“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.” — Destin Sparks
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Since I broke my left Medial malleolus – inside part of the tibia, left Posterior malleolus – back part of the tibia, and left Lateral malleolus – end of the fibula in a hiking accident less than 10 feet from the end of the trail last week, I will be posting photos from my first photo book. I am awaiting surgery on my ankle next week, so my mobility is limited. My vehicle is a manual transmission so I will not be able to drive it for a while.
“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.
This week will only be photos. I have been writing my blog every day this week on thumbdrive. That thumbdrive has been misplaced so I am just posting photos. A photo is worth a thousand words. This phrase emerged in the USA in the early part of the 20th century. Its introduction is widely attributed to Frederick R. Barnard, who published a piece commending the effectiveness of graphics in advertising with the title “One look is worth a thousand words”, in Printer’s Ink, December 1921.
Sunday, 02/06/2022: Posted photo — Long Exposure.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/16, 1/10 s, 42 mm.
Monday, 02/07/2022: Posted photo — Alaska.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 400, f/8, 1/4000 s, 75 mm.
Tuesday, 02/08/2022: Posted photo — Chain.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/15 s, 88 mm.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/30 s, 113 mm.
Last week I wrote about how cold it was in this area. Here is a photo of this morning’s temperature. As you can see, it is still cold in this area. The temperature will warm up tomorrow since we are expecting eight inches of snow. Looks like I will be snowshoeing to work tomorrow.
From AccuWeather:
A question meteorologist get asked all the time during the cold winter months is “can it ever be too cold to snow”? Well, the short answer is no.
The ingredients for snow are:
1. A temperature profile that allows snow to reach the surface 2. Saturated air 3. Enough lifting of that saturated air to allow snow to develop aloft and fall to reach the surface
The phrase “it’s too cold to snow” probably originated as a misapplication of the relationship between temperature and the maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air. When temperature decreases, the maximum capacity of water vapor that can be in the air decreases. Therefore, the colder it gets the less water vapor there will be in the air.
Monday, 01/17/2022: Posted photo — My Commute.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 186, f/1.8, 1/60 s, 4 mm.
It snowed last night, and it was snowing during my morning commute. I like to say that my commute took longer that usual to get to work. What normally takes me five minutes, took me 45 minutes. It is much safer for me to walk to work in the snow than it is for me to drive in the snow. A little more than half of my hike is on the Midstate Trail. It is nice to live so close to a trail junction or trailhead.
During my three mile hike to work, I may see one or two cars and a half dozen plows. On my way home from work, there will be some more cars, depending on the road conditions. People stay home from work when it is snowing. The funny thing about that is that I live in north central Massachusetts, in a snowy part of New England, so people should be used to driving in the snow.
I did not go on my normal Monday night hike on Wachusett Mountain today. If I were to hike it, I would have to leave work a little early, take the three mile, 45 minute hike home; get in my car; and then hike three to four more miles on the mountain.
Walking generally occurs on flat paths, while hiking often occurs in areas of high elevation. It can include hills and mountains. Some people think of hiking as anything that has above a 500 foot change in elevation.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/16, 1/250 s, 300 mm.
The full moon was yesterday. It was snowing yesterday so I did not have the opportunity to do my full moon without a headlamp nighttime hike on Wachusett Mountain. As written yesterday, I walked to and from work because of the weather.
This morning I saw the moon and wanted to take a photo of it for this month.
From the Old Farmer’s Almanac: “It’s thought that January’s full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that wolves howl for different reasons. Howling and other wolf vocalizations are generally used to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and coordinate hunting.”
Wednesday, 01/19/2022: Posted photo — Sunrise.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/30 s, 50 mm.
The sky caught my eye this morning, so I took a photo of it. The photo itself will explain why. What great colors. Too bad a photo does not do it justice.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/11, 1/640 s, 75 mm.
The Aialik Glacier is a glacier in the Kenai Peninsula Borough of Alaska. It drains into Aialik Bay. Part of Kenai Fjords National Park, it drains the Harding Icefield. Aialik Glacier, a little over 15 miles from Seward, is the largest glacier in Aialik Bay.
