Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

April 4, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Thoughts, Travel, water

Comments

2 Comments

2021

“What makes photography a strange invention is that the primary raw materials are light and time.” — John Berger

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday, 03/28/2021: Posted photo—Upton School.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/500 s, 32 mm

Part of the National Register of Historic Places, the Upton School was used as a high school from 1912 to 1960, and as an elementary school until 1994 when a new elementary school was built. The Westminster Historical Society purchased the building in 1997. It is in the Westminster Village-Academy Hill Historic District. The building is now vacant and there has been much discussion around town as to what to do with it.

Interesting fact: Under Federal Law, the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance, usually funding or licensing/permitting. However, before this occurs, you can, or the property owner should contact the State historic preservation office (SHPO.) The SHPO is the state agency that oversees historic preservation efforts in their state. There may be state or local preservation laws that the owner should be aware of before they undertake a project with a historic property.

Monday, 03/29/2021: Posted photo—Drive By Falls.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/36, 1/10 s, 55 mm.

I have driven by the Steamline Trail Park in West Fitchburg several times, not thinking anything of it. It is not a spectacular park or a very big park from what I have seen from the road. As I was driving past it today, I noticed a dam with water flowing over the dam. It might be because there are not any leaves on the trees yet. I stopped in to take this photo.

I found out that the park is 4.15 acre and is located at 465 Westminster Street, and includes a parking lot and walking trail along the Nashua River and Flag Brook. This park is the first implementation of the City of Fitchburg’s plans to develop a network of trails along the Nashua River, connecting to trails in Leominster and Westminster.

A steam line is a pipe that carries steam from one building to another. The steam was used to run turbines and other industrial equipment in factories. Fitchburg was a factory town. Many of the factories are no longer in operation and the steam distribution lines are still visible and are being taken down due to safety concerns.

Time to go exploring.

Tuesday, 03/30/2021: Posted photo—Waning Gibbous Moon.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/16, 1/125 s, 300 mm.

A waning gibbous moon at 95.3% this morning. I saw the moon rise last night. It was large and reddish and a wonderful site. On my ride into work today, the moon was lighting my way calling to me to take its photo. I have taken many photos of the moon. Some with my “moon” lens and some with my 300 mm lens. This one was taken handheld with my 300 mm lens as I was getting out of my car to go into work.

Sometimes the subject of a photograph just calls to you.

Wednesday, 03/31/2021: Posted photo—Corrugation.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/40 s, 49 mm

According to the dictionary: “corrugation — the act of shaping into parallel ridges and grooves. change of shape — an action that changes the shape of something.”

If you look closely at a piece of corrugated cardboard, you will see a wavy texture in between. This creates the strength and rigidness that prevents the cardboard from folding on itself like paper would. Cardboard boxes have been around for a very long time, as early as 1817, when the first commercial box was invented from paperboard in England. But it was not until the 1890s that a cardboard box with layers of corrugated cardboard was first developed and used for shipping. A decade later, these corrugated boxes were starting to replace the traditional wooden crates and boxes.

This photo was taking of a roll of corrugated paper that I came across in my travels today. This photo is an example of the subject just calling on me to take its photo. I just love when a subject corporates at this roll of corrugated paper did.

Thursday, 04/01/2021: Posted photo—Lake Louise.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/13, 1/250 s, 29 mm

“Lake Louise is a hamlet in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, known for its turquoise, glacier-fed lake ringed by high peaks and overlooked by a stately chateau. Hiking trails wind up to the Lake Agnes Tea House for bird’s-eye views. There is a canoe dock in summer, and a skating rink on the frozen lake in winter. The Lake Louise Ski Resort features a wildlife interpretive center at the top of a gondola.” ― Google

Elevation: 5,249’

Area: 222 acres

Province: Alberta

We had a great visit to Lake Louise a few years ago when we were on our Northern National Park tour. That trip too us to, ready: Glacier National Park, MT; Waterton-Glacier Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada; Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; Jasper National Park, Jasper, Canada; Northern Cascades National Park, WA; Olympic National Park, WA; Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA; Mt. Rainier National Park, WA; Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, ID; Grand Tetons National Park, WY; Yellowstone National Park, WY; Devils Tower National Monument, WY; Wind Cave National Park, SD; Crazy Horse Memorial, SD; Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD; Badlands National Park, SD; Mall of America, Bloomington, MN; and the Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dyersville, IA.

Friday, 04/02/2021: Post photo—Worcester City Hall.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/5040 s, 4 mm

City Hall is located on the western end of City Hall Common has been the center of Worcester’s government for many years. In colonial days, the meetinghouse was situated here, and in 1825, a plain Greek Revival style town hall was built here. After Worcester became a city in 1848, this building served as City Hall for another 50 years, until it was finally replaced on April 28, 1898 by a much larger and more elaborate building on the same spot.

Designed by the prominent Boston firm of Peabody & Stearns, it reflects the Renaissance Revival architecture that was gaining popularity in public buildings at the turn of the 20th century. City Hall bears some resemblance to the Boston Public Library, which had been completed several years earlier, but it also includes a 205-foot tower in the center of the Main Street facade.

City Hall was not quite 10 years old when the first photo was taken, and not much has changed to its exterior appearance since then. Nearly 120 years after its completion, it remains the fourth tallest building in the city, and it remains in use as the seat of the city government. Along with the Worcester Common, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

On July 4, 1776, Worcester publisher Isaiah Thomas gave the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Old South Meeting House, which was on what is now Worcester Common.

Worcester is my hometown and I happily return when I can. Worcester is also the second most populated city in New England with Boston being the first.

Saturday, 04/03/2021: Post photo—Second Appointment.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 160, f/1.7, 1/30 s, 4 mm.

BioNTech, Fosun Pharma, Pfizer vaccine is a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by FDA and recommended by the CDC for use in the US for a limited population. From the CDC website: “Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection.” For this vaccine to fully protect you, a second shot must be given 21 days after the first shot.

Getting vaccinated is easy. The signup for the vaccination is the hardest part. Due to a high demand for the vaccines, it may be difficult to get an appointment. Keep trying. It will save lives. Remember my footer: COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands. I have lost an aunt to COVID and I know others that have died from it. I also know people that did not know that they had it or had very mild symptoms. Please take it seriously and get vaccinated when you can.

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/.

COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

March 28, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Nature, Photography, religion, Thoughts, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts—03/21/2021 to 03/27/2021

“A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.” — Annie Leibovitz

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday, 03/21/2021: Posted photo—Puppy Love.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/20 s, 24 mm

Meet Brownie. Brownie was given to my mother back in the late 1940’s. My father won this at a carnival, and she has sleep with it ever since. Brownie is in great condition for being over 70 years old. My mother was telling me all about how my father won it for her and how people are amazed of Brownies condition. She attempted to wipe one of the white spots off Brownie’s eyes, so I had to tell her that these were the dog’s pupils. She just laughed and we continued talking about her life.

