel these events they are in direct conflict with their own policies. The big question is how long do you think this will continue? Researchers haven't had any answers since its discovery in 2006. Do you really think positive results will arrive soon to relinquish all these restrictions? I predict more indefinite closures in the future from private land owners and private groups. This disappoints me greatly. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 6, 2009 8:24:10 GMT -5
GSMNP caves closed? I never knew they were open! Have you ever tried to go through the correct procedure to get a permit into those caves? I have, tried that is and only been successful on one occasion and that was due to pure ignorance and stupidity by the Park. In other words dumb luck. I found it easier to get into Lechuguilla than to bother with the Park Service in my own state! GSMNP announces caves are closed. You make me laugh! bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 3, 2009 14:26:00 GMT -5
Do you really think you will ever see the actual data representing all of this speculation? What is going on here is a handful of people actually working on the WNS situation and a bunch of others that intend to make their living on it for the next several years. How about instead of sending massive donations that feed the greedy, start a reward fund for the cure? Whoever finds the cure for WNS gets the entire pot! Winner take all! And who does keep "records of caver movements" anyway? The only group I know is the CCUS and their records are based on voluntary input. Further, the registers are placed in only very, very few caves. SO. Any statements regarding "caver movements" as fact are indeed false. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 1, 2009 15:53:12 GMT -5
Short sightedness? I think it is a very narrow minded point of view to keep pointing fingers at cavers when logically cavers have have nothing to do with this! Currently biologists, USFW, TNC, or ACCA strong arm you into believing ALL they say is true or they put a scare into the public citing this could be the end of the species. So what if it is? I am a firm believer in evolution and if they become extinct so be it but I don't believe they will. Species have a way of surviving on their own without our assistance. I grow tired every time a disaster occurs it gets blamed on the "human presence". Like it is not possible for a natural occurring influence to be at work? Now that the USFW statement has been issued all govt run properties will close their caves without a doubt. The next step is publicity. The more publicity the better to convince private land owners to close their caves as well despite NO evidence cavers are vectors. It's about control that's all. Cave on. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Mar 30, 2009 11:22:21 GMT -5
Well Jennifer the biologists in Ala may not be saying cavers are causing this but other biologists are! It's like saying despite any preponderance of evidence, we the jury find you guilty. USFW does acknowledge in their first sentence they have no conclusive proof but they go on to "push" you into believing that you are a major contributor. I doubt it. Actually, this may be a good thing. Once all the bats die we can now remove those unsightly cave gates that were unjustifiably placed. Meanwhile, Roy Powers and Kristen Bobo become one of the nations unemployed. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com>>>>>>>While we do not have conclusive proof, the leapfrogging pattern of WNS spread suggests that humans may be contributing to the spread. In some areas, caves known to be popular destinations for cavers have bats with WNS, while bats in nearby caves not frequented by cavers do not show WNS symptoms. Records of caver movements also show a connection among sites in WNS-affected areas<<<<<<<<
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Post by Innermostphoto on Mar 27, 2009 12:51:23 GMT -5
The NSS has not behaved well in my opinion for quite some time now and this latest decision just adds to the list. There is no evidence people are transmitting this disease despite the "lean" the USFW statement takes. If this is to be the end of the species then there is nothing you, me, the NSS, USFW, or anyone else can do about it. It is just the way of things. That may sound a bit drastic but extinction is a part of nature. A ban on caving? Please.
bob
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Post by Innermostphoto on Jan 29, 2009 14:05:34 GMT -5
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Post by Innermostphoto on Nov 27, 2008 22:04:31 GMT -5
Nick is one of only a handful of full time Nat Geo photogs on staff. They have since gone away from hiring full time staff rather opting for cheaper freelance artists to get the job done. If I remember correctly, Nick got his start photographing Tilted Well and the main borehole in Run to the Mill Cave. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on May 2, 2008 12:35:43 GMT -5
Not wishing to put a damper on things but both Johnson's Crook and the vertical section of Pryor Springs are on the closed cave list. It does not help caver reputations and future access by visiting these caves. Glad Rick is back in action though. bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Jun 13, 2006 22:08:43 GMT -5
I am headed caving back west again this year and want some better non marking boots. Any suggestions?
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Post by Innermostphoto on Jan 14, 2007 22:54:47 GMT -5
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 20, 2007 22:12:27 GMT -5
Ok So I can see how you might take issue with some "sensitive" information being made available to the public but lets be realistic. What do you really think it would be purchased for? Mass marketing as you describe? Even though it potentially could be used for EVIL I seriously doubt it. Like you, I try to maintain my information to be private and I do not wish to have unsolicited junk barking at me every time I turn around. Still, some information is widely known no matter what your intentions or how much you try to hoard contact information. **note contact information below** bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Apr 18, 2007 21:40:46 GMT -5
What? Alert the NSS office? For what?? Do you think it is against the law to sell a NSS book on E-bay or anywhere else for that matter? I can’t stand this elitist attitude that publications produced by the NSS, its grottos, or any other guidebook cannot be sold in a capitalist society. I am free to sell to the highest bidder any publication that I own which includes NSS manuals, bulletins and the monthly news letter. In addition, I can sell Convention, TAG, SERA, Speleofest etc. etc. guidebooks (and I have a lot of ‘em) as well as TCS information. There is no law against it. Now, you may say some of the information is proprietary but still does not mean you can’t sell it. It was SOLD to you! Once in your possession you are free to do with it at will. Copyright laws do not apply as you are not duplicating, altering, or modifying an existing work for personal gain. Selling cave information is kinda like selling a painting you purchased. On the flip side it may not be the most ethical thing to do and many cavers will seek ill will toward you. I know of a few that I want to keep on my good side but there is nothing to keep anyone from selling these articles. Besides, what can they get out of a 1991 NSS members manual anyway? A bunch of out dated phone numbers and addresses? bob biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on Jun 5, 2007 21:52:41 GMT -5
First impression it is an excellent advanced level camera. I have had a G1 and a G5 both were good cameras. I don't know about the G7 but if they are like the two previous mentioned I liked everything about them except for two things. The lens was no where near wide enough for my applications and the body was not durable. Both the Canon and Nikon's are this way however the Nikon lens did go to 24mm. If that fits you then get one. I agree, no need to get a DSLR when Advanced level cameras will do. And they will do everything a DSLR can still, Advanced cameras are getting scarce these days. Bob Biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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Post by Innermostphoto on May 30, 2007 22:04:04 GMT -5
Be careful not to get hooked up into any of those stock photography agencies. You'll be selling yourself short and the agency will be making ALL the money. AIso it is OK to put low res images on line however many of these photo hosts allow full exif images which eats up band width and is also unnecessary . Bob Biddix Innermost Imagery www.innermostimagery.com
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