Icefields are expanses of glacial ice flowing in multiple directions. Like ice caps, icefields usually cover less than 50,000 square kilometers (19,300 square miles), so they are much smaller than the ice sheets blanketing Greenland and Antarctica. In contrast to ice caps, icefields are interrupted by peaks of the underlying mountain ridges, and those mountains influence the flow of the icefield.
This is one of the amazing sites in Alaska.
Friday, 01/21/2022: Post photo — Morning View.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/160 s, 101 mm.
What a great view this morning. As I walk around, I am seeing the sunrise more since the sun is rising earlier in the day. The colors this week on the sunrises have been spectacular.
Saturday, 01/22/2022: Post photo — Colors.
Settings: Google Pixel 2, ISO 124, f/1.8, 1/125 s, 4 mm.
I am posting to another website weekly, https://52frames.com/photographer/20931. This week’s theme is Complementary Colors. I had to go to the store today to get somethings to repair my roof and took this photo of the color samples. There are many sets of Complementary Colors in this shot.
“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.
“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.” — Alfred Eisenstaedt
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 12/12/2021: Posted photo — Stream.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/154 s, 4 mm
“The Cascades is made up of several parcels of land: Boynton Park, Cascades West, Cascades East, Cascades Park, and Cascading Waters. Most of the area is wooded, but there is a meadow in Cascades West that has been enlarged to expand the opportunities for wildlife habitat. Several trails follow along streams and there are vernal pools that can be explored in the Spring. Views of the falls are spectacular in the Spring or after a heavy rain.”https://www.gwlt.org/lands-and-trails/four-town-greenway/cascades/
When I was growing up in the city of Worcester, this trail system did not exist. It was established in 1991 and completed in 2005 by the Greater Worcester Land Trust. What a great trail to have in the city and a great location for families to get outdoors and explore nature and the hidden wonders of the city.
This was my first time hiking in the Cascades. I passed the trailheads many times when I was driving home from my mother’s house and have wondered how long the trail system was and why was it called the Cascades. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) had a leadership meeting on the trail ending with a four mile hike on the trail system. At one of the trailheads is the AMC equipment hut. Part of the leadership trailing was to learn about the equipment hut and how to access its resources. It is place that equipment can be borrowed by families or individuals that are just starting out with outdoor activities and need to borrow equipment. It is a great way for those in the city who cannot afford the proper equipment to borrow some to be used in a guided hike or camping trip.
This photo is one of the many cascades along the trail. I only had my cell phone with me so please excuse the quality of this photo. I will be going back with my good camera to take better photos.
Monday, 12/13/2021: Posted photo — Ornament.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/7.1, 1/20 s, 98 mm.
This is the first photo I took with my new lens. My old lens was having issues focusing past 35 mm so I needed to replace it.
Thought to have originated in 16th century Germany, the first ornaments were nothing like what we know today. The ‘modern’ Christmas tree tradition is thought to have originated in 16th century Germany, where small evergreen trees were decorated with the likes of candles, apples, nuts, and berries as “Paradise trees” in church plays. Over time, devout Christians integrated these decorated trees into their homes during the holiday season. The tradition, which became a Christian ritual, began to spread across Europe. (https://theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-christmas-ornament-3/)
There is nothing particularly interesting about these ornaments. I just took my camera, pointed it at the tree, and took this photo.
Tuesday, 12/14/2021: Posted photo — Geminids.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/9, 14 s, 18 mm.
“The Geminids are considered one of the best meteor showers every year because the individual meteors are bright, and they come fast and furious. The Geminid meteor shower is nearly 200 years old, according to known records — the first recorded observation was in 1833 from a riverboat on the Mississippi River — and is still going strong. In fact, it’s growing stronger. That’s because Jupiter’s gravity has tugged the stream of particles from the shower’s source, the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, closer to Earth over the centuries.”https://www.space.com/34921-geminid-meteor-shower-guide.html
I was up this morning at 2:30 ET to watch the Geminids. What a spectacular show! I was planning on being outside for an hour before going back to bed. I was watching the show until 4 a.m. before taking a short nap to get up for work at 4:30 a.m. I did see some of the meteors during last night’s hike. They were not very bright since the moon did not set until 2:41 a.m. with the peak of the Geminids at 2:40 a.m.
