Another brilliant night

 ...it was much dimmer and shorter lasting than the previous night.

However.
I felt it was 
my duty
to get out
and see what 
I could again.

I did make a huge mistake though.

I made some half decafe/half regular coffee. I thought it would be nice to have a thermos of warm coffee while standing in the cold...

Duh...duh...doh.

So pardon me if I am not focused.

Very little sleep because I was thinking about everything else while trying to sleep! 

Note to self don't try that again! Give away the coffee hubby used to drink or dump it!

The sky was very very faint from 6:30 to 8:00. The Aurora could only be seen with a camera. However, there were some neat pillars! 

I thought since it was not so brilliant, I'd try another Star Trail shot. So I set things up and let the camera do its thing while I sat next to the car and watched the sky. I listened to coyotes hunting and calling. I listened to owls talking in the distance.

The cattle gate that I was sitting next to creaked on its hinges sounding like an elderly person dragging a walker across linoleum. I sipped coffee and decided that I really did love the night sky.
Then there were flashes of light.

I was not hallucinating. An old beat up pick up was coming across the ridge with a spot light. They were shining for deer. I haven't seen that in ages. The truck cluttered and clattered towards where I sat next to my 'Ru. I had to stop the camera or the shot would have recorded the bright light when they shined me.

It is legal to shine for deer but not after 10PM and not if you have a weapon in the car. I never thought that shining was anything but a waste of time since most places you shine are not your property. They were legal, it was only 7:30.

I did get this though!

The truck passed, clackety clack and the smell of burnt oil. I watched them from my high vantage point circle the ridge roads of our Township.

I went home. Charlie was rather pleased. Then I decided to take a look with my cellphone to see if it was all done. I've seen some incredible shots done with iPhones! I don't have one, but the colors were there!

I set the camera up on a tripod in the yard and got it doing its thing. I cursed the airplanes but they use the airspace also.

The red light in the windows are from when I went inside to get a drink of water. I thought I was being smart and used the red mode on my headlamp.

I was surprised at how sensitive cameras can be. The house looked pretty spooky.

I took one more try from the back door looking up into the hill behind our house. I am still working on how to perfect star trails, but I am getting there. 👇👀

IF there is another chance tonight, I'll try.
I saw a Flickr friend use his cell phone 
to do a Time Lapse! 
That would be cool!

The new moon is November 19th. I'm thinking of trying to do just one more try at star trails and get a complete circle around the North Star.

I intended to take my photos from Wednesday's hike and show you the fun Charlie and I had. Alas.
That will have to wait.

Jason, the Geologist and his Tumbleweed Dogs are coming this weekend so I have to get things set up for his visit.

Just stuff.

So here is a quick couple of shots of the new part of my flower garden and it is coming into its full beauty right now.

There is the sleeping dragon 

looking quite content...

....and a stink bug resting in the

early morning on a

sunflower

Charlie and I took a long hike on Sunday and lo and behold! We found the lost Teddy Bear at the snowmobile crossing that had washed out!

This bear washed downstream and avoided tangles until it was forced into a narrow area and got hung up in roots!

Success! All toys recovered from the flash flood!

Last night I couldn't sleep so instead I went to see if I could capture the comet everyone is talking about. I'd failed before more than once. I'm still experimenting with night shots.

Here is the one half decent shot I did get before clouds moved in on the horizon.

The photo was done in with the infrared camera which is supposed to be able to pick up more light when used without filters.

I didn't use a great lens for this, as it was an experiment. But I am satisfied that I did get a photo of the historic event.

I may try again. This was taken in the mules pasture.

Then I went for the other camera with the nice wide angle lens and fast aperture.

Yippee! I sort of did it!

The milky way with clouds moving in.

If I take a nap today after gardening, I can try this again tomorrow night.

I felt happier that I was near the mules while taking some of these shots. 

The coyotes were having a field day howling and yipping through the woods below me!

I may sit down and do some studying or watch an Olympus Tutorial on shooting this in better preparation for trying this again.

Well, off I go to another day of gardening and other fun things.

I need some fresh potatoes and fruit. 

I'm really beginning to dread going into stores.

Have a wonderful day.

Stay safe.

4th of July

Once a year we turn the end of the road near the mailboxes into a Fireworks Park.

My 'upstairs' neighbor loves to put on his own fireworks show instead of heading to town to be in a huge crowd.

