Off Topic, But Important

[robekert]

I awoke today to some unsetteling news. Just prior to the holiday I received a very nice email from Don Ellis. In passing he said he had to rush because he was packing because he was spending the holiday in Phuket an island just off of Thialand. If you have not heard an extremely strong earthquake occured near the island of Phuket. I think I heard it was 8.9 on the Reichter Scale!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of that area and I pray that Don and his family are safe.

Rob

[robekert]

I awoke today to some unsetteling news. Just prior to the holiday I received a very nice email from Don Ellis. In passing he said he had to rush because he was packing because he was spending the holiday in Phuket an island just off of Thialand. If you have not heard an extremely strong earthquake occured near the island of Phuket. I think I heard it was 8.9 on the Reichter Scale!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of that area and I pray that Don and his family are safe.

Rob

[aam1234]

Don is a great guy and a great photographer. I wish him and his family to be safe.

Here (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041226/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake) is a link to that disaster.

[Pekka]

Yes a series of Tsunamis hit Phuket shoreline. I really hope Don and family are OK!!

[psk4363]

A very appropriate thought and gesture Rob - particularly at this time of the year. I too wish him and his family to be safe and well.

Merry Xmas,
Barry

[robekert]

Don is a great guy and a great photographer. I wish him and his family to be safe.

Here (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041226/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake) is a link to that disaster.

Thank you for the link. This is horrible. Now I am even more concerned.

I am also just a bit ticked that this thread was moved. I clearly labed it a OT. The reason that I posted it on the EOS and G series boards was to increase the visibility of the post.

Don Ellis is a longtime and beloved member of this board. He has helped many of us. He is very generous with his knowlege. I understand that the forums are for "gear talk" but some things just transcend the rules. The moderator did PM me to tell me that it was being moved because he wanted to keep the board "On Topic". Hell if Pekka was the one on the island would we move the post to keep things "On Topic"
Rob

[robekert]

Yes a series of Tsunamis hit Phuket shoreline. I really hope Don and family are OK!!

Thank you for weighing in Pekka. I just read a news account about the disaster.....horrible just horrible.
Rob

[scottbergerphoto]

I moved the post, and yes Pekka wasn't on the Island. That would be of great concern to everyone that values this forum. Each of us has things that are of great importance to us that we want to share with others. Each Forum Area is just as important as the others. If everyone posted something of importance to them in a particular area because they felt it would get increased visibility there, the Topics of the Discusssions would lose meaning. As you said in your post, I PM'd you to let you know the thread was moved and why.
Regards,
Scott

[robekert]

I moved the post, and yes Pekka wasn't on the Island. That would be of great concern to everyone that values this forum. Each of us has things that are of great importance to us that we want to share with others. Each Forum Area is just as important as the others. If everyone posted something of importance to them in a particular area because they felt it would get increased visibility there, the Topics of the Discusssions would lose meaning. As you said in your post, I PM'd you to let you know the thread was moved and why.
Regards,
Scott

??? ??? ??? ??? ??? Scott, do you know who Don Ellis is? Do a search of his board name "Don Ellis" He is not my wife's cousin's half brother or something like that.
Rob

[scottbergerphoto]

??? ??? ??? ??? ??? Scott, do you know who Don Ellis is? Do a search of his board name "Don Ellis" He is not my wife's cousin's half brother or something like that.
Rob1. Yes I do.
2. I'm not a personal friend and his web page doesn't list his relatives.
3. It doesn't change a thing.
4. I'm sorry that you see moving your post about him as some form of minmization of his importance to you and others. I don't see it that way, although I could see how you might interpret it that way.
Scott

[robekert]

Whatever..........

[Belmondo]

FWIW, if Scott hadn't moved the thread, I would have. I did, in fact, combine two different threads with the same title as this is against forum policy.

We look forward to updates and hope fervently that he and his family are safe. Nonetheless, 'General Chat' is the appropriate forum for airing such sentiments.

Thanks for your understanding.

Tom

[RichardtheSane]

Along with everyone else I'm hoping for the safe return of Don and his family.