One of the questions was were to direct my camera. I placed it heading north, then heading south, and then to the east. I was pointing it in the direct of the greatest activity at the time. The photo that I posted, the one where the meteor underlines the Big Dipper, was with my camera pointing north. The other photo, the one with the roofline of my house, was with the camera pointing east. There were no bright meteors in the photos with my camera facing south. This is the east facing photo.
Wednesday, 12/15/2021: Posted photo — Sunrise.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400 s, 50 mm.
Last week I posted a photo of the sunset from my office. Today I am posting a photo of the sunrise.
I was going between buildings this morning and watching the sunrise. I saw different colors in the woods around the property and was looking at the clouds changing color. When I got back to my office, I went to an eastern facing window and looked at the clouds.
This photo is what I saw when looking out the window.
Thursday, 12/16/2021: Posted photo — Waterton Lake Sunset Alberta.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/1000 s, 25 mm
Waterton Lakes National Park is in southern Alberta, Canada, bordering Montana’s Glacier National Park. We camped there a few years ago after sending time in Glacier.
I took this photo the first night we were at the park. I took it at the blue hour. You need to search my previous blogs for the definition of blue hour as it pertains to sunsets. I was able to post edit this photo to make it look like what I saw. Most times the camera will wash out photos or make them look different that that you see. This proves the adage that you can never justify the colors that you can see with a photograph.
Friday, 12/17/2021: Post photo — Off We Go.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/1000 s, 121 mm
Off to Chicago Midway we go!
I was driving around this afternoon and stopped by an airport to watch the planes. It is very relaxing to see the plans take-off and land. Even after studying aerodynamics, I am still in wonder to see a plane fly. I know the time that I took this photo and then went to the airports website to see were that flight was heading. I took photos of the plans to practice AI Servo focusing.
The focus modes on my camera are:
ONE SHOT : One-Shot AF
AI FOCUS : AI Focus AF
AI SERVO : AI Servo AF
[One-Shot AF] for Still Subjects: Suited for still subjects. When you press the shutter button halfway, the camera will focus only once.
[AI Servo AF] for Moving Subjects: This AF mode is for moving subjects when the focusing distance keeps changing. While you hold down the shutter button halfway, the subject will be focused continuously. When you use this focus mode, the camera does not “beep” when the object is in focus, so you need to trust your skills.
[AI Focus AF] for AI Focus AF switches the AF mode from One-Shot AF to AI Servo AF automatically if the still subject starts moving. AI Focus AF mode is one that I do not use, and do not recommend using. It does not work very well.
Saturday, 12/18/2021: Post photo — Statehouse
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/154 s, 4 mm
The statehouse in Columbus OH. My nephew was the lead male in a ballet across the street today. He is 14 years old and is a great dancer. We saw the show twice. Great show.
“The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation.” — Susan Meiselas
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 11/28/2021: Posted photo — Summit of Mt Norwottuck.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 50, f/1.7, 1/268 s, 4 mm
Mount Norwottuck or Mount Norwottock, 1,106 feet above sea level, is the highest peak of the Holyoke Range. It was the first stop today. The second one was Long Mt at 920 feet. Not tall mountains, but the hike was 9 miles in length. Mount Norwottuck received its name from Edward Hitchcock, a former professor of geology at Amherst College. Hitchcock coined the term “Scenographical Geology” in 1841 to describe the dramatic geologic landscape of the Holyoke Range. Originally called Hilliard Knob, Hitchcock applied the Native American name Norwottuck to the mountain. Norwottuck is the Indian name of the village of Hadley.