Keep family close.

Monday, 03/22/2021: Posted photo—Sunset.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, 2SO 100, f/6.3, 1/8000 s, 300 mm.

I needed to go on a hike today to clear my mind and to contemplate on the good life my mother is living. She holds family close and enjoys it when people are over. She complains about it sometime, but she truly appreciates it. Hiking is a great way to get in touch with nature and to think about life. If you are hiking alone, or with others, your mind is attuned with nature and natural wonders and helps you know about what is and is not important.

Getting to the summit before sunset was the goal of this hike. I made it with plenty of time to spare. There is a ski area on Wachusett Mountain, and it was open. At about the time if sunset, the summit was crowded, so I left before sunset was complete.

Every sunset is different and wonderful in its own way.

Tuesday, 03/23/2021: Posted photo—Pietà.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 200, f/1.7, 1/17 s, 4 mm.

The Pietà (“the Pity”; 1498–1499) is a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It is the first of several works of the same theme by the artist. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed. This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion.

This has been with my mother for many years, at least 60 years. I was disappointed last year because I was going to the Basilica in Vatican City for the ordination of a family member, and I wanted to see this work in person. COVID stopped that from happening. Someday I will go to Vatican City and see this work.

Wednesday, 03/24/2021: Posted photo—New Growth.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 100, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm.

Tulips are starting to bloom, just in time for Easter. We have tulip that bloom every year at this time, and I noticed that they broke soil today. Tulips form a genus of spring-blooming perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes. The flowers are usually large, showy, and brightly colored, generally red, pink, yellow, or white. These tulips are pink in color. Once they bloom, I will post photos of them.

Now I am waiting on the crocus to bloom. The normally bloom before the tulip. Like everything else, life is different this year.

Thursday, 03/25/2021: Posted photo—Stream.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 1600, f/22, 1/10 s, 55 mm

Today I went on a hike with my son and his friend. We decided to do a longer hike today on Wachusett Mountain that we normally do on a weekday since the sun out up longer. We started the hike at our normal time, giving us over an hour to get to the summit. The normal trail will get us to the summit is less than an hour, so we decided on a longer hike. We hike on Bicentennial Trail in the opposite direction we normally hike it. Bicentennial has a trail that bisects it and we normally to left at the intersection and today we went right. There are a few seasonal streams along the trail, and the streams were flowing due to the rain earlier in the day and the snow melt on the mountain. I was thinking about a photo and saw this stream and took a handheld, semi-long exposure photo.

Here is a photo from the trailhead and another photo of the stream.

Friday, 03/26/2021: Post photo—Sugar Maple.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/100 s, 55 mm

The sugar maple is one of America’s most-loved trees. In fact, more states have claimed it as their state tree than any other single species—for New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Vermont, the maple tree stands alone.

These are the buds from one of the sugar maples in our yard. They are currently being tapped by our neighbor to make maple syrup. More photos of this tree will occur as the leaves get larger.

Saturday, 03/27/2021: Post photo—Glacial Erratic.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/810 s, 4 mm.

Wachusett Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world. The rocks are estimated to be 250 million years old. It is a metamorphic rock monadnock. In its youth, it was over 20,000 feet tall. Today it is only 2,006 feet tall. It has been through ice ages. Wachusett means “Near the mountain” or “Mountain place” in the language of the Natick Indians. A band of old growth forest along rock ledges 500 feet (150 m) below the summit supports trees from 150 to 370 years old. Covering 220 acres (89 ha), it is the largest known old growth forest east of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts.

Scientists have recorded five significant ice ages throughout the Earth’s history: the Huronian (2.4-2.1 billion years ago), Cryogenian (850-635 million years ago), Andean-Saharan (460-430 million years ago), Karoo (360-260 million years ago) and Quaternary (2.6 million years ago -present). Approximately a dozen major glaciations have occurred over the past 1 million years, the largest of which peaked 650,000 years ago and lasted for 50,000 years. The most recent glaciation period, often known simply as the “Ice Age,” reached peak conditions some 18,000 years ago before giving way to the interglacial Holocene epoch 11,700 years ago.

Glacial erratics are stones and rocks that were transported by a glacier, and then left behind after the glacier melted. Erratics can be carried for hundreds of kilometers and can range in size from pebbles to large boulders. Scientists sometimes use erratics to help determine ancient glacier movement.

Wachusett Mountain and throughout New England there are many glacial erratics.

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/.

COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

March 21, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Nature, religion, Travel, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts—03/14/2021 to 03/20/2021

“We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.” — Ralph Hattersley

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

This week’s post will be a little shorter than last week’s post. I will explain why later in this month.

Sunday, 03/14/2021: Posted photo—Crucifix.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 200, f/1.7, 1/11 s, 4 mm

This is a crucifix in the back of St. Denis Church. It is hanging on a cork board near all the religious paraphernalia. There are prayer cards, rosaries, pray books, and other items for anyone to take with them.

The difference between Cross and Crucifix is that Cross is a cross-shaped item without a symbol or figure of Jesus on the same, while Crucifix is a Cross with Jesus depicted or engraved on the same. The cross signifies acceptance of death or suffering and sacrifice. The crucifix is the symbol of Christianity and reminds every one of the death and resurrection of Christ. It serves as a reminder of God’s sacrifice of his only Son so that humanity may have salvation.

This week will be a hard week for me. You will know why in later posts.

Keep family close and reconcile any differenced you have.

Monday, 03/15/2021: Posted photo—Ducks.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/40 s, 55 mm.

This photo looks like the two ducks have a chaperon.

Tuesday, 03/16/2021: Posted photo—Wood Piles.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/80 s, 41 mm.

Things are getting a little crazy around here. I have not been able to write my blog or get out to do much photography this week. I took this photo when I came home from work and before I went to visit my mother.

This is also one of those days when I took a photo early in the day and decided not to post it. Here is the photo of the sunrise I took and was planning on posting.

Wednesday, 03/17/2021: Posted photo—Dall’s Porpoise.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 400, f/11, 1/1000 s, 210 mm.

Dall’s porpoises are common in the North Pacific Ocean and can be found off the U.S. West Coast from California to the Bering Sea in Alaska. These porpoises are considered the fastest swimmers among small cetaceans, reaching speeds of 34 miles per hour over short distances.

This one is from a trip to Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. The porpoises liked jumping over the bow of the boat.

