Flower Moon and cool places

I prepared my 'gear' in a backpack and set it by the door with a headlamp. I was going to go watch the Sunrise and Moonset of the blood moon/flower moon/super duper moon from an unobstructed view on a bluff.

I even went through the 'tips' from Olympus on the best way to shoot the moon. I even preset custom settings. In short, I was ready. As I went to bed a huge storm moved through. It came with lightening, thunder, and heavy rain. Charlie came into the room and did some whimpering and it seemed like my morning excursion wouldn't happen.

Rich was convinced that I was absolutely nuts. Who would get up at 3 am and go hiking in the dark just to look at the moon?

Well, I would. At 3:15 I woke up and looked out. It was clear as a bell and the moon was brilliant.

I took a test shot with my zoom lens and was happy enough with the results. It was not crystal clear and sharp as a tack, but I was happy that I'd finally gotten a halfway decent shot of the moon.

I decided to go for it. I got a large cup of coffee put in the to go cup and patted Charlie on the head. 

It was a 30 minute drive through some areas of dense fog and a 20 minute hike. By the time I got to the top of the rock, the eclipse was starting.

I was extremely happy that I'd set up custom shooting modes. But it wasn't the moon that was so exciting. It was the whole view.

I kept thinking. Wow. Wow. Just wow. I'd take a shot or two of the valley before me and then go back to the moon. 

I posted this photo on FB and something sort of weird happened.

I started getting requests for my location.

I hesitated. 

In my imagination, I thought if I gave out the exact location, the next time I went to shoot the fog, or a sunrise....I'd run 

into dozens of people with cell phones standing about and others with monster lenses and tripods.

You know, the horrible vision of such a popular place like Cades Cove where photographers line up the night before to 'get' a spot. 

A friend told me to submit a photo to the local rag with an explanation of where it was and what I'd done.

I gave him a horrified look.

I said, "Give up my spot? But what would happen if everyone showed up at once the next time I went there?"

He laughed and pointed out that most people would not get up at 3 AM and hike up a difficult and challenging trail in the dark just for a view. He then pointed out that HE had turned me down even though he had wanted to go. 

He had a point.

But.

I will not tag the photo with a name and GPS coordinates. 

After sitting on the rock yesterday through the predawn hour and watching nature unfold its beauty for me to see? I felt like this was suddenly a special spot I'd found on my own. It felt like I had my own private viewing spot. 

And I wanted to be selfish. Is it okay in this world of social media and oversharing to be selfish and want to keep something to myself?

Oh I will take friends there and I will share with them, but not with the whole wide world.

Some things are best discovered on your own.

The Moon and the Ponds

Tuesday morning I woke up with a start and suddenly I was wide awake. I warmed up some coffee and looked outside. The moon was so bright it lit up the yard and front pasture.

Most of the mules were laying down sleeping. I sipped the coffee and then checked the clock and sunrise time.

It was a split second decision. I scribbled a note on a sticky note, set up the coffee maker and headed outdoors with my Kurgo dog pack/camera bag. Time to take it for a test run. 

I've wanted to go to the Reserve and hike to the ponds by the river for more than a year now. This morning, it was time.

I felt a bit like I was indulging in a guilty pleasure by going. And I was. I was doing something I really wanted to experience and it would be a test run.

I shouldered the backpack into place and hit the lock button. The headlamp I chose lit up the way but I turned it off rather quickly.

This photo above was taken hand 
held at 2 seconds. Part of 
why I love this Olympus
brand so much.
Image Stabilization!

By the time I got to the Old 131 trail, it was light enough by the moon and predawn to walk without a light.

I stopped here and there to take some shots. Wow. I sure love my Olympus camera, the image stabilization along with an incredibly fast 25mm 1.8 lens allowed me to take most shots quite easily along the trail. Thank goodness too, it saved me from having to set up a tripod and take the shot.

I hurried down Old 131 trail and listened as the birds sleeping in the brush along the trail fluttered as I walked by. Most of the world was still asleep. I felt calm, energized, and fully alive.

The first shot is more true to the colors of the morning. Absolutely not much to go 'Wow!' over, but it was amazing anyway.
The water had a mist flowing and ebbing over its surface. I could barely make out a gaggle of Canada Geese slowly gliding through the fog on the far side of the pond.

Next I heard a loud splash and then another. I wasn't sure what it could be. Fish? Surely no huge fish like that were in these ponds!

Finally I could make out what was either a beaver or muskrat swimming. I tried getting a photo of it, but alas, it came out as a blob. So there was a blob swimming around!

I took the above shot and used a program called SilverEfexPro to create a black and white version. I really like this version better. 

I wanted to wait around for the sun to actually peep over the horizon and for the fog to turn that magical orange color. But my time was limited. I had done this on the spur of the moment and worried that Rich would wake up and not find me home.

I decided right then and there, that I'd set things up so I could spend an hour or so just watching the pond and sky change colors and take my time. I just had to plan it.

It is just amazing how the light and clouds change.

I turned away but kept my camera out for a bit.

As I left I grabbed a few more shots.

Looking back and down the trail towards the pond....

Heading back up towards Star Valley Trail and looking down the valley.

Walking up Star Valley Trail and glancing across the corn field towards Black Hawk Rock.

It hit me then that two trips would be in order. One back to the ponds and more time. And another ... 

Watch the sun come up from atop Black Hawk Rock.

To be above the fog by predawn and watch as the valley shifts and changes would be something to see.

To stand up there ... I'd be about 400 feet above the Valley floor.

How did the backpack preform? Excellent! It held my cameras in their special insert easily. I carried water and some other supplies. It fit comfortably.

So without a dog, I can carry equipment and supplies. With a dog? I can carry my pocket camera and supplies. 

Today...Friday, I'm taking Charlie and the backpack on a long hike with my friend Bill. I'll see how Charlie's 12 to 15 lbs are to carry!