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May 14, 2023

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2023

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

I have a flower of day this week. I am attempting to change the format of this blog to have one or more educational items per day to make reading my blog more interesting.

Sunday, 05/07/2023: Posted photo — Pyx.

A pyx is vessel containing the consecrated bread used in the service of Holy Communion. Although pyxes were made in various shapes, the most common form was that of a small cylindrical box fitted with a cover, which is generally conical. The pyx in this photo is the one that I use every week to give Holy Communion to the choir.

Flower of the day: Pericallis

Pericallis senetti provides daisy-like blooms in early spring when the weather is cool. They produce vibrant blues, magentas, violets, and can be bi-colored. They can tolerate low temperatures but are sensitive to frost. These are located outside our church.

Monday, 05/08/2023: Posted photo — On the Trail.

What would Monday night be without a hike? Don’t know. Every Monday that I hike does not happen is a disappointment. The good thing about missing a Monday night hike is that I can spend more time with my family. Today was a wonderful day to hike. The temperature was in the goldilocks zone, not to hot and not to cold. The black bugs were not bothering me as much as other members of the hiking group.

Flower of the day: Hobblebush

“Viburnum lantanoides, hobblebush (also known as moosebush, witch-withy, witch-hobble, witch-tangle and tangle legs) can grow more than ten feet tall, and often at least as wide, in its sprawling, errant, fashion. Branches extend outward, arch and descend, re-rooting where they touch the ground, forming a small copse. This lissome habit is most evident in winter when the hobblebush is leafless and the shrub’s structure can be traced. What appears to be a solitary shrub is usually an aggregate of clonal offspring called ramets.” https://wildseedproject.net/2015/06/viburnum-lantanoides-hobblebush-adoxaceae/

Tuesday, 05/09/2023: Posted photo — Abstract Rabbit.

Came home from shopping tonight and saw this rabbit in our yard. I took out my phone to take this photo. I took this photo from a distance so that I did not disturb the rabbit. It looks like my camera went into the digital zoom range causing this abstract effect. You can see the tree debris that I still need to clean up in this photo.

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.

Wednesday, 05/10/2023: Posted photo — Start of Third Leg.

I am leading a mystery hike in a few weeks. The group is meeting at a trailhead, and I am giving them direction at trail junctions. The directions will only consist of bearings and distances. This is the location of the third leg of my trip.

If you are in the area and would like to join me, sign up for the trip on this web page: https://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/144329. You do not need to be an AMC member to join the hike.

Flower of the day: Dandelions

To show the benefits of the once-beloved plant, here are items you might not know about dandelions.

Dandelions have deep roots in history throughout the ages.
Dandelions were world-famous for their beauty.
Dandelions are a green and growing first aid kit.
Dandelions are more nutritious than most of the vegetables in your garden.
Dandelions are good for your lawn.
Dandelions are masters of survival.
Dandelions are among the most expensive items in the grocery store.
Herbicides used on lawns to kill dandelions take a terrible toll on wildlife.
But there’s a safer way to have a dandelion-free lawn.

To learn more, go to https://www.mofga.org/resources/weeds/ten-things-you-might-not-know-about-dandelions/.

Thursday, 05/11/2023: Posted photo — Dam at Round Meadow Pond.

Here is a photo of the dam at Round Meadow Pond. This is a location that I photograph often.

Flower of the day: Bluets

Common bluets produce both nectar and pollen. Their short flower tubes make their nectar accessible to our short-tongued native bees. Quite a few species of native bees including small carpenter bees and some of our sweat bees will visit common bluets. Several of our smaller species of early butterflies will also visit common bluets.

Friday, 05/12/2023: Post photo — Hitting Off the Tee.

My son purchased a hitting tee for the junior high baseball team he coached. I did some hitting practice. Have not swung a bat in a while. I swung the old way with two hands on the bat as Ted Williams did. He attempted to coach me by having me remove my top hand off the bat as the modern hitters do. I like the old way of hitting.

Flower of the day: Malus baccata (Siberian crab apple)

Siberian crab apple inhabits northerly areas of New England, although certain cultivars grow as far south as Florida. The tree produces white-pink, non-hairy (glabrous) flowers in spring along glabrous branches. With a pleasing, rounded crown, abundant flowers and small, edible fruits, this crabapple has been introduced widely as an ornamental tree.

