“Photography 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 inspired.
One of these weeks I will be up to date on my posts. I am attempting to get back to my original format so people do not lose interest in my blog.
Some photos that I took this week.
Sunday, 10/09/2022: Posted photo — Pattern.
I liked the pattern on the roof in our church.
Monday, 10/10/2022: Posted photo — View from the Summit.
This was my view from the summit of Wachusett Mountain tonight. The light is my headlamp.
Tuesday, 10/11/2022: Posted photo — WACHUSETT.
This was the original summit benchmark on Wachusett Mountain.
01/01/1844 by CGS (SEE DESCRIPTION)
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1844 ON THE SUMMIT ON WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN, ABOUT 8 MILES SW OF FITCHBURG, 3-1/4 MILES SSW OF WACHUSETT VILLAGE AND 2-3/4 MILES N OF PRINCETON CENTER. THE STATION IS ON A DETACHED ROCK ABOUT 4 FEET BY 2 FEET AND IS MARKED BY A COPPER BOLT SET IN THE ROCK. THREE REFERENCE MARKS, HOLES DRILLED IN ROCKS, AND FILLED WITH LEAD AND COPPER TACKS, WERE PLACED IN THE FORM OF AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE ABOUT THE STATION AT DISTANCES OF 11 FEET 11-3/4 INCHES TO THE NNE, SE BY S, AND W BY S, RESPECTIVELY. IN 1884 ONLY THE LAST-NAMED REFERENCE MARK REMAINED, THE OTHERS HAVING DISAPPEARED IN THE COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A ROAD AND THE ERECTION OF A HOTEL CALLED THE SUMMIT HOUSE. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE ROCK BEARING THE STATION MARK WAS MOVED TO BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOTEL, BUT, SUBSEQUENTLY ON LEARNING THAT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MARK OF THE COAST SURVEY, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTORE IT TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE MASSACHUSETTS TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY COMMISSION HAVING OCCASION IN 1895 TO USE THE POINT, AND LEARNING OF ITS REPORTED REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT, DETERMINED THE POSITION OF THE COPPER BOLT AS FOUND AND CALLED THE STATION WACHUSETT 2. THEIR FINAL COMPUTATION INDICATES THAT WACHUSETT 2 IS 0.3 METER S AND 0.2 METER E OF THE ORIGINAL STATION.
“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.
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.
“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.” — Paul Caponigro
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
For the first time in a while, all these photos were taking this week.
Last week we are played a game — name the national park.
Here are the answers.
Bring Water! — Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez and Mancos, CO Do not Stand — Natural Bridges National Monument, Blanding, UT Impassible When Wet — Arches National Park, Moab, UT Holt Orchards — Capital Reef National Park, Torrey, UT Dangerous Cliffs — Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon, UT River Walk — Zion National Park, Springdale, UT Mules — North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, AZ
Now for this week’s photos.
Sunday, 06/05/2022: Posted photo — Pentecost.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 193, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
Pentecost is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Monday, 06/06/2022: Posted photo — Batting Cage.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 132, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
This is our son’s batting cage. We purchased it when he was in high school about 10 years ago and he still goes out to hit balls. He is now coaching baseball at the high school that he is teaching. He enjoys going out and hitting balls.
Tuesday, 06/07/2022: Posted photo — Wildflowers.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 83, f/1.8, 1/1462 s, 4 mm.
With rain, comes wildflowers. These are at the parking lot at work. The grass gets cut when wet, and once the sun comes out, these flowers appear.
Wednesday, 06/08/2022: Posted photo — Deer in Backyard.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/250 s, 135 mm.
My son and I were going to the Relay for Life (RFL) to bring more items to our site. The Relay for Life is a 24 hour walk to raise money for cancer research and is put on by the American Cancer Society (ACS). This was the first time in three years that the relay was live.
Back to my story, my son asked me if I had my camera an saw this deer in the street. Shortly after I gathered my camera a car came by and spooked the deer. I followed it into our yard, expecting not to see it. I was surprised to see it posing for me next to out son’s batting cage. This delayed our trip to the RFL.
Thursday, 06/09/2022: Posted photo — Relay Quilt.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5, 1/80 s, 27 mm.
At the RFL you can do on-site fundraising. One of the members of our team made this mini quilt as a fundraiser. The color of the ribbons indicates a different type of cancer. There are websites that can help you identify the ribbon color to a type of cancer. I was going to list them here for you, but there are so many different colors. Here is a link to on website: https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/cancer-ribbon-colors.