(and for what it is worth I think that this post is in the best possible place now as everyone can read in the same thread and forum. If Don gets the opportunity to post sometime soon then I am sure he would put it here, so it is just one thread to watch. Many people will be concerned for the safety of a valuable person who posts here, lets concentrate what is important and to me the fact this post was moved to a better location seems remarkably unimportant considering it's content)

[Conk]

I suppose all that we can do now is patiently wait for a note saying all is fine. :(

[eastcoast909]

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_sad.gif

I have enjoyed Don's posts and advice on this forum and do hope that all is well with him and his family at this time.

I must agree with the Mod's on the move of the thread.

[Wazza]

I wish for the best for Don Ellis, a great guy, and hope all his family is ok too.

:)

[Moppie]

I love his photographs, my thoughts go out the safety of him and his family.
He has extrended family here in NZ as well.


As a small side note the other end of the plate that shifted suffered an 8.1 sized quake only the day before. It occured 800km south of NZ, but no damage was done, and only a few people living in the South Island felt it. It was untill yesterday the biggest quake reported this year, its clear something is happeneing to the plates in the south pasific.


and thank you for moving this thread in here, I very rarly frequent the EOS forum, and would not have seen it otherwise.

[Moppie]

Here's some contact details from his website: http://www.donellis.com/@contact.html

If he dosn't show up in a day or so prehaps a mod could give the number a ring.

[robekert]

Here's some contact details from his website: http://www.donellis.com/@contact.html

If he dosn't show up in a day or so prehaps a mod could give the number a ring.

I sent Don an email. Hopefully there will be a response within a few days. I have also emailed a few mutual online friends. Praying someone hears from him. If I know Don he has the best IR shots of the tidal wave while hanging from the balcony of his hotel by a bed sheet.
Rob

[Scottes]

If I know Don he has the best IR shots of the tidal wave while hanging from the balcony of his hotel by a bed sheet.
Yep, and he'll have a macro of some bug that rode the wave in.

[Wazza]

That's the way to keep the good spirit in. Be positive. I have read some numbers on it. One local beach in Phuket reported 500 injured, and 30 confirmed killed. Still hoping he has done a miracle has he does with his great photos. Really enjoyed his IR Auckland photos, and of course those Macro bugs.

[robekert]

Don and Leela are OK!!!!!!!
I just received an email from Don. In true Don Ellis fashion he attached a picture of his what seems to be a cottage near the beach with water rushing around the walls of the cottage. He has a red dot on the shot indicating that they were "here" 3 minutes prior. Now that area was under water...........Well it is Don's story to tell.
Cheers,
Rob

[eastcoast909]

:D :D

What good news!

Now we will just have to wait for Don to post the story and pictures.

[aam1234]

Great news! thanks for letting us know.

[Don Ellis]

Dear Friends,

Thanks very much for all your kind thoughts... they weren't misplaced. We were in Khao Lak, just north of Phuket, and now that we've returned I read that it was even harder hit, although nothing of the magnitude of India and Sri Lanka and Aceh.

We stayed literally two steps ahead of the wave as it crashed in and destroyed everything in our resort that was below 10 feet. Many casualties among staff and guests. We were fortunate in that we were eating breakfast on the terrace, saw a few people run up from the beach, followed by a wall of water behind them. We had a 10-second head start. Long story which I will share when we've had some sleep.

For the moment, I just wanted to thank you and let you know we're well before we go to bed.

I am obviously among friends here and your thoughts and good wishes are most touching. Thank you.

Don

I didn't leave the breakfast table without grabbing the camera bag, thanks to Leela's saying something like, "Grab your camera bag!" There's a reason I travel with that girl.

I'm posting the photo in "People" and now I'm off to bed. Cheers.

[Tom W]

Don and Leela are OK!!!!!!!
I just received an email from Don. In true Don Ellis fashion he attached a picture of his what seems to be a cottage near the beach with water rushing around the walls of the cottage. He has a red dot on the shot indicating that they were "here" 3 minutes prior. Now that area was under water...........Well it is Don's story to tell.
Cheers,
Rob
Thanks, Rob - both for bringing the issue to people's attention and for this welcome good news. Glad to hear that they are OK.

Prayers for those that lost their lives or lost friends and family in the disaster.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Don,.. so good to here from you!

[IanD]

Good to know you are home safe and sound. Our thoughts are with those less fortunate.

[aam1234]

Great to know you are safe Don. Didn't know you have so many friends here, I thought all of them were at CTF.

[Moppie]

Great to hear your OK!

[EoSD30fReAk]

very very happy you 2 are ok