Category Archives: Inspiration

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 26, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Thoughts

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 11/19/2023 to 11/25/2023

“Once you learn to care, you can record images with your mind or on film. There is no difference between the two.” — Anonymous

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

Sunday, 11/19/2023: Posted photo — Moxie.

Distinctively Different since 1884. Moxie is the oldest continually produced soft drink in the United States. It is a New England tradition. Moxie was designated as the official soft drink of the State of Maine in 2005.

I like Moxie. Most of my friends and family do not like the taste. We had Moxie when I was younger since my father also liked it. “Live your Life with a little Moxie.”

Monday, 11/20/2023: Posted photo — Stars.

Today would have been my father’s 101 birthday. Miss you dad.

Nice hike tonight. The temperature was cool, and the air was brisk. Hiking keeps you warm and if you dress properly, you stay warm.

When the group was at the summit, I put my phone on a handrail and took a photo of the sky.

Tuesday, 11/21/2023: Posted photo — Compass.

During my map and compass course, I talked about the difference between a fixed declination compass and an adjustable declination compass. I have been putting together my slides for the advanced map and compass class and took a photo of the two of my compasses. The fixed declination compass (Suunto A-10) has the declination scale in the North while the adjustable declination compass (Suunto M-3) has the declination scale in the South.

I am also discussing the principle of back bearing. Back bearing is the way to backtrack to find your way back to your original location. The fixed declination compass is taking a back bearing without taking into account magnetic declination.

Wednesday, 11/22/2023: Posted photo — Flowers.

During my shopping trip, I took another photo of flowers. Always good to take photos of flowers when there is more darkness than light during the day.

Thursday, 11/23/2023: Posted photo — Desert.

Today is Thanksgiving Day. On this day we give thanks to what we have, have family gatherings, and large meals that include desert. This year we had a small dinner with my family my niece and here husband (one of my son’s friends). After dinner we invited the family over to our house for dessert.

Here are photos of a traditional apple pie, a wonderful chocolate and peanut butter pie, and the frosting on a pumpkin and chocolate chip cake. These desserts go well with ice cream and homemade whipped cream.

Friday, 11/24/2023: Post photo — Wood Delivery.

This morning we received the first of two wood deliveries. The normal length of wood we order was flooded out due to all the rain we had this summer, so we needed to purchase some wood that is longer than we do and some shorter. We received two cords of the longer pieces this morning and had them stacked in our woodshed by early afternoon. Firewood is sold by a measurement called a “cord.” A cord must equal 128 cubic feet.

In the next week or so, I will be ordering the three cords of shorter wood for us to stack in our woodshed. The woodshed can only handle four cords, so we will have to stack some outside the shed in our uncovered racks.

Saturday, 11/25/2023: Post photo — Book.

Was out blowing leaves today since the leaves were dry. Some of the leaves were, and still are, frozen to the ground. What does this have to do with the book photo? Well, I needed a photo for today and I am still putting together my advanced map reading course for the spring. This is one of the best books to get to learn navigation. I have been using it for many years now.

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

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

October 22, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, water

Comments

1 Comment

Photographic Thoughts — 10/15/2023 to 10/21/2023

“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.” — Edward Steichen

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

Sunday, 10/15/2023: Posted photo — Chopping Maul.

I went out to chop some wood this afternoon and used both my axe and my maul. This is a photo of my maul. When I was chopping the wood, I had the idea for today’s photo. I wanted to let people know the difference between an axe and a maul.

An axe and maul are primarily distinguished by the fact that an axe is lightweight, has a sharper cutting edge, and has a shorter handle. A maul’s blunt, hammer-like edge is used alone or in conjunction with a wedge to pry open wood that has been cut. Sometimes I use a wedge with my axe. Using the axe with the maul is better since the maul has a better splitting action. If I need to wedge with the maul, I will hit it with the axe.

I do have a hydraulic log splitter. I have not used it in a few years since the gas line needs to be repaired and I have not had a good opportunity to fix it. I may have to bring it to a repair shop. Some of the wood that I am splitting have knots, and it is not easy to use a maul or an axe to split wood that has knots.

Monday, 10/16/2023: Posted photo — West Side Trailhead.

