Photographic Thoughts — 09/14/2025 to 09/20/2025

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” — Linda McCartney

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

Sunday, 09/14/2025: Posted photo — Rosebud.

A few weeks ago, I constructed a planter for some roses that I purchased. I purchased white roses and yellow roses. The white roses bloomed a couple of times since I purchased them and the yellow roses looked like they were not going to live.

When I planted them, I was hopeful that they both would take root. I took my time and fed them, watered them, and removed weeds to help them grow. The white roses bloomed in the bed again, bending under their own weight. I need to support the blooms the next time I see them start. The yellow roses are starting to have multiple blooms.

This is a photo of one of the rosebuds from the yellow plant. It looks like it will bloom this week. If it does, I will post a photo of it later this week.

I am starting to learn about growing roses. There is much to learn, and any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Monday, 09/15/2025: Posted photo — Bearded Dragon.

The bearded dragon is equipped with armor of spiny reptilian scales, which include a “beard” of spikes under its chin that puffs up depending on its mood. A Bearded Dragon represents change, rebirth, and renewal.

This bearded dragon is the pet of one of my brothers. We stopped at his house on the way to one of the two weddings we attended last weekend. One was in Naples NY, and one was in Westminster MA the next day.

Tuesday, 09/16/2025: Posted photo — Chinese Swan Goose.

Wild goose symbolizes loyalty, integrity, and love.

This goose was swimming at the Old Mill during the time of the second wedding we attended last weekend.

Wednesday, 09/17/2025: Posted photo — Centerpiece.

This is the centerpiece from the second wedding. The first wedding was more traditional, and the second one was less traditional. The first wedding had less traditional food, and the second wedding had more traditional food.

Both weddings were special in their own way. The first was for a friend, and the second was for my niece. Wishing them both many happy years.

Thursday, 09/18/2025: Posted photo — Jump Off Point.

Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill has a lookout point called Jump Off Point. There is an overlook at the point, but not much of a drop to jump off, just a steep hill.

We took a walk to look at the views before packing up our camping equipment and heading to the wedding we were going to photograph. This was the first of two weddings over the weekend.

This park is very well maintained and is growing. The campsite we had the first time we were there, and when my wife and son camped there a few years ago, is now occupied by the camp host. I can understand why he took that site, it was the best one in the park.

Friday, 09/19/2025: Post photo — Orntario St. Bridge.

This bridge is a hidden wonder. The newly married couple wanted to take photos on this bridge after the ceremony. The bridge had debris on it, so before we took photos, we purchased a broom and swept off the bridge. We later presented the broom as a wedding gift. The couple loved the idea that we gave them this broom that was part of their special day.

Saturday, 09/20/2025: Post photo — Milky Way.

Second attempt at a Milky Way photo using my cellphone. This one was better than the first one, but still not great. There still was light pollution in the area. I attempted to block the light, so this photo came out slightly better.

I will keep taking this photo in darker areas to get a good one.

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

Bonus

Here is the photo of the rose in Sunday’s photo in bloom.

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me. Pulchritudinem mundi video per cameram meam.”

Photographic Thoughts — 08/17/2025 to 08/23/2025

“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” — Diane Arbus

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

Sunday, 08/17/2025: Posted photo — Fireplace.

Here is the fireplace at the lake ready for a fire. We have not had a fire in a while since it has been so dry.

Monday, 08/18/2025: Posted photo — Clear Day.

Finally, a clear day. I was able to clearly see Mount Monadnock from the summit of Wachusett for the first time in a few weeks.

Tuesday, 08/19/2025: Posted photo — Black Eyed Susans.

Some Black Eyed Susans around the area.

Wednesday, 08/20/2025: Posted photo — Dragonfly.

A dragonfly laying on the ground at work.

Thursday, 08/21/2025: Posted photo —  Feather.

A feather laying on the ground at work.

Friday, 08/22/2025: Post photo — Pu’u’ula’ula.

Haleakalā National Park.

Saturday, 08/23/2025: Post photo — Waterton Lake Sunset.

Waterton Lake National Park.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

Photographic Thoughts — 07/20/2025 to 07/26/2025

“Photography has nothing to do with cameras.” — Lucas Gentry

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

Sunday, 07/20/2025: Posted photo — Bed of Roses.

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of the roses in our front yard waiting for a flower bed to be installed. This is the flower bed that I put in. It is not as raised as I would have liked, but the frame still allows me to protect the roses during the winter.

Once I am sure the roses are stable, I will design the protection for the harsh winter weather.

Monday, 07/21/2025: Posted photo — Horsetail Falls.

