Random Stuff | Tony's Takes Photography

Southwest Airlines photobombs my moon shot

December 28, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

So frustrating. I was setting up the perfect shot of the daytime waning gibbous moon as it hung gloriously in the clear blue, Colorado sky. Our only natural satellite looked fantastic up there and then, suddenly a streak of blue, gold and red comes flying through the frame. Dang it! 😀

Okay, in all seriousness, I don’t blame the airline or pilot one bit and was actually kind of happy to have them fly by. I was looking to find a composition that included the moon when I saw the airliner approaching. Quickly I zoomed in and started snapping, capturing a nice sequence of images.

I do have to ask though… Next time Southwest Airlines, could you fly directly in front of the moon? That would make an even better shot. 😉

Christmastime on hallowed ground

December 21, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

This past Saturday, volunteers with Wreaths Across America performed their annual task of placing wreaths on veterans’ graves across the country. This solemn act is a very touching and poignant gesture, honoring the brave men and women who have served this great nation in the military.

Sunday, I visited Fort Logan National Cemetery, as I do a few times a year, to pay my respects to my dad and the thousands of others who are buried on this hallowed ground. My Christmastime visits are always the most special, no doubt due to the holiday season but also due to the wreaths that have been thoughtfully placed by the headstones of our nation’s heroes.

The green of the wreaths and red of the ribbons provide a bright, colorful compliment to the gray marble, engraved with the names of those who had taken an oath in service to the country. On this morning, the quiet scene was accented by gorgeous wave clouds, colored in pastels by the rising sun, and a setting full moon to the west.

Someday I will join my shipmates here, making it my final resting place, and I will be honored to do so. Please take time this holiday season to remember those souls that have moved on, having given so much of themselves for this country.

Miss you, Pa! :'(

Sunrise at Fort Logan National Cemetery. (© Tony's Takes) — Sunrise at Fort Logan National Cemetery. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wave clouds and the setting full moon at Fort Logan National Cemetery. (© Tony's Takes) — Wave clouds and the setting full moon at Fort Logan National Cemetery. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wreaths adorn the graves of veterans at Fort Logan National Cemetery. (© Tony's Takes) — Wreaths adorn the graves of veterans at Fort Logan National Cemetery. (© Tony’s Takes)

Perhaps there is something to the stories

October 31, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

They say Riverdale Road through Adams County, Colorado, not far from my house, is one of the most haunted roads in the country. Indeed, at night, it is sparsely lit, twisty, and has monstrous cottonwoods lining it making it seem a bit scary.

Stories abound about there being a gate to hell along the road and how it is haunted by everything from a lady in white to the ghost of a jogger that was killed along it. Folks claim to have heard the sound of footsteps and a mysterious heartbeat.

I don’t know if there is any truth to all of that, but someone that lives there has seized the opportunity to put up this ghostly display, from the movie / novel “IT”. Yeah, it gets your attention when your headlights come across it. Happy Halloween!

Freefall Friday with the U.S. Navy Leapfrogs and U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue

October 29, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Yeah, I dunno that I would be game to parachute at all, let alone do it how these men and women perform. I was pretty astounded at their shows at the Great Colorado Air Show a couple weeks ago. Both teams were quite impressive to say the least.

The Wings of Blue, the USAF Parachute Team, arrived with flags for each branch of service (Go Navy!) and Old Glory descended in all its beauty during the singing of the national anthem.

Then, the U.S. Navy Parachute Team “The Leap Frogs” , all special forces operators, performed some pretty amazing stunts including hanging upside down – way to go, shipmates!

Wings of Blue parachutists drop from a plane over the Great Colorado Air Show. (© Tony's Takes) — Wings of Blue parachutists drop from a plane over the Great Colorado Air Show. (© Tony’s Takes)

A Wings of Blue parachutist flies with the U.S. Navy flag. (© Tony's Takes) — A Wings of Blue parachutist flies with the U.S. Navy flag. (© Tony’s Takes)

A Wings of Blue parachutist carries the POW / MIA flag. (© Tony's Takes) — A Wings of Blue parachutist carries the POW / MIA flag. (© Tony’s Takes)

A U.S. Navy Leapfrog descends making smoke trails in the sky. (© Tony's Takes) — A U.S. Navy Leapfrog descends making smoke trails in the sky. (© Tony’s Takes)

U.S. Navy Leapfrogs perform a stunt as the descend. (© Tony's Takes) — U.S. Navy Leapfrogs perform a stunt as the descend. (© Tony’s Takes)

Air Force parachutists drop toward the ground. (© Tony's Takes) — Air Force parachutists drop toward the ground. (© Tony’s Takes)

Union Pacific’s Big Boy rolls across the Colorado plains

September 7, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Let’s call it Train Tuesday! I’ve “chased” all sorts of wildlife in the past but this is only the second time I have gone after this metal beast. 😉

Two years ago, Union Pacific Railroad rolled out Big Boy No. 4014 for the first time after a multi-year restoration. I photographed it then on a clear, fall day and then two days later in a massive blizzard.