Tonight, for my hike, I decided to lead the group up a different trail. We have been using the same trailhead for weeks now and I wanted to mix it up a little. The West Side Trail is on what I call the back of the mountain. It is away from where most people hike. There is a rock scramble not to far in from the trailhead. It was a little more difficult to go up today since it was wet from the rain that fell earlier in the day. I decide to do a loop on the way down the mountain to avoid this section of the trail. Rain, wet leaves, and wet rocks are a safety hazard at night.

Tuesday, 10/17/2023: Posted photo — Flowers.

I have posted in the past the meaning of color in flowers. It has been a while so here is a reminder.

Red flowers: associated with feelings of true love and passion, they can also be used to convey respect, desire, and courage.
Yellow flowers: are associated with spreading happiness and joy. They can also symbolize friendship.
Pink flowers: are also a symbol of love, though they can also mean happiness, gentleness, and femininity.
Orange flowers: are known to symbolize feelings of excitement and enthusiasm.
White flowers: range in meaning from purity and innocence to sympathy.
Blue flowers: are said to symbolize tranquility and peace.
Purple flowers: symbolize success and even royalty, although feelings of admiration and tradition may also come through in purple flowers.
Lavender flowers: typically symbolize grace, elegance, and youth.
Green flowers: are associated with rebirth and renewal. Additionally, green can also symbolize good health, good fortune, and youthfulness.

Wednesday, 10/18/2023: Posted photo — Direction.

What direction am I going? How do I get from point A to point B? To answer these questions, I use a compass with a map. Many people, including very experienced hikers, do not know how to use a map and compass. The setup for this photo is the map of an orienteering course in my area that I have used for training.

I will be teaching a basic navigation class in a couple of weeks at Wachusett Mountain. After the class, I will test the student’s skills on a hike. We will plan out the hike during the course and then use it on the trail. There will be a few obstacles and a field test along the way. In the spring, I will be teaching an advanced navigational course using the orienteering course.

Here are the 10 Essentials.

1. Navigation: Map, compass, and GPS system
2. Sun Protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat
3. Insulation: Jacket, hat, gloves, and rain shell
4. Illumination: Flashlight, lanterns, and headlamp
5. First-aid supplies: First aid kit
6. Fire: Matches, lighter, and fire starters
7. Repair Kit & Tools: Duct tape, knife, and scissors
8. Nutrition: Extra food
9. Hydration: Water and water treatment supplies
10. Emergency Shelter: tent and tarp

Having these items with you will keep you prepared. Knowing how to use them could save your life.

Thursday, 10/19/2023: Posted photo — Close to Peak.

The foliage is getting close to peak in this area. I attempted to get a photo with the sun on the leaves, but it was not out very long today. Peak season means the time when most leaf have changed color.

Leaves can change their color from as early as mid-September all the way through early November. Typically, the second and third week of October are the peak times, but it shifts depending on where you live and your local weather conditions.

  • Foliage starts to change in the northern-tier states out West and in the Midwest by late September. By October 4, the leaves in some areas will be past their prime.
  • Much of New England as well as the Pacific Northwest, will be at or near peak fall color by October 11.
  • A little further south in the Blue Ridge Mountains, mid-October is when the leaves are near or at peak.

Friday, 10/20/2023: Post photo — Mushroom of a Stump.

Since June we have had about 65 days of rain. It is raining today. With all the rain comes fungus in the form of mushrooms. Even though I hike, I do not like mushrooms, and I cannot tell you the edible types versus the non-edible types.

Some good rules apply for avoiding poisonous mushrooms if you are a novice that I found online:

  1. Avoid mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem and a bulbous or sack like base called a volva. You may be missing out on some good edible fungi, but it means you will be avoiding the deadly members of the Amanita family.
  2. Avoid mushrooms with red on the cap or stem. Again, you will be missing out on some good mushrooms but more importantly you won’t be picking poisonous ones.
  3. Finally, don’t consume any mushrooms unless you are 100% sure of what they are.

Saturday, 10/21/2023: Post photo — Nature’s Elements.

Here is a photo I took today in the Leominster State Forest. I have posted photos of this lonely tree in the past. This photo shows the foliage, rain, and fog. This is how most of our summer and fall has gone so far, very wet this year.

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

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 24, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Travel, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 09/17/2023 to 09/23/2023

“I never have taken a picture I’ve intended. They’re always better or worse.” — Diane Arbus

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

This is a re-post blog.

