m!b$

Maybe you could incorporate as much as possible of the new look that Alan had planned on using for his new site. I don't think he liked the look of the old site very much (I read that somewhere, but can't recall where), and the colored type on a black background is hard to read. http://marblealan.com/

My camera is a point and shoot too, not an SLR. But just about everything can be done manually on it, and that's the way I've gotten the best results with it.

Spot metering, on my camera at least, isn't just a tiny spot. Unless it's a very large marble, the spot includes the whole marble. That way, the camera ignores the rest of the background. The shutter speed may have to be adjusted a little, depending on the size and color of the marble. I usually leave the aperture setting at about 5.6. I wouldn't use flash when taking pictures of marbles.

More megapixels isn't necessarily a good thing. Use manual focus, if you have it. Use spot metering, if you have it. Use your custom white balance, if you have it, and manual aperture and shutter settings. Underexposure is better than overexposure. As said above, use a tripod and timer, and super macro setting, and a low ISO, like 80 or 100. Use a larger resolution (at least 2000 pixel width), then crop your photos in a graphics program. Outdoor pictures will usually have alot of unwanted reflections. If shooting indoors, don't have the light source(s) too close to the subject.

Thanks to all, especially for the photos! So I guess this one isn't a true Burnt Christmas Tree, even though it has burnt-looking ribbons. And there's nothing at all burnt about this one.

Looks like Alan's website was wiped out in late April, or early May 2007. So this link will provide you with the last updates to the old site. http://web.archive.o...marblealan.com/

http://cgi.ebay.com/...cvip=true&rt=nc I don't understand the part about the ribbons needing to be separated for it to be Burnt.

Thanks, Bob. I can see now that it doesn't belong with Vitros.

I just got a reply from the buyer, cwb, who says he is 100% sure that it is a Master Sunburst, not Alox or Vitro. So, that's good enough for me.

What are you showing there, Steph? "Alox shooters" is what you named the photo. Mine looks alot like that bottom left one. FWIW, I asked Marblealan about my shooter some years ago, and he thought Vitro too.

Not trying to change the subject or hijack this thread, but I recently sold a marble that I was sure was Vitro only to be told it was Master, by the buyer, who I believe is a Vitro collector (Chuck Brandstetter). It was nearly 1", had an opalescent base, and the colors look to be a dead ringer for Vitro's colors. So could I get your expert opinion on this one, nutz? http://www.ebay.com/itm/160711329293

Mibcapper posted these as Angels on this board, back in 2007.

It's all so very sad...and so mysterious. In the last email I got from him, Alan said that he tends to "roll with the punches". That's good advice to remember, because life sure throws alot of them. (Alan sure knew how to pick a good wife!)

No doubt that he would not have gotten the help from so many had he not been a person who cared about others, and was honest.

Maybe there was a miracle...how so many came together to help someone who alot of us have never met and only "know" through the internet.

sometimes I almost half envy him

(I claim no photo credits.)

You can get a good deal on pads here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Diamond-Hand-Polishing-Pads-/110757186269?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c9a48add

Is there such a thing as a Guinea Onionskin? Does anyone have pictures of one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=280835127821&si=JDcU7WqC%252FNvb%252FTQ9O3CpGA%252F9YDY%253D&viewitem=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I don't like the term "wet mint". It has a used-car-salesman-ring to it. Mint is sufficient, IMO.

That was nice of you, Rich. I won't be having any more up for sale anytime soon.

Wow. I get a negative just in time for my auctions ending tonight. What a surprise... (And I'm not the one with zero feedback running up the MK St. Mary's 4-color Cat either.)

Some of these are ending soon...Monday night.