SkyWatch Friday: The Last Light of Day

The most brilliant colors of sunset occur some time after the sun has dropped below the horizon.

The image on my previous post was taken as the sun was beginning to touch the mountains to my west. This image was captured sixteen minutes later.

As you will notice the contrast and intensity of color has dramatically increased.



For a full explanation of this phenomenon and great information on how best to capitalize upon it visit Jim Moore at Transient Light Photography.

For more Sky Watch or to join in visit our gracious host Tom at Wigger’s World

SkyWatch Friday; Close-up of a Thunder Shower

After capturing the image I posted last week of the distant thunder showers, I used the 400mm lens to capture this close-up. I was fortunate that these showers were to the east of my location at sundown allowing the evening sun to light them with a beautiful light.

For more Sky Watch visit Tom

SkyWatch Friday: Silent Thunder

As the sun set on a hot sultry June evening, Thunder Heads reared their tops above the mountains to the east. The distant storms were out of ear-shot but after the sun set lightening could be see flashing through the clouds.

Checking the weather map on weather.com revealed that these two small isolated showers were 60 to 70 miles away.

Visit Wiggers World for more great Sky Watch

SkyWatch Friday: Red Sky at Night

An old rhyme my Grandfather taught me went: Red sky at night, sailors delight……

The following day was as beautiful as it is possible for a day to be. Granddad was right!

Visit my friend Tom for more Sky Watch

SkyWatch Friday: Birds on a Wire

A pair of resting Barn Swallows against a clear blue sky

Since my earliest recollections, Barn Swallows have nested in our barn. I remember as a child checking out their mud nest attached to the sides of the support beams. I would wonder how they managed to stick them so securely to the beams using only mud.

I remember many times climbing up to check if they had young in the nest. I was always amazed at how quickly the little ones grew to where they too could join the graceful flock; wheeling and darting about through the skies above our pastures, hay and grain fields.

This evening while penning a few head of cattle for market, I took time to capture this image. The sight of the swallows flying above the cattle brought back some of my early memories of these beautiful, beneficial little speedsters.

SkyWatch Friday; Lens Flare

Instead trying to avoid lens flare, I decided to embrace it for this capture

After nearly two weeks of clouds and rain the sun is a very welcome change. Here in South Central Pennsylvania we have experienced the coolest, wettest May on record since the 1950’s.

For more Sky Watch Friday visit Tom

SkyWatch Friday; Threatening Skies

Saturday marked my second trip this spring to the Chesapeake in search of trophy striped bass. We traveled in rain during most of our trip down but shortly after boarding the Afternoon Delight the rain quit. The first hit came shortly after the lines were in.

My friend Paul, pictured here with Captain Hank, did the honors fighting the first fish.

The dark threatening skies seen here soon settled over us pouring down a soaking rain until mid-day. As the morning progressed we had three more hook-up and a couple of pull downs. With one fish lost, we finished the day with three nice stripers in the box.

For more SkyWatch visit my old friend "Womtig"

SkyWatch Friday, Cloudless Skies & Starling

A Starling silhouetted against a cloudless sky clutches a bug tightly moments before plunging down the chimney to feed its brood.

I noticed this feeding occurring while I was shooting the carpenter bee featured in my previous post. Every few minutes one would land on the chimney edge, survey its surroundings before hopping into the chimney opening. By the time this bird was leaving another was sitting on the rim awaiting its turn.

I shot a number of photographs of these birds and found it quite interesting that they all appeared to be carrying the same type of insect. From the photographs I have not been able to identify the insect but apparently on this day they ranked high upon the list of the Starling’s favorite foods.

SkyWatch Friday, Reflection

The lake surface was as smooth as any mirror when I captured this shot of the sky reflected upon its surface.