Sunday, 09/17/2023: Posted photo — Reflection in the Fog.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/80 s, 113 mm.

Driving into church this morning, I notice fog off the lakes in the area. The location of this photo is one in which I take many practice photos. It is a difficult location to take a photo since I needed to stop on the edge of a busy road.

My initial thought on this photo was to get a picture of the mist rising from the surface of the lake with the foliage behind it. When I arrived at this location, the mist was thicker than I would like. I did see the reflections of the trees on the water and thought that that would take a good photo.

Monday, 09/18/2023: Posted photo — Western Tanager.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/6.3, 1/320 s, 300 mm.

Fact from All About Birds: “The oldest Western Tanager on record—a male originally banded in Nevada in 1965—had lived at least 6 years and 11 months by the time he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Oregon in 1971.”

We were walking the north rim at Grand Canyon National Park when I spotted this male Western Tanager in a conifer tree. The color contrast between the bird and the tree caught my eye.

The range of the Western Tanger is the western parts for the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Again, from All About Birds: “A clear look at a male Western Tanager is like looking at a flame: an orange-red head, brilliant yellow body, and coal-black wings, back and tail. Females and immatures are a somewhat dimmer yellow-green and blackish. These birds live in open woods all over the West, particularly among evergreens, where they often stay hidden in the canopy. Nevertheless, they’re a quintessential woodland denizen in summertime, where they fill the woods with their short, burry song and low, chuckling call notes.” (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Tanager/overview)

Tuesday, 09/19/2023: Posted photo — The Gathering.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/7.1, 1/100 s, 135 mm.

On my way home from work today I saw this rafter of turkey. I have seen them many times before on the property and did not feel the need to photograph them. Today was different.

When I was approaching them today, it looked like it was a group of workers getting ready to clock out of work and were planning what they were going to do tonight. Just the way they were gather in pairs and it looked like they were talking to each other.

Also, I thought it would be a good picture to take.

Wednesday, 09/20/2023: Posted photo — Cattails.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 800, f/5, 1/800 s, 52 mm.

I had a choice of photos to post today — a photo of an island or a photo of cattails. I decided on the cattails for the photo to put in my 365 project because I liked it just a little bit better than the photo of the island. I will be posting both in this blog for you to compare.

Cattails are a type of aquatic plant, approximately 5-10 feet tall. These plants have long, slender, branchless, and upward-growing leaves and a distinguishable brown, cylindrical flowering head at their apex. The grow around ponds and other wetland areas.

What is the difference between a pond and a lake? Here is something I found in my research: “To help determine the difference, both the depth and surface area must be considered. Lakes are normally much deeper than ponds and have a larger surface area. All the water in a pond is in the photic zone, meaning ponds are shallow enough to allow sunlight to reach the bottom. This causes plants (sometimes too many) to grow at the bottom of ponds as well as on their surface. However, sunlight can’t reach the bottom of all areas of lakes. Lakes have aphotic zones, which are deep areas of water that receive no sunlight, preventing plants from growing.” (https://lakes.grace.edu/ponds-vs-lakes-whats-the-difference/)

I took the cattail photo with a shallow depth of field (DOF) to blur the background and the make the cattails “pop”. As you can tell by this photo, the cattails are starting to spread their seeds.

Here is the photo of the island that I took and did not like as much as the cattail photo.

Thursday, 09/21/2023: Posted photo — Sunset Through Trees.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160 s, 100 mm.

After a week and a half, I was back on the hiking trail today. It felt good to get back. I hiked 4.3 miles on Wachusett Mountain after work with some colleagues. I took a series of photos along the way to determine what one to post. I decided on this sunset photo. I had another sunset photo that I took from the summit, but I accidentally deleted it. Rookie mistake.

The other choices of photos were a glacial erratic called Balanced Rock or a burl on a tree at a trail junction. Just a reminder that a glacial erratic is glacially deposited rock differing from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests. And a burl is a strange-looking collection of tree cells, which are called callus tissue. Normally, callus tissue is formed by a tree in response to an environmental injury such as a pruning cut, disease, or insect damage. If you have a piece of wooden furniture, such as an end table, it was most likely made with a burl.

These are the photos that I did not post for my 365 project.