Saturday, 05/13/2023: Post photo — Lilac.

I have a photo challenge this week that is titled detail. Chances. Details are having your eyes instinctively lock on to a small part of the image before looking at the whole picture. I attempted this by putting a mononuclear on my cell phone and taking this photo.

Flower of the day: Azaleas

Azaleas are typically deciduous while other rhododendrons are evergreen. Azalea flowers are funnel-shaped, somewhat two-lipped, and often fragrant. These azaleas in our yard have survived the last heavy snow that fell. The bush was heavily loaded with snow. There is still a large area of the bush that has not yet bloomed.

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/.

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May 7, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 04/30/2023 to 05/06/2023

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

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 04/30/2023: Posted photo — Votive.

Last week I posted a photo of a votive stand. Today I am posting a single votive. I am posting this because I am in a 52 week photo project and the topic of the week was single light source.

Monday, 05/01/2023: Posted photo — Flow.

Water flowing during my Monday night hike. On photo is of a stream, the other of a trail. This trial was almost like a river with water flowing over the rocks.

Tuesday, 05/02/2023: Posted photo — Roots.

Here are two edible roots, garlic, and onions.

Wednesday, 05/03/2023: Posted photo — Corn.

Corn while eaten sometimes as a vegetable and sometimes as a grain, it is classified by botanists as a fruit, as are tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and other squashes.

Thursday, 05/04/2023: Posted photo — Selfie.

Here is a hiking selfie. Great to complete the hike with daylight.

Friday, 05/05/2023: Post photo — Sunrise.

Nice sunrise this morning. The clouds have great red shadows on them. Photos do not do sunrise justice.

Saturday, 05/06/2023: Post photo — Find Me.

There us someone in my tulip.

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/.

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April 23, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 04/16/2023 to 04/22/2023

“When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I’d like to know them. Anyone I know I photograph.” — Annie Leibovitz

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 04/16/2023: Posted photo — Clock.

There is a photo project that I am involved with other than my 365 photo project. It is called 52 frames. Each week a topic is posted, and you are to take a photo that complies with that topic. This week’s challenge was dreamscape. My photo was one of the top 52 photos submitted during the week.

It is called Droste effect. The Droste effect describes a specific type of recursive picture in which a smaller version of the larger image is featured within the larger image. I added a little twist to mine photos since the object was round.

This week’s challenge is Blue Hour.

Monday, 04/17/2023: Posted photo — Yellow Roses.

No hike this week due to the weather. We are getting some cold rain and fog, so it was not safe for me to take a group out under these conditions. I stayed home instead and thought about what photo I would use for today. I chose a photo of a yellow rose.

Yellow roses are universally known as symbols of friendship, most people give them to each other for their birthdays or to celebrate the love between two good friends. I just like taking photos of them when I am out shopping.

Tuesday, 04/18/2023: Posted photo — Moxie.

The first bottled carbonated beverage made in the America. Moxie has a distinctively different flavor. It as first bottled in 1884. Moxie was designated as the official soft drink of the State of Maine in 2005. I just love the taste of Moxie. Most people do not. I even have a bright orange shirt that has Moxie on it and “Distinctively Different Flavor” on the back.

Wednesday, 04/19/2023: Posted photo — Clouds.

Morning clouds. My cellphone does not capture the color well.

I may edit this photo and use it for blue hour challenge. Blue hour in the morning is when Civil twilight begins, and Nautical twilight ends. Nautical twilight is a deep dusk — dim bluish sky, bright planets visible. In civil twilight, the sky is light all over though the sun is not visible.

Thursday, 04/20/2023: Posted photo — Mountains.

Here are two photos of mountains that I have visited during my travels. Pu’u’ula’ula at Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii and the other is Waterton Lake Sunset Alberta during blue hour.

Friday, 04/21/2023: Post photo — Eclipse.

Like the mountains I posted yesterday, here is a photo of a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse taken during my travels. The lunar eclipse was taken in my back yard and the solar eclipse was taken in Tennessee a few years ago. The next total solar eclipse in our area will take place on Monday, April 8, 2024. Look for photos of this event.