Horsetail Falls is a waterfall located on Horsetail Creek along the Columbia River Gorge in Multnomah County, Oregon. It is 224 feet tall and is just down the road from Multnomah Falls.

The bottom of this fall is a good swimming hole. There were many people cooling off under the falls. We did not go swimming since we arrived at our campsite and wanted to see both Multnomah Falls and Horsetail Falls.

Tuesday, 07/22/2025: Posted photo — Trying to Hide.

This group of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms was trying to hike in the burl of this tree. They are doing a good job blending in. Once the mushrooms age, and turn brown, you may not be able to spot them.

Wednesday, 07/23/2025: Posted photo — Trail Marker.

I am amazed sometimes about the time it must of took to carve words into rocks on the trails. This marking has the name of the trail on Wachusett Mountain.

There are many other graffiti carvings as you get to the summit. There were a few hotels on the mountain and the kids must have carved this into the rocks, just as in modern day kids use spray paint. Only that carving in the rock would have taken much longer to do.

Thursday, 07/24/2025: Posted photo — Echo Lake.

The primary difference between a pond and a lake is in their depth and the penetration of sunlight. Ponds are shallower, allowing the sunlight to reach the bottom, while lakes are deeper. A pond generally has a uniform temperature while the temperature profile for a lake is not uniform. There are no definitive definitions for the differences, just the general rule of thumb.

Echo Lake is not very deep. I can see the bottom while looking at it. It may be called a lake by those that named it because they did not know the difference. They did use this body of water in the winter months to cut out blocks of ice to be used in ice boxes before there was reliable refrigeration.

Friday, 07/25/2025: Post photo — Communication Towers.

Here is a photo of some communication towers on the summit of Wachusett Mountain.

I do not know if they are active or not. I have heard conflicting reports about their use and cannot find any information on their use. I should have gone to the building and looked for any signs. I have seen signs on the stone building next to them, but that was a few years ago.

As with most things, you see them many times and then you just see them. I have gone by these towers hundreds of times and can tell you many things about the building, but what is on signage.

Saturday, 07/26/2025: Post photo — Wind Energy.

This is a photo of one of the two wind turbines used by the Princeton Municipal Light Department and are located at the trailhead for the Stage Coach Trail on Wachusett Mountain.

Selected information on these turbines from the PMLD website: Each blade on the turbine is 125 feet long and weighs six tons. The blade tip speed is 204 mph with the turbine turning at 17-20 rpm. The annual energy output of the two turbines is 4,000,000 kWh’s. The wind speed needed to start producing energy is 7 mph. The cutout wind speed is 45 mph. In 2010, the turbines produced 6,001 MWh of power and in 2023 only produce 2762 MWh of power. I cannot find out any information regarding the reduced power output.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

Photographic Thoughts — 07/13/2025 to 07/19/2025

“Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” — Ambrose Bierce

Here are more photos from my adventures this summer.

Sunday, 07/13/2025: Posted photo — Columbine.

The Columbine was chosen as Colorado’s state flower because of its beauty, its representation of the state’s natural environment, and its symbolic significance. It was officially designated on April 4, 1899, following a vote by Colorado schoolchildren in 1891.

I saw many columbines of different colors during my hike today.

Monday, 07/14/2025: Posted photo — Madden Peak.

I finally conquered this 12K peak. The peak is 11,982 feet tall, close enough to call it a 12K peak. There were great views at the summit. I drank plenty of water and had snacks to avoid altitude sickness.

This was my second attempt at the summit. A few years ago, I was about 400 feet from the summit when it looked like a storm rolled in. That was a good choice to turn around since there was hail, thunder and lightning and heavy rain.

Tuesday, 07/15/2025: Posted photo — Road to Mesa Verde.

This is the road that leads into Mesa Verde National Park. I just liked all the switchbacks on the road.

Wednesday, 07/16/2025: Posted photo — Mesa.

This is the view of the Mesa in Mesa Verde National Park. My brother-in-law and I hiked to the edge of the mesa. My BIL works at the park.

It was a warm down hike after hiking on the 10K Via Ferrata and the 12K Madden Peak.

Thursday, 07/17/2025: Posted photo — Shoshone Falls ID.

Shoshone Falls, known as the “Niagara of the West,” is a majestic waterfall on the Snake River in Idaho. This was a wonderful side trip on our way to camp near the Oregon Trail.

Friday, 07/18/2025: Post photo — Oregon Trail.

The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,492 km) emigrant route to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers from 1841 to 1880. It stretched from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. Tonight’s campsite was just off the Oregon Trail.

There was a visitor information center that featured some covered wagons. This is one of them.