Friday, 09/22/2023: Post photo — Pareidolia.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/10, 1/250 s, 21 mm.

Pareidolia is the defined by Merriam-Webster as the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. I have posted about this tendency in the past.

Today I am posting a photo of a cloud. I see a couple items in this photo. I see an opera singer hitting a high note and I also see a ships figurehead. It is amazing how one can see an object when one is not there.

What to you see? Do you see what I see, due to the power of suggestion, or do you see something else. Please respond in the comment section.

Saturday, 09/23/2023: Post photo — Iris Bouquet.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 100, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: “The tall, beautiful iris, named after the Greek goddess who rode rainbows, comes in many magical colors. Despite its divine origins, this June bloomer is rugged, reliable, and easy to grow. Learn all about planting, growing, and caring for iris flowers.” (https://www.almanac.com/plant/irises)

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

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 22, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, religion, Thoughts, Travel

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 08/13/2023 to 08/19/2023

“The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation.” — Susan Meiselas

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

Sunday, 08/13/2023: Posted photo — Callahan Tunnel.

The Sumner Tunnel is named for William H. Sumner, son of Gov. Increase Sumner, who served from 1797 to 1799. Opened to traffic June 30, 1934. It was originally a two-way road that carried traffic in both directions, until the opening of the parallel Callahan Tunnel in 1961.

The twinned Sumner and Callahan tunnels, after all, begin and end in the same place on both sides of the harbor, a single entity for the casual observer. They were built decades apart, the Sumner in 1934, and the Callahan in 1961. With increasing volume, a single tunnel with traffic moving on one lane in each direction proved dangerous and inadequate, and the Turnpike Authority opened the Callahan on Nov. 11, 1961. Workers toiled 24 hours a day, six days a week crafting 14,500 tons of steel into the nearly mile-long tunnel.

I was stuck in traffic as a passenger and was able to take this photo of the entry point of the tunnel.

Monday, 08/14/2023: Posted photo — Farm Stand.

Along the roadside this time of year are farm stands. The vegetables this year seem to be larger than in past years due to all the rain over the last few months. We stopped at this farm stand looking for some corn, but they only had zucchini and summer squash. We gathered some. Fresh fruits and vegetable are great to eat.

Tuesday, 08/15/2023: Posted photo — Fire Pit.

Sitting by the lake and having a fire is one of the most relaxing things to do during the summer. We had a family reunion on my wife’s side of the family and sat around the fire making smores. My wife and her sisters took out their guitars and we had a musical performance. I cannot play the guitar, but my wife and son can play. I played keyboards a long time ago and have not played in a while.

Wednesday, 08/16/2023: Posted photo — Candles.

Christians adapted the use of lit candles (and oil lamps in the Eastern Roman Empire) for Mass, liturgical processions, evening prayer ceremonies, funeral processions, and, again, to show reverence to the reserved Blessed Sacrament. Moreover, there is evidence that lit candles or oil lamps were burned at the tombs of saints, particularly martyrs, by the 200s, and before sacred images and relics by the 300s. St. Jerome (d. 420) in his Contra Vigilantium attested to this practice. Note, however, that this practice probably existed well before our available written evidence. https://catholicstraightanswers.com/why-do-we-use-votive-candles/

These candles are in the vestibule of our church. I have posted a photo of these in the past. I wanted to post a photo of them again since so many of the have been lit. The stand that these candles are on was dedicated to one of my friends and his family.

Thursday, 08/17/2023: Posted photo — Providence RI.

Providence is the capital city of Rhode Island. Providence was one of the first cities in the country to industrialize and became noted for its textile manufacturing and subsequent machine tool, jewelry, and silverware industries.

This photo was taken during the wedding rehearsal dinner for my niece. It was a great dinner on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.

Friday, 08/18/2023: Post photo — Purple Loosestrife.

Purple loosestrife is a wetland plant with showy purple flowers arranged on flower spikes.

Leaves are lance-shaped with smooth edges and grow up to four inches long. They are usually arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem and rotated 90 degrees from the pair below. Leaves sometimes appear whorled (radiating out from a single point) around the stem. A recognizable feature is the square-shaped stem, which is generally four to six-sided. A single plant is made up of multiple woody stems. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/index.html

These Purple Loosestrifes are near one of the trailheads on Wachusett Mountain.