Saturday, 04/22/2023: Post photo — Score Card.

This is the difference between our son’s time, world rank 23133, competition place 35 and Tymon’s time, world rank 7, competition place 1.

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/.

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April 9, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 04/02/2023 to 04/08/2023

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

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 04/02/2023: Posted photo — Crocus.

Crocus are among the very first flowers to bloom each spring. In cold climates, their cheery blossoms will often open when there’s still snow on the ground. That is what happening at our house. We had snow at this location up to a few days ago and the crocus were growing under the snow. Many places south and east of this area that the crocus are flowering. They are not yet in this area due to our elevation. You can have a carpet of crocuses or a chorus of croci. Both are the correct plural form of the word.

Monday, 04/03/2023: Posted photo — Certificate.

Finally received my AMC leader certificate and badge. The only thing is that the certificate is incorrect. It should also have a winter local leader certification on it. I am in the process of working on my backcountry leadership certificate. Will be doing some hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire starting in June. I have already hiked the forty-eight four thousand footers in New Hampshire twice and have led many hikes in them. Now I need to go through the formal training to receive my certification.

Tuesday, 04/04/2023: Posted photo — Flowers.

Shopping day. Saw these flowers in one of the stores. I took a photo of the one with the bunny since it is close to Easter. I took a photo of the roses because I like the way roses look.

Wednesday, 04/05/2023: Posted photo — Ready to Hike.

I lead a group on a full moon hike. The full moon is not until tomorrow. It rises so late on a weekday that the hike was held earlier. There was a good turn out for the hike, even though overcast sky was predicted. The clouds held out until after our hike was over. I started and ended with the same number of people, and the same people. Nobody was hurt so I would call this a successful hike.

Thursday, 04/06/2023: Posted photo — More Long Exposure.

Still playing with the long exposure settings on my camera. With the melting snow, the streams on the trails are starting to flow with more velocity. This would be a good shot if the dead leaves were not in it. Then again, I still am experimenting with this new feature.

Friday, 04/07/2023: Post photo — Clouds.

What a wonderful day today is. The temperatures were up in the high 60’s starting the day in the 30’s. This time of year, in New England, the temperature can fluctuate so quickly. I hear in other parts of the country that if you do not like the weather, just wait a minute. True in New England.

Saturday, 04/08/2023: Post photo — Glasses.

Had my eyes checked today for the first time in almost 10 years. I need new glasses and looking forward to getting them in a couple of weeks. This is a photo of some of the frames in the women’s section. I took this when my wife was selecting new frames.

Happy and Holy Easter to all.

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/.

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April 2, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 03/26/2023 to 04/01/2023

“I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them.” — Bruce Gilden

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 03/26/2023: Posted photo — Organ.

History lesson of the week.

“The earliest known organ was the hydraulis of the 3rd century bce, a rudimentary Greek invention, with the wind regulated by water pressure. The first recorded appearance of an exclusively bellow-fed organ, however, was not until almost 400 years later.” More information here.

“The Valère organ: The gothic organ is regarded as the oldest instrument of its type still in working order in the world. It is thought that it was installed in Valère between 1430 and 1440. It has barely three octaves, and the keys are much smaller than those on a modern instrument.” More information here.

Monday, 03/27/2023: Posted photo — Long Exposure.

This is from Machias Pool at a trailhead on Wachusett Mountain. I noticed that the camera on my phone has a long exposure setting so I was trying it out. I will need to try it out at the waterfalls at the end of Round Meadow Pond and at the Old Mill to see how it really works.

Tuesday, 03/28/2023: Posted photo — Bat House.

One of the best ways you can support bat conservation is to put up an artificial roost, like a bat house. Since bat populations have decreased significantly, bat houses can be very useful in providing secure roost sites for bats. This bat house is at one of the trailheads on Wachusett Mountain. It has been installed for a few years and is in great shape. There might be bats in there. I have hiked the mountain at all times of the day and during every season and have not see a bat use it.

Wednesday, 03/29/2023: Posted photo — Tomatoes.