Reference mark at on the summit of Mount Norwottock. The reference mark points to the summit.
An interesting fact about the Holyoke Range is that it is a Transverse Range. The mountain range runs east to west. There are two other major mountain ranges that are transverse in the United States. They are the Transverse Ranges in California and the Uinta Mountains in Utah.
Today would have been my mother’s 96th birthday. She passed away July 17 this year, so this is the first birthday without her. She is with my father who passed in 1993 and my daughter who passed in 1992. They get to meet their granddaughter together and celebrate their birthdays together for the first time in 28 years. My father would have turned 99 a few days ago.
Hiking clears your mind. Hiking with friends is very therapeutic.
Monday, 11/29/2021: Posted photo — Poles Against a Tree.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 1000, f/1.7, 1/10 s, 4 mm
Monday nights is hiking night. I hike with a Meetup group on Mondays for a few months now. It is a good group to hike with since the pace is a little faster than other groups that I have hiked with in the past.
My poles at the junction of the Jack Frost and High Meadow Trails on Wachuestt Mountain
Tonight’s hike was in the cold and dark. The temperature was in the high 20s (F). It was the first time that I used my microspikes to hike with this year. I did not need to use them, but I did not know the trail conditions on one of the hills on the hike and I wanted to get ready for possible ice. We did get snow last week and the trails were snow covered the ground was frozen.
Why do I hike at night? I hike at night for the peacefulness of it. Even with a group, your senses are challenged, and you are more aware of your surroundings. As a leader for the hike, I keep my eyes and ears open for the less experienced people in the group.
As you can see from the photo, it was cold. I wore my gloves and not my -30 F mittens for this hike. Dressing is layers for winter hiking is also important, so you do not overheat or become too cold. You should have at least three layers. A base layer (underwear layer) that wicks sweat off your skin, a Middle layer (insulating layer) that retains body heat to protect you from the cold, and an outer layer (shell layer) that shields you from wind and rain. Here is a website that describes layering, https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/layering-basics.html.
Tuesday, 11/30/2021: Posted photo — Yes, We Have No….
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 80, f/1.7, 1/120 s, 4 mm
“Yes! We Have No Bananas” was written by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn and was published March 23, 1923. “The story goes that one day in 1922, songwriting duo Frank Silver and Irving Cohn were on their way to work in New York City when they stopped for a snack. At a greengrocer’s, the Greek immigrant owner told the tunesmiths in his broken English, “Yes! We have no bananas today.” The reason the grocer had no bananas? A blight in Central America had caused a shortage.” (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/31253/music-history-3-yes-we-have-no-bananas)
Bannanas
I thought about titling this photo “Going …” after the expression that has its roots on American college campuses in the 1960s. It is believed that the term going bananas is a term that evolved from the idiom going ape, which also means to go crazy, to explode with anger or to erupt with enthusiasm.
Wednesday, 12/01/2021: Posted photo — Just a Cloud or is it?
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/22, 1/6 s, 35 mm.
This could be just a cloud. Or it could be a winged buffalo tilting down to the left.
Cloud formation
I have posted in the past what seeing objects in clouds is called. Pareidolia is a sign of creativity. I took this photo today, not because I saw an object in it, it was because I needed a photo for today. I did not see the object until I was post processing the photos.
What do you see?
Thursday, 12/02/2021: Posted photo — American Bison.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 80, f/1.7, 1/120 s, 4 mm
This photo was taking at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. I have a feeling that I have posted this photo in a previous post. If I did, I am sorry for the repeat. I like this photo.
American Bison
Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, this maze of passages is home to boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere.
Here are a few more photos from Wind Cave National Park.
The bull of the herdBoxwork in Wind Cave
Friday, 12/03/2021: Post photo — Star Trail.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/3.5, 9 s, 18 mm
I took a star trail photo today. It was great to take a star trail photo earlier in the evening and not after 10 p.m. The photo I posted was a composite of 437 photos stacked together. The secondary photo that I am posting in this post is a composite of 637 photos.
