“Painted Skies & Oceans”
the Colors of Micronesia.



© Gunther Deichmann - Dramatic Sunset & Rainbow over the Pacific.

A dramatic sunset in the Pacific, the Image above taken between Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) and Pohnpei in Micronesia.

The Federated States of Micronesia is an independent, sovereign nation made up of Pohnpei and three other states; Chuuk, Kosrae, and Yap. Together, the FSM comprises approximately 607 small islands in the Western Pacific spread over almost 1,700 miles (2,700 km) from east to west just above the equator some 2,500 miles (4,000 km) southwest of Hawaii and about 1,800 miles (2,900 km) north of eastern Australia, above Papua New Guinea.

© Gunther Deichmann - Sunset over the famous Truk Lagoon,
a Divers paradise for WWII ship wrecks

Chuuk or better known amongst the Scuba Diving community as Truk Lagoon is a must for Divers who like to explore the amazing WWII wrecks in this Lagoon. A whole Japanese fleet was sunk here during the WWII. Great Visibility and little current makes this a perfect destination for Wreck Divers.

© Gunther Deichmann - A lone Coconut tree at the edge of
Truk Lagoon, Chuuk Micronesia



© Gunther Deichmann - dramatic clouds over the
Palau Rock islands, Micronesia

Palau is also know as one of the best Dive destinations in the world, diving highlights include Blue Corner and the Blue Hole, plus so many others. In 2009 Palau became also the first Shark Sanctuary in the World, one of Natures best kept secret with its amazing bio diversity below and above the waves. Check out Sam’s Tours for all your scuba diving activities in 2010.

© Gunther Deichmann - a small island just in front
of the Palau Pacific Resort




© Gunther Deichmann - typical Pacific sunset, Palau




© Gunther Deichmann - Islands at sunset, Palau Micronesia




© Gunther Deichmann - Coconut trees at the edge of
Truk Lagoon, Chuuk Micronesia



© Gunther Deichmann - aerial view at sunset, Rock Islands Palau



© Gunther Deichmann - view from inside a
cave in the Palau Rock Islands, Palau



© Gunther Deichmann - sunset at the Palau Pacific Resort also known as PPR

Check out the GD PhotoWorkshop site for all the Calendar dates in 2010
including a trip trip to Palau Micronesia in June 2010
Adventure Travel with your Digital Camera!

How a Fisherman lost his Sunglasses…

The things you discover when you do your editing…sometimes strange or bizarre or just…Wow, I didn’t see that when I took that shot.
The image below is just one of those weird occasions; a couple of years ago I was in Chuuk Micronesia and one morning during breakfast on the Veranda of the Hotel I spotted this Fisherman casting his net. It was pouring rain at the time so I thought this was a nice shot just from the breakfast table without getting wet, an easy one.
Later during my editing in Aperture I noticed the Fisherman’s Sunglasses in mid air, if I had realized this during the actual shot I would have told him…hey you just dropped your Sunshades.

© Gunther Deichmann - converted the original image into B&W using the Monchrome
Mixer in Aperture 2 (See if you can spot the Sunglasses in mid air.)

I guess he is still looking for them “today”, he was fishing at an incoming tide and I am sure his Glasses are gone.
Have a good look and see if you can spot the sunshades in mid air. It is cool what you discover during your edit sometimes.
GD

Sam's Tours in Palau Micronesia wins PVA's Tour Operator of the Year Award 2008!

I am happy and proud to be associated with Sam’s Tours in Palau Micronesia who has just received the Tour Operators of the Year Award.
Congratulations to Sam’s Tours!