Saturday, 07/19/2025: Post photo — Multnomah Falls OR.

Multnomah Falls is a waterfall located on Multnomah Creek in the Columbia River Gorge, east of Troutdale, between Corbett and Dodson, Oregon. According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe.

The upper falls is 542 feet tall and the lower falls is 69 feet tall.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

Photographic Thoughts — 07/06/2025 to 07/12/2025

“Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future.” — Sally Mann

As I get back to work, I am putting some photos together from the first week of my vacation. I did not sit down every day and write about the photo. I will be setting time aside next week to do so.

Sunday, 07/06/2025: Posted photo — Framed.

Mount Rainier from the plane as I was going back home.

Monday, 07/07/2025: Posted photo — Trail Sign.

One of the trail signs in Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca NY. This was on the Gorge Trail in the park.

Tuesday, 07/08/2025: Posted photo — Buttermilk Falls.

Buttermilk Falls, Ithica NY. We would like to go back when the falls are flowing faster.

Wednesday, 07/09/2025: Posted photo — Clematis.

Clematis growing at my sister-in-law’s house in Columbus OH.

Thursday, 07/10/2025: Posted photo — Gateway Arch.

This was not the first time I was at Gateway Arch. I was there a few years ago. It looked like the entrance to the Arch was moved from the first time I was there. I had more time today to explore the Arch and the area. I did not go into the Arch again.

Friday, 07/11/2025: Post photo — Busch Stadium.

I was looking forward to going to Busch Stadium. This is the site that the Red Sox broke the curse in 2004. Not the same stadium. This one was built in 2006. The ushers were asking us if we were rubbing in the World Series victory since we had Red Sox shirts on. They were just joking with us.

Saturday, 07/12/2025: Post photo — Bridal Veil Falls.

Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride CO. I passed these falls as I was going to the Via Ferrata trailhead. I did not do the entire Via Ferrata. I did the part where there was ground under my feet. I turned around before doing the section that was along the cliff face with only steel rungs to put your feet.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi. Ingeniarius sum, non scriptor.”

Photographic Thoughts — 05/25/2025 to 05/31/2025

“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.

Repost of signs. Was a busy week at work and at home

Sunday, 05/25/2025: Posted photo — Bring Water!

Mesa Verde National Park

Monday, 05/25/2025: Posted photo — Do not Stand.

Natural Bridges National Monument

Tuesday, 05/27/2025: Posted photo — Impassible When Wet.

Arches National Park

Wednesday, 05/28/2025: Posted photo — Holt Orchards.

Capital Reef National Park

Thursday, 05/29/2025: Posted photo — Dangerous Cliffs.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Friday, 05/30/2025: Post photo — River Walk.

Zion National Park

Saturday, 05/31/2025: Post photo — Mules.

North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

Photographic Thoughts — 05/18/2025 to 05/24/2025

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
Carl Sagan, Cosmos

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

I had a medical procedure done this week, so I did not have any quality time to put together the post I wanted. What I am posting this week is what I wanted to post during the summer when I was exploring our country.

These are some astrological events that I have photographed over the years.

For reference, most of the time when there is a cosmic event in our area, there seems to be cloud cover, and I miss the event. These are events that I was able to capture.

Sunday, 05/18/2025: Posted photo — Baily’s Beads.

Date: April 8, 2024

Location: Houlton ME

This was the second total solar eclipse that I have seen and photographed. I learned from the first eclipse and feel this is a better photo than the first time. I will be posting a photo of the first total solar eclipse in the bonus section of this post.

This was the first astrological event of this year.

Monday, 05/19/2025: Posted photo — Aurora Borealis.

Date: October 10, 2024

Location: Westminster MA

This is the second astrological event of this year.

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, normally do not appear in my area. This was the second time this year that they appeared. The first time I just took out my cell phone and took photos so that I could practice settings. The next few nights, it was cloudy.

I was glad that they returned, and I obtained better photos. This is not as spectacular as some that I have seen since we have hills in the area.

Tuesday, 05/20/2025: Posted photo — Comet Tsuchinshan.

Date: October 14, 2024

Location: Princeton MA

This was the third event of the year. I took my camera to the summit of Wachusett Mountain to get this shot. The comet was moving away from us and was very faint. I am happy with this photograph.

This was the second comet that I have photographed and did not have the opportunity to so a lot of pre-planning for this shot since the idea of taking this photo was spontaneous.

Wednesday, 05/21/2025: Posted photo — Total Lunar Eclipse.