Thursday, 03/18/2021: Posted photo—Unicorn World.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 2000, f/4.5, 1/50 s, 37 mm

My mother likes unicorns. Here are some from her collection.

Friday, 03/19/2021: Post photo—Jack Frost Trail.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 640, f/7.1, 1/30 s, 25 mm

I went on a hike tonight with my son. I need to take a hike and clear my mind of all the activity of the week. Hiking is a good way to contemplate life and how wonderful a life you have with family. Every family member is special and is appreciated, whether you tell that to them.

Here is a photo that I took from the summit to end my day.

Saturday, 03/20/2021: Post photo—Beach Time.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/800 s, 55 mm

Another day, another trip down to see family. Today was a better day for the family. It is one of those days we will talk about for a while. This is a photo of the beach at Leominster State Forest.

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/.

COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

March 14, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Thoughts, Travel, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts—03/07/2021 to 03/13/2021

“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.” —Robert Frank

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

This week’s post will be short. I will explain why later in this month.

Sunday, 03/07/2021: Posted photo—Reference Mark 8.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/500 s, 55 mm

This was my fifth hike in seven days on Wachusett Mountain. Just as last Sunday, I hiked with my son and two of his friends this time. This was a shorter hike than I did on Saturday for no reason. I did take the kids, young adults, up one of the more difficult trails on the mountain. The steep part of Jack Frost Trail was pure ice with no snow cover. I took this trail on Saturday and wanted to see how they would handle it today. They only did it once, I did it twice. Like last week, I wanted to challenge myself to get to the trailhead before them. I knew that they would get there first this week since, when I established the challenge, they only have a flat trail to hike and I had to go back up the steep, icy trail and then back down the other side. They arrived at the trailhead about ten minutes before I did. Still a fun day and they like the challenge.

Reference mark on the summit of Wachusett Mountain

This photo is of a National Geodetic Survey (NGS) reference mark. A reference mark differs from a benchmark in that reference marks point to benchmark. There are three reference marks on the summit of Wachusett Mountain. There used to be four but one of them must have been removed when they were putting in the new watch tower. Either that or I have not been able to find it yet. A benchmark can either show location or elevation. A benchmark for location can be a random point determined by the surveyor or it could be something permanent in nature such as the corner of a concrete pad or a survey monument. A benchmark for elevation can be given a random elevation number or the exact number of feet above sea level can be determined.

One of my rules is that you are not on the summit of a mountain until you touch the benchmark. If there is not benchmark, they I need to look at my map and/or GPS device to estimate the location of the summit.

Monday, 03/08/2021: Posted photo—Walkway.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/14, 1/10 s, 40 mm.

The walkways at the Old Mill Restaurant are covered walkways. They are very picturesque year-round but especially this time of year with snow on the rocks and the water gently flowing under the walkways.

This photo is not as easy to take as you would think. There is a busy road that goes in front of the restaurant, so you must time your shot not to have any vehicles in it. You also need to walk down to the stream to get the correct angle for the shot. That is not an issue during most of the year. Today I had to walk on icy snow to get into position. Not a problem for me but could be a problem for some.

A covered walkway at the Old Mill Restaurant

A covered bridge, or a covered walkway, is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges, or walkways, create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. “The first long covered bridge in America, with a 55-meter (180-foot) center span, was built by Timothy Palmer, a Massachusetts millwright, over the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia in 1806. Covered timber-truss bridges soon spanned rivers from Maine to Florida and rapidly spread westward. There is no evidence of timber-truss bridges, with or without covering, in the ancient world, but the 13th-century sketchbook of the French architect Villard de Honnecourt depicts a species of truss bridge, and the Italian Andrea Palladio’s “Treatise on Architecture” (1570) describes four designs.” — Encyclopedia Britannica.

Tuesday, 03/09/2021: Posted photo—Cirrus Clouds.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/400 s, 47 mm.

Cirrus Clouds (“Delicate cloud streaks”)

Typical Altitude: 16,500–45,000 ft
Precipitation: None that reaches ground
Composition: Ice crystals
Formation: Fall streaks of ice crystals in upper troposphere winds.

Cirrus clouds are the highest of all clouds and are composed entirely of ice crystals. Cirrus clouds are precipitating clouds, although the ice crystals evaporate high above the earth’s surface. The crystals, caught in 100–150 mph winds, create wisps of cloud.

This morning I saw four well defined “x’s” in the sky and thought that this would be a good photograph. The white was a wonderful contrast to the morning blue sky. These cloud formations do not last very long because of the high winds that form them.

Some people think these are contrails. The condensation trail left behind jet aircrafts are called contrails. Contrails form when hot humid air from jet exhaust mixes with environmental air of low vapor pressure and low temperature. The mixing is a result of turbulence generated by the engine exhaust. I am not sure about that, so I am sticking with calling them Cirrus clouds.

Wednesday, 03/10/2021: Posted photo—Watch Tower.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 200, f/1.7, 1/18 s, 4 mm.

On February 27, 2014 this new 80-foot steel fire tower was installed on the summit of the Wachusett Mountain state reservation in Princeton. The structure replaces the old tower which was built in 1966.

I cannot believe it has been so many years since it was open. I still remember when they were constructing it. We would hike to the summit and watch it being built over a few months.

The new watchtower on the summit of Wachusett Mountain

Here is a photo of the old watch tower in the winter.

The old watchtower in winter on the summit of Wachusett Mountain

Thursday, 03/11/2021: Posted photo— Kolding Denmark.

Settings: KODAK DC3200 DIGITAL CAMERA, n/a, f/3.6, 1/90 s, n/a mm.

This was one of the very first travel photos I have taken. I took this photo on my first of three trips to Denmark. Kolding is a Danish seaport located at the head of Kolding Fjord in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the seat of Kolding Municipality. It is a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing center, and has numerous industrial companies, principally geared towards shipbuilding.

One thing I like about this photo is that you can see the age of the building. If you look at the side walls, they are warped due to the age of the building and the material that was used to make it.

One day I will go back to Denmark with my family. Great place to visit.

Friday, 03/12/2021: Post photo— Two Summits.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/13 s, 4 mm

On Sunday, I wrote about the difference between reference marks and benchmarks. These are the two benchmarks on the summit of Wachusett Mountain. The one that looks like a plate is one of the original benchmarks that was moved during the construction of one of the hotels that were on the summit. The one with inside the triangle is the current Wachusett Reset benchmark. This is the benchmark to which the three reference marks point.

