US Virgin Islands News

Eye popping underwater photography

Image sourced from Steve Simonsen's Facebook page

A popular Web site for professional photographers has turned its lens on St. John's Steve Simonsen. 

Photoshelter.com calls the 20-year resident "a specialist who has made his life's work under water."

The article details Steve's "strategic factors" of photography: having access to the best locations, specialized equipment - with backups, understand the unique challenges of water, get close, watch for stray reflected light, and keep shooting.

"I usually go in with multiple cameras just so that I have multiple exposures available to me," he told Photoshelter.com. "With today’s digital cameras exposure, count isn’t a factor anymore and that is great."

Oh yeah, one more thing. Besides being a great photographer, Steve says if you want to be an underwater photographer, you should also know how to scuba dive.

• Steve's Facebook page is here.
• Read more about Steve's way of working.
• Steve's online portfolio is here. 

Air pollution in paradise

Photo courtesy of Gerald Singer's blog

St. John is just like the Magic 8 Ball says, "The outlook is hazy."

In a sure sign that spring is here, the air has turned dusty and gray throughout the Virgin Islands.  The immediate cause is a volcano in Montserrat, throwing debris into the air.  At the same time, wind currents from Africa are blowing sand from the Sahara Desert the island's way.

The volcano is not erupting; it's just kind of coughing, clearing accumulated ash and spitting it into the air, as much as a mile above sea level.  

The hazy air is likely to last through the weekend, according to a National Weather Service meterologist, quoted by the St. John Source.

• Increase in seismic activity
• Gerry Singer's See St John blog

E-book by former St. Johnian

Amazon.com is offering "I Only Cuss When Im Sailing." The author is Rae Ellen Lee.  With her husband, they operated the Canvas Factory at Mongoose Junction.

Get the book here.

The story goes that while living in an old mining town brothel they were renovating, in landlocked Montana, they started writing a novel, and set it on St. John. On a research trip they fell in love with the sand and sun. The plan was they would move to the island, learn to sail, fix up the old boat, and sail it to the Caribbean. But things don’t go as planned.

That experience is also the subject of her newest book, "My Next Husband Will Be Normal." The story goes that, soon after unpacking their flip-flops, her husband—a former Republican state legislator with a silver crewcut and solid traditional values—realizes he is really a she. Lee continued, "Toss in a few sex toys, some steel pan music, a pinch of voodoo—and stir."

Airline cutting service to Virgin Islands

The bankruptcy of American Airlines will mean less air service for the Virgin Islands.  

The airline's subsidiary, American Eagle, plans to suspend operations at the San Juan airport  potentially halting round trips daily to St. Thomas and St. Croix, according to the Associated Press.

Confirmation of the cutback came via the St. John Source.  Allegra-Kean Moorehead, spokeswoman for the Tourism Department, said, "It's definitely concerning," she said.

An American Airlines spokeswoman told the Source, the airline is weighing "several replacement solutions to continue to provide service to the region."  That could mean AA would partner with another airline.

The reduction would likely occur as American returns leased aircraft used on the route, part of the strategy to reduce financial obligations and reorganize in bankruptcy.

Three other airlines provide service between Puerto Rico and the VI's:  Jet Blue, Cape Air and Seaborne Airlines. The Source quoted Richard Doumeng, a resort executive active in the hotel association, worrying airfares could go up if American Eagle departs.

At the moment, Expedia shows American is selling round trips on the route, for November, for $91.

• Read the St. John Source story here

Underwater photography: how to do it better

Anybody can come back from St., John with a gorgeous photographs of sunrises, sunsets, people, and landscapes. Capturing a perfect shot underwater is something else. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Jess Spate, writing for Digital Photography School, has these suggestions.

• It's easier to get good pictures if you're close. Lighting is easier, and the closer you are also means you're shooting through a lesser volume of water. The picture should be more clear.
• Don't use a flash if you can avoid it. Frankly, this is good advice even on dry land. That harsh burst can unbalance a scene. Also Spate says the flash can bounce off rocks, other fish and even air bubbles, reflecting back into the lens. Go natural.
• Shoot at an angle. Side lighting can bring out textures and interesting shadow effects.
• Be prepared. Check your settings, memory card capacity, battery status before you get into the water.

What's a good camera for underwater (and also shoots on land?