437 composite photo start trail
There is a lot of airplane activity north of my house at night.
637 composite photo start trail
Saturday, 12/04/2021: Post photo — Sunrise at the Pier.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/22, 1/4 s, 62 mm.
I took this photo a few years ago on Jacksonville Beach. This pier was damaged by a hurricane a few years after I took this photo. This is one of my favorite photos that I took that morning. I took this because I liked the way the heron was silhouetted against the pier and the ocean.
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.
“Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.” — Yousuf Karsh
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 11/21/2021: Posted photo — Snow on the Trail.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/1000 s, 26 mm.
When on a hike this afternoon to complete my mapping of Wachusett Mountain. I am taking the bearing, elevation, and GPS location of all the trail intersections on the mountain. There are 23 marked routes on the mountain. This includes 18 hiking trails and the five internal service roads with close to 60 trail junctions. Some trail junctions have multiple readings, that is way I said close to 60 trail junctions.
This section of Old Indian Trail is closed during the winter since it crosses for ski trails. There were making snow on the mountain so I did not know if I could cross. This was one of the last two trails I needed to triple verify.
The mountain tries each year to open on the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday. Most of the years the do so. Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a “snow gun”, also known as a “snow cannon”. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. They just might make the desired opening date this year.
Here are a couple more photos from the hike. One is Balance Rock, a glacial erratic that I may have posted a photo of previously, and the other is a bridge over a brook on Old Indian Trail.
Monday, 11/22/2021: Posted photo — The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 400, f/11, 1/500 s, 18 mm.
President John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the Unites States was assassinated on November 11, 1963, less than a year before I was born.
The eternal flame at the burial site of John F. Kennedy was First Lady Jackie’s idea, supposedly inspired by a similar grave flame that she’d seen in fashionable Paris. She lit the flame herself, with a gas-soaked rag on a stick, at the conclusion of JFK’s burial. Read more about the eternal flame here: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/President-John-F-Kennedy-Gravesite.
When I first entered Arlington National Cemetery, it brought tears to my eyes. I could just feel the patriotism and the honor of those entomb there. Going to the eternal flame and watching the changing of the guard are the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are two things, among many, that everyone should experience. Here is a photo of the Tomb of the Unknown.
This plant is in an office at work. I was looking for some information and I was drawn to the flower. I know a few people with this plant and know how hardy of a plant it is. Not much more to say about this photo today.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/22, 1/6 s, 35 mm.
We were let out of work early today because of the holiday tomorrow. This gave me the opportunity to take a photo in daylight. I like this location, so I took this photo.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 80, f/1.7, 1/120 s, 4 mm
The terms “yam” and “sweet potato” are used interchangeably, but they are completely different vegetables. Yams are starchy and have a rough, brown exterior. They can grow up to 45 feet long and are eaten in parts of Latin America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. Sweet potatoes are a New World root vegetable, have a softer, reddish skin, a creamier interior, and often, a darker interior.
Friday, 11/26/2021: Post photo — After Thanksgiving Hike.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 100, f/1.7, 1/120 s, 4 mm
I am currently an Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) leader and today was an AMC after Thanksgiving hike. The hike was six miles long from Crow Hill to Wachusett Mountain along the Midstate Trail.
Saturday, 11/27/2021: Post photo — Snow Fall.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/160 s, 20 mm.
We had the first measurable snowfall of the year. Here are some photos.
We also did a 4.5-mile hike with relatives this afternoon. Here are some photos.
Now much to say about the photos the last couple of day since relatives were in the area. Spent more time with family and friends then with writing this blog.
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.
“If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” — Jim Richardson
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 11/07/2021: Posted photo — Pratt’s Falls.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/15 s, 22 mm.
Pratt’s Falls, a 137 ft ribbon or cascade style waterfall located in Manlius, NY. The site was originally a sawmill and was the site of Onondaga County’s first mill operation in 1796. The hike out to the falls is only a half mile long (one-mile round trip) and could be step for some. There are stairs that take you down to the lower viewing location.