Tomatoes take 60 days to more than 100 days to harvest, depending on the variety. Due to their relatively long growing season requirements (and late planting date), most gardeners plant small “starter plants” or transplants instead of seeds after the weather has warmed up in spring. Many gardeners purchase their transplants at a garden center or nursery but you can certainly grow you own from seed indoors.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, which may help lower your “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Lowering these numbers helps lower your chances of heart disease.

Thursday, 03/30/2023: Posted photo — Town Pound.

In the historical district in town, there is the old Town Pound. The pound is just a stone wall with a wooden gate. I can imagine the field filled with cows and goats in the old days.

Friday, 03/31/2023: Post photo — Melting Snow.

The temperature has been fluctuating between warm and cold around this area. The three feet of snow is still melting on our street. These are some pieced of wood that I need to split this summer to burn during the winter. There is still snow in our yard and in the mountains here in north central Massachusetts. The snow in our yard last longer than the surrounding area because we have many trees on our property that shade the sun.

Saturday, 04/01/2023: Post photo — St John’s High School.

I went to my high school today to watch our son compete in a cubing competition. I was in the class of 1982. He competes in a few events but mostly enters the data. He will be entering data for the cubing national championships this summer.

The place has changes since about 1990, the last time I was on campus. A few new buildings have gone up, the brother’s resident has been moved and a couple of state-of-the-art academic centers have been built. Here are a few photos from around campus.

Information from the school website. I would write its history the same way. “Saint John’s High School has educated young men under the sponsorship of the Xaverian Brothers since 1898. Saint John’s High School enjoys a unique history, one that is deeply rooted in the development and traditions of the Catholic Church in Central Massachusetts. The school was an outgrowth of both the first Catholic Church (1834) and the first parochial school (1873) in Worcester. It also has the distinction of being the first of many high schools operated by the Xaverian Brothers in New England.”

Have a good rest of the week and a Happy and Holy Easter next week.

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/.

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March 26, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 03/19/2023 to 03/25/2023

“You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.” — Joan Miro

Random thoughts and ideas for this week.

Sunday, 03/19/2023: Posted photo — Laetare Sunday.

From the Catholic Dictionary: “The fourth Sunday of Lent, when the introductory word of the Introit is laetare, “Rejoice O Jerusalem.” As it is Mid-Lent Sunday, rose vestments are worn, flowers are permitted on the altar, and the organ is played.” Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

This is the view of the altar from the choir loft of our church.

Monday, 03/20/2023: Posted photo — Hike.

Some photos from my weekly Monday night hike on Wachusett Mountain. It is getting lighter as we start our hike. Soon no headlamp will be needed.

Tuesday, 03/21/2023: Posted photo — Sunflower.

A sunflower that I saw today while I was out shopping. Tuesday night is my shopping night.

Wednesday, 03/22/2023: Posted photo — Umpqua River Lighthouse.

From the website: https://oregonisforadventure.com/oregon-lighthouses/#:~:text=Umpqua%20River%20Lighthouse,lighthouse%20on%20the%20Oregon%20coast. “The Umpqua River Lighthouse was the first lighthouse on the Oregon coast. To this day, you are still able to climb to the top of it while also learning more about the area’s history. It is still operational and has only recently switched over from bulbs to LEDs to keep it lower maintenance. Once you reach the top, you are even able to take a look inside the working light.

The lighthouse a vibrant history, Before it was placed on the bluff on the entrance to Winchester Bay, it was commissioned along the beach of the Umpqua River in 1857. It was then moved less than 10 years later.”

This is a photo of inside the lighthouse I took a few years ago during one of our west coast trips to visit family.

Thursday, 03/23/2023: Posted photo — Sunrise.

The weather is getting warmer. Rain has been predicted for today so I was happy to see the sunrise on my way to work.

During sunrise and sunset the sun is low in the sky, and it transmits light through the thickest part of the atmosphere. A red sky suggests an atmosphere loaded with dust and moisture particles. We see the red, because red wavelengths (the longest in the color spectrum) are breaking through the atmosphere.

Friday, 03/24/2023: Post photo — Crater Lake National Park.

This is me standing in front of Wizard Island, a volcanic cinder cone, which forms an island at the west end of Crater Lake. Photo taken by my wife.

