Earth, Sky & Beyond

Flight Simulator X Screen Shots

2011-08-30T18:08:00.002-07:00

I haven't used this blog in quite a long time, as you can see by the date of the last update.

Anyway, I have recently upgraded our home office computer, looking for a box that would let me "fly" Flight Simulator X (FSX) with realistic settings and scenery. This way I could practice instrument procedures so my skills don't get too rusty, check out a multitude of rare and historic airplanes, and lastly to create aviation imagery.

On this last point I have been posting my early work on the website FlightSim.com in their Screen Shot Forum. I've been working on improving the appearance of FSX to look as realistic & visual appealing as possible.

I recently started making images of the quality I want to produce. While I enjoy the ability in that forum to create stories based on flights, there are severe restrictions to the file sizes that can be posted. Since screen shots are already very limited in resolution, further reduction in size and additional compression really hurts the final images. I considered posting my screen grabs on our business website, but that's not really appropriate. That's why I am resurrecting this blog.

In the future I'll be posting what I consider the best of my simulated aviation images at their full 1.3 megapixel screen resolution starting very soon.

Full Moon Photography has been updated!

2009-02-17T06:18:00.004-07:00

Our commercial site has been updated with new images, a new look, easier navigation and in our galleries, you can now order prints directly.

Please take a look and let us know what you think!

Full Moon Photography

Did you Google me?

2009-02-10T17:20:00.002-07:00

I'm getting more and more contacts from the good people in Tucson and the surrounding areas who have seen my images on KOLD-TV (channel 13 in Tucson).

I'm very happy you enjoy the images I've shared with Chuck, Erin & Aaron and their viewers enough to search me out!

My partner & I invite you to take a look at our website, Full Moon Photography.net to view more of our images & time lapse animations. As I mention in the post below, we are updating our website and will soon be introducing a new set of galleries where prints and other products will be available for purchase.

One last note, we are available to photograph your special events, including weddings. (We LOVE shooting weddings!)

Thanks again for your interest in my images and we hope you consider us for your photographic needs in the future!

Richard & Sara

Not forgotten

2009-02-10T17:16:00.004-07:00

I know its been a long LONG time since I added any content to this blog. That doesn't mean I forgot about it!

We are working hard on updating our commercial site, and more importantly, making NEW images! It won't be long now before our best images will be available for direct ordering as prints and other items.

Please take a look at the current version of our site and come back soon to see what we've done to improve it!

Thanks

Richard

Full Moon Photography

A few more Digital Wet-Plates from Picacho

2008-03-21T21:26:00.004-07:00

Digital Wet-Plate Collodions

2008-03-21T18:00:00.010-07:00

It's been months since I last updated this blog, but I'll start adding things every so often.

This first new post is a set of images made during the Picacho Peak Battle re-enactment in March 2008. The images were made using my Canon 20D and later processed in Photoshop to give them the appearance of being made using the wet plate collodion process.

This first image was made of a young boy who was having his picture made by a photographer that actually WAS using the wet plate collodion process. Her exposure time was 6 seconds. Stands that held the head and other parts of the body steady were commonly used during that era.

The Ring Nebula - M57

2007-09-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the clouds to move out on my second of three nights at the 1.5-m telescope on Mt. Lemmon, I took the opportunity to take a few images that I normally wouldn't have time to take. This object is known as the "Ring Nebula", because it is, obviously, shaped like a ring. (Great imagination, we astronomers!)

You can find out more information about this object at Tuugii's blog here.

Mt. Lemmon Survey Telescope - 10 second exposure, 1.5 meter aperture @ f/ 2. For more about this telescope and MLS, follow the Catalina Sky Survey link on the right side of this page.

Hitchcock's "The Birds"

2007-09-07T12:35:00.001-07:00

My friend Tim & I went birding at his favorite location, Plum Island, northeast of Boston, during my trip there. Literally tens and maybe hundreds of thousands of Barn & Tree Swallows were flocking during our visit. Each dot in this image is a bird and this is just one of many flocks that flew overhead during our day there!