Saturday, 08/19/2023: Post photo — Chicken of the Woods.

A highly sought-after top edible mushroom, Chicken of the woods is excellent for beginner foragers. There are no real lookalikes, and the bright orange shelf-like growth makes it easy to see. Finding Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sp.) is known to inspire wild chicken dances in the middle of the forest. With this dense, meaty textured mushroom, you’ll eat well for days.

This mushroom has a lemony, meaty taste. Some think it tastes like its chicken namesake; others describe the flavor as being more like crab or lobster. Whatever your opinion, the chicken fungus makes a great substitute for meat in almost any dish. https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/chicken-of-the-woods.html

Saw these as I took a hike the morning of my niece’s wedding. I took out my Seek app to identify them. I do not like to eat fungi, so I did not try them out. It is good to know that they are edible. If I am ever lost in the woods and of need of food, I would try them out.

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

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 13, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Thoughts, Travel, water

Comments

1 Comment

Photographic Thoughts — 08/06/2023 to 08/12/2023

“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.” — Diane Arbus

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

This post is a re-post. People liked this post so I am uploading it again so that some new followers can enjoy its content.

Animals from past vacations.

Sunday, 08/06/2023: Posted photo — Prairie Dog.

One of the campsites we were camped, was a remote campground in Badlands National Park. In this campground and the surrounding area, there USGA was doing a study on Prairie Dogs. These were some that were near my tent.

Monday, 08/07/2023: Posted photo — Camping Bison.

In the same campground, there was a bison that used the site markers as scratching posts. This bison also showed up in the morning. The remote campground had only 10 sites. All eyes were on the bison. People did come out of these tents as the bison moved away.

Tuesday, 08/08/2023: Posted photo — Ducks.

These ducks were in one of the rivers at Yellowstone National Park. I did look up the type of ducks these are but did not write it down.

Wednesday, 08/09/2023: Posted photo — Elk.

This elk came to visit us at the first campground we had in Yellowstone.

Thursday, 08/10/2023: Posted photo — Bison by River.

At the second campground in Yellowstone, we took a walk in the morning and saw this bison by the river. There was a plaque at this location that stated that this was the exact location that the idea to make Yellowstone a national park was born.

Friday, 08/11/2023: Post photo — Mini Cow.

One of my sister-in-law’s animals.

Saturday, 06/25/2022: Post photo — Feasting Bald Eagle.

This Bald Eagle just caught a fish, brought it to the top of this tree, and had its dinner.

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

For more photo of other project I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

July 16, 2023

Posted under

Inspiration, Nature, Photography

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 07/09/2023 to 07/15/2023

“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

For this week’s post, I will just post a photo and pretend this is a photo book. You can fill in the words on each page.

Sunday, 07/09/2023: Posted photo — Mother and Babies

Monday, 07/10/2023: Posted photo — Mushroom.

Tuesday, 07/11/2023: Posted photo — More Babies.

Wednesday, 07/12/2023: Posted photo — It’s Raining Again.

Thursday, 07/13/2023: Posted photo — Cross Stitch.

Friday, 07/14/2023: Post photo — Tiger Lily.

Saturday, 07/15/2023: Post photo — Sunflower.

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

July 9, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Travel, water

Comments

2 Comments

Photographic Thoughts — 07/02/2023 to 07/08/2023

“If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” — Jim Richardson

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

Sunday, 07/02/2023: Posted photo — Pratt’s Falls.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/15 s, 22 mm.

Pratt’s Falls, a 137 ft ribbon or cascade style waterfall located in Manlius, NY. The site was originally a sawmill and was the site of Onondaga County’s first mill operation in 1796. The hike out to the falls is only a half mile long (one-mile round trip) and could be step for some. There are stairs that take you down to the lower viewing location.

Photo tip of the week — Lessons learned from taking waterfall photos.

