"When the moon hits your eye, lika big pizza pie..."
I came out of a meeting Wednesday night and looked up at the moon obscured by clouds.
As I walked toward my car, the clouds were uncovering the moon.
I stopped, took out my camera and waited for the shot I wanted.
(My small camera has a wee tripod attached all the time so I was able to sit it atop my car.)
Sure beats lugging around a full-size one for the moment you might need it.
Under different conditions - like a Super Moon sighting - I have captured more details of the moon.
Again, it was with my small-but-mighty
Canon sx260 and its phenomenal 20x optical zoom.
This planned outing with other members of my Photography Group, did involve a regular tripod.
It was a clear night and the moon appeared quite a bit larger than usual.
That - and sharp focus - made for a nice shot.
Hint: set focus between 225,623 and 252,088 miles.
My previous camera - the Canon S90 - had only a 3x zoom so items appear farther away.
I switched from film cameras to digital about 12 years ago and, as they say, I have not looked back.
Oh sure, the first small P/S (Point & Shoot) ones had a screen on the back about the size of a postage stamp.
The newer ones don't even have a viewfinder.
Once I got the 20x zoom, I realized just how much I had missed the heavy gadget bag on my shoulder, filled with a variety of lenses.
It's still a good idea to look up every now and then even when you are NOT carrying a camera.
And be careful where you park.
If you can see a sign like this near your car, birds can see your car.
With a bulls-eye on it.
'Nuff said.
(Click on the photos for more detail.)
I wouldn't stand by that sign looking up too long either.
Unless you're wearing a hat.
And maybe a rain poncho.
Loiter responsibly.
Labels: 20x optical zoom lens, 25mm to 500mm, Blue Moon, Canon sx260 camera, digital Canon S90., distance from Earth, look up, Super Moon, That's Amore, water fowl nesting area
Working In The Garden on Saturday....
Dee, a member of my Photo Group, suggested a trip to
Cypress Gardens for a Photo Walk Saturday.
"It's free to residents of Berkeley County on the 3rd Saturday," she explained.
She added we had to check in before noon for the free admission.
We set a 9 am meet up time in the parking lot.
I live in what is called Lower Berkeley County.
The Gardens are in the Upper section.
I set my alarm clock. And my GPS.
My last visit there was about 48 years ago so I certainly was overdue to go again.
Arrived in plenty of time and wore layers of warm clothing.
It had dipped to just below freezing the night before.
But, the sun was shining and a nice day was predicted.
As members arrived, I saw the variety of backpacks and their shoulder bags filled with cameras and lenses.
My new small Canon sx260HP was on my belt.
Oh, I did have my 3-year old workhorse, the Canon S90, in my jacket pocket.
I almost tripped on a log on the pathway as I read the warning sign.
At least, I think it was just a log.
Jackson, one of the members of my group, agreed he was sitting pretty on the edge of the swamp.
Later he said he was going to test a device that fits on top of his tripod to make panoramic views.
It physically moves the camera in a predetermined arc to snap a series of pictures that can be "stitched" together later to make quite a spectacular shot.
It works both side-to-side and up-and-down. Yikes.
I remember being paddled around the cypress trees over the black reflective water in a small boat.
Our then 2-year old son sat on his mother's lap and my mom also was on board.
My son Chris turns 50 the middle of this year.
Did not remember there being a
Butterfly House way back then so I wandered inside.
Double doors keep the flying critters inside when people are coming and going.
It really is amazing to stand and watch them up close as they flutter around.
They land on the leaves as well as the flowers.
Maybe that's just to rest.
Signs asked us not to touch them nor attempt to
"brush them off" if they land on you.
The message added
"they do not bite."
After a few hours of walking some trails and enjoying the Gardens, I hopped in my car and headed for home.
I saw a belching smokestack in Bushy Park and pulled over in a safe spot off the highway.
There was a shot I wanted to try and, fortunately, I had a water bottle in the car that would work well.
I placed the plastic bottle on the roof of my car and carefully aimed my camera.
I wanted to make it appear the smoke - or steam - was billowing from the bottle.
I think the effort worked.
The water had a delicate smoky bouquet and aftertaste.
Labels: Aquafina bottled water, Bushy Park, Butterfly House, Canon sx260 camera, Cypress Gardens, free admission, panoramic photos, some restrictions apply, upper Berkeley County