Sam’s Tours location in Palau Micronesia
click this LINK or the image and go direct to the Digital Photo Center

You might remember my involvement in setting up this truly unique Digital Photo Center at Sam’s Tours at the beginning of the Year.
The Digital Photo Center has some six Apple iMacs fully loaded with software including Aperture plus a complete backup system for all your needs. The Center is Wi-Fi connected and can transfer all your images and Videos to your iPod. Small Digital Cameras with underwater housings are also available for rent.
Then there is Ocean Wonders Video Service at Sam's Tours operated by award-winning High Definition Underwater Filmmaker and Digital Video Producer, Dr. Nick Martorano, Ph.D. Nick is also available for professional work including underwater digital videography services, digital video editing, post-production and final output assignments.
Sam’s Tours the premier Dive Center in Palau Micronesia, a Photographers haven above and below the waves!
GD
See the official Press release below...

Sam's Tours - TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR!

The Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), Palau's official tourism board, announced their selection of Sam's Tours as "TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR" for 2008. The announcement and award presentation took place during the Annual Christmas Gala of the Belau Tourism Association (BTA), Palau's private sector tourism industry association, recently held at the Palau Pacific Resort.
Awarding winning is not new to Sam’s Tours which has been consistently recognized over the years not only by government and industry bodies for their commitment to development of sustainable tourism in Palau but also by their customers for consistent service excellence. In 2007 Sam's Tours received a Top 10 Sponsor Award from PVA for "their continual support and sponsorship" and in 2006 the private sector Belau Tourism Association recognized Sam's Tours with their Outstanding Member Award for their "dedication, support and commitment over the years to Belau Tourism Association and its objectives.”
The readers of a leading international dive magazine have recognized Sam’s Tours more than any other dive center in Palau or Micronesia with seven “Readers Choice Awards” since 1997 including a Gold List Award for top dive center, top staff, and top value.
Sam’s Tours is the first and only dive center in Palau to receive the Palau Conservation Society “Ten Year Partner in Conservation Award” and is a Corporate Sponsor of the Palau Shark Sanctuary, a shark conservation organization founded in 2001 by Sam’s Tours General Manager, Dermot Keane, to help bring an end to the destructive practice of shark-finning by foreign fishing fleets operating in Palau’s waters. The Palau Shark Sanctuary received a PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Environmental Education Gold Award for their work.
“Sam’s Tours has consistently demonstrated their long standing commitment to responsible tourism development, environmental preservation, and excellence in customer service and while recognition is not what drives us to excel, we sincerely appreciate the acknowledgment of our efforts by our industry peers and our valued customers alike” said Dermot Keane, General Manager, Sam’s Tours.

Due to popular demand and frequent requests we have just updated our blog pages with a few appropriate Banner ads.
We keep these to a minimum number, we like to be informative and not clutter up our site, they are very much related to photography, travel, latest on Aperture 2, the Digital Photo Center in Palau complete with Wi-Fi and Aperture, Underwater Photography and other similar subjects.
Now a special mention on the new PALAU TOURS Website, announced only today... a great NEW SITE for PALAU in Micronesia with stunning images and very informative text...

"The Pearls of the Pacific" and Natures best kept secret.

Click on the image and visit the NEW PALAU TOURS WEBSITE
http://www.palautours.com/

Click on the image and visit the NEW PALAU TOURS BLOG
http://www.palautours.com/blog.html

This new site is still undergoing development, but it is out in Cyberspace now, including the NEW PALAU TOURS BLOG with frequent up dates, check the blog @ http://www.palautours.com/blog.html
GD

Tags: Aperture, Underwater Photography, Digital Photo Center, Palau, Photography, Images, Environment, GLOBAL WARMING, Survivor

A few things you might find interesting about PhotoShelter and the difference between the Personal Archive and the PhotoShelter Collection.

It all started with the PhotoShelter Personal Archive, and for me it was the perfect solution in keeping my images away from the office (I am crazy when it comes to backups) in a completely different location, not only that but PhotoShelter makes another backup again.

