Photographic Thoughts — 12/01/2021 to 12/07/2024

Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.” — Tony Benn

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

Sunday, 12/01/2024: Posted photo — Stained Glass Window.

This is the first Sunday in advent.

Here are some photos from around out church.

Monday, 12/02/2024: Posted photo — Sunrise.

Another week, another sunrise photo.

I will keep taking them as long as I can before the time of the sunrise does not allow for it.

Tuesday, 12/03/2024: Posted photo — Joke.

Shopping night. Here are some fruit. These are quick photos since I needed to get ready for my trip to Ohio this week. One of these photos reminds me of end of a knock-knock joke. As I write this, I realize I missed my opportunity for the full joke.

I have been busy at work, attempting to get more work done so when I return from my vacation, my backlog will not be so great.

Wednesday, 12/04/2024: Posted photo — Wood Stove.

Settings: FLIR i5, ISO n/a, f/na, 1/30 s, 7 mm.

Some of you may know that I own an infrared camera. This camera takes photo of heat signatures of object. I use it to look at insulation in houses and efficiencies at power generating plants. Occasionally I use it to take artistic photos. Some of these photos are of footprints, handprints, car engines, warm tires, and even have used it as a stud finder.

Once or twice a year, I use it to check out my wood stove. My wood stove is old and not as efficient as some of the newer stoves. It is just a steel box with an exhaust pipe. One item that I often check is the temperature given on the stovepipe thermometer. This is a thermometer that has a magnetic backing and just sticks to the stove pipe. To my surprise, that thermometer and my thermal camera normally show the same temperature. The 518°F (250°C) temperature reading is the maximum temperature my camera can detect. The brand name of our stove is Nashua. You can just make out the name near the center of the photo next to the pointer.

Thursday, 12/05/2024: Posted photo — Snow.

We left today go to Columbus OH to see our nephew dance with the Columbus Dance Theatre.

Here is some history from their web page: “COLUMBUS DANCE THEATRE (CDT) is a unique voice for dance in Columbus with work born out of a rich background in ballet, contemporary and modern dance, music and theatre. As a professional arts organization, CDT produces high-quality work in an intimate environment. CDT prides itself on creating collaborations with new and upcoming artists of all art mediums and has collaborated with many visual and musical artists local to the city. The work of the company is new, fresh, and innovative, offering central Ohio audiences a cutting edge performance experience.”

We left our house in a snow storm. The storm was ending and we had to drive through the snow most of the trip until we were in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Some photos of the snow around our house before we departed.

Friday, 12/06/2024: Post photo — Wonderment.

Our nephew did his last lead in the Columbus Dance Theatre’s production of Wonderment. He is aging out of the roll of Kai. This is the fourth year of this production. We went to Columbus four years ago for the world premier. His photo is not in the program since he is only in the intensive training program.

Here are photos from around the theatre.

Saturday, 12/07/2024: Post photo — Anchor.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/9, 1/1600 s, 18 mm.

Yesterday, December 7, 1941— a date which will live in infamy— the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” — FDR. Thus started the United States entry into World War II.

This photo is from my second visit to Pearl Harbor. It still amazes me that there is oil floating out of the USS Arizona. Looking back, I posted the same photos a year ago. This is from that post — “’This anchor was recovered from the Arizona. The ship had three anchors. The crew used one in calm seas and two in foul weather, the third as a spare. Each weigh nearly 10 tons.’ This are the words on a placard near the USS Arizona Anchor at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Hawaii. The sacrifice these men and women made to make our country the great country it is today.”

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

Photographic Thoughts — 11/17/2024 to 11/23/2024

“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.” — Gilles Peress

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

I did not have much time this week to go into detail on why I took each photo. I will be posting the photos and a short description.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in this coming week.

Sunday, 11/17/2024: Posted photo — Perspective.

This week’s photo challenge in my other photo project is perspective. As in most weeks, I start out with a plan in mind and then need to take a quick photo.

This is one of my blanket. I took it as I was folding my laundry.

Monday, 11/18/2024: Posted photo — Sunrise.

When I arrived at work today, I was greeted with this wonderful sunrise. I did have my DSLR in hand, stepped my exposure down one, and took this photos.

I am happy with the colors. I know that a photo does not always capture the moment. This one almost does.

Tuesday, 11/19/2024: Posted photo — Flowers.