This year it worked well to our advantage. Their family gathered in one spot and I was able to walk down the road to find a vantage point to have some photography fun.

There was plenty of air and distance between us [yes it was hot and muggy but what would the 4th be like if it were cold?].

Justin just gets better each year at picking out fireworks and designing safe ways to set them off.

I take the time each year to learn more and more about photographing them.

The above shot was taken in the full moon light. I stood for 10 seconds in front of the camera and then walked away. I added some fireworks. 

So there were the fireworks!

It was a very different day. The morning was the graveside service for MIL and there was a small gathering of friends. Lots of masks even in the heat.

This long chapter is over now. MIL no longer is in pain. There was a sense of closure and relief even more so because until the last 3 days of her life we were not allowed to see her because of Covid-19 restrictions.

However we move on.

Big Adventure!

"Okay Charlie, you take care of Dad," I said as I donned my coat and made a last second check of my camera stuff.

I was only going to take my 35mm lens, it works well for night photography and I've used it for shooting the Milkway with some success.
I didn't grab the better of the two tripods and settled with the one that I trek through the woods with.

I was a bit nervous about one...meeting up with other photographers, but I figured Kristi would probably be there. [Kristi was the one I met at the fair and she told me about the Camera Club.] I got there a bit early and joined some men sitting just outside the room the club met in.
I was also a bit hesitant to leave Rich and Charlie on their own. Would Rich hear Charlie when he had to go potty? He usually doesn't even though they are only a few feet apart. Rich can be so engrossed in watching whatever program is on, that he can't seem to hear a thing.

By the time the meeting was over and I drove to the Riverside park, I was done being nervous.
The Rotary Lights were almost overwhelming. I'd seen them briefly in 2010 but had never actually gone and walked through the display.

I pulled on some snow pants in the parking lot, grabbed a hand warmer and opened it up. I dropped one into my hunting glove/mit and checked my camera settings before I even left the Subaru. The outside temperature was 19 degrees and calm.
I zipped up my coat, grabbed the tripod and walked towards the river.

I was fumbling around with my glove/mitts and tripod when one of the other members walked up to me and started to set up. It was Kristi, she said that she had decided to come to the park after all. She commented that she'd wander around until she got too cold.

I was grateful for her company. We spent an hour or so wandering around slowly trying out different settings to take photos. What really amazed me was while we were taking shots or setting up the people that were walking about were so nice! The groups of teenagers would say hello and then duck out of our way with a *sorry* or *pardon me* tossed over their shoulders.

To capture the whole view of the park, you have to drive over a bridge to another small park and you can 'shoot' the lights reflecting on the water.

I did want to do that but it got late and I realized that Rich may be worried or he may sit up and watch for me to come home.

When Kristi said she was cold and her hands were numb, I walked backed to the parking area with her.

I called Rich from the car and told him I was just leaving the Riverside Park. He sounded a bit disappointed and said that I was still an hour away.

I agreed and told him that I'd had a really great time and got to see some amazing lights.

As I came down the drive way through the woods, I could see the porch lights turn on. Yes, he had been watching.
Both he and Charlie seemed relieved to see me.

It was a wonderful adventure.

I need to figure out a time to get back there again this season. This time from across the river.

I hope to skip out with Charlie today to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve to walk along one of my favorite trails and perhaps get a photo worthy of a Christmas Card!

Whimsy and me

Some folks give me an odd look and move away when I tell them I like to go out at night and hike.
When I told my mother in law about my latest adventure she sat back slightly and stared at me as if I'd grown an extra head.
Her mouth screwed up into an expression of horror or perhaps a silent "OHMYGOODNESS".
I'm sure she thought I'd lost my marbles.
I think she was relieved when I changed subjects.

I especially like hikes at night in the winter.
The land is raw and wild feeling.
But not unfriendly at all.
I feel comfortable even when the temperatures hover below freezing.

I especially love seeing the stars.
I am amazed at how the full moon can light up a landscape like it is a monotone version of day, bathed in an black and blue light.

Most photographers who love to shoot at the stars wish only for those moonless nights.
I revel in moon lit nights.
It is even more wonderful if there is snow to bounce back the cold light.
The moonlight will sparkle on ice crystals as the snowshoes or boots squeak with each step.

So now I await the snow.
However with the recent temperature drop I think we will be getting some incredible ice formations.

I've changed the batteries in the headlamp and have packed extra hand warmers.
I'm ready for some wild night life.

“You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.” ~~ Mary Oliver