The old and new benchmarks on the summit of Wachusett Mountain

Saturday, 03/13/2021: Post photo—Gatehouse.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/320 s, 36 mm

A gatehouse outlet works or valve house for a dam is a structure housing sluice gates, valves, or pumps (in which case it is more accurately called a pumping station). Many gatehouses are strictly utilitarian, but especially in the nineteenth century, some were very elaborate.

Wyman Pond was constructed by the City of Fitchburg in1892 as a compensating reservoir to provide water to the mills downstream. It was rarely used and soon became a summer getaway for area residents. Trolleys ran right to the gatehouse for those wanting to spend an afternoon at Sunne’s Beach. Its popularity soon sprouted summer cottages all around the lake which now are mostly year-round homes.

I love the old architecture of this gatehouse. The stone walls and slate roof shows how it was constructed.

Gatehouse at Wyman Pond in Westminster, MA

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/.

COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

March 7, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Nature, Photography, Thoughts

Comments

1 Comment

Photographic Thoughts—02/28/2021 to 03/06/2021

“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” — Alfred Stieglitz

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday, 02/28/2021: Posted photo—Winter Hike.

Settings: FujiFilm FinePix XP70, ISO 100, f/4.6, 1/60 s, 10 mm

Some people think that I am crazy hiking year-round. I have been hiking year-round for many years now and I enjoy hiking in the off seasons. I like hiking with few people around, less bugs, and fewer rocks to contend with. I consider the off season to be after the foliage and before the ground dries after the spring thaw. Winter hiking has its own challenges. These challenges include snow, ice, cold weather, snowy weather, short daylight periods, and trailheads that you need to snowshoe to get to.

Today, like many other days this year, I hiked with my son and one of his friends. We have been attempting to hike three times a week. Sometimes my son and his friend do not meet that goal. I obtain this goal more times than not. Today we summited once, and I wanted to summit again to keep on pace to summit 100 times by the end of the year. We were on our assent and we came to a trail junction. I wanted to summit again, and they did not. So, we set up a challenge. I will summit again and then attempt to beat them back to the trailhead. The section of trail that I ascended is very steep and icy and they took a safe way down. I summited and made my way down another steep and icy trail. On the descent I ran into a few people that were not prepared for winter hiking on ice and snow. They did not have any microspikes and were only hiking in boot. I had to watch them as they ascended steep inclines. I stayed back to help if any one of them fell. Because of this, my son and his friend made it back to the trailhead a few minutes before me.

Hike distance totals: me—3.5 miles, the kids half my age —3.2 mile. I almost made it back before them after giving them about a half a mile head start. They only had to descend, and I had to ascend and then descend. For your information, after two months, I have 20 out of my 100 summits completed.

Monday, 03/01/2021: Posted photo—Falls at the Old Mill.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/11, 1/10 s, 32 mm.

Last week at this time, I posted a photo of the falls at Round Meadow Pond. Today I traveled about a quarter mile down the road to The 1761 Old Mill Restaurant. The Old Mill has a duck pond that I like to use as a shooting location to photograph ducks and geese when there is daylight after work. I also will photograph the waterfall and the covered bridges that are on the property. I stop in on Mondays since the restaurant is closed and the ducks and geese are easier to photograph.

As you can see by this photo, the ducks and geese are in the pond year-round. They are fed well when the restaurant is open. There is a duck feeder on the side of the pond in which people can purchase food for the ducks and geese. When I go on Mondays, they gather around me looking for food.

From their webpage: “The Old Mill, from its earliest beginning, has served a useful purpose in the community. Originally a sawmill where logs were processed for the new homes of the neighborhood, the Old Mill and its whirling saw sang a song of progress and industry through five generations of ownership in the same family (the Foster Family), before its wheels were stilled and it fell into disrepair.

Today, the Old Mill is noted for tempting foods served in a setting of rare charm. Voices of diners mingle with the merry music of water rushing gaily over the mill dam as it dances its way to the sea. Thus, the Old Mill is reborn — its attractive vistas doubled in splendor by their reflection in the mill pond. It has become a shrine to the epicure for its delicious food … to the art lover for its rustic beauty.”

It is wonderful to have great locations to photograph so close to home.

Tuesday, 03/02/2021: Posted photo—Sunset at the Cemetery.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/125 s, 45 mm.

The tree in this photo is one of my favorite trees to photograph. I do it often but do not post a photo of it often. It looks like a great tree to have in a cemetery, very spooky at night because of its willowing branches.

I took an alternative way home from work today to check out how this tree looked in the winter. The alternative way was not any longer for me to get home and it gave me this photo opportunity. I was looking for a different location to take a photo of the sunset. When I was approaching this location in the cemetery, I saw the sun setting behind the trees. I positioned myself to a better look of the setting sun and liked the way this scene was composed.

Since the light was low, I decided to take bracketed shots of this tree to make it into a High Dynamic Range (HDR) photo. I bracketed this photo at -2, 0, and +2. When I was processing the photo in the Photomatix software, I went through the different tones and decided on the painterly tone. I liked the feeling of this photo once processed. Someone commented that this looks like a scene from a horror movie. I agree with that statement.

Wednesday, 03/03/2021: Posted photo—National Anthem.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/1250 s, 55 mm.

On this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a bill designating “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the official national anthem of the United States. The anthem had been recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Francis Scott Key had written the lyrics in a poem in 1814 during the British siege of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. On April 15, 1929, Rep. John Linthicum (D-Md.) (1867-1932) introduced legislation that would make the song the national anthem.

The first time it is recorded that the song was played at a baseball game was on May 15, 1862, at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn, NY. The baseball game was led off by a band concert that included the tune.

On September 5, 1918 at Comiskey Park, the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs were playing the opening game of the World Series, which started earlier than usual due to World War I. During the 7th-inning stretch, a military band played “The Star Spangled Banner” and Fred Thomas, a player for the Boston Red Sox, on leave from the Navy, snapped to attention. From then on, the song has been played at every World Series game, every season opener, and whenever a band is present to play it. The custom of playing it before every game began during World War II, when the installation of public address systems made it practical.

Until 1931, there was no officially proclaimed anthem of the United States, however, the song “Hail Columbia!” was used quite often in the capacity of a national anthem. “Hail Columbia!” is used today in the United States as an entrance song for the Vice President (much like “Hail to the Chief” is for the President.)

That is your history lesson for the week.

Thursday, 03/04/2021: Posted photo—See You Tonight.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/125 s, 55 mm.

People have asked me why I hike at night. People have asked me why I hike in the winter. I hike at night just to listen to nature and I hike in the winter because of the solitude. While I hike, I like to think about the day, week, month, or year and I usually have a song stuck in my head for the entire hike. Yes, a song in my head for the entire hike, whether it is a two-mile hike or a 15-mile hike.