Canon 20D - 1/8000th second, 72mm @ f/ 13, ISO 3200

Boston - 52370

2007-09-02T13:26:00.001-07:00

After several hours and several miles walking around Boston, I stopped to rest on a bench next to a government building. Looking around, I liked the way the angles of the buildings seemed to mesh together from my vantage point.

Canon 20D - 1/60th second, 28mm @ f/ 25, ISO 200

Old State House Boston 52374

2007-09-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/60th second, 60mm @ f/ 10, ISO 100

Death is an Irreverent Bastard

2007-08-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Wandering around "The Granery" in Boston, I was looking for funerary art that was atypical. Most of the 18th century grave stones had cherubs, urns with bending willows or the most common, winged skulls.

Edward Richards' stone caught my attention and made me chuckle. The Irreverent Bastard, Death (the skeleton) is sitting on a skull, presumably Edward's. Flanked by cross bones, Death is also accompanied by a winged hour glass on his right (Time Flies) and a scythe behind him, the tool of the Grim Reaper.

Canon 20D - 1/125th second, 28mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 200

Proud Sailor

2007-08-25T14:46:00.001-07:00

And rightly so, considering his post on the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel, the United States Ship Constitution.

Thanks to him and all of the active duty and veteran servicemen and women of the US military.

Canon 20D - 1/250th second, 10mm @ f/ 10, ISO 100

Paul Revere

2007-08-24T08:52:00.001-07:00

The Freedom Trail takes you on a walking tour of historic Boston. Just east of the Old North Church is the well known statue of Paul Revere riding away from the church on his famous midnight ride.

Lesser known, but no less important are the two OTHER riders from that night who alerted the Minutemen, Wiliam Dawes and Samuel Prescott.

Canon 20D - 1/30th second, 53mm @ f/ 9, ISO 800

Dancing with Death

2007-08-23T22:53:00.001-07:00

I spent several days in and around Boston while on vacation and several hours were spent in the historic old cemeteries looking for unique funerary art. Rebecca Gerrish, who's marker we see here, was burried in the King's Church cemetery, Boston's oldest, after she died in 1743.

You'll see more of these images and details about the various iconography in the coming days.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 71mm @ f/ 2.8, ISO 100

Molino Canyon, Santa Catalinas - 51578

2007-08-12T16:24:00.001-07:00

I always enjoy this view up Molino Canyon on my commute to work. As you head higher into the Santa Catalinas, you enter this canyon surrounded by Saguaros. As you leave the far end there are no more Saguaro but instead you are within the High Chaparral.

Canon 20D - 1/60th second, 28mm @ f/ 11, ISO 100

Late Afternoon Snack

2007-08-12T16:12:00.001-07:00

I was watching & photographing the hummers coming to my backyard feeder when this Cactus Wren swooped down and did a little foraging. He came up with this caterpillar in the plant behind him

Canon 20D - 1/1000th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Thimble Peak

2007-08-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

You have to love how green the desert around Tucson gets during the monsoons. Especially in years with above average rainfall, like this year!

Thimble Peak is visible to the left, Tucson is beyond the ridge line of the front range of the Santa Catalinas. Seven Cataracts is located off to the right.

Yet another image published on KOLD TV's View Views web site.

Canon 20D - 1/125th second, 28mm @ f/ 13, ISO 100

Immature Annas

2007-08-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if this is the same Anna's Hummingbird as imaged below, but he has some additional red feathers in his gorget and on his head.

Canon 20D - 1/640th second, 417mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 1600

Seven Cataracts - 51207

2007-08-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Many of the springs and creeks in the Santa Catalinas were flowing due to the monsoon rains since last week. Here is one shot of Seven Cataracts that is also featured on KOLD TV's Viewer Views.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 98mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 100

Adolescent Anna's

2007-08-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

A young male Anna's Hummingbird was visiting my feeders today. He made the sixth species of hummingbird I have now seen.

Canon 20D - 1/400th second, 500mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 3200

Gibbon Mountain - 51130

2007-08-04T15:39:00.001-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/40th second, 20mm @ f/ 22, ISO 100

Clouds over the Santa Catalinas - 51058

2007-08-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/400th second, 191mm @ f/ 9, ISO 100

Santa Catalina HooDoos - 51045

2007-08-03T19:56:00.002-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/400th second, 137mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 100

Shaft of Rain for the Rincons

2007-08-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/400th second, 10mm @ f/ 13, ISO 100

Cooperative Magnificent!