With the arrival of Aperture and shortly after the plug in from PhotoShelter things even got better, now I can be anywhere in the world provided I have a connection and upload my images into my archive.
That’s not all, with a provided super databank and a cool looking micro site I can sell images 24 hours a day, but now back to the difference between the two:

In the PhotoShelter Personal Archive I can store and make available thousands of my images in high resolution, currently some 3000 plus, organized in different countries, you can find them also via specific keywords, of course these are edited and include the images from my Book "Journey Through Color and Time" (pls. note: not complete yet)

The PhotoShelter Collection is a bit different, here you find a selection of edited images hence the word collection, again this is supported by keyword searches etc., etc., and a micro site as well. The PhotoShelter team is also actively marketing this site, where as the Archives are not, the Collection is more defined and the edited images have been chosen according to subjects and market requirements. In simple terms a very tied edit.
Aperture made captioning and key wording so easy, and PhotoShelter loves key words hence the reason they work so well together.
For more info on PhotoShelter check out my previous blog from the 19. 12. 2007 - category Stockimages
Click on the image below and go to the PhotoShelter Collection to visit the Personal Archive please click here.

I am leaving for Palau and Chuuk Micronesia on the 4th until the 26th of Jan. my blogs will be a bit light during this time.
As mention some time ago there is a major announcement during my stay in Palau and you better believe it, this will rock, absolutely amazing, a very first indeed. I keep you in suspense a bit, I love doing that, so keep your eyes peeled or subscribe to our blog, announcement date is going to be around the 14th of Jan. 2008 direct from Palau.

Click on the image and visit Sam's Tours

One last thing, if you feel up to it visit my site with the Podcast’s for some cool music and some clips created with iLife, just added recently. PODCAST LINK

Happy New Year, take good care and be careful with these firecrackers on the 31st.

GD

A very happy New Year - prost Neujahr - bonne année - onnellista uutta vuotta - gelukkig Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - selamat tahun baru - godt nytt år - szczliwego nowego roku - feliz ano novo - gott nytt år manigong bagong taon - sawatdii pimaï - kung hé fat tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao - godt nytår - eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos - felice anno nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom - sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân Xuân- yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

_________________________________________________

I have picked up this Blog post from Dermot Keane, GM of Sam's Tours in Palau and if you a diver you have to check out their website at:
http://www.samstours.com/blog
Diving in Palau Micronesia is just out of this world, not to mention the spectacular Rock islands, I believe Palau is still one of the last great places left on Earth where nature is at its very best, I guess that is the reason for TV Channels like Survivor, Discovery Channel and National Geographic for keep coming back for the production of a variety of shows, explore and discover Palau above and below
with Sam's Tours.

SURVIVOR PALAU - Lost in the Rock Islands?
The Rock islands in Palau, © Gunther Deichmann

It's no secret that Survivor is back in Palau shooting a second show but I wonder if the contestants locked away on one of Palau's myriad islands battling it out with one another really know what they're missing?
Sam's Tours marketing agent, good friend and professional photographer Gunther Deichmann who was just in Palau for Sam's Tours recent 17th Anniversary Celebration, shared a few images with me that he just shot during his last trip. He took a flight with "Matt the Pilot" from PALAU HELICOPTERS and added some more aerials to his library and although I've seen Palau myself from the air many times, I'm still amazed by the stunning beauty of the green carpeted Rock Islands. I sure hope the contestants in SURVIVOR PALAU get a chance to enjoy Palau's real beauty when they're done with the show.

Even more amazing to me is "eye" that Gunther has. Perhaps all photographers have it, but I certainly don't. The image below was taken by Gunther while I sat and had a beer with him at RIPTIDE, a local beach bar, while we waited for the moon to rise. I was sitting looking right at this same scene but never even saw it...until he took the picture and showed me.... only then did I notice all the different lights and colors right before me. And no, the image was no touched up or edited. What you see is what you get! Gunther explained to me that although he now shoots only with digital for the past four years, it hasn't really changed a thing about HOW he shoots. "I only use the camera to record what I already see" said Gunther as he explained that his pictures are taken long before he opens the shutter.