At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America. Famous for its beautiful blue color, the lake’s water comes directly from snow or rain – there are no inlets from other water sources. Crater Lake was formed by the fall of a volcano. Mount Mazama, a 12,000-foot-tall volcano, erupted and collapsed approximately 7,700 years ago.

Saturday, 03/25/2023: Post photo — Loon.

From https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/overview, “The eerie calls of Common Loons echo across clear lakes of the northern wilderness. Summer adults are regally patterned in black and white. In winter, they are plain gray above and white below, and you’ll find them close to shore on most seacoasts and a good many inland reservoirs and lakes. Common Loons are powerful, agile divers that catch small fish in fast underwater chases. They are less suited to land, and typically come ashore only to nest.”

I have an interest in loons. When my wife and I went on our honeymoon almost 32 years ago, we were on a secluded island in a lake in northern Maine and were serenaded by loons.

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/.

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January 28, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 01/22/2023 to 01/28/2023

“I take photographs to hold on to the ephemeral, capture chance, keep an image of something that will disappear, gestures, attitudes, objects that are reminders of our brief lives. The camera picks them up and freezes them at the very moment that they disappear.” — Sabine Weiss

Thank you, John, for another quote to use this week. If anyone else has quotes for me to use, please pass them along.

This was a strange week for photos. We had snow Sunday through Thursday and no power most of the week. All these photos are from this week on the correct day. Many looks similar because the weather was the same most of the week. The wet heavy snow on the trees looked wonderful.

Sunday, 01/22/2023: Posted photo — House in the Snow.

As this week began, we had snow on the ground and were close to losing power. It was a black and white world with the trees and sky being white and the roads being black. I took a photo of this house to show that the world still had color. The red door just pops out from the white world around it.

Monday, 01/23/2023: Posted photo — Round Meadow Dam.

One of my favorite locations to photograph, the dam at the end of Round Meadow Pond. Today the dam and the falls looked spectacular. I was pleased by the amount of water going over the dam. I was glad it was not a trickle. A trickle of water over the dam would not take a good photo.

Tuesday, 01/24/2023: Posted photo — Dam at the Old Mill.

This is one of my favorite photos that I have taken over the years. I think it is because of the framing and the snow on the conifer trees. What do you think?

Wednesday, 01/25/2023: Posted photo — Wachusett Mountain.

I had to go home this morning to start our generator. We lost power for the third time in three days. It was out most of the night and the morning. I had to start it so that our refrigerator could still be working. I have a dual fuel generator and the gas side does not work so I can only use the propane side. Need to get that fixed. I have run the gas side this summer just to keep everything working.

Thursday, 01/26/2023: Posted photo — Walkway.

Back to the Old Mill to take more photos. I intended to take photos of the ducks and geese in the duck pond but decided to take a photo of the walkway since it still had snow on it.

Friday, 01/27/2023: Post photo — Droplet.

The weather is warming up after the storms have passes. I practice droplet photos every year. I get better by the end of the winter.

Saturday, 01/28/2023: Post photo — Lonely Tree.

I have a photographed this tree in the Leominster State Forest several times. When I walked out to this tree, I had to step over many branches that have fallen during the storm. On my way back from taking this photo, I had to dodge a branch that was falling. I heard it break off the tree and luckily a branch slowed the fall so I could get out of the way.

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/.

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January 15, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 01/08/2023 to 01/14/2023

“When people ask me what equipment I use – I tell them my eyes.” — Anonymous

One of the things that I like to do is to turn some of my photos into posters. Here is a few of the photos that I have turned into posters over the years.

Sunday, 01/08/2023: Posted photo — Lake Louise.

Lake Louise is located in Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest national park, in the Canadian province of Alberta. It sits at an elevation of 5,679 ft (1,731 m) making it Canada’s highest permanent settlement. The lake extends northeast for around 1.5 mi (2.4 km) and is around 0.75 mi (1.2 km) at its widest point. The Lake Louise area is separated in two – the larger community is known as Lake Louise Village and is directly accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway, while Upper Lake Louise is directly next to the lake itself and contains the famous Lake Louise Chateau, along with a host of incredible hiking, biking, and horse-riding trails. https://adventures.com/canada/attractions/lakes/lake-louise/

Monday, 01/09/2023: Posted photo — Bubble Net Feeding.