Friday, 06/10/2022: Post photo — Survivors Lap.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/160 s, 76 mm.
At the start of the RFL, cancer survivors take a lap. Encouraging to see so many out walking. There were survivors of less than a month to over 25 years participating in survivors lap this year.
Saturday, 06/11/2022: Post photo — Luminaria.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 0.8 s, 27 mm.
One of the most powerful events at the RFL is the luminaria. Each back has the name of a family member, friend, colleague, or acquaintance that is either fighting cancer or has finished their fight. There is a silent lap after some ceremonies. The only noise during that lap is the sound of footprints and the sound of a lone bagpiper leading the lap.
That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.
My Weebly website has not been updated since February 16, the day before I broke my ankle.
“It’s weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, don’t even amount to a couple of hours.” — James Lalropui Keivom
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 01/23/2022: Posted photo — Music.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 252, f/1.8, 1/120 s, 4 mm.
Psalm 23, The Lord is my shepherd…
This is best known psalm out of the 150 psalms in the Bible. There are five books and four literary styles in the psalms. The styles are hymns, prayers of thanksgiving and petition, religious lyrics, and didactic psalms. You can go online or ask your religious leader for more information on the psalms.
Songs, or hymns, at mass are used to enhance the service. I played the organ/keyboard during Mass when I was in college. My family still plays and sings in the choir during Mass today. A good song will lift your spirits.
I did not intend to use this photo today. I used it because it was one of the only photos that I took and it was the one that I liked the best.
Monday, 01/24/2022: Posted photo — Dusting of Snow.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5, 1/15 s, 50 mm.
Last week we received heavy and wet snow. This week we received a dusting of snow.
In taking this photo, I was practicing depth of field (DOF) in my photos. I am in my 13 year of taking photos every day and I still need on practicing various techniques so my photos are of my liking. I am my own worst critic.
I did go on a great hike tonight. This is my normal Monday night hike on Wachusett Mountain. The trails were in great shape from all the people that have been hiking after the last snowstorm. Microspikes are needed. Some people say no to microspikes since there is no exposed ice on the trails. If I am leading a hike, I am requiring the use of microspikes, or other traction devices, since there is ice under the snow and the spikes give you better traction. I am cautions in a group situation.
Microspikes are great for hiking or in thick ice, nanospikes are good for walking the in areas where traction is needed, but they are not as aggressive as microspikes. I would not recommend the use of nonspikes while hiking since they do not have the grip you need on the snow or ice, or the inclines and declined on a hiking trail. A more aggressive means for traction is the use of crampons. I use my crampons in the higher elevations of the White Mountains, or on a very icy trail. When I hike in the winter, I carry two sets of microspikes: my inexpensive “rock” microspikes and my “good” microspikes and have my crampons with me. Occasionally I will also attach my snowshoes to my pack if there has been newly fallen snow and I know that trail that I will be hiking is an underutilized trail. The difference between my inexpensive “rock” microspikes and my “good” microspikes is the length of the spikes and the quality of the product.
Tuesday, 01/25/2022: Posted photo — Snow White.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 800, f/36, 1/50 s, 93 mm.
Light dusting of snow received last night. This makes for a wonderful winter scene. When I was walking around yesterday, I was thinking of the challenge for the 52 frames project https://52frames.com/photographer/20931. The challenge is for this week is to take a minimalistic photo. This is my first minimalistic photo of the week. Look for a different photo later in the week.
Wednesday, 01/26/2022: Posted photo — Colors.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/160 s, 115 mm.
Last week at this time, I posted a sunrise photo. Today I did the same.
I would like to talk about the colors in a sunrise/sunset. When the sun is low on the horizon during sunrises and sunsets, the sunlight travels through more of the atmosphere. Shorter wavelength colors (blues and violets) get scattered out. This leaves more of the longer wavelength colors like yellow, orange, and red. Therefore, sunrises often take on such colors. Some of the colors of a sunrise or sunset are #95382c, #141b24, #4f3c54, #223444, and #9c4a44 for the more technical people that read my post. Sunrises and sunsets are also in the 1000–2000 K range. Other base settings for sunrise and sunset photos are f/6–f/16 and a shutter speed of 1/500 s. I also like to take my photos one step underexposed to bring out the colors. Shoot RAW so values can be adjusted post process if required.
As always, practice sunrise and sunset photos to find out the best settings for your camera.
Thursday, 01/27/2022: Posted photo — Sky.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/640 s, 24 mm.