This time, the weather was quite summer-like in eastern Colorado as my wife and I enjoyed a road trip to follow along.

We first met up with the Big Boy east of Deer Trail where we were caught a bit off guard as it was running 20 minutes or so ahead of schedule. I barely had time to grab my camera and nab a few shots as it barreled by. We then headed west to catch it again after its stop in Deer Trail, just outside of town. Lastly, we photographed it a third time outside of Strasburg, a location that gave me my best captures of the day.

I don’t know that you can fully appreciate what an engineering marvel these machines were / are until you see them up close and personal.

Locomotive Big Boy No. 4014 rolls across the Colorado plains near Deer Trail, Colorado. (© Tony's Takes) — Locomotive Big Boy No. 4014 rolls across the Colorado plains near Deer Trail, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 crosses a bridge in eastern Colorado. (© Tony's Takes) — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 crosses a bridge in eastern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Closeup of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 as it rolls across Colorado. (© Tony's Takes) — Closeup of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 as it rolls across Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Video: Big Boy on the move!

September 6, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Not my usual type of photo subject but these events happen pretty rarely so I had to take advantage of it. My bride and I headed to Colorado’s eastern plains and did a bit of train chasing. Not just any train but Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive.

I took tons of pics and I will share some tomorrow but for today, here is a quick video from my GoPro that I had setup on a tripod on the ground. It really does not do justice to the sound of this metal beast as it rolled by. So impressive!

Note that you will the shadow of someone too close to the train – that is not me! I placed the camera, stepped an appropriate distance away and started it remotely.

Helicopter performs seeding and mulching to aid in wildfire recovery

August 11, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Not the usual type of “bird” I photograph but this was something I had never seen before and I spent hours watching and photographing the action.

One of the biggest hazards after a wildfire is the potential for erosion, mudslides, water supply contamination and further damage due to a bare, plant-less landscape. To help speed recovery, large areas need to be reseeded.

Grand County’s Northern Water began a project using helicopters. The Kaman K-MAX helicopter is perfectly matched for the task.

Capable of hoisting up to 6,000 pounds and being highly maneuverable, the chopper initially made passes with a large “bucket” dispensing what I presume was seed. The days that followed saw it carrying nets full of mulch which it was then dropping on the same areas.

It was pretty impressive to watch these pilots operate with amazing speed and precision and is just another step toward recovering from last year’s devastating blazes.

A helicopter drops seeds on the burn area of the East Troublesome Fire. (© Tony's Takes) — A helicopter drops seeds on the burn area of the East Troublesome Fire. (© Tony’s Takes)

A helicopter drops mulch on the burn area of the East Troublesome Fire. (© Tony's Takes) — A helicopter drops mulch on the burn area of the East Troublesome Fire. (© Tony’s Takes)

Remembering those sacrificed on the altar of freedom

May 31, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

As we close out this Memorial Day weekend, I hope everyone has taken the time to honor the brave men and women that are no longer with us. They have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great nation and we are forever in their debt.

In the fall of 1864, President Abraham Lincoln penned a letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, a widow who at the time was believed to have lost five sons in the Civil War. His words serve as a reminder of the blood that has been spilled for our freedom, the lives lost and the pain of those left behind:

Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 21, 1864

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom. Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln

*Note: I am aware that some scholars now believe the letter was written by John Hay, a White House Secretary and that after the fact, it was learned Ms. Bixby “only” lost two of her five sons in battle.

First springtime backyard flower photo session

May 27, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

With slightly overcast skies and calm winds, yesterday evening looked to be a good time to get out and play with some macro photography.

My wife’s flower gardens are starting to show some nice color with a decent little variety of subject matter. This type of photography isn’t normally “my thing”, but I do enjoy it and it is kind of nice to just walk out the back door and snap some pics.

Among the highlights blooming right now were columbine (of course!), iris, candytuft, basket of gold and a couple of others whose names escape me.

These gardens were made possible in no small part through a program with the City of Thornton and Thornton Water Conservation. We ripped up a ton of turf and replaced it with things like these that conserve water – and of course provide great photo ops. 😉

Macro closeup of an iris. (© Tony's Takes) — Macro closeup of an iris. (© Tony’s Takes)

A blooming flower in Colorado. (© Tony's Takes) — A blooming flower in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Holidays with heroes

December 26, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

I stopped by Fort Logan National Cemetery this morning to visit my dad. This is the 10th Christmas since he has been gone and in many ways it doesn’t get easier. I sat and talked to him for quite a while, shed more than a few tears.

Afterwards, I wandered the rows of headstones, contemplating all of the brave men and women that stake their final resting place on that hallowed ground. The cemetery is a beautiful and peaceful place, any time of year.

During the holidays though, it is even more special as his and many other veterans’ graves are decorated with wreaths for Christmas. The red ribbons and green pine really pop against the gray marble of the markers and provide a fresh reminder to never forget those who served this nation and are no longer with us.