Bubble-net feeding is a cooperative hunting strategy that occurs within a group of whales. It is a complex, highly synchronized set of behaviors that involve communication and cooperation, demonstrating signs of high social intelligence.

How it works

To bubble-net feed, whales dive deep below schools of fish and use bubbles blown from their blowholes to stun and trap fish closer to the surface. One whale generally leads the effort followed by the rest of the group. The leader will usually be responsible for blowing the bubbles and the other members will surround the fish, following them to the surface by swimming in spiral patterns to keep the fish trapped.

Humpback whales are known as “gulpers”, which means they feed by leaving their mouths open, swallowing everything in their paths before closing their mouths, pushing water out through their baleen plates and swallowing the critters (usually fish and small crustaceans) they caught. During bubble net feeding, the whales swimming toward the surface will have their mouths open and gulp fish from the school they have corralled.

Tuesday, 01/10/2023: Posted photo — Wellesley Glacier.

Wellesley Glacier is a 4-mile long glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. It trends east for 4 mi to a lagoon on the west bank of College Fjord, 3.7 mi southwest of College Point and 54 mi west of Valdez. It was named for Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts by members of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition. https://alaska.guide/glacier/wellesley-glacier

Wednesday, 01/11/2023: Posted photo — Wine Barrels.

For over a century, five generations of the Kunde family have farmed our 1,850-acre estate in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Our winemaking mission is to carry on that tradition by crafting elegant, estate-grown, sustainably-farmed wines with a real sense of place—beautifully balanced and expressive of our dramatic vineyard landscape. https://www.kunde.com/

I took this photo when we attended a wedding at the winery. The couple rented out the vineyard for the occasion.

Thursday, 01/12/2023: Posted photo — Glacier National Park.

Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It’s crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700 miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly bears. https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Friday, 01/13/2023: Post photo — Bear at Curry Village.

Curry Village is a resort in Mariposa County, California in Yosemite National Park within the Yosemite Valley. A rockfall in 2008 damaged a number of structures, and about one third of visitor units were closed because of risk. https://www.nps.gov/places/000/curry-village.htm

There was a fisher cat next to our tent site. It hid when this bear walked by. The ranger asked up if we were able to get a look at the number on the bear’s tag. Yosemite National Park is the only park that I know of that a bear will open the door of your car for you if they see something shinny in it or if they smell anything that might be food.

Saturday, 01/14/2023: Post photo — Royal Arches.

The Royal Arches refers to a cliff containing natural occurring granite exfoliation arches, located below North Dome and rising above Yosemite Valley, in Yosemite National Park, California. The Royal Arches are located on the north side of the valley, northeast of the Ahwahnee Hotel. http://www.supertopo.com/rock-climbing/Yosemite-Valley-Royal-Arches-Area-Royal-Arches

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/.

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January 8, 2023

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hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, religion

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Photographic Thoughts — 01/01/2023 to 01/07/2023

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” — Ansel Adams

Happy New Years to all. Wishing you all a healthy and safe 2023.

Sunday, 01/01/2023: Posted photo — Sunrise Selfie.

Happy New Year’s to all. For the last 15 or so years, I have been starting off the new year by hiking a local mountain to see the first sunrise of the year. This year’s hike was a wonderful hike. There had been snow and ice on the trails for most of December. Just after Christmas, we had a warm and rainy spell so there was not ice and snow. I did have to use my microspikes in areas near the trailhead and the mountain was clear of snow and ice at the summit.

Monday, 01/02/2023: Posted photo — 7 Sisters Hike.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/3.5, 20 s, 18 mm.

On the second day of the new year, I hiked the 7 Sisters in Mt. Holyoke Range. The 3,000-acre Mount Holyoke Range State Park features a 7-mile mountain ridge line. The park also includes streams, wetlands, woods, and thickets. Visitors can explore more than 30 miles of blazed trails.

