“Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” — Ambrose Bierce
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Here are some random photos from my first photo book. My second photo book is in process. I am looking for someone to print and sell my books are a reasonable price point.
Sunday, 09/25/2022: Posted photo — Dunefield.
A dune field located in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Being on the dunes was like being in the middle of a desert. What impressed me is how far away from the park you can see the dunes.
This is a photo of the old watch tower on Wachusett Mountain. You can clearly see the wind blow ice on the tower.
Tuesday, 09/27/2022: Posted photo — The Golden Rule.
My niece got married this past weekend. She married one of my son’s friends, a great guy. He asked my son if he could date his cousin. I found a verse in the Bible, took off my wedding ring to take this photo. This is a photo that I have wanted to take for a while.
Balance Rock in Arches National Park. This is not the traditional view of Balance Rock, but I like it.
Thursday, 09/29/2022: Posted photo — Footbridge of the Virgin River.
I saw this bridge at Zion National Park and took this photo. I liked the way the bridge was situated with the view of the cliffs and the water.
Friday, 09/30/2022: Post photo — Star Trail.
Every once and awhile I have an urge to take a star trail photo. I set up my camera, point north to the stars, set my timer on 20 seconds and unlimited shots, go to bed and let either drain my camera battery of fill my SD card. I have a stacking program that I use to create my star trail.
Saturday, 10/01/2022: Post photo — Reflection Lakes.
One of my favorite photos and the cover photo of my first photo book. Just loved the stillness of the water and the reflection of Mount Rainier.
“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.
This week we travel to Cape Cod Massachusetts and visit some of the lighthouses. I am posting from each of the lighthouse webpages since my niece and one of my son’s best friends are getting married this Saturday and I have relatives staying with us. This leaves my little time to be creative.
Sunday, 09/18/2022: 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, 09/19/2022: Posted photo — Three Sisters.
An 1836 petition by Eastham residents concerned about loved ones at sea caused the Boston Marine Society to recommend to the United States Congress the construction of the Nauset Lights. Congress granted $10,000, and the contract was awarded to Winslow Lewis, the lowest bidder at $6549.
Three 15-foot high masonry towers were built. The lights soon gained the nickname “The Three Sisters” because from sea they looked like women in white dresses with black hats.
Highland Light Station, also known as Cape Cod Light, is located on Outer Cape Cod within Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro. Commissioned by George Washington and established in 1797 as the 20th light station in the United States, the original 45-foot tall wooden tower and keeper’s dwelling were built more than 500 feet from the edge of a 125-foot-tall clay cliff. A new brick lighthouse was erected near the original tower in 1831. The present 66-foot-tall brick light tower, keeper’s house, and generator shed replaced the previous structures in 1857. An enclosed walkway connects the tower and the one-and-one-half-story, L-shaped, Queen-Anne-style keeper’s dwelling. https://www.highlandlighthouse.org/history
The Pilgrim Monument was founded in 1892 as the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association—Cape Cod’s oldest not-for-profit organization. Its purpose is to commemorate the Mayflower Pilgrims’ first landing in the New World in Provincetown, in November 1620. Here the Pilgrims spent 5 weeks exploring the tip of Cape Cod, before they sailed on to Plymouth. They also drew up and signed the Mayflower Compact, which established the rule of law for the new land. https://www.pilgrim-monument.org/pilgrim-monument/
Thursday, 09/22/2022: Posted photo — Wood End Light Lookout Station.
Located approximately one and one half miles across Provincetown Harbor from Provincetown, Wood End Light Lookout Station is situated on several acres of sand and dunes with no other structures in sight. It was first illuminated on November 20, 1872 to guide mariners into busy Provincetown Harbor. https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/maritime/woo.htm
Friday, 09/23/2022: Post photo — Chatham Light.
Chatham Lighthouse, in its origin, was placed on Cape Cods Southeastern location. The present lighthouse is one of six that were built in the Cape. This area entertained a great deal of maritime traffic. However, the waters of Cape Cod were brutal to many ships that graced its shores.
The coastline of Cape Cod is rumored responsible for over 3500 wrecked vessels (1850 through 1980). Those who sailed close to the Chatham shores tell tales of ghostly images that lured ships to what seemed like, safety; only to have their hopes dashed against the rugged shores of the Cape.
“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” — Diane Arbus
From the Flags on the 48 website: “On September 11th, 2001 the consciousness of United States of America was undeniably altered by overwhelming and devastating acts of terrorism, so far reaching in their intensity that our country will forever carry the scars. Thousands of lives were lost in a fleeting moment, immeasurable families shattered, and countless hearts broken.
