Every other year (with some exceptions) NMR spectroscopists* from around the world converge on the Monterey Peninsula for the Experimental NMR Conference (ENC).  The Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA, has been host to the ENC since 1972 (13th ENC).  The meeting gives us a structured excuse for visiting the beautiful central CA coast.  I’ll be at the meeting, the 50th ENC, all of next week, and will try to send updates from the field.  As a preview, and an excuse for liberating a few more political prisoners from the photon-dungeon, I’d like to share a few images from the 47th ENC.

The image above, of ‘A’ executing a determined pixie-like flutter across the tidal pools at ebb tide (low water, probably), was recorded on April 23, 2006 at about 12:20 PST, using the Nikon D70s and the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED.  Exposure was f/10 at 1/400s, ISO 200.  The shot was hand-held.  The D70s was the first digital SLR that I owned, and although at 6.1 megapixels it seems a bit underpowered now, it was a marvel at the time.  The s-model was an update to the D70, and as I recall the most significant difference was the inclusion of a larger LCD review display.  Nikon no longer lists the D70/D70s on it’s website, however, an excellent review by Phil Askey, founder of dpreview.com is still available (Highly Recommended).

The image above, of the end of the breakwater at the Monterey Municipal Wharf, was recorded on April 23, 2006 at 11:30 PST using the D70s and the DX 18-70mm at 45mm.  The exposure was f/6.3 at 1/800s (weird!), ISO 200.

The image above, of Sea Jellies, was shot at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  The image was recorded on April 24, 2006, at about 15:10 PST using the D70s and the DX 18-70mm at 18mm.  Exposure was f/3.5 and 1/10s, ISO 1250.  Hand-held.  Gads, wish I’d had the D700 here!

The image above, of the ‘Lone Cyprus’, was recorded on April 24, 2006 at 19:30 PST using the D70s and the DX 18-70mm at 35mm.  Exposure was f/20 at 1/8s, ISO 200 (I have no idea why).

The snap above, of the HP looking pretty stylish, was made whilst strolling on the path that runs along the shore just west of Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove.  The Image was recorded on April  25, 2006 at 13:00 PST using the D70s and the DX 18-70mm at 18mm.  Exposure was f/6.3 at 1/250s, ISO 200.  Hand-held.

*Right, so an NMR spectroscopist is a kind of biophysicist or physical chemist interested in using the absorption spectrum of a magnetically polarized sample (MHz energy range) to elucidate the structure and dynamics of molecules – sometimes really cool molecules, if that helps.  BTW, this is our day job.

Tags: central california, Cyprus Point, D70, D70s, ENC, Monterey, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Peninsula, Pacific Grove, Sea Jellies, Sunset Drive

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