Monthly Archives: May 2025

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 25, 2025

Posted under

Aurora Borealis, eclipse, hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Northern Lights, Photography, Thoughts, Travel

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 05/18/2025 to 05/24/2025

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

I had a medical procedure done this week, so I did not have any quality time to put together the post I wanted. What I am posting this week is what I wanted to post during the summer when I was exploring our country.

These are some astrological events that I have photographed over the years.

For reference, most of the time when there is a cosmic event in our area, there seems to be cloud cover, and I miss the event. These are events that I was able to capture.

Sunday, 05/18/2025: Posted photo — Baily’s Beads.

Date: April 8, 2024

Location: Houlton ME

This was the second total solar eclipse that I have seen and photographed. I learned from the first eclipse and feel this is a better photo than the first time. I will be posting a photo of the first total solar eclipse in the bonus section of this post.

This was the first astrological event of this year.

Monday, 05/19/2025: Posted photo — Aurora Borealis.

Date: October 10, 2024

Location: Westminster MA

This is the second astrological event of this year.

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, normally do not appear in my area. This was the second time this year that they appeared. The first time I just took out my cell phone and took photos so that I could practice settings. The next few nights, it was cloudy.

I was glad that they returned, and I obtained better photos. This is not as spectacular as some that I have seen since we have hills in the area.

Tuesday, 05/20/2025: Posted photo — Comet Tsuchinshan.

Date: October 14, 2024

Location: Princeton MA

This was the third event of the year. I took my camera to the summit of Wachusett Mountain to get this shot. The comet was moving away from us and was very faint. I am happy with this photograph.

This was the second comet that I have photographed and did not have the opportunity to so a lot of pre-planning for this shot since the idea of taking this photo was spontaneous.

Wednesday, 05/21/2025: Posted photo — Total Lunar Eclipse.

Date: January 24, 2019

Location: Westminster MA

I arose early one cold January night to take this series of photos. I wanted to capture the entire event. There is a location near our house that was open and sheltered, so I just set up camp there and took this series of photos.

If you look at the big crater, The South Pole-Aitken basin, you can see it swing from right to left.

Thursday, 05/22/2025: Posted photo — First Milky Way.

Date: July 11, 2019

Location: Canyonlands National Park, Needles Section

We were in a dark sky Nation Park, and I wanted to take a photo of the Milky Way for the first time. I had to wait until 2 am to take this photo. The moon set about 1:45 am and I wanted to attempt this photo with no moonlight.

Not bad for the first time.

Friday, 05/23/2025: Post photo — Two Lunar Eclipses.

Date: January 24, 2019, and March 14, 2025

Location: Westminster MA

I was not happy with the photos I took of the total lunar eclipse this year because of cloud cover. I wanted to put together another collage but decided to put the two eclipses side by side.

If you look closely, you can see the direction of the shadow in totality. The south pole in the first eclipse is bright and the north pole in this year’s eclipse is bright. This year’s eclipse came from the third quadrant to the first quadrant.

Saturday, 05/24/2025: Post photo — Comet NEOWISE.

Date: July 19, 2020

Location: Templeton MA

This was the first photo I took of a comet. I am very happy with the lighting and composition of this photo.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

Bonus Photos

B1 — Total Solar Eclipse Houlton ME.

Date: April 8, 2024

Location: Houlton ME

Much improvement from the eclipse back in 2017.

If you want to know, I have a solar filter for my camera so that I do not burn out the sensors when taking photos of the sun when it is not in totality.

B2 — Total Solar Eclipse.

Date: August 8, 2017

Location: Maryville TN

This is the first total solar eclipse that I witnessed. I had my settings incorrect in this photo, so I was very happy to be able to see my second total eclipse and learn from my mistakes.

B3 — Bright Sky Milky Way.

Date: July 19, 2020

Location: Templeton MA

Just fooling around while taking photos of the Comet NEOWISE.

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 18, 2025

Posted under

Inspiration, Photography, Thoughts, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 05/11/2025 to 05/17/2025

“The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” — Elliott Erwitt

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.

I am short of words today since I have been busy during the week and only have a short time today to put this post together. I prepared each photo for this blog daily. I just did not sit down to write about it.

Sunday, 05/11/2025: Posted photo — Pansy.

“Here’s looking at you, kid” is a memorable quote from the classic 1942 film Casablanca. When I look at a pansy I hear this classic movie line.

 Monday, 05/12/2025: Posted photo — Ajuga Reptans (bugleweed).

Bugleweed is a broadleaf, evergreen to semi-evergreen, herbaceous perennial ground cover in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. This bugleweed is at my in-law’s house. I do like the look of this plant for it color and texture.

Tuesday, 05/12/2025: Posted photo — Bunny.

I was sitting down for lunch on Sunday and saw something go into the Hosta. It did not look like a chipmunk or a squirrel, so I waited for the animal to show itself. This bunny came out. I took out my cellphone and took a photo of it through a window. I do not like the way cell phones zoom into objects. They always look distorted.

It was funny watching the bubby fear birds and other small animals. It was having a feast in the Hosta.

Wednesday, 05/14/2025: Posted photo — Red Azalea.

Last week I posted a photo of the buds on this bush. He is the same bush in bloom. Later this week, I will post a photo of the pink azalea since it is getting ready to bloom.