The range may be on a ridge line, but during the first three miles of the hike, there were ten different peaks. Looking at my gps tracking, I agree with someone I was hiking with, the tracking looks like the EKG of ones heartbeat. Not and easy hike, but fun. Again, now snow and ice. The range is at lower elevations that near my house. The highest peak in the range is lower than the elevation of my house. The difference is that you start just above sea leave because the range starts near on the of major rivers in the area. The Mount Holyoke Range is unique because it runs east to west, not north to south as most of the ranges. The Metacomet Ridge runs mostly north to south.

Tuesday, 01/03/2023: Posted photo — Mount Holyoke.

This is a photo of Mount Holyoke from the high point of the range, Mount Hitchcock at 1,005 feet. This is 1,001 feet lower than the mountain that frequent, Wachusett Mountain.

Mount Holyoke, a traprock mountain, elevation 935 feet, is the westernmost peak of the Holyoke Range and part of the 100-mile Metacomet Ridge. The mountain is in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts.

Wednesday, 01/04/2023: Posted photo — Ladder.

One of the hills on the 7 Sister’s hike required the use of this ladder. As I noted a few days ago, the hills were very steep on the trail. The route I took had about 1,092 feet in elevation gain. As you can see, the elevation gain was more that the height of the tallest peak on the hike.

Thursday, 01/05/2023: Posted photo — Snow.

Starting to snow around here. Great to see the ground covered in snow again. This snow is a wet snow, so I need to keep up with the shoveling so that it does not get too heavy.

Friday, 01/06/2023: Post photo — During the Storm.

Happy Epiphany. Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God in His Son as human in Jesus Christ.

About this photo: one thing about snow is it does make for some great photos.

Saturday, 01/07/2023: Post photo — Full Moon.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/250 s, 135 mm.

Today I went on a full moon hike with the members of my hiking group. We are re-starting group hikes with the group. When the group was founded eleven years ago next week my four of my friends and myself, the goal was to do group hikes. It lasted for a while, then the group grew exponentially. Now we are back to schedule group hikes to get back to our roots.

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/.

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January 1, 2023

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Photographic Thoughts — 12/25/2022 to 12/31/2022

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” — Elliott Erwitt

This week I will be posting a few random photos from this past year.

Happy New Years to all. Wishing you all a healthy and safe 2023.

Sunday, 12/25/2022: Posted photo — Nauset Light.

Nauset Light, the most well-known and photographed lighthouse on Cape Cod, is located within the boundaries of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It is an important part of Eastham’s cultural and maritime history. In 1993 a group of citizens in Eastham formed the Nauset Light Preservation Society (NLPS), a non-profit volunteer organization whose original mission was to rescue the lighthouse. Through the successful efforts of the NLPS the Nauset Lighthouse was moved approximately 300 feet back from the edge of a sixty-foot high eroding cliff in 1996. Though no longer under the auspices of the United States Coast Guard, Nauset Light serves as a private aid to navigation used by the fishing fleets and small recreational boaters who navigate close to the shore. https://www.nausetlight.org/mission

Monday, 12/26/2022: Posted photo — Milky Way.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/3.5, 20 s, 18 mm.

We arrived at our first campsite at Badlands National Park late at night. After we setup our campsite, my wife and stayed up late to look at all the stars. I practiced my Milky Way photography. Still need much work.

Tuesday, 12/27/2022: Posted photo — Female Longhorn Sheep.

Some female longhorn sheep I saw during one of my national park trips.

Wednesday, 12/28/2022: Posted photo — Hiking Buddies.

Some mountain goats that joined us on our hike in Glacier National Park.

Thursday, 12/29/2022: Posted photo — Smith Glacier.

Smith Glacier is a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) long glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. It trends southeast to Harvard Arm of College Fjord, 2.8 miles (4.5 km) northwest of College Point and 51 miles (82 km) west of Valdez. It was named for Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts by members of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition.

Friday, 12/30/2022: Post photo — Bison.

Here are some bison that we saw at Wind Caves National Park. There were a herd of about 300 bison just roaming the fields.

Saturday, 12/31/2022: Post photo — Looks Like a Good Site.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/250 s, 135 mm.

Here are a couple of bison looking for a campsite at Yellowstone. Looks like they found a good one.

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/.