Here is another minimalistic photo for the week. I like this one better than the snow photo so this is the one that I may post for the 52 frames project.
Some of the elements of minimalistic photography are simplicity, negative space, powerful composition, isolation, color, and lines and shapes. Minimalist photography shows the power of a simple solo object. In this case, it is the contrail against the blue sky.
Looking at the simplicity of this photo, my watermark may be taking away some of its impact. Need to think about that next time. There is a debate whether to watermark photos. It does take away from the aesthetic quality of some photos. I watermark the photos that I post and not the ones that I display in gallery showings or the ones that I sell.
Friday, 01/28/2022: Post photo — Hook.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5, 1/15 s, 62 mm.
I see a hook, a needlenose shark, or a stitch puller. What do you see? This is another pareidolia photo.
Today I am not writing much about this photo since I need to prepare our house for the snow storm that will happen tomorrow.
Saturday, 01/29/2022: Post photo — Looking Down the Street.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/80 s, 29 mm.
We received about 10 inches of snow out of today’s storm. It is much less than originally predicted. The storm moved out to sea, and we were on the outer edge of the storm.
I did go out every two hours today to shovel the snow. The first few times out there were a few inches of show to shovel. As the day went on, the shoveling was easier and quicker. Winter storm Kenan was another let down for us. Only 10 inches of snow. We are still waiting for the first big storm of the year.
Kenan was a bomb cyclone. A bomb cyclone is a storm that undergoes bombogenesis. Bombogenesis is a rapid intensification of a low-pressure system in which we measure in millibars. The lower the pressure is, the stronger the storm.
“If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera.” — Lewis Hine
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
This week’s post will have short descriptions each day since I am getting ready for Christmas.
Sunday, 12/26/2021: Posted photo — Ice on Mountain Laurel.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/25 s, 78 mm.
Another day of freezing rain today. The good news is that it was only in the morning. We postponed our Christmas gathering until today because of the bad weather we had yesterday.
When I went out to clear off the driveway and to warm up the car, I decided to take a photo of the ice off the mountain laurel that is in our yard.
The other possible post for today was that of the nativity seen at church. Before mass today, I took photos of the crèche and the wooden hanging on the lectern. I have also taken a photo of the altar from the choir loft.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1250 s, 91 mm.
Tonight’s challenge, hike Wachusett Mountain on ice covered trails.
Usually not a challenge for me and my experienced hiking partners, it is more challenging when you hike with a group of various abilities. Some of the people in the group have not hiked in the winter.
During the hike, I had on my “rock” microspikes because of the ice cover and not much snow. These spikes are inexpensive, so I do not mind if they get damaged during the hike. That is what happened tonight. One of the chains broke on them so I need to order a new pair. I use my “rock” spikes so that I do not damage my “good” microspikes on the trail. It is less costly for me to replace the “rock” spikes than the “good” spikes. My inexpensive spikes were purchased off Amazon and my “good” spikes are Hillsound Trail Crampon.
Tuesday, 12/28/2021: Posted photo — That Spot Again.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/22, 1/10 s, 35 mm.
Had to run out and do some errands today. I went shopping during the day since it was a day off for me. Because it was daytime, I wanted to take a photo of the dam at Round Meadow Pond. This is a usual spot for me to take during the year and it is many people’s favorite location to see in my photos.
Wednesday, 12/29/2021: Posted photo — Top of the Cascade.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/14, 1/10 s, 62 mm.
A few weeks ago, I did a hike with the AMC leaders and we went past this Cascade in Worcester, MA. Today I was in the city go do some cleaning at my mother’s house when I decided to stop by the cascade with my good camera to take a photo of the falls. This photo was a handheld photo by leaning on the bridge that overlooks the falls.
Thursday, 12/30/2021: Posted photo — Sand Dunes.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/13, 1/800 s, 95 mm.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Mosca, CO
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Elevations within the park and preserve range from 8,200 feet to 13,604 feet and keep changing due to the weather. In summer months during mid-day, sand temperatures can reach 150 degrees F. Hike during the morning or evening to avoid heat exhaustion and/or burned feet. Wear closed-toe shoes. This is something that we experienced in the park. We were there in the summer of 2012 and could feel the heat through our shoes.
An amazing thing about the park is that you can see the dunes and the Sangre de Cristo mountains from miles away. When you turn off the main road to the access road, there they are.
Our national parks are wonderful, and everyone should have the opportunity to explore them all.
Friday, 12/31/2021: Post photo — Mom.