  1. Set you camera to manual with a slow shutter speed. I use between 1/4 sec to 10 sec depending on the lighting.
  2. Set your aperture to a value between f/16 and f/22. I sometimes open up, or close up, my aperture depending on the light and how I am taking the photo (with a tripod or handheld).
  3. Use a tripod with image stabilization off. If you do not have a tripod, find a tree or other object to hold yourself steady.
  4. Turn you ISO to the lowest setting. I use ISO 100 for my shots.
  5. Use a ND filter if you have one. I use from a ND3 to a ND10, depending on the lighting.
  6. Take time to get your composition the way you would like to have it. Try both portrait and landscape photos of the falls.
  7. Pick a focal point, such as a rock or a tree near the falls. It is difficult to focus on the water.
  8. Lighting is important. Take your photo in the morning or in the evening when the light is not on the waterfall. If it is on the waterfall, use the appropriate ND filter.
  9. Use a remote, or your camera’s timer, for your shot to cut down on camera shake.

Monday, 07/03/2023: Posted photo — Tinkers Falls.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/32, 1/6 s, 79 mm.

Tinkers Falls in the Labrador Hollow Unique Area and is about 50 feet tall. The Labrador Hollow Unique Area is a 1,474-acre (5.97 km2) conservation area located in Cortland and Onondaga counties, New York, and was the first property to be designated as a Unique Area by New York. A unique area, according to the state New York Department of Environmental Conservation, is “land owned by the state that was acquired due to its special natural beauty, wilderness character, or for its geological, ecological or historical significance.”

When I took the photo of these falls, I did not use my tripod. I was practicing my handheld long exposure photography. I was either leaning against a tree, sitting on a log, or using long exposure breathing techniques. The hike to these falls is very short, only about a quarter mile, and the trail is relatively flat.

Bonus photo tip — how to breathe and hold your camera for long exposures.

The way you hold your camera can have a big effect on the amount of blur caused by your own movement. Hold the camera with two hands close to your body and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Being conscious of your breathing can further minimize shake. Inhale or exhale and then take a gentle half breath in and hold it there in a relaxed way.

Tuesday, 07/04/2023: Posted photo — Peas.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 125, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm

A pea is a cultivated climbing vine having compound leaves and edible seeds enclosed in a green, elongated pod. The seed of this plant is used as a vegetable.

I often wonder who the first person was to eat peas and how they knew that they could open the pod to get the seeds out.

Some information about the health benefits of peas according to WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-peas#1) are:

  • Eye Health
  • Digestive Health
  • Immune Health and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
  • Blood Sugar Control
  • Heart Health
  • Nutrition

You can look up the health benefits yourself for details on each of these benefits.

Wednesday, 07/05/2023: Posted photo — Bryn Mawr Glacier.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/25, 1/30 s, 48 mm.

Bryn Mawr Glacier flows southeast for about 4.5 miles (7 km) to Harvard Arm of College Fjord in northwestern Prince William Sound, about 45 miles west of Valdez and 44 miles northeast of Whittier, Alaska (61° 15′ 13″ N, 147° 49′ 29″ W). As you travel into College Fjord, the glaciers on the left are named for women’s colleges and those on the right are named for men’s colleges. The names are Amherst, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Harvard, Smith, Vassar, and Yale). Harvard Glacier is the biggest – its face is a mile and a half across.

Alaska is such an amazing place to visit. The landscape keeps getting better and better as we headed north from Vancouver on our cruise. Here are a few more photos taken in College Fjord.

Thursday, 07/06/2023: Posted photo — Just Floating.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/25, 1/30 s, 48 mm.

Here are a couple of seals that were just floating on a small iceberg. Look at the heartberg floating with them.

Friday, 07/07/2023: Post photo — Cashews.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/20 s, 106 mm.

Cashews are low in sugar and rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein. They’re also a good source of copper, magnesium, and manganese — nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity, and bone health.

I needed a photo; I had some cashews in the house, so I took this photo.

Saturday, 07/08/2023: Post photo — Just a Mountain in Alaska.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/25, 1/30 s, 48 mm.

To finish of this week, I am posting a photo of another mountain that we saw in Alaska. I just love the mountains in Alaska.

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

For more photo of other project I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 25, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Travel, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts — 06/18/2023 to 06/24/2023

“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.” — Diane Arbus

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

This week is full of sunrises and sunsets.

Sunday, 06/18/2023: Posted photo — Sunrise at the Beach.

On one of my past vacations, I took a sunrise walk on the beach with my camera. During the walk, I saw this great sunrise. I stopped and took this photo.

Monday, 06/19/2023: Posted photo — Jax Beach Sunrise.

I just loved the way the sunrise looked as we walked to the beach. I timed it to get the bird in the photo.