Date: January 24, 2019

Location: Westminster MA

I arose early one cold January night to take this series of photos. I wanted to capture the entire event. There is a location near our house that was open and sheltered, so I just set up camp there and took this series of photos.

If you look at the big crater, The South Pole-Aitken basin, you can see it swing from right to left.

Thursday, 05/22/2025: Posted photo — First Milky Way.

Date: July 11, 2019

Location: Canyonlands National Park, Needles Section

We were in a dark sky Nation Park, and I wanted to take a photo of the Milky Way for the first time. I had to wait until 2 am to take this photo. The moon set about 1:45 am and I wanted to attempt this photo with no moonlight.

Not bad for the first time.

Friday, 05/23/2025: Post photo — Two Lunar Eclipses.

Date: January 24, 2019, and March 14, 2025

Location: Westminster MA

I was not happy with the photos I took of the total lunar eclipse this year because of cloud cover. I wanted to put together another collage but decided to put the two eclipses side by side.

If you look closely, you can see the direction of the shadow in totality. The south pole in the first eclipse is bright and the north pole in this year’s eclipse is bright. This year’s eclipse came from the third quadrant to the first quadrant.

Saturday, 05/24/2025: Post photo — Comet NEOWISE.

Date: July 19, 2020

Location: Templeton MA

This was the first photo I took of a comet. I am very happy with the lighting and composition of this photo.

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

Bonus Photos

B1 — Total Solar Eclipse Houlton ME.

Date: April 8, 2024

Location: Houlton ME

Much improvement from the eclipse back in 2017.

If you want to know, I have a solar filter for my camera so that I do not burn out the sensors when taking photos of the sun when it is not in totality.

B2 — Total Solar Eclipse.

Date: August 8, 2017

Location: Maryville TN

This is the first total solar eclipse that I witnessed. I had my settings incorrect in this photo, so I was very happy to be able to see my second total eclipse and learn from my mistakes.

B3 — Bright Sky Milky Way.

Date: July 19, 2020

Location: Templeton MA

Just fooling around while taking photos of the Comet NEOWISE.

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

Photographic Thoughts — 04/13/2025 to 04/19/2025

Photography is truth.” — Jean-Luc Godard

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

Looking for some new quotes to use. If you have any, please put them in the comments.

This week’s comments are small since I had to take an unexpected trip and did not bring my computer with my.

Sunday, 04/13/2025: Posted photo — Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday recalls the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted by people waving palm branches. It is a reminder to welcome Jesus into our hearts and to be willing to follow him.. In those days, only kings road on donkeys and their donkeys were not allowed to walk on the dirt, so the people put down palms.

Monday, 04/14/2025: Posted photo — Airplane.

I had to take a quick trip for work today. Did not know that I was traveling until mid afternoon. I jumped on a plane tonight and headed to my destination.

Tuesday, 04/15/2025: Posted photo — Chicago.

Part of my travel was a layover in Chicago. This is when I was leaving the airport and heading to my final destination.

Wednesday, 04/16/2025: Posted photo — Kentucky Derby.

There were many of these Derby houses around time. The race is happening May 3 and the city is getting ready.

Thursday, 04/17/2025: Posted photo — Churchill Downs.

I did drive by a sign for Churchill Downs on my way to a meeting. Since someone else was driving, I did not see the racetrack. I did see this horse and jockey at the airport on my way home.

Friday, 04/18/2025: Post photo — Good Friday.

This is the second holiest day of the year. It is the only day that there is no mass, just a service. Good Friday is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.

When I was young and going to Catholic school, we would have day off from school so that we could reflect on our lives from noon to three o’clock in the afternoon.

I took a photo of this brick that was in our yard since it has the work “pray” on it. It seemed appropriate for today.

Saturday, 04/19/2025: Post photo — Daffodils.

Spring weather is here today. The daffodils started to bloom this week. We have a few groups of them in our yard.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

Photographic Thoughts — 03/16/2025 to 03/22/2025

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

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

This week will show you some of the animals that I encountered during my travels.

Sunday, 03/16/2025: Posted photo — Prairie Dog.

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

Monday, 03/17/2025: Posted photo — Camping Bison.

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

Tuesday, 03/18/2025: Posted photo — Ducks.

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

Wednesday, 03/19/2025: Posted photo — Elk.

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

Thursday, 03/20/2025: Posted photo — Bison by River.

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

Friday, 03/21/2025: Post photo — Mini Cow.

One of my sister-in-law’s animals.

Saturday, 03/22/2025: Post photo — Feasting Bald Eagle.

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

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

Photographic Thoughts — 03/02/2025 to 03/08/2025

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 inspired.

I am just getting back from a weekend hike so I did not have time to compose last week’s blog.