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 on Sunday, September 11. By demonstrating our steadfast unity in this challenging endeavor, we also hope to express our unwavering support to the families, friends, and communities whose losses are beyond comprehension and whose suffering we remember in our hearts.”
This event is the highlight of my year. One that I was training for after breaking my ankle. My goal was to get back in shape after an almost five-month period to be able to hike in this event.
My pack, ready to go on the hike.
This year marks the 13th year that I have been doing this hike. Good weather, bad weather, heat, cold, rain, and wind could not stop our group from doing this annual hike. The mountain we did this year was rated as an easy hike, Mount Hale, at 4,054 feet. One of the shorter mountains and the easiest 4,000 footer in the White Mountains. The hike took us up a well established bushwhack trail that had little rock or roots on it which was welcomed for my recovering ankle. One other person was also glad since she had ankle surgery the week after I did. Her surgery was not as extensive as mine so she recovered and was out hiking faster that I did. It is called the Fire Warden Trail and it could have been used by the fire warden when hiking to the summit. On the summit, there are posts in the ground that were used to anchor the old fire tower.
The traditional trailhead photo
The ten people in our group have been doing this hike together for many years. We start out the hike with a group photo. I like to say that we do this incase someone gets lost and we have a photo of them. Since we were doing a trial that was not on any maps, the name of the trail or the mountain was not on the trailhead information board.
The group of use stayed together for the hike. As I stated in the opening statements, this was an easy trail. We gave ourselves four hours to reach the summit and set up our flag. It took up two and a half hours hiking very slowly so we would not reach the summit to early.
Group photo on the accent. Taken by a member of the group. My son and I are in the lead.
At the summit we worked together to set up our flag. Mount Hale has a wide-open summit, so we had plenty of room to set up the flag. Some of the summits are tight, and most have some room. There is no view of the neighboring mountains from the summit, just on the hike up.
Setting up the flag on a humid day. My son is holding the pole. I am in the green shirt.Securing the flag
Once on the summit, we had a moving tribute by Boy Scout Troop 13 from Pepperell, MA and by a member of our group. Our group has been taking one or two names of the victims from each site and talking about what they did prior to that memorable day.
Boy Scout TroupOur group’s tribute with my son bowing his head in the background
We flew our flag from noon until 2 p.m. and the hiked down. It is always a great honor to be part of this tribute. Looking forward to the hike next year.
All ready to be displayed
If you in the area and up for a hike, please join me.
Group photo on summitSpreading out a flagGroup photo in front of a flag flown at the company I work at
“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.” — Gilles Peress
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Here are a few mountains that I have seen over the last few years.
Sunday, 08/28/2022: Posted photo — Lake McDonald.
My first view at Glacier National Park in Montana. This was the start of my northern national park tour though the United States and Canada.
Monday, 08/29/2022: Posted photo — Camp View.
Here is the mountain view from our campsite in Glacier National Park. What a great view to start the day.
Tuesday, 08/30/2022: Posted photo — Lost Lake.
One of the destinations in our hiking adventures in Glacier National Park. We did some hiking along mountain goats and sheep. Most of the hike was in the snow. This hike took place in June.
This is the blue hour view from out campsite in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta Canada. A great place to camp with great views and many prairie dogs.
Thursday, 09/01/2022: Posted photo — Mount St. Helens.
I have visited Mount St. Helens three times over the last ten years. There has been a noticeable growth in the crater and in the forest around the mountain. It is very impressive to go from the dense forest around the mountain into the blast zone. The trees in the blast zone look like they are from the game pick up sticks, all facing away from the blast.
Friday, 09/02/2022: Post photo — Mount Rainier.
This has been the most impressive mountain I have seen so far. We did a few hikes on the mountain. Never to the summit, just middle elevation hikes on the snow and glaciers.
Saturday, 09/03/2022: Post photo — Mountain of Sand.
This is a different type of mountain. A mountain of sand in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. This mountain keeps moving due to the weather. The sand is hot, and it feels like you are in the middle of a desert when you are hiking on the dunes.
On December 18, 1997 the announcement came from the office of Senator Olympia Snow that, based on its strong application, The Town of York Maine was, and will continue to be, the permanent guardian for Nubble Lighthouse (Cape Neddick Light Station). The daily work of maintenance for the Nubble Lighthouse is under the Parks Department who care for the property and the buildings on a daily basis. The United States Coast Guard continues to maintain the aids to navigation (the Light and the Horn).