We stopped by the falls on the way to my nephew’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
Photo tip of the week — Lessons learned from taking waterfall photos.
Set you camera to manual with a slow shutter speed. I use between 1/4 sec to 10 sec depending on the lighting.
Set your aperture to a value between f/16 and f/22. I sometimes open up, or close up, my aperture depending on the light and how I am taking the photo (with a tripod or handheld).
Use a tripod with image stabilization off. If you do not have a tripod, find a tree or other object to hold yourself steady.
Turn you ISO to the lowest setting. I use ISO 100 for my shots.
Use a ND filter if you have one. I use from a ND3 to a ND10, depending on the lighting.
Take time to get your composition the way you would like to have it. Try both portrait and landscape photos of the falls.
Pick a focal point, such as a rock or a tree near the falls. It is difficult to focus on the water.
Lighting is important. Take your photo in the morning or in the evening when the light is not on the waterfall. If it is on the waterfall, use the appropriate ND filter.
Use a remote, or your camera’s timer, for your shot to cut down on camera shake.
Monday, 11/08/2021: Posted photo — Tinkers Falls.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/32, 1/6 s, 79 mm.
Tinkers Falls in the Labrador Hollow Unique Area and is about 50 feet tall. The Labrador Hollow Unique Area is a 1,474-acre (5.97 km2) conservation area located in Cortland and Onondaga counties, New York, and was the first property to be designated as a Unique Area by New York. A unique area, according to the state New York Department of Environmental Conservation, is “land owned by the state that was acquired due to its special natural beauty, wilderness character, or for its geological, ecological or historical significance.”
When I took the photo of these falls, I did not use my tripod. I was practicing my handheld long exposure photography. I was either leaning against a tree, sitting on a log, or using long exposure breathing techniques. The hike to these falls is very short, only about a quarter mile, and the trail is relatively flat.
Bonus photo tip — how to breathe and hold your camera for long exposures.
The way you hold your camera can have a big effect on the amount of blur caused by your own movement. Hold the camera with two hands close to your body and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. Being conscious of your breathing can further minimize shake. Inhale or exhale and then take a gentle half breath in and hold it there in a relaxed way.
Tuesday, 11/09/2021: Posted photo — Peas.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 125, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm
A pea is a cultivated climbing vine having compound leaves and edible seeds enclosed in a green, elongated pod. The seed of this plant is used as a vegetable.
Shopping night tonight. Instead of taking photos of flowers, I took a photo of some peas. Why did I do that? I did it for variety. I often wonder who the first person was to eat peas and how they knew that they could open the pod to get the seeds out.
You can look up the health benefits yourself for details on each of these benefits.
Wednesday, 11/10/2021: Posted photo — Bryn Mawr Glacier.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/25, 1/30 s, 48 mm.
Bryn Mawr Glacier flows southeast for about 4.5 miles (7 km) to Harvard Arm of College Fjord in northwestern Prince William Sound, about 45 miles west of Valdez and 44 miles northeast of Whittier, Alaska (61° 15′ 13″ N, 147° 49′ 29″ W). As you travel into College Fjord, the glaciers on the left are named for women’s colleges and those on the right are named for men’s colleges. The names are Amherst, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Harvard, Smith, Vassar, and Yale). Harvard Glacier is the biggest – its face is a mile and a half across.
Alaska is such an amazing place to visit. The landscape keeps getting better and better as we headed north from Vancouver on our cruise. Here are a few more photos taken in College Fjord.
The Allied powers signed a ceasefire agreement with Germany at Compiégne, France, at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, bringing the war now known as World War I to a close. President Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day the following year on November 11, 1919, with these words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
In 1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day, changing the name from Armistice Day. Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all who have served, living, or deceased, but particular the living veterans among us.
In the past, I have posted photos of Arlington National Cemetery, American flags, and other memorials for Veterans Day. Today am posting a photo of my father from 1944 when he was serving in the Navy during World War II. My father entered service in the Navy on November 30, 1943 and was received his Honorary Discharge on February 26, 1946. He was discharged as a Fireman First Class. He was stationed at NTS, Sampson, New York; NTS, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia, and the University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina.