Tuesday, 06/20/2023: Posted photo — Sunrise at the Pier.

One of my trips to Jacksonville Beach Florida, I took another sunrise walk. I saw this heron near the shore and near the pier. I just loved the silhouette of the bird, so I took this shot.

Wednesday, 06/21/2023: Posted photo — Lightning at Sea.

We had a condo on the beach and there was a storm at sea. I set my camera on my tripod and set the timer for 15 second. I liked the way this photo came out but was disappointed that I did not set my timer at 30 seconds.

Thursday, 06/22/2023: Posted photo — Sunrise on Wachusett.

Moring winter hike up Wachusett Mountain for sunrise. There was a small coating of ice on the summit. The sunshine on the ice took a great photo.

Friday, 06/23/2023: Post photo — Sunset at the Cape.

One thing my wife and I do is have a weekend away on Cape Cod during the off season. This was one of the sunsets we saw.

Saturday, 06/24/2023: Post photo — Sunset on Wachusett.

Here is a pleasant sunset from the summit of Wachusett Mountain.

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

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 11, 2023

Posted under

Inspiration, memorial, religion, Thoughts

Comments

2 Comments

Photographic Thoughts — 06/04/2023 to 06/10/2023

“And if I go, while you’re still here… Know that I live on, Vibrating to a different measure, Behind a thin veil you cannot see through. You will not see me, So you must have faith. I wait for the time when we can soar together again, Both aware of each other. Until then, live your life to the fullest, And when you need me, Just whisper my name in your heart, …I will be there.” — Emily Dickinson

A small tribute to my oldest brother. My he rest in peace.

Sunday, 06/04/2023: Posted photo — Baby.

10 months and 6 days after my parents were married, my oldest brother was born. What a life and many adventures that were ahead of him. 16 years, 6 months, and 29 days later, our youngest brother was born. The first four were each three years apart from each other. Number five, me, came 5 years later. Another brother came four minutes later and then three years later.

Monday, 06/05/2023: Posted photo — Poetry.

My brother was a poet. He wrote hundreds of poems and started a company that wrote poems for weddings. He wrote on anything. We found poems on items from the backs of tickets, backs of envelopes, notepads and electronically. We have a few large boxes full of poems that one of my brothers will type and publish.

Tuesday, 06/06/2023: Posted photo — Family.

He loved family. These are two of my favorite photos. There are not three sets of twins, just looks that way. The one with our mother was the first time all seven of us were together. The other photo is my favorite Easter photo. People enjoy looking at us in our Easter best with our dog in front of our Easter egg tree.

Wednesday, 06/07/2023: Posted photo — High School Graduation.

Here is a photo of his high school graduation. We all ended going to the same high school.

Thursday, 06/08/2023: Posted photo — Peace Corps.

The adventure in his life stared by joining the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps brings together skilled, committed Volunteers with welcoming host communities for service opportunities in more than 60 countries.

Volunteers live and work side by side with community members on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. He spent in time in the Peace Corps in Marrakesh Morocco teaching English and poetry to the children. That was an experience that he talked about during his life.

Friday, 06/09/2023: Post photo — Baseball.

He loved baseball. The Red Sox was his team. And as stated by one of his friends at his funeral Mass, It was always “wait until next year” starting on opening day. Hid and my Red Sox never won anything. My son’s Red Sox won four championships.

This is a photo of my brother at Polar Park in our hometown of Worcester. The WooSox, as they are called, are the AAA team for the Boston Red Sox. AAA is the highest level of baseball before the players make it to the major league.

Saturday, 06/10/2023: Post photo — The End was too Soon.

This is a modification of his prayer card. The photo that originally picked was good, but I like this photo and I wanted to use it in this post.

My brother passed away very unexpectedly last week at the young age of 72. He will be truly missed by all who met him. The people in his apartment complex only said good things about him.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 28, 2023

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, religion, Thoughts

Comments

1 Comment

Photographic Thoughts — 05/21/2023 to 05/27/2023

“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

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

This week’s adventures.

Sunday, 05/21/2023: Posted photo — Angel of Patience

The Angel of Patience statue by Design Toscano is a majestic sculpture. Patience is the ability to endure delay, trouble, or suffering without getting upset. This statue is in one of the gardens at our church. I took this photo between masses while selling cakes for the Relay for Life.