For more Sky Watch Friday click Here

SkyWatch Friday, Golden Sunrise

The Chesapeake sunrise that I experienced this past Sunday was so beautiful that I could not let it pass with only one post. Having lived my entire life in a mountainous part of Pennsylvania, I am accustomed to seeing the sun rise a considerable time after first light, however when viewing it over a large body of water such as the Chesapeake, the sunrise follows first light by only a few minutes.

This particular morning provided us with an interesting display. The eastern sky was partly cloudy, over head was nearly solid clouds and to the west dark storm clouds loomed. Although this is not that unusual what was unusual was that it stayed this way all morning and the heavy clouds and rain did not cover the bay until mid-afternoon.

During our drive home the cloudburst were so heavy that the traffic on the Washington DC beltway was frequently slowed to nearly a standstill.

SkyWatch Friday, Touching the Water

As the sky cleared a single low cloud swept over the mountain top, dropping down until the bottom of it touched the lake surface; vapor touching liquid.

SkyWatch Friday, Backlighting

Backlit Clouds provided a brilliant hued sunset for this Capture.

There are few things more appealing than a bright blue sky but it becomes much more beautiful when a few clouds combined with low angle sunlight paints a stunning image across the evening sky.

Note: this image was captured with my little Canon S2 IS point&shoot

SkyWatch Friday, Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Flying High, a Turkey Vulture soars with wide sweeping arcs in a perfectly cloudless blue sky.

SkyWatch Friday, Dusk at Lake Parker

I captured this photograph shortly after the sun had slipped below the horizon. The last moments of my time at Lake Parker was also the most beautiful.


Although this was to be my last shot at Lake Parker before beginning the long drive home I will continue the Florida series as I have many more shot to share with you.

SkyWatch Friday, Bok Tower

The Singing Tower at Historic Bok Sanctuary
Lake Wales,
Florida

Concerts are held twice daily at the Bok Belltower. The top of the tower holds a carillon consisting of sixty bells ranging in size from sixteen pounds to over eleven tons. The total weight of the bells is over sixty tons. The carillon is played with a keyboard and pedalboard. All connections are mechanical and the expression of each bell is accomplished by the amount of force the carillonneur applies.

Bok Sanctuary is a beautiful experience both visually and musically.

Sky Watch Friday, Spanish Moss

While visiting Bok Tower with Chad we were both busy searching for and composing shots from around the scenic gardens. I didn’t have Sky Watch in mind when I captured this shot of the sky framed by a tree heavily laden with Spanish Moss.

If you find yourself in the Orlando/Tampa area and have never visited this exquisite garden; allow me to recommend it. Bok Tower offers a beautiful quiet respite from the rush and bustle of the typical tourist trap.

For more information click Here

Skywatch Friday, Tropical Sunset

Strolling about my IL’s development I was busy looking for a presentable Florida Sunset shot. Trying to remain somewhat true to my blog name I did not want to show the multitudes of houses which grace the streets.

By aiming a little high and using a 105mm lens I was able to exclude the dwellings and with a F10 I obtained enough DOF for pleasing results.

SkyWatch Friday, Eclipse

Perhaps the Total Lunar Eclipse will be the most frequently posted subject today but I will risk being showed up by those of you who are more accomplished shutter bugs.

With a brisk wind blowing and the thermometer hovering at 18deg F (-8C) I was very pleased to capture this image.

I am extremely pleased to have had this photographic opportunity. It snowed here all day and I felt certain that this event would transpire behind a cover of clouds. Thankfully the skies began to clear at dusk and by 9:00pm this moon was shining brightly in a cloudless sky, perfect for the approaching show!

Skywatch Friday, Valentine Sky

After the sun set and darkness began to envelop the countryside, the western sky took on a beautiful red hue. The perfect end for a cold Valentine’s Day!

Sky Watch Friday, Heavens Aglow

As the storm moved by,
The clouds glowed beautifully during the morning sunrise

The sky quickly returned to a leaden gray and remained dreary until late afternoon.

A moment in time captured digitally; otherwise this moment of color would only have been a memory, soon to be lost among the clutter of my rapidly aging mind.