The topic for my 52 week photo project this week is high key. High-key photography is a style of photography that uses bright lighting to create images with a light, optimistic feel, and minimal shadows. Since I do not have a studio to set up special lighting, I took this photo of roses, brought it into GIMP, and turned it into a high key photos.

Here are the before and after photos.

Wednesday, 11/20/2024: Posted photo — Onions.

Last night was a special town meeting, so I did my shopping tonight. One of the items I needed to pick up was onions. When I saw the different types of onions next to each other, with their contrasting colors, I took this shot.

Thursday, 11/21/2024: Posted photo — Roses.

Here are a bouquet of rose I saw today. No particular reason for this photo. Just needed one to keep my streak of a photo a day since January 1, 2010 alive.

Friday, 11/22/2024: Post photo — Stage Harbor Lighthouse.

The Harding’s Beach Lighthouse, the Stage Harbor Lighthouse is one of the most noticeable landmarks on Cape Cod. It is the youngest lighthouse in Cape Cod having been built in 1880.

An automated light on a separate tower was built in 1933 and the Stage Harbor Lighthouse was decommissioned. The light at the top of the tower, the glass enclosure and the roof over it (called the lantern room) was removed and the keeper’s house and remaining tower was sold. It is now private property.

Saturday, 11/23/2024: Post photo — Nobska Lighthouse.

History of the lighthouse off the web. “Nobska Point Lighthouse, a classic New England-style lighthouse situated at the entrance to Woods Hole Harbor, Massachusetts. A lighthouse has stood on Nobska Point since 1828; the current cast-iron tower was erected in 1876. During open hours, visitors can explore the lighthouse tower and view the fascinating multifaceted lens that casts its light, as well as the quarters that hosted lighthouse keepers until the light was automated in 1985. From the lantern room at the top of the tower, take in breathtaking 180-degree views of Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, the Elizabeth Islands, and Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds.”

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

Photographic Thoughts — 10/27/2024 to 11/02/2024

The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” — Scott Lorenzo

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

This week has a hiking theme.

Sunday, 10/27/2024: Posted photo — Here they Come.

Here comes the hiking group, ascending the mountain at night.

Little tricky ascending the mountain tonight due to the low temperatures, leaves, and acorns on the trail. We all made it back to the trail head safely.

Monday, 10/28/2024: Posted photo — Trail Ahead.

Mountain House trail on Wachusett Mountain tonight. I was able to get out earlier than normal tonight since no member of the Monday Night hiking group was able to make it to the hike tonight.

Tuesday, 10/29/2024: Posted photo — Summit Sunset.

Tonight there was a wonderful view of the sunset. I will have at least one more week with this group since next week I will be back to my regular hiking schedule.

Wednesday, 10/30/2024: Posted photo — Mount Monadnock.

Many photos of this mountain at sunset. Here is another one taken with my cellphone.

Thursday, 10/31/2024: Posted photo — Super Moon.

This photo was taken back in January. I am posting it this week since I am getting more comfortable with my new software and I wanted to share the results.

Friday, 11/01/2024: Post photo — Baking.

The topic for one of my photo project this week is bake. I made some chocolate chip cookie dough tonight and make some cookies for the photo project.

Saturday, 11/02/2024: Post photo — Training Setup.

Today was the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC’s) Winter Hiking Workshop. During this workshop, new hikers were taught the ins and outs of hiking in the winter.

During this training, I set up a table to discuss winter navigation. I displayed what I do from the initial planning to out on the trail. This is a photos of my compasses. I did demonstrations on how to use a map and compass together and how to determine your UTM coordinate on a map.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 09/08/2024 to 09/14/2024

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

This week ended with a special memorial hike.

Sunday, 09/08/2024: Posted photo — Mount Rainier.

Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning five major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.

I have been to this mountain many times. We camped out in an area where we saw signs about being in a lava flow area.

Monday, 09/09/2024: Posted photo — Mount St. Helens.

At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted, shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. In a few moments this slab of rock and ice slammed into Spirit Lake, crossed a ridge 1,300 feet high, and roared 14 miles down the Toutle River.

I have been to Mount St. Helens over the years since the eruption and have seen the trees grow back, trees leave Spirit Lake, and the dome inside the crater growing. When I first saw the blast zone, I had a loss for words. You go through lush and dense forests, turn the corner, and then nothing. Trees look like pickup sticks in the direction of the blast. You need to see it.