SITTING ON THE DOCK OF A BAY - PALAU, MICRONESIA.
Koror, Palau, Micronesia, Malakal Harbor. © Gunther Deichmann
Gunther will conduct one of his popular PHOTO WORKSHOPS right here at Sam's Tours in April 2008. The workshop is for underwater photographers and topside photographers alike with lots of hands on time with Gunther and lots of underwater or field time too to capture your own stunning images of Palau. Dates to be posted soon. Reservations required. Stay tuned for more details or visit www.DEICHMANN-PHOTO.COM
Dermot
____________________________________

© Gunther Deichmann, Cuttlefish Sepia sp. - Alien afternoon...

Hi everybody... I am leaving this afternoon for a short one week trip to Palau to be with my friends and client at Sam's Tours, they are celebrating the Grand Opening for the completely renovated Sam's Tours premisses, the big party is on the 26 of October and I give you a full report with images once I am back next week, but now I have to run hence this Alien afternoon.... so much to do and no time left.
Until soon,
Cheers Gunther

The fossils have been brought to my attention again by no other than Walter Ty, my constant supplier of Interesting news, again thank you Walter, we do appreciate this. For the interesting story on fossil sea spiders please go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/6948161.stm

Before you read the whole story on the provided link, here is some information referring to the two images below, as you all know my background is Paleontology.
Image on the left: I have found this Ammonite some 40 odd years ago digging for Fossils near the German Town of Goslar, it is dated back to the Jurassic period some 160 million years ago.
The image on the right is a close relative of the Ammonite, the Nautilus that I photographed in Palau about four years ago; it is the surviving member from this cephalopod family.
If you ever have the urge to go “back in time” talk to Dermot Keane or Sam Scott from Sam’s Tours in Palau, they can make arrangement for a Nautilus dive, to bring you closer to one of the few and true living fossils.
Contact Sam’s Tours at: www.samstours.com


Left: An Ammonite, 160 million years ago.
Right: 4 years ago in Palau, at the "Big Drop off",
a Nautilus, the "living fossil."
Photos: © Gunther Deichmann

I have just returned from a very cool trip to Palau, my web master Arnold
and myself had to finish the Sam's Tours website, well in between I took
some images.
New aerial and land shots check them out in a day or so at my
Photoshelter site, it has become a breeze to up load them now thanks to
Aperture, new aerials of the waterfall, the mysterious Monolith, aerial of
meeting House called "Bai" the really cool new road and many others.
Sorry, no underwater images from this trip, next time.
I like to express my sincere thanks to Sam Scott and Dermot Keane from
Sam's Tours who have been more than helpful and accommodating during
this trip. Thanks Guys!
You find below the link to Photoshelter, but why not subscribe to the RSS then
you up dated all the time with the latest images.

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann

or check my Aperture website at:
http://homepage.mac.com/gdeichmann/New%20Palau%20Images/index.html

Now I am leaving for the ADEX show in Bangkok and after that a few days in
Siam Reap and Ankor Wat, Cambodia, back in the first week of May.
Joining me at ADEX will be Dirk Fahrenbach from Club Paradise and
Dugong Dive Center, Palawan,Philippines and Dermot Keane from
Sam's Tours Palau, Micronesia, ha, ha, Dermot cant stay away from me.
These are two members of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
THE DIVERS CHOICE.

At ADEX we catch up with Tony Wu from Fins Magazine and other old
friends, and oh, well I am going to have my Birthday in Bangkok with my
very good friends.
My friend Tony Wu has a great website and real cool underwater images,
you should check it out at: http://www.tony-wu.com

A full report will be issued up on my return.
Enjoy the images from Palau,

Cheers Gunther


Aerial of the Ngardmau Falls surrounded by lush Jungle
© Gunther Deichmann

Aerial of Milky Way, © Gunther Deichmann

The Road in Babeldaob, the biggest island in Palau
© Gunther Deichmann

The new Capitol in Palau, © Gunther Deichmann

Gunther Deichmann presents his new book Journey Through Colour and Time
to H.E.Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., President of the Republic of Palau.

Palau, and the FSM States of Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei are featured in the
Micronesian section of the book.
Also present were journalists from local newspapers, the Chief of Staff,
Mr. Billy Kuartei and Dermot Keane the General Manager of Sam's Tours,
a local dive operator.