Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
It was a “balmy” 10 degrees this morning as I stood watching the beautiful full moon descend. While cold, the scene was gorgeous and worth enduring the discomfort. The moon was beautiful and the snow-covered mountains, including Longs Peak, helped add drama as the sun began to shine. Below, horses were grazing quietly in a pasture.
Taken in Boulder County.
The sky was crazy clear along the Colorado Front Range this past Saturday and the bright white of the waning gibbous moon in the sky really drew my attention.
The first two pics were taken before the sun came up, the third, right after (hence the blue).
While the full moon gets all the press, pictures of our only natural satellite actually show much more detail at other stages. That is when the light is less direct and thus helps cast shadows and really shows the depth and color.
Such a beautiful scene yesterday northeast of Denver. The skies above were mostly clear revealing that beautiful blue that we enjoy so much of here. Beneath, the amber colored plains and in the distance, the Flatirons behind Boulder. Clouds from a powerful storm system drape the Rocky Mountains. Throw in that brilliant, clear moon and yeah, I was loving the view.
Just a random capture from this past Sunday of our only natural satellite. I know folks love the full moon shots but captures when it is waning or waxing do a better job showing off the detail and the craters due to the shadows.
My goodness. Those immortal words bring a chill to me every time I hear them but more so today.
It was at the exact moment this photo is being published, 50 years ago, that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon while Michael Collins circled 60 miles above them.
This morning I of course had to take a picture of our only natural satellite and sat and contemplated what an extraordinary feat that was for our nation and mankind. A historic achievement and one that forever changed us.
Fly me to the moon. Or, at least fly by the moon, eh?
Out taking pics last week I look up and see this airplane is going to fly right by the early evening moon. Unfortunately by the time I got my camera dismounted from the tripod and pointed at it, the plane had passed. It still makes for kind of a cool shot I think. Our moon looks absolutely fantastic against that clear, blue, Colorado sky.
As a space geek, I can’t help but look at it and look forward to the day when we can say, “There is a man (or woman!) up there!” It is hard to believe it will soon be 50 years since we first set foot on it. It has been far too long. Let’s go, NASA!
A very cool scene that unfolded last weekend. Low clouds were above and threatening to rain. On the horizon, clouds hung low beyond the foothills of the Colorado Front Range. In between, a thin band of blue sky that was punctuated by the setting moon. Even on a cruddy weather day, we get some pretty cool scenes here in Colorado.
Just a quick edit of one of my pics of the big celestial event last night as I had to get to bed and sleep before work today.
We were very lucky here in the Denver area in that while we had clouds much of the day yesterday, it cleared off quite nicely after dark. That gave us prime viewing for the so-called “Super Blood Wolf Moon” (or whatever the hype-masters called it). 😉
One of the things that struck me most about the event was that once totality was reached, the stars really brightened up and became quite visible. Here in the city, we don’t usually see so many except when there is a new moon.
I decided this is probably one of my favorite shots from the night as it offsets the moon and allows you to really see all the stars.
Skies have thankfully cleared here in the Denver, Colorado area so hoping for a nice show. I will stay up until totality but then will miss the last half as I have to go to work early tomorrow.
Technically the full moon this month was called the Full Cold Moon. However, as it set early in the morning Sunday, I happened across this scene. It seems fitting to post it now for Tatanka Thursday. 😉
The sun was just started to climb over the horizon and shed its golden light on the landscape and the creatures below. Above, a cloud layer but not low enough to obscuring the setting moon. In the background, the Rocky Mountains were waiting for their chance to see some sun.
Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