I hike after getting bad news, such as a family member passing. I do a longer memorial hike every year on the anniversary of a passing. I hike after good news and I hike after no news at all. I have set a goal for myself to summit mountains 100 times this year. I may have noted that a few times in the past. Wachusett Mountain will be my main mountain to hike since it is so close to my house. It may not be very tall at 2,006 feet at its current age (it was over 20,000 feet when it was young) but some of the trails can be very challenging and are good training trails for hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Three times a week I take the short drive to one of the various trailheads and hike. Tonight, was one of those night that I hike.

It is still very icy on the trails. There are more rocks being exposed yet the trails are still challenging. This was the second time I summitted in three days and I did notice a change in the trail conditions. There was also less ice on the summit because of the high winds. The trails themselves are still very dangerous and you still need microspike to hike them.

Get out there and enjoy nature and the mountains.

Friday, 03/05/2021: Post photo—Collection Time.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/50 s, 32 mm

The Massachusetts maple production season usually starts in mid/late February in the eastern part of the state and at the lower elevations in the western parts of the state. At higher elevations in western Massachusetts boiling may not start until the first week in March, or later in cold years. The season lasts 4–6 weeks, all depending on the weather. Most all producers are done boiling by mid-April when the nighttime temperatures remain above freezing and the tree buds begin to swell.

The tree’s sap flow mechanisms depend on temperatures which alternate back and forth past the freezing point (32 degrees F). The best sap flows come when nighttime temperatures are in the low 20s and daytime temperatures are in the 40s. The longer it stays below freezing at night, the longer the sap will run during the warm day to follow. If the weather gets too cold and stays cold, sap flow will stop. If the weather gets too warm and stays warm, sap flow will stop. The cold weather at night allows the tree to cool down and absorb moisture from the ground via the roots. During the day, the tree warms up, the tree’s internal pressure builds up, and the sap will run from a taphole or even a broken twig or branch. For good sap production, maple producers must have the alternating warm/cold temperatures. Therefore, it is so impossible to predict the outcome of the maple crop from year to year.

It always surprises me when my neighbor taps our trees and other trees around his property. It seems to be earlier each year, but it is not. He starts in March, just after we have had a few very cold evenings. He goes out every night during sap season, collects his buckets, and makes his syrup. He purchased a new evaporator a few years ago that makes it easier to make the syrup. He gives us some and he sells some at the church fair in the fall.

HOW TO DO IT

Be sure your trees are maples. A tree should be at least 12” in diameter for one tap hole and bucket. Trees more than 24” in diameter can have two taps.
Drill the hole 2” deep at a convenient height. Look for unblemished bark and do not bore directly over or under a former tap hole or closer than 4” from the side of an old tap hole. The hole should be straight into the tree, parallel with the ground.
Drive the spout in so that it is tight and cannot be pulled out by hand, but do not over-drive and split the tree.
Hang your bucket or container on the hook of the spout if it is a purchased one, or, if you have made your own, fashion a length of wire to serve as a hanger. Be sure to cover the bucket to keep out rain, snow, and foreign material.
Make sure your fireplace is ready, wood at hand, and pan ready for the sap.
When you have enough in your buckets to fill your pan for boiling, you are ready for the fire. Do not fill your pan to the top as it will boil over. As the water boils away keep adding more sap to the pan. Do not have less than an inch in the pan or it may burn down. You can pour the cold sap right into the boiling sap. It will take a lot of boiling to get it to syrup as it takes about 10 gallons of sap to make one quart of maple syrup. A chimney of brick or stove pipe (4 to 6 feet long) on your arch or fireplace will be helpful in keeping the smoke away from the boiling sap so that the syrup will not darken or have an off taste from the smoke.
Do not leave an accumulation of sap in the collecting buckets, especially in warm weather. Sap is like milk and will sour if left in the sun. Try to keep the sap in storage as cold as possible. Boil it as soon as you can.
Finished maple syrup will be 7° F above the temperature of boiling water at your elevation. Your syrup or candy thermometer will tell you this. If you have a larger operation you may get a syrup hydrometer and testing cup which will tell you when the syrup is done. The cup will require two or three cupful’s of syrup in order to make the test. Proper syrup will weigh at least 11 pounds per gallon. Do not get it beyond 11-1/4 pounds per gallon or it may form crystals in the bottom of the storage container.
Pour the hot syrup through a felt syrup filter or a special strainer as carried by equipment dealers. If you have neither one, a double layer of outing flannel may be used, or you may put the syrup in a container and let it cool for 12 hours or more. Sediment will settle to the bottom of the container and the clearer syrup may be carefully poured off. This syrup should then be reheated to at least 180° F or almost to boiling before it is poured into containers for final storage.
Pour the hot syrup into the clean, sterile canning jars and seal. Fill them full so that very little air remains in the jar. If laid on the side while cooling a better seal will result.
Store syrup in a cool place. A freezer is ideal. Properly prepared syrup will not freeze, and a poor seal will not be as important when stored in a freezer.

Soon I will have fresh maple syrup from my trees on my pancakes, waffles, sausages, ice cream, or anything else the will taste good with fresh homemade maple syrup.

Saturday, 03/06/2021: Post photo—Trail.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/400 s, 21 mm

Today I went on a leisurely 4.1 mile hike on Wachusett Mountain. This was my third hike on the mountain this week. Today’s goal was one of distance and checking out trail conditions more than it was attempting another quick summit. I hiked on a different one of the difficult trails since it was daytime and I had plenty of time to do this hike. The trail did not disappoint with the difficult section, being steep and very, very icy. As I was ascending, I kept telling myself to trust my experience and my equipment. That the top of the steep incline, I was asked by a couple of women about the trail conditions, I told them, and they wisely decided to take a safer way down. It is better to ascend a step icy trail than it is to decent a step icy trail.

Today’s photo was taken along the Harrington Trail. The Harrington Trail is also a part of the Midstate Trail. The Midstate Trail is marked with the yellow triangles.

Tomorrow is another day, another week, and another hike.

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/.

COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

February 28, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Nature, Photography, Thoughts, Travel, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts—02/21/2021 to 02/28/2021

“When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear” — Alfred Eisenstaedt

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday 02/21/2021: Posted photo—Lemons.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/293 s, 4 mm

A lemon is an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted.