Tuesday, 09/10/2024: Posted photo — Mesa Arch.

Perched at the edge of the mesa top, this 27-foot-long (8.3 m) arch frames views of the canyon far below and the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

I took this photo before I knew Masa Arch was famous. I took this during my first year to Canyon Lands National Park in the Island in the Sky area. Since then, I have been to the Needles section, and looking forward to going to the Maze section someday.

Wednesday, 09/11/2024: Posted photo — Double Arch.

Visible from the parking loop at The Windows, Double Arch is an impressive feature—the tallest (112 ft/34 m) and second-longest (144 ft/44 m) arch in the park.

This is a composite photo. I took the sky from a photo of Balance Rock. If you look closely at the photo, you can see some people.

Thursday, 09/12/2024: Posted photo — Wachusett Mountain.

Mount Wachusett is a mountain in Massachusetts. It straddles towns of Princeton and Westminster, in Worcester County. It is the highest point in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. The mountain is named after a Native American term meaning “near the mountain” or “mountain place”.

This is an HDR photo from Round Meadow Pond.

Friday, 09/13/2024: Post photo — Sunset.

During my hike this week, I captured this sunset from the summit of Wachusett Mountain. This week was the last week that we will be returning from the summit without headlamps. We made it down just as astronomical twilight was ending and Nighttime was beginning.

Saturday, 09/14/2024: Post photo — Mount Flume.

This year, I co-lead a hike to the summit of Mt. Flume for the Flags on the 48 event. This was an Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) hike.

Flag raised on the of Mt Flume

From the official website: “We in the hiking community continue to honor the deceased with a tribute: flying the American flag atop all 48 four-thousand foot and higher mountains in New Hampshire”. This event happens on the closest Saturday to September 11. If September 11 falls on a Sunday, the hike is that Sunday.

This is my 11th time doing this hike. The hike started on the Saturday after September 11, 2001 with one peak, Mt Liberty, and it quickly took off. Just a few peaks the next year, and then all the 48 4000 footers were covered. This event is now in Maine, Massachusetts and other locations.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 09/01/2024 to 09/07/2024

A photo is worth a thousand words.” — Frederick R. Barnard

A photo is worth a thousand words. Do not feel creative this week, so I am posting just pictures. You can make up your own story.

Sunday, 09/01/2024: Posted photo — Mushrooms.

Monday, 09/02/2024: Posted photo — Hiking Sign.

Tuesday, 09/03/2024: Posted photo — Turkeys in Yard.

Wednesday, 09/04/2024: Posted photo — Round Meadow Pond Dam.

Thursday, 09/05/2024: Posted photo — Wachusett in the Morning.

Friday, 09/06/2024: Post photo — Hidden Shelter on Trail.

Saturday, 09/07/2024: Post photo — Wachusett from Crow Hill.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 06/16/2024 to 06/22/2024

“One doesn’t stop seeing. One doesn’t stop framing. It doesn’t turn off and turn on. It’s on all the time.” — Annie Leibovitz

Photo for the week. Comments welcome.

There was a heat wave this week in our area, so most of the photos are from the cottage.

Sunday, 06/16/2024: Posted photo — Votive Candles.

Happy Father’s Day!

The usage of votive candles is a pious practice which continues today in many churches. The symbolism reminds us that prayer is the light of Christ, allowing our souls to be filled with His light, and letting that light burn on in our souls even though we may return to our other activities. These candles are usually lite in memory of or for pray for someone we love and care for.

Theses candles are in the back of our church. As mentioned in past posts, the holder for these votive candles is dedicated to a friend who passed with ALS and his family. It is good to see people using the candles.

Monday, 06/17/2024: Posted photo — Hiking Group.

We had a good time hiking tonight. One member of the group took this photo to capture the closeness of the Monday night hiking group.

If you live in around Wachusett Mountain and would like to join the group, please let me know. The group once had 12 regular hikers and is down to 5 or 6 regulars. We hike year-round and hike at the speed of the ability of the people that hike that evening.

Tuesday, 06/18/2024: Posted photo — Pinecones.

This year there have been many more pinecones on the ground than I can remember. Maybe my memory is not that great, but this was the first year that I have seen them around in our yard.