Settings: N/A
This year my mother passed at age 95. I did not know what photo to post for the last one of the year, saw a photo of my mother, and posted the photo of her with all her boys.
For your information, here are the final count of photos for the year 2021:
Total
Portrait
6
Still Life
82
Landscape
105
Food
8
Sports
9
Wildlife
25
Macro
5
Event
11
Documentary
1
Weather
35
Architectural
22
Long exposure
8
Flowers
48
Saturday, 01/01/2022: Post photo — Cushion.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 556, f/1.8, 1/120 s, 4 mm.
Happy New Year! The start of year 13 of my project. I started on January 1, 2010 and have been taking and posting a photo a day.
The seat cushion on my wife’s aunt’s couch. We had our annual gathering at her house. I normally post a photo of the sunrise on New Year’s morning, but the weather had something to say about that.
“I like to photograph anyone before they know what their best angles are.” — Ellen Von Unwerth
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
This week’s post will have short descriptions each day since I am getting ready for Christmas.
Sunday, 12/19/2021: Posted photo — Totem.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/346 s, 4 mm
This totem is in one of the rest areas in Pennsylvania. It has a plaque that is inscribed: “Dedicated to the American Indians (Seneca) …but they won’t be forgotten, but will be remembered in the minds and in our hearts. Love is life.” Peter Toth June 30, 1973
Totem
I took this photo on my way back from watching my nephew’s dance performance in Columbus, OH this weekend. It was a great show, and he did wonderful. He was one of the main dancers in this new ballet called Wonderland. He is a typical 14-year-old boy that enjoys what he is doing.
A totem is a natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem. I took this photo today on our drive home. I took other photos during the trip and decided to use this one for my photo of the day.
Monday, 12/20/2021: Posted photo — Icicles on Yew.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/200 s, 135 mm.
We had some rain and ice overnight. It is dangerous to drive on but looks great to photograph.
Icicles on a Yew
I also went on my weekly Monday night hike and took this photo of the ice on the trees on the summit being light up by the lights of the ski trail.
Ice covered tress on the summit.
Tuesday, 12/21/2021: Posted photo — Hockey Ornament.
This is an ornament that I have had for a while. I played hockey for almost 45 years. I have not played in a few years and would like to get back on the ice to play.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/1250 s, 135 mm.
The lighting was of interest this morning, so I took this photo. I did not like the way the original photo looked so I made it into an HDR photo. Good thing that I always photograph in RAW format.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/40 s, 29 mm
Treated Road
Getting ready for a storm. Most of the streets in town have this treatment on it. Sodium chloride (salt), magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate and potassium acetate are chemicals used to prevent and remove snow and ice from roadways.
Friday, 12/24/2021: Post photo — Driveway.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/80 s, 35 mm
We did get a dusting of snow last night so yesterday’s road treatment worked.
Snow down the Driveway
This is a photo of our neighbors’ driveway. I just like the way it looks in the snow, lined with the trees and the driveway being a dirt driveway.
Saturday, 12/25/2021: Post photo — Christmas Lights.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/7.1, 1/8 s, 33 mm.
Merry Christmas to all!
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Christmas means “mass on Christ’s day”. The placement of lights on a tree goes back to when Christmas trees were decorated with candles, which symbolized Christ being the light of the world. The Christmas trees were brought by Christians into their homes in early modern Germany. Here is a page I found with the history of lights on a tree: https://www.christmas-light-source.com/pages/history-of-christmas-lights.
Christmas Lights
On another note, we have freezing rain today so we went to church and then postponed a family event until tomorrow. When I was clearing off my car this morning, I saw some tracks in the snow and took these photos.
Please note that I have not been able to post to my Weebly page for over a month, so the photos are a little behind there. Weebly technical support is still working on the issue.
“Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.” — Tony Benn
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 12/05/2021: Posted photo — Second Week of Advent.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 125, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm
Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and the beginning of the Christmas season.
The four weeks of Advent are broken down into the themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. The three purple candles on the Advent Wreath represent the preparation and repentance. During the third week of Advent, or Gaudete Sunday, a pink candle is lit to indicate rejoice, the time of waiting is almost over.
This photo was taken from the choir loft at our church. My wife and son sing with the folk group, and I joint them for the celebration of the Mass.
Monday, 12/06/2021: Posted photo — Color “fish” Photo.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 125, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm
I cancelled the Monday night hike, for safety reasons, due to the high winds and rain we were experiencing. Since there are inexperienced hikers in the group, it was not safe to be on the mountain. We would have hit the summit just at the bad weather was peaking. Because I did not hike tonight, I went grocery shopping tonight instead of my normal Tuesday evening.