Why do we call defective cars lemons? This is what I found “While defective cars were called lemons by most people in 1960, an ad from Volkswagen cemented the term in our vocabulary. The ad featured a Volkswagen Beetle with the word lemon below the car. The ad is highlighting Volkswagen’s rigorous testing process but that image of a bad car being a lemon stuck.” — grubblawgroup.com

“Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that give them a number of health benefits. Lemons may aid weight loss and reduce your risk of heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues, and cancer.” — Healthline.com

Today I went food shopping for my 95-year-old mother for the first time is a few months. She is back in her house after being relocated for a few months during renovations. A tree fell on her house and the house needed to be repaired. I took this photo just in case I was not able to take another on during the day since we were moving her back in and I did not know how long that was going to take.

Monday 02/22/2021: Posted photo—Falls During a Storm.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 800, f/7.1, 1/50 s, 29 mm.

We are in a snow pattern here in north central Massachusetts. It is a Monday, and it is snowing. On my way back from work I wanted to take a photo of something snowy. Not much was catching my attention and then I say the gate house at Round Meadow Pond. I knew that there would be a great photo of the dam in the storm, so I took a little detour and took this photo. I think it captures well the four inches of new snow that we received. I like the way the snow almost washes out the dam giving the impression that I am in the middle of a storm, which I was.

Tuesday 02/23/2021: Posted photo—A Web of Birch Branches.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/2000 s, 29 mm.

Don’t the branches on these birch trees look like a tangled spider web? Let your imagination run wild and you may see the same thing I see.

A birch tree is a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark (often peeling) and bears catkins. There are several trees that bear catkins in winter or in spring (before the leaves). A catkin is a cluster of unisexual flowers that have no petals. On wind pollinated trees, most catkins are long and thin and hang down below the shoot. Birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth.

Wednesday 02/24/2021: Posted photo—What is It.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/15 s, 55 mm.

It has been a while since I posted a photo for people to guess what it is. This one, like most of the photo of this type I post, was easy to solve. It is a cluster of straws used to stir coffee or tea. The photo is very graining because I did not realize how high my ISO was set. This is a heavily cropped photo.

I also to this type of photo occasionally to see how many people look at and comment on my photos. I know that I have many more people looking at my photos than the numbers show.

Thursday 02/25/2021: Posted photo—Waxing Gibbous Moon.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/11.5, 1/125 s, 1350 mm.

The Snow Moon will occur on February 27 at 3:17 a.m. Before the moon is full is a gibbous moon. The moon at 97.6% tonight, not full. This photo is a stack of 31 shots. Why 31 you ask? I must have hit the counter on my intervalometer since I only wanted 30 shots. I kept the extra one. An intervalometer is a shutter release that automatically triggers the shutter, usually at timed intervals.

The eight Moon phases:

New: We cannot see the Moon when it is a new moon.
Waxing Crescent: In the Northern Hemisphere, we see the waxing crescent phase as a thin crescent of light on the right.
First Quarter: We see the first quarter phase as a half moon.
Waxing Gibbous: The waxing gibbous phase is between a half moon and full moon. Waxing means it is getting bigger.
Full: We can see the Moon completely illuminated during full moons.
Waning Gibbous: The waning gibbous phase is between a half moon and full moon. Waning means it is getting smaller.
Third Quarter: We see the third quarter moon as a half moon, too. It is the opposite half as illuminated in the first quarter moon.
Waning Crescent: In the Northern Hemisphere, we see the waning crescent phase as a thin crescent of light on the left.

Friday 02/26/2021: Post photo—Mount Rushmore.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/250 s, 135 mm

This photo was ranked in the top 20% of landscape photos by the Pixoto community in 2013. Pixoto is the world’s largest free photo contest site with hundreds of active free photo contests every day. When we visited Mount Rushmore, one of the last living carvers was there telling stories about how the figures were carved.

Gutzon Borglum carved George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore. He selected these four presidents because from his perspective, they represented the most important events in the history of the United States.

George Washington, First President of the United States. Born 1732, died 1799. Washington led the colonists in the American Revolutionary War to win independence from Great Britain.

Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States. Born 1743, died 1826. Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, a document which inspires democracies around the world.

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States. Born 1858, died 1919. Roosevelt provided leadership when America experienced rapid economic growth as it entered the 20th Century.

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States. Born 1809, died 1865. Lincoln held the nation together during its greatest trial, the Civil War. Lincoln believed his most sacred duty was the preservation of the union.

These four-president looked after the country and our freedom first and did not look after themself to get votes. Their actions were good for the country first and their political future last. Only good, trustworthy, respectable presidents are carved.

Gutzon Borglum also started to carve another mountain down the road from Mount Rushmore to honor Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse is the world’s largest mountain carving located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is considered The Eighth Wonder of the World in progress. Crazy Horse or Tasunke Witco was born as a member of the Oglala Lakota on Rapid Creek about 40 miles northeast of Thunderhead Mt. (now Crazy Horse Mountain) in c. 1840. It was a time when cultures clashed, and land became an issue of deadly contention and traditional Native ways were threatened and oppressed. Crazy Horse responded by putting the needs of his people above his own, which would forever embed him and his legacy in American History. He was killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, by a soldier around midnight on September 5, 1877.

Saturday 02/27/2021: Post photo—Mouse Tracks in the Snow.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400 s, 55 mm

Mouse paw prints are usually less than half an inch long. The rodents’ front feet have four toes, while their back feet have five. Their footsteps run in parallel lines, and sometimes their tails will create drag marks.

These tracks are around from and going away from our woodshed. This is a typical place for mice to hang out. I have not captured any in our house this year. At this time last year, I was clearing out traps almost daily.

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/.

COVID is real! Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask and wash your hands.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

February 21, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Inspiration, Nature, religion, Travel, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts—02/14/2021 to 02/20/2021

“If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. If you’re not out there, you’ll only hear about it.” — Jay Maisel

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday 02/14/2021: Posted photo—Snow on Swing.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/198 s, 4 mm

It in St. Valentine’s Day today. “St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, young people, and happy marriages. He died in 269. Saint Valentine, officially known as Saint Valentine of Rome, is a third-century Roman saint widely celebrated on February 14 and commonly associated with ‘courtly love.’

Although not much of St. Valentine’s life is reliably known, and whether or not the stories involve two different saints by the same name is also not officially decided, it is highly agreed that St. Valentine was martyred and then buried on the Via Flaminia to the north of Rome.

In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar, because so little is known about him. However, the church still recognizes him as a saint, listing him in the February 14 spot of Roman Martyrolgy.” — Catholic Online

I did not post a photo about St. Valentine’s Day today. Too many people on the site in which I do my photo project did and I wanted to be different.

We are currently in a snow cycle. If it snows on a Tuesday, it will snow every Tuesday for a few weeks before changing days. I went out snowshoeing on our property and like the look of the snow on the swings. This is not the greatest photo of snow on swings that I have taken, but it will be a memory of this day for future reference.