Flower of the day: Alyssum

This aromatic bloom emits a tranquil, spiritual vibe that promotes emotional equilibrium. Apart from being a symbol of beauty, the sweet alyssum protects the wearer from dangerous situations.

Monday, 05/22/2023: Posted photo — Hiking/Newt/Big Dipper.

Monday night is hiking night. Here is a photo of some of the members of the group of hikers I lead tonight. I took them on some of the more difficult trails. Some people may consider Wachusett Mountain not a difficult mountain to hike. I could bring them on some trails that would change their minds.

During the hike, I came across a newt. A newt is a salamander. The terrestrial juvenile phase is called an eft. Newts are semiaquatic, alternating between aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

When I arrived back home from my hike, I saw the big dipper. My phone has a night sky feature so I tried it out on the big dipper.

Flower of the day: Lady Slipper

At one of the trail junctions, we saw some Lady Slippers. A Pink lady’s slipper is a large, showy wildflower belonging to the orchid family. It has two opposite basal leaves with conspicuous parallel veins and a large flower at the end of an erect stalk. The flower is magenta to whitish-pink; sometimes the whitish pink flowers will have darker pink venation. Rarely the flower may be all white. This plant grows 6 to 15 inches tall and flowers generally between May and July. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cypripedium_acaule.shtml)

Tuesday, 05/23/2023: Posted photo — St Anne and Mary.

Saint Anne is the mother of Mary. There were two churches in Ashburnham, St Annes and St Denis. St Annes Church had to close due to safety reasons and this statue was moved to St Denis.

Flower of the day: Lavender

Lavender is a well-known and fragrant perennial plant that will come back every year with gray-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and a compact shrub form. It will grow at a moderate pace, often adding a few inches to its size each year. Lavender can be toxic to pets like dogs and cats.

Wednesday, 05/24/2023: Posted photo — Jack Frost Trail.

Jack Frost is a bipolar trail on Wachusett Mountain. The lower part of Jack Frost is flat, the middle section is what I consider the third most difficult climb on the mountain, and the last third is a mixture of easier and harder sections. A few years ago, the blazes were changed to have a paw print in them. This phot was taken just before the hard section of the trail.

Flower of the day: Azalea

I put out a description of an azalea a few weeks ago. These azaleas are on one of the hiking trails on the mountain. These look different than the ones that I had previously posted. It might be because of the altitude difference between my yard and this location.

Thursday, 05/25/2023: Posted photo — NH 4K Scroll.

As you may or may not know, I have hiked all the 4000+ feet tall mountains in New Hampshire for the second time, completing it last year just after I finished rehab of my ankle. Besides getting a patch to put on my pack, the AMC send out scrolls. There was a banquet to receive your scroll. I could not attend so it was mailed to me, arriving today.

Flower of the day: Lupine

Lupine is a plant of the pea family with deeply divided leaves and tall colorful tapering spikes of flowers.

Friday, 05/26/2023: Post photo — Monument.

There is a memorial at the summit of Wachusett Mountain dedicated to the 10th mountain division. Since Memorial Day is approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to post.

Flower of the day: Pansy

Pansies are the cheerful flowers with upturned “faces.” They love cool weather and are popular to grow in spring and fall. They’re also edible, adding color to salads, drinks, and cakes. Here’s how to plant pansies and keep them growing and blooming.

Saturday, 05/27/2023: Post photo — Sycamore Tree.

I think this is a sycamore tree. The sycamore tree is an immense durable tree with a rapid growth rate and expansive root system. It has an upright, pyramidal crown when young and as it matures develops a rounded, irregular form, with a scaffold of large diameter branches. The most unique feature of the sycamore tree is its camouflage-looking bark. (https://www.savatree.com/sycamore-tree.html#:~:text=The%20sycamore%20tree%20is%20an,is%20its%20camouflage%2Dlooking%20bark).

Flower of the day: Sweet William

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is a short-lived, herbaceous perennial or biennial with a height of about 2 feet that is often planted as an annual flower. The flowering plant, with average pointed green leaves, is ideal for use in cottage gardens, perennial beds, or containers. The flowers come in many vibrant shades and are attractive to pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. (https://www.thespruce.com/sweet-williams-growing-guide-5200995)

For more photo of other projects I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.