Friday, 11/12/2021: Post photo — Cashews.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/20 s, 106 mm.
Cashews are low in sugar and rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein. They’re also a good source of copper, magnesium, and manganese — nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity, and bone health.
I needed a photo; I had some cashews in the house, so I took this photo.
Saturday, 11/13/2021: Post photo — Last Wood Delivery.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/13 s, 24 mm.
The last three cords of wood arrived this morning. No hiking today, just yard work. My son stacked some of the wood. He has friends coming over later tonight if the rain stops. Five cords total for the winter.
It was a great day for a hike, but I did not go just in case we did receive our wood. Also, the yard need raking. All the rain we had lately took most of them down.
Please note that I have not been able to post to my Weebly page since last Monday, so the photos are a little behind there. Weebly technical support is working on the issue.
“You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.” — Joan Miro
Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.
Sunday, 10/24/2021: Posted photo — Ashburnham Community Church.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/640 s, 18 mm.
The Ashburnham Community Church is now home to the New Dawn Arts Center.
Information off the New Dawn Arts Center website (www.newdawnarts.org). The church was constructed in 1834, the steeple houses a church bell cast by a former apprentice of Paul Revere, and the 1886 pipe organ was installed by Boston organ builder George Hutchings. The church was part of The Underground Railroad.
The Community Church was sold to the Arts Center a few months ago. The congregation of the church was getting smaller so they could not afford to keep the church in operation. The Arts Center is allowing the church to hold services there and all other outreach services are still running at the church, such as a food pantry.
New Dawn Arts Center at the Ashburnham Community Church
I just like the look of churches with their steeples and stained glass. When I was going to church, I was drawn to the contrasting white church and the clear blue sky. The foliage looked to be past, but it did show well in this photo. The church that I belong to is across the street from the Community Church. I have taken photo of this church before and will again since I like its architecture.
Monday, 10/25/2021: Posted photo — Mountain View.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 100, f/6.3, 1/80 s, 39 mm.
What a great view from the summit today! As you can see, the summited was fogged in. I had to use my map and compass to find my way down part of the trail. Using a map and compass on Wachusett Mountain is not very common since the fog has not been this dense in a very long time and people look at me strangely when I use them in good weather. I could see the trail ahead of me tonight. I was just verifying the bearings at each trail junction just so I did not head back up the mountain. It was good practice for me.
Fog on the mountain
Over the past few months, I have been taken the bearings at each junction and verifying elevations and coordinate locations with my trail map program and with the paper trail map of the mountain. I am in the process of putting together a detailed map of the mountain to help new and experienced hikers. Map and compass skills are essential to survival. Using these tools on a well hiked mountain is great for learning this skill.
The error most people will make is not accounting for magnetic declination (14° West on Wachusett Mountain). Magnetic declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north. Remember “West is best and East is least.” You add the declination to your reading if the declination is to the West or subtract the declination from the reading if it is to the East. I can adjust my compass for declination prior to use so I do not have to do the math if I am in a dangerous situation. Not all compasses can be adjusted. I would suggest spending a little more money on a compass that can be adjusted. It could save your life. Remember to always practice this skill in a known location prior to any “big” hike. Do not rely on the GPS on your phone.
Tuesday, 10/26/2021: Posted photo — Flowers.
Settings: Samsung SM-G930V (Galaxy S7), ISO 80, f/1.7, 1/60 s, 4 mm
Part of the opening paragraph from the novel “Paul Clifford” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton states, “It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents …” It was a dark and stormy day today. Heavy rain, high winds and fog were the norm. I was going to post the following photo for today, a photo of wet foliage.
Bouquet to cheer up the day
I went grocery shopping before I posted my photo and saw the flowers that I posted. I thought of how flowers put smiles on people’s faces and wanted to brighten up this gloomy day. Here is another photo of some more flowers that I took today during my shopping trip to brighten your day.