Monday 02/15/2021: Posted photo—Hiking Buddies.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 100, f/9, 1/125 s, 50 mm.

Lost Lake is a relatively small mountain lake located near the much larger Saint Mary Lake in Montana. Despite the name, Lost Lake is very easy to find. It is just off the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.

We hiked along the Lost Lake Trail in Glacier National Park, part of the time with these travel companions. The trail is a 2.8-mile (4.5-kilometer) loop trail that begins and ends at the same trailhead, or segments can be done as there-and-back. The trail had a deep covering of snow at some locations. Something you cannot tell from this photo. One of the great things about national parks is that wild animals can be wild. Most people respect the animals, and they respect most people.

We were on our way to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada as part of our northern national park tour a few years ago.

Here are a couple more photos from Glacier National Park for your enjoyment.

Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Lakes National Park

Tuesday 02/16/2021: Posted photo—Ice.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/30 s, 55 mm.

Today was an interesting day. When I was going to my car this morning to start it up, the ground looked like it was just wet. One step on our walkway and found out it was ice. I did not fall, my foot slipped out a little from under me. I gingerly walked to my car to start it and then to the woodshed to get some salt to place on the walkway and driveway. When I started my car, I took out my “junk” microspikes to walk on the ice and to put the salt down safely. I drove to work carefully and keep my microspikes on when I walked from my car to into the office.

Many other people in the office were surprised by the ice. I most cases, it was a very thin layer of black ice. The roads were not bad since they were treated well. I was thinking on my way to work that it is a good thing that I have my snow tires on in these conditions. If it were earlier in the season, late November, or early December, I may not have changed out my tires and would not be able to make it up the hill to work.

One good thing about the ice, and being a photographer and outdoors person, is that the ice forms a great layer on trees and bushes. Not great in most cases because ice buildup could lead to power outages as it did in the Winter of 2008, but wonderful to look at.

Today’s photo is one of ice buildup on a conifer bush. I hope you enjoy.

Now it is time to clean up the mess the rain and freezing rain has left behind. Need to destroy some ice dams on my roof so that water does not get into my house.

Wednesday 02/17/2021: Posted photo—Winter at Dusk.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7, 1/99 s, 55 mm.

Wachusett Mountain from Round Meadow Pond.

As noted in a previous post, there is more sunlight in the evening now. On my way home from work, I stopped by to see how the mountain looked at this time of day. I did not know if it would be too dark to take this photo. It was not, so I took this photo.

It had to be a fast photo today because I needed to get home for Ash Wednesday mass. Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season.

Thursday 02/18/2021: Posted photo—Snowshoes.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 160, f/1.7, 1/30 s, 4 mm

“Snowshoeing is known to have been practiced in present-day central Asia about 6,000 years ago. It is believed that as these ancestors to the Inuits and Native Americans, migrated from Asia to North America, they brought the snowshoes with them, which were modified slabs of wood. It was not too long before this evolved into the white ash framed snowshoes with the raw hide lacing that we associate with snowshoeing today.

Until the 1970’s, snowshoes were used primarily for employment and survival rather than recreation, and the primary materials utilized in the construction were wood (white ash) and rawhide. The wooden snowshoes are generally categorized in three different styles or shapes. The oval shaped bear paw was designed for use in forested conditions where maneuverability was most important. The truly long (46+ inches) Yukon snowshoe was developed for traversing deep powder-covered open areas, common in the Northwest. The beavertail seemed to take advantage of the best features of both the bear paw and the Yukon, and has been utilized in all types of snow conditions.” — United States Snowshoe Association

These snowshoes have many miles on them and have made me travel safety over many mountains. They are considered backcountry snowshoes. Many hikers have smaller, lighter, snowshoes, but I need these snowshoes for my weight. If I were to have the smaller, lighter snowshoes, I would need to have outriggers on them when I am using them in fluffy, deep snow.

Friday 02/19/2021: Post photo—Footprint in the Snow.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/640 s, 55 mm

Needed a photo. Dusting of snow on a cleared driveway. One foot. One photo.

“For I found her when the snow was on the ground. I traced her little footprints in the snow. I found her little footprints in the snow, Lord. I bless that happy day that Nellie lost her way. For I found her when the snow was on the ground. I dropped in to see her, she was a big round moon.” — Bill Monroe – Footprints In The Snow

Saturday 02/20/2021: Post photo—Application.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V ( S7), ISO 64, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm

Servicemens Readjustment Act (1944)

While World War II was still being fought, the Department of Labor estimated that, after the war, 15 million men and women who had been serving in the armed services would be unemployed. To reduce the possibility of postwar depression brought on by widespread unemployment, the National Resources Planning Board, a White House agency, studied postwar manpower needs as early as 1942 and in June 1943 recommended a series of programs for education and training. The American Legion designed the main features of what became the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act and pushed it through Congress. The bill unanimously passed both chambers of Congress in the spring of 1944. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on June 22, 1944, just days after the D-day invasion of Normandy.

American Legion publicist Jack Cejnar called it “the GI Bill of Rights,” as it offered Federal aid to help veterans adjust to civilian life in the areas of hospitalization, purchase of homes and businesses, and especially, education. This act provided tuition, subsistence, books and supplies, equipment, and counseling services for veterans to continue their education in school or college.

This is a copy of my father’s application for Servicemens Readjustment Act. He served in the Navy in World War II from 11/30/43 to 02/26/46 as a Fireman First Class.

My father used the money from the GI Bill to purchase the house that my mother still lives in.

Usual statement: That is all for this week. Hope you enjoyed my thoughts and constructive criticism is always wanted. I do not take criticism personally, just an opportunity to better my photography and writing skills.

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/.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

February 14, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Nature, Thoughts, water

Comments

Leave a comment

Photographic Thoughts—02/07/2021 to 02/13/2021

“In photography there are no shadows that cannot be illuminated.” — August Sander

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday 02/07/2021: Posted photo—Wood.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/160 s, 29 mm.

I posted a similar photo about a month ago. Today it is snowing. I moved our cars to their snow configuration, in line, and took a photo of this seasoning wood pile in case I do not get out again today. Once the snow melts and we get into spring or early summer, I will split this wood to get it ready for the new burning season.

Monday 02/08/2021: Posted photo—Blue Sky.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/400 s, 55 mm.

A camera’s senor dictated the quality of the image the camera can produce—the larger the sensor, the higher the image quality. Bigger image sensors have bigger pixels, which means better low-light performance, reduced noise, good dynamic range, and the ability to obtain more information.

