Photographic Thoughts — 01/16/2022 to 01/22/2022

“Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.” — Yousuf Karsh

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

Sunday, 01/16/2022: Posted photo — It’s Cold Outside.

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.

Tuesday, 01/18/2022: Posted photo — Moon — Handheld Practice.

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.

Thursday, 01/20/2022: Posted photo — Aialik Glacier.

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.

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

For more photo of other project I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

My Weebly website is back up and running. I am looking of suggestions on how to make it look better.

Photographic Thoughts — 11/21/2021 to 11/27/2021

“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.

Tuesday, 11/23/2021: Posted photo — Christmas Cactus.

Settings: Settings: Canon EOS 60D, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/8 s, 62 mm.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a popular, winter-flowering houseplant makes a great addition to nearly any indoor setting. It is not only easy to care for but propagates easily too, making it an exceptional candidate for holiday gift giving. (https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/christmas-cactus/advice-for-christmas-cactus-care.htm)

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.

Wednesday, 11/24/2021: Posted photo — Round Meadow Pond.

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.

Thursday, 11/25/2021: Posted photo — Sweet Potatoes.

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.

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

For more photo of other project I have work, visit my website: https://photobyjosephciras.weebly.com or visit me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhotobyJosephCiras/.

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.