Amazon.com has dozens of them. The Inquiring Iguana surveyed them and found the Sony TX10 top-rated by customers.  More than half of 305 reviewers gave the $299 camera five stars.

Digital Photography School advice on underwater photography.

Fatty Crab chef brings home the bacon

Photo from Kave's Twitter page

Tune in the Food NetworkTuesday night and watch Corwin Kave, executive chef at St. John's Fatty Crab (and New York) win $10,000 and become the champion of the “Chopped” series.

Kave competed against three other chefs in an episode called Plenty of  Fish.  Tasks included concocting an appetizer in 20 minutes and creating an entree of Lutefisk, Hazelnuts, Pinot Noir, and Dried Lobster Mushrooms.

Folks posting to the Virgin Islands On-Line forum tipped the Inquiring Iguana to Kave’s success.  SusanNJsaid that seeing the show made her want to check out the restaurant.

Another viewer, Kay, wrote, “We also watched it and heard him mention he learned to make johnny cakes in St John. Hubby says Fatty Crab is a must stop on our next trip. Wonder where he vacationed with his winnings since he lives in our paradise!"

• Corwin Kave is on Twitter

Cruisers wanted

The prospect of more cruise ship passengers at Trunk Bay has to be one takeaway from word that the Governor is making a renewed effort to persuade cruise line operators to increase their visits to the Territory.

Gov. John de Jongh appeared at an international trade exhibition in Florida to pitch for more business.  He brought along, and introduced to the cruise line managers, his new Chief of police and half a dozen government executives.

“Our objective is to get increased growth at all our ports,” he said, especially in the off season. “More cruise calls during the period that traditionally sees a lull in tourism would promote economic growth, revenue and employment opportunities throughout the year,” the Governor said.

Several cruise lines include St. John on their itineraries by arriving off Cruz Bay early in the morning and ferrying day trippers to the island.  Naturally, cab drivers are hawking tours and retail shops open early to take advantage.

His trip to Florida was another example of how the Governor is working to generate new revenues for the Virgin islands.  The impending body blow to St. Croix, when the oil refinery closes, is spurring de Jongh’s outreach to the cruise lines, as well as federal agencie and emergency funding.

Passport to the World

Advertorial

Owning at Grande Bay Resort gives you more than a place to call home on St. John. 

It now comes with rights to share other residences around the world through a new affiliation with International Vacation Exchange Network and its links to 2,600 resorts in  75 nations.

“Our members can use their St. John membership to travel the world,” said John Alvarado, Director of Sales. Click for details.

Stop the madness at the airport

Here's a brainstorm:  there should be a taxi service that takes people from the St. Thomas airport to the Red Hook ferry dock ... and nowhere else.  

No group riding. No stops at Bluebeard's Castle, or Bolongo Bay or Secret Harbor.  Nope, just a simple Point-A-to-Point-B trip, which would go a long way to reducing the frustration and 'taxi rage' from which some people suffer when they reach Red Hook.

This simple, genius-level, oh-so-obvious idea was offered this week at a Tourism Department workshop. The session had a moderateor who was characterized as a "change engine consultant."  He heads up a New Jersey firm working on a $100,000 contract from Tourism to advise the VI's.

People involved in the Territory's tourism industry participated in the first meeting, Monday.  Video conferencing let folks from all three islands participate.

Other ideas from St. Johnians on the call, as reported by the Virgin islands Daily News, included improving the traffic flow in Cruz Bay (i.e. eliminate the chaos at the ferry dock) and developing the prime waterfront, particularly across from Nature's Nook.

Paddy parade in Paradise

While some people strive for significance by doling something bigger, or longer, or more frantically than anyone else, St. John doe snot do that.

In fact, there is pride in the island's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade being the world's smallest Paddy promenade.  This year, while there were a few hundred locals and visitors watching marchers course through Cruz Bay, it still lasted only about 15 minutes.

Once again, the Quiet Mon Pub organized the event.  The march included by a contingent of dogs from the Animal Care Center wearing green t-shirts and hats - to encourage people to donate by stuffing greenbacks in the pocket of one critter's coat. 

A photo from the parade was published on the Islandia Real Estate blog. One of the Islandia sales people, Jane Kelly (Irish, right?) said the shortness of the parade is a good thing. "That gives you more time to enjoy corned beef and cabbage and all the festivities the  island has to offer."