The best way to see if there is dust on your sensor is to take a photo of a light solid color to see if you can see the spots. Most people take a photo of something white to do this. I looked at the sky today and it was bright blue, I needed a photo of the day, so I took this photo to both check my sensors and to have a photo to post.

Tuesday 02/09/2021: Posted photo—Cold Sun.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/500 s, 55 mm.

We received six inches of new snow today. Before the snow, I looked up and liked the way the sun was shining in the clouds. It is not often you can take a photo of the sun without a filter. Like other photos, the scene was calling to me to photograph it00000.

Wednesday 02/10/2021: Posted photo—Aunt Connie.

Settings: Not applicable, scanned photo.

My Aunt Connie passed away today due to COVID. She went into the hospital for some other reason and contacted COVID. She was my mother’s older sister. Aunt Connie was 97 years old and my mother is 95. My mother called her a second mother to her. There were eleven children in the family so when the younger ones were born, the older ones took care of each other. Aunt Connie was the second oldest child, and my mother is the fourth oldest.

COVID is real! Wear your masks, wash your hand, social distance, and get your shot.

Thursday 02/11/2021: Posted photo—Falls at Sunset.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/30 s, 27 mm.

It has been getting brighter every day when I leave work. No longer am I going to work when it is dark and coming home from work when it is dark. I was driving around after work looking for something to photograph before the sun was under the horizon. I passed this spot and took this photo.

Friday 02/12/2021: Post photo—Snow People.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 200, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm

My grandniece 0wanted to play in the snow with my wife, my son, and me. I am not home from work when she is here so that was great to hear. When she was out playing with my son, she wanted a snowman. The snow was not the greatest for that so my made some small ones with her. She wanted a big snowman, but the snow was not “snowman” snow. My wife took out the ice pick and cut squares out of packed down snow and made the big snowman in this photo.

Saturday 02/13/2021: Post photo—Icefall.

Settings: FUJIFILM FinePix XP70, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/2500 s, 46 mm

Today was my second hike of the week. This one was a little longer than the one I took Wednesday night. Today the hike was with my son and one of his friends. The three of us hike often during the week. We attempt to hike three times a week. This month it was hard to do this since there was snowstorm on the days we normally hike.

My son and his friend hiking along the Midstate Trail on Wachusett Mountain

This icefall is at the junction of Harrington and Link trails on Wachusett Mountain. I took a photo of this icefall a few weeks ago. During this hike, I was reminded on why I like to hike at night, there are fewer people to run into.

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/.

Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask.

COVID is real! Be safe out there.

Posted by

photobyjosephciras

Posted on

February 7, 2021

Posted under

hiking, Nature, religion, Thoughts, Travel, water

Comments

1 Comment

Photographic Thoughts—01/31/2021 to 02/06/2021

“Photograph takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” — Dorothea Lange

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week. It helps keep me going. Enjoy my blog post!

Sunday 01/31/2021: Posted photo—Mount Flume.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/320 s, 55 mm.

Today I went hiking with an old college roommate. We hiked together last year for the first time in a long time. This was the second time we hiked together and the first time in the winter. On the accent, I as faster then he was. On the descent, he was faster than I was. On the descent, I am a cautious hiker, especially in the snow. The hike was about 11 miles long and took us about 8 hours to complete.

When we started the hike, it was -4° F at the trailhead and the snow was very crisp. The temperature rose to about 18° F on the decent. On the decent the snow was softer and more slippery. I wore my microspikes on the accent and my crampons on the descent. If you stepped off the trail, you sank into about 2 feet of snow.

It was a wonderful hike, and I am looking forward to more hikes with this college friend.

We did two mountains on this hike. The first one we summited was Mount Liberty. Mount Liberty is a 4,459-foot-high mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Overlooking Franconia Notch, it is part of Franconia Ridge, the second highest mountain group in the Whites after the Presidential Range. The second mountain we summited was the one in this photo, Mount Flume. Mount Flume is the southernmost and shortest of the five peaks on the very popular Franconia Ridge. The Flume Slide — a rockslide through the trees which you will need to climb up — is shown in this photo. The rock here is very solid and angular with good holds even in the rain. The slide lasts for 0.7 miles after which you will reach the Franconia Ridge Trail junction just 0.1 miles south of the Mount Flume summit. The general rule is that you never go down the slide, only up it. It is very difficult to climb in good weather and impossible to climb in the winter.

Monday 02/01/2021: Posted photo—Mounts Lafayette and Lincoln.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1.0, 1/640 s, 55 mm.

Mount Lafayette is a 5,249-foot mountain at the northern end of the Franconia Range. This is one of the mountains that I have climbed in the past during the spring. Mount Lincoln is a 5,089-foot mountain in the Franconia Range. I also have summited this mountain in the past. I took these photos during yesterday’s hike up Mount Liberty and Mount Flume.

I was not able to get out today to take a new photo, so I posted a photo taken yesterday.

Tuesday 02/02/2021: Posted photo—Falls Under the Snow.

Settings: FinePix XP70, ISO 400, f/4.9, 1/30 s, 18 mm.

If hiking 11 miles on Sunday was not enough, I snowshoed into work today. It was a shot 3-mile hike in the morning and a 2.5-mile hike after work. I took the safe route to work and broke trail on the way home. During my afternoon hike, I passed the dam at Round Meadow Pond and took this photo. If you have been following me for a while, you know that I photograph this place often. We received 19 inches of new snow overnight and it was a wonderful hike home in the woods along the Midstate Trail.

Wednesday 02/03/2021: Posted photo—Hanging On.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500 s, 55 mm.

One of the effects of a large amount of snow is snowdrifts on buildings. This is a drift hanging off a building waiting to fall. This was up on the building for a few days because the weather was cold and we have little to no wind.

Thursday 02/04/2021: Posted photo—1759 Philip Bemis House.

Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 80, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm.

This is one of the historic housed in town. I pass it on my way to Round Meadow Pond and have photographed this house in the past. Today I decided to take a photo of it since it called to me when I was on my way to photograph the falls.

It is getting lighter every day after work so I will be taken more nature photos in the future.

Friday 02/04/2021: Post photo—Red Sunrise.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/50 s, 51 mm

The sunrise caught my eyes at work today. I was going to drop something off is someone’s office I noticed the red sky. I walked quickly back to my desk to get my camera, went up to a window and took this shot.

Every sunrise is different.

Saturday 02/06/2021: Post photo—Droplets.

Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/2500 s, 46 mm

Icicles are melting fast around here. After a cold week, we had a warm day today and things are melting. The water was almost running off the icicles so I took out my camera and took this shot.

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/.

Be safe out there, keep your social distance, and remember to always wear your mask.