I do not have any pine trees on my property and have seen pinecones in the yard. These pinecones were on the croquet course at the cottage. They had to be raked to the side so that the croquet ball can make it to a wicket with fewer obstacles.

Wednesday, 06/19/2024: Posted photo — High Bush Blueberries.

This is another repeat/progress photo. A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of these high bush blueberries starting to flower. Today I took a photo of them starting to ripen. It will not be long until it is time to pick them and use them for breakfast and deserts.

Thursday, 06/20/2024: Posted photo — Baby Robins.

Remember back when this nest was found so that I could not power wash a deck? The eggs have hatched, and three of the four babies survived. There is one big bird and two smaller birds (you can see the beaks of the smaller birds in this photo). The mother was feeding them and teaching them how to fly. It will not be long until they leave the nest and live on their own.

Friday, 06/21/2024: Post photo — Fish.

Sitting by the lake today, I saw these fish looking at me. When I moved the fish shifted position to look in my direction. It was strange.

Saturday, 06/22/2024: Post photo — Promise.

Today is our 33rd wedding anniversary. This is one of the gifts that I gave my wife a few years ago.

Bonus Image:

Here is a 3D image of boats under a tree.

Look at the image cross-eyed and the 3D image will appair in between the photos.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 05/12/2024 to 05/18/2024

“A tear contains an ocean. A photographer is aware of the tiny moments in a person’s life that reveal greater truths.” — Anonymous

Photo for the week. Comments welcome.

Sunday, 05/12/2024: Posted photo — Mother’s Day.

Happy Mother’s Day! These are photos of when my youngest brother was brought home will all my brothers looking at him and one of my mother’s 95 year old hands showing her newly cleaned mother’s ring. It has been a couple of years since she left us, and I still miss her. Happy Mother’s Day mom.

Monday, 05/13/2024: Posted photo — Scenes from the Trail.

Some items seen on the trail tonight. I took the group on a different route tonight. This is from what I call the back side of the mountain. It is a trail that is not used by may since you need to take back roads and a partial dirt road to get to the trailhead.

These are photos of some of the group, some Hobblebush, and an old trail marker.

Tuesday, 05/14/2024: Posted photo — Lilac.

Lilac flowers may be single or double, the leaves solid green or variegated, and the plants dwarf or standard. Lilac flower colors may be white, violet, pink, blue, and lilac (of course) to red-purple, dark purple, and even a yellow variety known as “Primrose.”

This lilac bush is in our yard and was transplanted a few years ago from a friend’s yard. It has survived many heavy snowstorms.

Wednesday, 05/15/2024: Posted photo — Ray of Sunshine.

Rays of sunshine coming through the clouds. Almost thought it was rain, but the rays are spread out further than raindrops would be.

Thursday, 05/16/2024: Posted photo — Azalea.

Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Rhododendron genus that bloom in the spring and can tolerate shade. This is our red azalea bush. We also have a pink azalea bush that will bloom after this one.

It is interesting that azaleas and rhododendrons of different colors bloom at different times.

Friday, 05/17/2024: Post photo — Faces in Nature.

Pansies. Can you see all the pansy faces looking at you?

Saturday, 05/18/2024: Post photo — Blueberries.

Some high bush blueberries growing at the lake. Looks like it will be a good year for them. The bush is very full.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 03/24/2024 to 03/30/2024

“Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.” — Yousuf Karsh

Random photos of the week.

Sunday, 03/24/2024: Posted photo — In the Woods.

Today I went out looking for the remaining waypoints at the High Ridge Wildlife Management Area. I found all but one. This one is driving me mad! The other waypoints were in the general vicinity of where they were located on the map. The map gave me a general area since the eastern and northern scales on the map were different. When I attempted to triangulate from known coordinates to find the location, the bearings did not line up. Now that I have the coordinates of more waypoints, I can zero in on the location.

These are a couple of views along the way. The ground was very icy from the snow/sleet/ice we had yesterday (Saturday).

Monday, 03/25/2024: Posted photo — Morning Moon.

Today is the official day of the March full moon. It was a little cloudy in the morning, but I was able to get this shot in the morning. I was attempting to get the ring around the moon with my cellphone camera.

There was a planned full moon hike with the hiking group that some friends and I have founded. The day was turning out to be sunny, yet the ice was still hanging on. During the hike, I attempted to frame this shot. This is what I consider one of the best views from the mountain. The way the barn just sits out in the open makes this view.