When I am grocery shopping, I look for some food to photograph. I do this more in the winter since I do not have much opportunity to go outside in daylight to take my photo. Today, I saw these Goldfish crackers that are Goldfish Colors. I thought it would be punny to post a title of “Color ‘fish’ Photo”, instead of “Colorful Photo”.
In 1962, Pepperidge Farm founder, Margaret Rudkin, launched Goldfish crackers in the United States.
Here are some things you didn’t know aboutGoldfish crackers:
While on vacation in Europe, Margaret visited a Swiss cookie manufacturer that had a similar product, and together they reached an agreement to bring the salty, fish-shaped crackers to the U.S.
Oscar J. Kambly, the original Swiss creator of the cracker, created them as a birthday present for his wife whose astrological sign was Pisces — which is often represented in Greek mythology as a fish.
The first five flavors of Goldfish that were launched were Lightly Salted (Original), Cheese, Barbecue, Pizza and Smoky, and it wasn’t until 1966, four years after the crackers were first launched, that the Cheddar Cheese flavor was introduced.
Willard, Ohio is the Goldfish capital of the world! Our bakery in Willard, a town of 6,000, can produce more than 50 million Goldfish crackers a day.
The Goldfish signature smiley face was added in 1997, and about 40% of the crackers feature the smile!
Tuesday, 12/07/2021: Posted photo — Anchor.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/9, 1/1600 s, 18 mm.
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941— a date which will live in infamy— the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” — FDR. Thus started the United States entry into World War II.
This photo is from my second visit to Pearl Harbor. It still amazes me that there is oil floating out of the USS Arizona. Looking back, I posted the same photos a year ago. This is from that post — “’This anchor was recovered from the Arizona. The ship had three anchors. The crew used one in calm seas and two in foul weather, the third as a spare. Each weigh nearly 10 tons.’ This are the words on a placard near the USS Arizona Anchor at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Hawaii. The sacrifice these men and women made to make our country the great country it is today.” See my original post on Pearl Harbor, and more photos from the National Monument, by clicking on this link, https://wordpress.com/post/photobyjosephciras.wordpress.com/568.
Wednesday, 12/08/2021: Posted photo — Wood Stove.
Settings: FLIR i5, ISO n/a, f/na, 1/30 s, 7 mm.
Some of you may know that I own an infrared camera. This camera takes photo of heat signatures of object. I use it to look at insulation in houses and efficiencies at power generating plants. Occasionally I use it to take artistic photos. Some of these photos are of footprints, handprints, car engines, warm tires, and even have used it as a stud finder.
Once or twice a year, I use it to check out my wood stove. My wood stove is old and not as efficient as some of the newer stoves. It is just a steel box with an exhaust pipe. One item that I often check is the temperature given on the stovepipe thermometer. This is a thermometer that has a magnetic backing and just sticks to the stove pipe. To my surprise, that thermometer and my thermal camera normally show the same temperature. The 518°F (250°C) temperature reading is the maximum temperature my camera can detect. The brand name of our stove is Nashua. You can just make out the name near the center of the photo next to the pointer.
Thursday, 12/09/2021: Posted photo — Footprints in the Snow.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/1000 s, 25 mm
It snowed last night. Well, I would not call it a storm, just a little more than a dusting. No need to shovel or plow. The roads were snow covered in the morning, so driving for some was not easy due to black ice. Black ice, sometimes called clear ice, is a thin coating of glaze ice on a surface, such as a road. As the name implies, you do not always know when it is present, and it is very dangerous.
I like footprints in the snow. They seem so mystical for me. I wonder where the footprints lead, where was the person going, or where did the person come from. I know this is not the first footprint photo that I have posted over the years. I liked the way the sun caused shadows in the prints.
Friday, 12/10/2021: Post photo — Sunset from Office.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/80 s, 38 mm
Came out of a meeting to this. Took out my camera before it was past. The colors at sunset disappear quickly so I was quick to the camera. During the meeting, I could see the light through the windows was changing as it does at sunset. I did not expect much when I went back to my office. Then I saw the red clouds just getting end of the sunset. Reminds me of the saying of always have your camera with you, you never know want photo opportunity you might have.
Saturday, 12/11/2021: Post photo — Star on Tree.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/15 s, 33 mm.
Please note that I have not been able to post to my Weebly page for over a week, so the photos are a little behind there. Weebly technical support is still working on the issue.
Photo by Joseph Ciras 