Big Dipper from Timber Canyon, Utah

Just as you leave the Pinnacles area, you can travel through Timber Canyon, which is a winding dirt road through some beautiful areas. I enjoy the stars at night. This picture shows the Big Dipper just peeking over one of the huge canyon walls. The crescent moon is out of the field, and over to the left.
Taken with a Canon 550D, 30 sec exposure, ISO 800, f 2.8, Tonika 11-16 mm wide angle lens.

The Big Dipper from the Pinnacles

The Pinnacles are near the Strawberry River in Duchesne County, Utah. At about 6,000 feet, the stars are very nice, so many and so bright. This picture was taken looking north, with the bowl of the Big Dipper directly above the Pinnacle (upside down with the handle pointing towards the right). Taken with a Canon 550D, Tonika 11-16 mm Wide-Angle lens at 16mm. 30 sec exposure, f 2.8, ISO 800.

Venus from the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

Venus, looking west from the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. The lights from Wendover, Nevada cause the the increase in brightness to the left. Taken with a Canon 550D with a Tonika 11-16 mm wide-angle lens. 30 sec exposure.

Sunspot AR1476 moving across the Sun's face

I will leave the sun alone after this post, at least until the Eclipse next week, (fingers crossed for no blocking cloud cover). My Baader AstroSolar Safety Film does an excellent job of filtering the sun, but I wanted the sun to be "Yellow". So, I used the free download, "The GIMP" to alter the color.

It turned out quite nice.

Sunspot AR1476

Shown here is what is being called Sunspot AR1476. The diameter is 12 times the diameter of the earth.

The images were taken two days apart, on 7 and 9 May. Clouds provide an interesting effect on the second picture. Taken with a Canon 550D, Baader Film filter cover for my Tamron 18-270mm Zoom. Heavily cropped in IrfanView.

Current Sunspot Picture - Backyard Special

I am practicing for the Solar Eclipse, occuring on 20 May, so I was very happy for this image with the sunspot.. This picture was taken from my backyard today, using a Canon 550D with a Tamron 18-270mm lens zoomed to 270mm. Image was heavily cropped using IrfanView. Shutter 1/1000 second, f 6.3, ISO 100. The most important thing was a home-made protective lens cover using Baader AstroSolar Safety Film, Optical Density 5.0. My thanks to Bob and team at Alpine Astronomical, LLC, www.alpineastro.com, for being such a reliable provider of this film.

Bonneville Salt Flats after Rain Shower

Sunset reflected in a pool of fresh rain water. Taken with a Sony a500 DSLR and a Sigma Wide Angle Lens.

Red Canyon and Big Dipper Handle

Looking northeast from Red Canyon, this light-painted picture shows a portion of the Big Dipper Handle, also known as the Great Bear's Tail. (above and to the right of the golden rock formation). Taken with a Canon 550D.

A Real Man Cave

I am beginning to like this light painting, especially in and around southern Utah, where the landscape is so colorful. Here is another picture from Goblin Valley State park, taken just at dawn. We placed a lantern in this rock opening, and waited until the sun started to go down. The colors turned out nice. Taken with a Canon 550D, Tamron 18-270 lens, zoomed to capture the light and surrounding canyon walls.

Light Painting and Nightfall at Goblin Valley State Park

Here are a few other pictures taken at Goblin Valley State Park. Venus was so bright it looked to be casting shadows. The light painting was created by my wife, Jena.

The Little Dipper is just starting to become visible below. Looking straight up from a small slot canyon.

Little Dipper from Goblin Valley, Utah

When the dark sky finally arrived, we saw the Little Dipper straight up from a slot canyon near Goblin Valley State Park, Utah. Taken with a Sony a500 and a Sigma Wide Angle lens set at 10mm.

Magic Coffee Drops

I thought I'd try a little left over coffee on a CD. This is how it turned out....
Taken with a Canon 550, Tamron 18-270mm lens zoomed on the CD at 270mm.

Green Lightning in Water Droplets

This is another picture of a CD - sprinkled with water, and painted with a green laser. A touch of red was added to the sparkle which gives the appearance of a waving human form inside the droplets. Interesting. Taken with a Canon 550D, 30 sec exposure, zoomed to 270mm.

 

Amazing Color - DVDs, Water, and a Crazy Man

I saw the YouTube video (PhotoExtremist.com), and had to give this a try. Add a few drops of water to a DVD or two, grab a flashlight and some colored plastic (those plastic Easter Eggs will work just fine).
Pictures taken with a Canon 550D, Tamron 18-270 lens zoomed to 270mm, plus an ND8 Filter. 30 second exposure, F10, ISO 100. (Being a crazy man helped a bit)

Mossy Cave Mini-Waterfall

On the Mossy Cave trail, (near Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah) there are several waterfalls, Although near the main trail, this mini-waterfall did not attract much attention. That's why I was there. I enjoyed this one. It is about 2 feet high. Taken with a Canon 550D, Tamron 18-270 lens set @75mm, 1/15 sec, f32, ISO 100.

Bryce Canyon - Panoramic View - Courtesy of "AutoStitch"

Courtesy of the free download "AutoStitch", 6 photos stitched for this panoramic view of Bryce Canyon, Utah. Photos taken with a Canon 550D, Tamron 18-270mm lens @18mm.

Red Canyon Light Art

This was a fun time with my wife, Jena; son-in-law, Chris; and grandaughter Melia, who painted this red rock with light as we exposed for 15 seconds. That bright object is Venus, and the grouping of stars above Venus is Pleiades (aka Seven Sisters). We went through several trial-and-error attempts before this shot. Taken with a Canon 550D, 15 sec exposure, ISO 200, f3.5 at 18mm. Taken at the Red Canyon area just west of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.
Thanks, Melia for the excellent job.

Snow Storm Art

Here are a few snow storm pictures taken by our security camera last night.

Rainbow from the Dining Room Table

A few DVDs arranged on our dining room table. Reflections from normal room lighting. Picture taken with a Canon 550D, Tamron 18-270mm lens, 1/2 sec exposure, F22, ISO 800.

Reflections on a Night Stand

I woke at 2 AM, and looked at the hotel nightstand for the alarm clock, and saw this. The yellow alarm clock face reflected through a bottle of water. Taken with a Lumix, 15 sec exposure. Good night!