Thursday, 05/15/2025: Posted photo — Puddle.

More rain this week. I needed a photo of water for my other photo project this week, so I took a photo of the raindrops in the puddle just in case I did not have the opportunity to take another water photo.

Friday, 05/16/2025: Post photo — Watermelon.

Some fresh fruit for outdoor gatherings this time of year.

Saturday, 05/17/2025: Post photo — Pink Azelea.

Here is a photo of the pink azalea bush in bloom. It is interesting how different colors of the same plant bloom at different times of the year.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 11, 2025

Posted under

Friendship, Nature, Photography, religion, Thoughts

Comments

2 Comments

Photographic Thoughts — 05/04/2025 to 05/10/2025

“The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” — Elliott Erwitt

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.

I am following the quote this week with little commentary on the photos.

Sunday, 05/04/2025: Posted photo — Bleeding Hearts.

These bleeding hearts are at my in-law’s house. I missed taking a photo of them last year since I was away when they bloomed.

Monday, 05/05/2025: Posted photo — Stickers.

Some of the 36 stickers on my water bottle from each one of the US National Parks I have visited. Let’s hope that I will be able to visit them all before they disappear.

Tuesday, 05/06/2025: Posted photo — Birch Seeds.

From a birch tree in our yard.

Wednesday, 05/07/2025: Posted photo — Azalea Bubs.

One of the azalea bushes in our yard. We have a red one and a pink one.

Thursday, 05/08/2025: Posted photo — Sacrament of Confirmation.

Congratulations to one of my grandnieces for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is also the same day that the world has a new pope, Pope Leo XIV.

Friday, 05/09/2025: Post photo — Rain.

We are having heavy rain today. We had some last night on our way to and from Confirmation. We will have some more rain tomorrow.

Saturday, 05/10/2025: Post photo — Inspection Station.

Today was the day for my yearly vehicle inspection.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 4, 2025

Posted under

Friendship, hiking, Histoy, memorial, Nature, Photography, religion, Thoughts

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 04/27/2025 to 05/03/2025

“When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.” — Alfred Eisenstaedt

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.

Sunday, 04/27/2025: Posted photo — Pope Francis.

“Who am I to judge?” Pope Francis July 28, 2013. The Roman Catholic Church emphasizes a welcoming atmosphere, striving to be inclusive of all people. “Love one another as I have loved you” John 13:34-35.

Many Catholics forget, or pass over these teachings, to discriminate against migrants and others they do not like or judge people on one topic. Pope Francis pushed for these traditions, and some did not like him for that.

He may not have been the perfect pope. He was human just like us. Matthew 25:31-46 teaches us to love all: “Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:44–45.

Monday, 04/28/2025: Posted photo — Communications Towers.

Communications tower on the summit of Wachusett Mountain.

It was a great and uneventful hike tonight. The adventures started on my ride home from the trailhead.

Let me tell you about kidney stones. Not the greatest of topics and some of you may not want to read on. I felt a stone coming on my ride home. I had stones before and knew the feeling. Most of the time the feeling goes away. Not tonight. I got home and was in pain. The decision was made to go to the ER to get it checked out. Good decision. I have an 11 mm stone that needs to be removed. Fun, fun, fun. It will be removed on Monday.

Tuesday, 04/29/2025: Posted photo — Flag.

This is my attempt at negative space photography, this week’s photo topic.

I made the photo a little darker to get more of the negative space feeling.

Wednesday, 04/30/2025: Posted photo — Tulips.

On my way to my medical appointment, I saw that one of the tulips in our yard had bloomed. I took multiple shots and liked this one because of the little spot of dew on it.

The tulips in our yard are hit or miss on their blooming. We have lost a few over the years and are glad to be about to see them bloom in daylight. The bad thing was that I was able to see them bloom in the daylight because I was going to a doctor’s appointment for my stones.

Thursday, 05/01/2025: Posted photo — Bluets.

Bluets are perennial wildflowers that may grow to a height of 6 inches. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The leaves that originate at the base of the stem are large, while the two leaves on the stem are small. Blue flowers with yellow centers first mature in mid-spring and continue into mid-summer.

We have many patches of bluets in our yard. They are there until the first mowing of the lawn.

Friday, 05/02/2025: Post photo — Fiddleheads.

Fiddleheads are the young, curled fronds of certain fern species, and are a popular and edible springtime vegetable. These fiddleheads grow next to our mailbox. I take a photo of them every year and have not ventured into tasting them.

I do see that many stores in our area are starting to stock them this time of year.

Saturday, 05/03/2025: Post photo — Spillway.

This is the spillway from the Barry Falls Dam. Stopped today on the way home from doing an errand.

From the Barre Falls Dam website (https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Barre-Falls-Dam/): The project of Barre Falls Dam was authorized by Congress in 1941 to reduce flood damage from storms like those that devastated New England in 1936 and 1938. Construction of the project began in May 1956 and was completed in July 1958 at a cost of $2 million. A portion of Route 62 was relocated to accommodate the project. The project has prevented $53.2 million in flood damages since it was built (as of September 2011).

I went to the dam a few years ago to look for a geocache and wanted to go back. Soon I will be able to go back and explore more of the area.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”