Secondary post of flowers for the dayThe photo that I did not post
Wednesday, 10/27/2021: Posted photo — Reflection.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/3.5, 1/25 s, 18 mm.
I was not intending to take this photo. I was intending to post a photo from either my trip to Alaska, or my trip to Hawaii, since the weather still is a little gloomy.
While on my way home from work, the reflection of the trees on Round Meadow Pond caught my eye. The lighting was iffy, but I made the quick decision to go to one of my favorite photographic locations and see if there was an opportunity for a reflection photo in the smooth water.
Reflections on the shoreline
I first took a photo of the island and its reflection. I did not quite like it lack leaves on the tree. It made the island look unattractive and scraggly. Then I took a photo of the trees along the shoreline. Trees along the shore usually take a good photo. I was happier with this photo. I was not excited about this photo, just happier than I was with the island photo.
The island shot I did not like
Sometimes it is better to post a bad photo from that day, then a good photo from the past for historical reference.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/800 s, 36 mm.
Weather front in the morning
A weather front is the transitional zone between two different air masses. An air mass a body of air with horizontally uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure. The high-pressure side of the front is the side with no clouds. In a high-pressure system, the warmer air is flowing downward. The low-pressure side of the front is the one with the clouds. In a low-pressure system, cold air is flowing upward causing condensation around dust particles in the sky, forming clouds and often precipitation. In this photo, the low-pressure system is moving out of the area. As the high-pressure system is moving in, the air temperature will be slightly higher that it was yesterday. A simple fact in physics is that if air pressure increases, the temperature must increase and if the air pressure decreases, the temperature will decrease. This explains why the air gets colder at higher altitudes, where pressure is lower.
Friday, 10/29/2021: Post photo — Footbridge Over the Virgin River.
Settings: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS, ISO 200, f/9, 1/200 s, 18 mm.
“In the summer of 1909, President of the United States William Taft declared the area as federally protected and officially named it Mukuntuweap National Monument, deciding to go with the Paiute name rather than the one chosen by Utah’s early pioneers. State residents were not pleased, to say the least, with President Taft passing over the name they had originally chosen for the area. In 1918, after almost a decade of grievances, the assistant director of the recently formed National Park Service, Horace Albright, changed the name of the park to Zion National Monument.” (https://zionnationalpark.com/zion-national-park/zion-national-park-history/)
Footbridge over the Virgin River in Zion National Park
Here is some information about the Virgin River. The Virgin River and its tributaries run through Zion National Park causing the erosion that continues to carve and shape Zion National Park. The North Fork of the Virgin River begins north of Zion National Park at Cascade Falls, near Cedar City, Utah, where it drains out of Navajo Lake in Dixie National Forest at 9,000 feet above sea level. The East Fork of the Virgin River originates above Long Valley in western Kane County, Utah. Both the North and East Forks of the Virgin River run through the park and empty into Lake Mead at about 1,000 feet above sea level, where it joins the Colorado River.
The view from the footbridge
The view from our campsite
Angry squirrel along the trail to to The Narrows
My wife took this photo of me hiking in The Narrows
Our time at Zion National Park included camping and hiking. We also had one of the better star filled night skies on our trip. One of the hikes we did was in The Narrows. A great place to hike in the heat of the summer. The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The gorge has walls up to a thousand feet tall and the Virgin River is just twenty to thirty feet wide in some locations. The hike through The Narrows requires hiking in the Virgin River. The river when we hiked was a milky color so you did not know how deep the water would be in your next step. You need to be very careful of flash flooding in The Narrows since there is little to no room of escape due the height of the gorge walls.
Saturday, 10/30/2021: Post photo — Maple Leaf.
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/60 s, 100 mm.
Last week an oak leaf, today it is a maple leaf. A sugar maple leaf to be precise.
Sugar maple leaf in our driveway
More rain today. I took this photo in my driveway while I was on my way to do some shopping.
Photo by Joseph Ciras 