“A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.” — Irving Penn

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

Sunday, 08/03/2025: Posted photo — Campfire.

There was a slight chill in the air, so we started a campfire. What I like to take long exposure photos of campfires to capture their warmth. When there are many sparks coming out of the fire, it makes for a better photo.

There were not many sparks out of this fire.

Monday, 08/04/2025: Posted photo — Wildfire Smoke.

Like last summer, wildfires are burning in Canada. The fires are burning in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Québec and Northwest Territories, including Yukon. Over the last few days, the smoke from those fires has reached my area.

Smoking is a health hazard for many people. The smoke also leads to some interesting colors for sunrise and moonrise. The sun and moon turn a reddish color. This makes sense that they both have the same color, since we see the reflection of the Sun off the moon.

There are four United States national parks that are also burning at this moment. Fires are burning on north and south rim of the Grand Canyon (the Dragon Bravo Fire), the Bear Gulch Fire is in Olympic National Park, the South Rim Fire is in Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and the Ash Fire was just recently discovered in Yellowstone National Park. Knowing people with red cards, firefighters in the national parks, unless the fire causes risk to people or property, they let the fires burn. Fires are just part of nature and help the forest flourish.

Lightning started the fires in the Grand Canyon, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Yellowstone. Humans started the fire in Olympic National Park. I have been to all four of these parks and they are worth the visit.

Tuesday, 08/05/2025: Posted photo — Bass.

My nephews were fishing tonight and one of them caught this bass. They like fishing but do not like taking the fish off the line.

When I was growing up, my father would take my six brothers and me on fishing and camping trips. The techniques for fishing have not changed much over the years. The equipment has changed some due to improvement in materials. The reason for fishing has not changed. Fishing relaxes you and teaches you to be patience.

Wednesday, 08/06/2025: Posted photo — Nifty Fifty.

A present for me, a Nifty Fifty. This is a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM lens.

I will be using this lens to take portraits and for astrophotography. I plan on using this lens in low light situations since it has the largest aperture of all my lenses. I am looking forward to learning all that I can about my nifty fifty. Many photographers have a 50mm lens and say good things about having one. Now it is my turn to find out.

Thursday, 08/07/2025: Posted photo — Chicken.

I cooked chicken on the grill tonight. Since I have my new lens, I took a photo of the chicken. In need to practice with this lens, since I will be photographing two weddings this summer.

I am not happy with this photo. It seems to be out of focus. I am wondering if it is the lens, my camera, or me. I need to work on my camera settings to get a sharper photo. I have used this lens twice and have not been happy with the results either time. Sometimes I am my worst critic.

The next step in the process is to send my camera out to have its sensors cleaned and electronics checked out. I purchased my camera in 2014 and have used it well past it shutter life. A Canon EOS 60D camera is typically rated for 100,000 shutter actuations. This means the camera’s shutter mechanism is designed to reliably operate for that number of shots.

Friday, 08/08/2025: Post photo — Hobblebush.

The Hobbleberry is a species of edible viburnum common as a woodland understory plant.  It produces delicious edible berries. I have never tried to eat them. I just found out today that they are edible so I might have to try them next Monday when I am hiking.

Saturday, 08/09/2025: Post photo — Smokey the Bear.

The Tuesday night hiking group hikes up Wachusett since we knew someone famous was going to be there and we knew this was the one time of the year that people were allowed in the fire tower. Smokey the Bear was at the summit. He was visiting on his birthday.

Smokey Bear turned 80 years old last year. I went to see him then, but the line was too long. I was on the mountain photographing some trail work for the Appalachian Mountain Club and they had to get back to work. Smokey says, “Only you can prevent wildfires”.

It was interesting to see how the area fire towers triangulate to determine the location of a fire. One tower spots the smoke and relays the message to the nearest towers in that direction. They then take a bearing on the smoke and then triangulate with string to pinpoint the location of the fire.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”