This is a blog that I posted three years ago. I will be working on last week’s blog and will post during the week.

Enjoy some more travel photos from past trips.

Sunday, 03/06/2022: Posted photo — Desert View Watchtower.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/100 s, 20 mm.

Desert View Watchtower, South Rim Grand Canyon National Park.

We arrived at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just before sunset. We spent the last couple of nights camping and hiking along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and would be spending time on the South Rim. I have been to the Canyon before, but never from this entrance.

From the National Parks Service: “A National Historic Landmark, the Watchtower was constructed in 1932.The design by Mary Colter, is based on the architecture of the Ancestral Puebloan people of the Southwest. This particular tower was patterned after those found at Hovenweep and the Round Tower of Mesa Verde.”

We have been to Hovenweep and to Mesa Verde and agree with that statement.

Monday, 03/07/2022: Posted photo — Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/16, 1/400 s, 49 mm.

The Four Corners Monument marks the quadripoint in the Southwestern United States where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. It is the only point in the United States shared by four states.

Tuesday, 03/08/2022: Posted photo — Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/13, 1/800 s, 90 mm.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Mosca, CO.

One of the amazing things about the Great Sand Dunes is that you can see them from miles away. As you turn off the main road and head towards the dunes, they are right in front of you. We spent the day hiking the dunes pretending we were in a desert. When you look at this photo, you see a couple of dots in the sand. Those are people. The sand was hot. According to Park Service, the sand surface can reach 150 degrees F (65 degrees C) on a summer afternoon or drop to minus 20 degrees F (minus 29 degrees C) on a winter night. It was close to the 150 degrees when we were walking on the sand.

From the National Parks Service: The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Great Sand Dunes National Park is a complex geologic story going back millions of years. Intense volcanic activity built the San Juan mountain range to the west of the modern day dunes and tectonic activity raised the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north and east.”

Wednesday, 03/09/2022: Posted photo — Hiking the Narrows.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/9, 1/2050 s, 18 mm.

Zion National Park Springdale, UT.

This is a photo my wife took of me as we were hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park. It was a refreshing hike on a hot summer day. When you hike the Narrows, you need to be very aware of the weather. Because it is so narrow, there is no escape route if there happens to be a flash flood.

From the National Parks Service: “The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. You can see The Narrows by hiking along the paved, wheelchair accessible Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava. If you wish to see more, you will be walking in the Virgin River. This can involve wading upstream for just a few minutes or it can be an all day hike.”

Thursday, 03/10/2022: Posted photo — NRAO Very Large Array.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/10, 1/800 s, 165 mm.

NRAO Very Large Array, Magdalena, NM.

One of the most interesting places to visit. As you can see from the description below, the array can be very large. When we visited, there were 26 radio antennas pointing in one direction and one pointing in an opposite direction. We thought that was strange. They told up that the odd one was scanning the sky.

The Very Large Array, one of the world’s premier astronomical radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 36 km (22 miles) across, with the equivalent sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter.”http://www.vla.nrao.edu/

Friday, 03/11/2022: Post photo — Owachamo Bridge.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/125 s, 18 mm.

Owachamo Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, UT.

Owachomo is the smallest and thinnest of the three natural bridges in the National Monument and is commonly thought to be the oldest. We had a great hike out to the bridge.

We like to travel to the lesser know parks. These parks are lesser know mostly because of location. They are not close to any major city or town. We like to say it is great to have a park to ourselves.

Dimensions

Height: 106 feet (32 meters)
Span: 180 feet (55 meters)
Width: 27 feet (8 meters)
Thickness: 9 feet (3 meters)

Saturday, 03/12/2022: Post photo — Spruce Tree House.

Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/5, 1/50 s, 20 mm.

Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

From the National Park Service: “Spruce Tree House, the third largest cliff dwelling (Cliff Palace and Long House are larger), was constructed between about 1211 and 1278 CE by the ancestors of the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest. The dwelling contains about 130 rooms and 8 kivas (kee-vahs), or ceremonial chambers, built into a natural alcove measuring 216 feet (66 meters) at greatest width and 89 feet (27 meters) at its greatest depth. It is thought to have been home for about 60 to 80 people.”

We were lucky enough to get to the park prior to 2012 during one of our northern National Park tours. We were able to explore the Spruce Tree House. We went into some of the rooms and into the kivas. Due to the unstable cliff about the Spruce Tree House, the entire site was closed to the public in October 2015. We have visited the park since then since I have a relative that works at the park. We were able to obtain permits to do some backcountry hiking with my relative guide to some dwellings that are off limits to the public.

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

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”