2013 was a busy year all around and as such I focused primarily on personal projects and family. I took about half as many photos as last year, 36,000 photos to be specific ( 21,000 DLR and 15,000 iPhone). My timelapse projects carried over into 2013 from 2012 and again I selectively (more than normal) chose my DSLR photo subjects. If there is one nice thing about shooting timelapse it is that you quickly become a m
This is a still from a motion control time-lapse sequence taken during the Fall of this year. While ancient Bristlecone Pine trees are old they look young compared to the stars up above. I was particularly fond of the juxtaposition of the two subjects and I’m eager to see how my lengthy time-lapse sequence comes out. If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare. &
It’s late afternoon and I’m headed to a location that should have interesting subject material to photograph. Did I leave enough time to get there? Is the weather going to cooperate? Is the light going to be right? Will I even make it in time to set up before the light hits? More importantly and most unnerving in the back of my mind the biggest question hits, “Will I even be able to find something w
Atop the White Mountains, along the eastern border of California, lies the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. This area is known as the home of the worlds oldest trees including the oldest tree, Methuselah, whose age is 4,750 years. The last time I took the time to visit this remote area I was a dedicated film shooter. On a recent visit I took advantage of the latest DSLR technology to photograph astro-landscapes whil
Last weekend I took my son to the top of Twin Peaks in San Francisco, California to watch the rising Hunter’s Moon. Being 3 years old I expected him to be excited about seeing the moon after all he was wearing NASA boots, but his enthusiasm for taking pictures quickly took over. To warm up before the moonrise we took photos together of the western span of the Bay Bridge. After that we huddled to keep warm and w
Ancient petroglyphs are amazing to see, but one question that always comes to mind is, “What were their significance?” In the case of Sky Rock I’ve often wondered if they reflected an interest in the stars, represented every day things, told a story, or were the musings of someone who was just passing the time. It is this curiosity coupled with their distinct artistic and historical qualities that m
Last nights Hunter’s Moon was quite beautiful. I ducked the fog of San Francisco by heading slightly south to watch a big purple and later orange moon rise above the East Bay hills. Air conditions weren’t as good as I had hoped for clarity, but the particulates in the air sure helped accentuate the color. If you missed the full moon last night look again tonight, you won’t be disappointed. Photo De
Day 1 of the partial U.S. government shutdown just happened to fall on the day I left for my fall photography and new moon astro-landscape trip. My first stop was Yosemite National Park which was a high profile casualty of the shutdown. All highways were open to the park so as to drive through, but visitors were asked to refrain from stopping. Quite ironic that the public was and still is being advised to avoid using