Tuesday, 03/26/2024: Posted photo — Sunset.

Last night’s full moon hike was good and bad. The good part was the great sunset photos with the ice. The bad was that there was a cloud bank over Boston, so we did not see the moonrise.

On the way down from the summit, we were on a very icy trail with ice being thrown at us from the trees. The wind was picking up and it sounded as if it were raining ice.

Great day to be on the mountain.

Wednesday, 03/27/2024: Posted photo — Relay for Life.

Once again, I am doing the Relay for Life (RFL). The RFL is an event organized by the American Cancer Society to raise money for research and to help cancer patients and their families.

This is the address to send money if you want to donate. The RFL will take place in June.

Relay name: RFL of Greater Gardner
Team name: One in the Spirit
SK #: 6AYVG9
Relayer’s name: Joseph Ciras

If you do donate, message me so that I can get credited for the donation since was the caregiver for my bother.

Thank you for your help.

Thursday, 03/28/2024: Posted photo — View from the Trail.

During a recent hike, I attempted to frame this view. This is what I consider one of the best views from the mountain. The way the barn just sits out in the open makes this view.

The trail that has this view is a trail that is not used very much. I do not understand why. It is off one of the main trails. Might be because of all the rocks on the trail. It is not difficult, just tricky. It is one of the few trails on the mountain that you do not see many people snowshoe on during the winter.

Friday, 03/29/2024: Post photo — Ice on Fence.

I wanted to show these photos earlier in the week. These are some artistic photos from Monday night’s hike. I have been receiving many positive comments on these photos, so I am sharing them with you.

Saturday, 03/30/2024: Post photo — The Great House.

The Great House. Unearth during roadway construction, the Great House was built in 1633 and was the first public building erected in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Charlestown MA. It is now part of the Freedom Trail. I had training today in a building that as just off the Freedom Trail by a few hundred feet.

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

Photographic Thoughts — 03/03/2024 to 03/09/2024

“The camera makes you forget you’re there. It’s not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much.” — Annie Leibovitz

Here are some mountains that I have seen during my travels.

Sunday, 03/03/2024: Posted photo — Sunrise.

A wonderful sunrise. Took this photo on Monday morning and not on Sunday. I was busy on Sunday with a birthday celebration from a member of my family.

Monday, 03/04/2024: Posted photo — Night Hike.

I lead the Monday night hike this week. As the weather is getting better, more people are hiking on Monday nights. We have had 2–4 people on hikes during the winter, tonight we had seven. More people are expected due to the warmer weather and it being lighter at night. Time for some sunsets!

Tuesday, 03/05/2024: Posted photo — Stream.

With the snow melt and the rain we have had recently, the streams on the mountain are running. This is a photo from tonight’s night hike. Again, I did not realize that my headlight had a blue tint to it.

Wednesday, 03/06/2024: Posted photo — Bouquet.

A bouquet of flower that I took while food shopping this week.

Thursday, 03/07/2024: Posted photo — Rabbit.

The rabbit that lives on our property has been seen for the first time this year. I have seen rabbit prints in the snow during, but this is the first time I have seen it. Glad to see it made it through the wet, cold winter.

Friday, 03/08/2024: Post photo — Cube Solving Robot.

I help the robotics team at my high school alma mater. They were practicing their judging speech for the state championships and showed us that they have designed a robot that will mix up a cube to create a pixel for a mosaic that will be making. They did this through a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education program) that they started. This is the first STEM Rubik’s project in the country and they are sponsored by Rubik. I know a couple of the robotics team members from the speed cubing community. Here is a video of the robot: https://youtu.be/Id_YpwkuKww?si=U987aegensWYtoMc. It is long but it give you an idea of how these two cubers programmed the robot.

Saturday, 03/09/2024: Post photo — Covered Bridge.

This covered bridge is at the Bull Run Restaurant.

I attended Don White’s Annual Birthday Show at the Bull Run with some old college friends. It was not about the show, it was about connecting with people you spent a lot of time with earlier in your life and just getting together very sporadically over the years. The show was interesting, and the company was great. Will I remember who performed or what they sang, probably not. I will remember going out with some old friends.

When I was younger, people would tell me not to take family and friends for granted. As I get older, I understand what they mean. Thank you Chris for taking this group photo to keep the memories alive.

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