This is my very first underwater photo. I took it in Cozumel Mexico on a trip to Key West to attend my nephew’s wedding.
Tuesday, 08/16/2022: Posted photo — Clock.
Droste Effect refers to an artistic technique that creates a recursive picture in which a smaller version of the image is placed inside itself repeatedly. In still images, the recursion is limited by the fixed resolution of the picture but can repeat as an infinite loop in animations.
Wednesday, 08/17/2022: Posted photo — Route 66.
This photo was taken at the Petrified Forest National Park. I took this photo is color and really like the way it looked in black and white.
Thursday, 08/18/2022: Posted photo — Double Arch.
One of the many arches in Arches National Park. If you look closely at the photo, you can see people. This gives the arch some scale.
Double Arch is an incredible formation of arches within the Windows area of Arches National Park, an area with the largest concentration of natural arches in the entire world. Double Arch takes its name because of it consists of two arches that share the same stone as a foundation for both of their outer legs. Double Arch was formed by downward water erosion from atop the sandstone, rather than from side-to-side water erosion.
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.
Friday, 08/19/2022: Post photo — Prince of Wales Hotel.
The Prince of Wales was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1927 as an extension of the Glacier Park Lodges and today, stays true to its roots. From the furniture in the lobby to our Prohibition-inspired cocktail menu, the hotel is dotted with historic elements and period-specific inspiration.
Saturday, 08/20/2022: Post photo — Grand Tetons.
The Tetons see from Colter Bay on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park at sunset.
To find Brown Pelicans, head to the southern coasts of the US (Atlantic, Gulf, or Pacific) and look for huge birds gliding low over the water—check nearby gulls and cormorants as a size reference. These birds plunge into the water to feed. The huge splashes they make can, from out of the corner of your eye, look like a whale’s spout. If you see a splash, look for the bird on the water’s surface as it drains water from its throat pouch, or scan for other pelicans circling around to dive in the same spot. If you can’t find pelicans over the water, head to a jetty, mudflat, or estuary to look for groups of them resting.
Photo location: Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
The Dall’s Porpoise is the largest porpoise species, reaching 210-220 cm long and 200 kg. There is some sexual dimorphism in size with females being slightly smaller at 160-206 cm long. The size difference between the sexes varies across the species range.
Bubble-net feeding is a feeding behavior engaged in by humpback whales and Bryde’s whales. It is one of the few surface feeding behaviors that humpback whales are known to engage in. This type of feeding can be done alone or in groups with as many as twenty whales participating at once.
Mountain goat, (Oreamnos americanus), also called Rocky Mountain goat, a stocky North American ruminant of the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla). Surefooted relatives of the chamois, mountain goats cling to steep cliffs in habitats ranging from ocean shores to glaciated mountain tops. They are agile, methodical climbers, adapted to the insecure footing of snow-covered and icy cliffs, where predators are loath to follow. On these cliffs, they readily turn on their pursuers, including humans.
Photo location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
While most red birds owe their redness to a variety of plant pigments known as carotenoids, the Western Tanager gets its scarlet head feathers from a rare pigment called rhodoxanthin. Unable to make this substance in their own bodies, Western Tanagers probably obtain it from insects in their diet.
Saturday, 08/13/2022: Post photo — Desert Spiny Lizard.
Photo location: Goosenecks State Park, Utah
An adult male desert spiny lizard usually has conspicuous blue/violet patches on the belly and throat, and a green/blue color on their tails and sides. Females and juveniles have large combined dark spots on their back and belly areas, and the blue/violet and green/blue coloring is absent. Both sexes have brownish/yellow triangular spots on their shoulders. A female desert spiny lizard will lay anywhere from 4 to 24 eggs during the summertime. A fully grown desert spiny lizard will reach a body length of up to 5.6 inches. Besides their bright colors, the desert spiny lizard changes to darker colors during the winter to allow them to absorb more heat from the sun and become lighter during the summer to reflect the sun’s radiation. It is frequently seen doing push-ups, pushing its body up and down, as a form of territorial display. The first recorded case of Leukemia in the family Phrynosomatidae was found in this species.
“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, 07/31/2022: 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.
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, 08/02/2022: 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, 08/03/2022: 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, 08/04/2022: Posted photo — Sunrise on Wachusett.
Morning 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, 08/05/2022: 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, 08/06/2022: Post photo — Sunset on Wachusett.
Here is a pleasant sunset from the summit of Wachusett Mountain.
Photo by Joseph Ciras 