2007-08-02T21:30:00.001-07:00

This female Magnificent Hummingbird was a magnificent model. I was waiting for the sun to come out from behind some clouds so I could get a much wider shot of this Yucca flower, the surrounding boulders and the Rincon Mountains and the building clouds in the distance. I had visualized the photograph I wanted several weeks ago and today was the day when all of the elements finally came together.
Almost as if she were being directed, immediately after the sun peaked out from the clouds, she zipped up to the flower and started feeding.

Canon 20D - 1/1250th second, 500mm @ f/ 20, ISO 1600

Thimble Peak Vista

2007-08-02T11:52:00.001-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 10mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 100

Building Thunderstorm over the Rincons

2007-08-01T19:20:00.001-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/160th second, 20mm @ f/ 14, ISO 100

Geology Point Vista - 50937

2007-07-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/160th second, 11mm @ f/ 13, ISO 100

Wow! Hummers are tiny!

2007-07-29T19:58:00.001-07:00

I headed up to Mt. Lemmon for a day of photography and some work at one of the telescopes. As I headed up I remembered that today was a monitoring day for the volunteers from the Hummingbird Monitoring Network . The group that monitors the hummingbirds at Lemmon is headed up by Kevin Gillooly. When I arrived they had been capturing and measuring the hummers coming to the feeders there for several hours already.

The first thing that struck me was how tiny these birds look when they are held in a hand. They look small when they come to the feeders, but I was shocked when I saw how truly tiny they actually are.

I was in awe at how much care Kevin took while he handled these fragile packages, banding them, measuring their wing feathers and making other visual observations of the bird in his hand. Most of the Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds that I watched them catch and measure weighed about 3 grams! The single Magnificent they captured and measured while I was there weighed a bit over 7 grams!

Canon 20D - 1/640th second, 191mm @ f/ 8, ISO 800

A free meal

2007-07-29T19:54:00.001-07:00

After all of the observations and measurements are complete, the hummers are given the opportunity to sip some more nectar before being released. Most of them willingly accept, but a few that have been captured a few times already during the day are more interested in being released as soon as possible.

Canon 20D - 1/400th second, 226mm @ f/ 8, ISO 800

A short respite

2007-07-29T19:52:00.001-07:00

A few more sips of nectar and this girl will be on her way again.

Canon 20D - 1/320th second, 313mm @ f/ 9, ISO 800

Kevin examines a Broad-Tail

2007-07-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

It was a real pleasure watching Kevin and the other volunteers as they handled these small winged jewels with extreme care and gentleness.

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 64mm @ f/ 8, ISO 800

Marshall Gulch - High Dynamic Range #2

2007-07-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

Another HDR image from Marshall Gulch.

Canon 20D - 5, 10, 15 & 30 second exposures, 28mm @ f/ 32, ISO 100

Marshall Gulch - High Dynamic Range #5

2007-07-25T18:33:00.001-07:00

The overcast conditions, with sunlight streaming through gaps in the clouds and tree branches provided a good opportunity to play around a bit more with High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography.

Canon 20D - 6, 10 & 15 second exposures, 28mm @ f/ 32, ISO 100

Marshall Gulch 50626

2007-07-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 2 seconds, 66mm @ f/ 32, ISO 100

Another view of the Rufous

2007-07-22T22:30:00.001-07:00

As I expected, this bird is most likely a female Rufous. On suggestion by Dr. George C. West, co-founder of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network, I checked though all of my images of her and didn't get any where she extended her tail feathers. Other than a fortuitous image of that, you actually have to have the bird in hand to make a positive ID.

Clicking on the image will allow you to see a larger version of this image, (All of my images actually) but it has been reduced from the original (also like all of my images here) and is also cropped, so looks slightly soft.

Canon 20D - 1/320th second, 500mm @ f/ 8, ISO 3200

A Rufous or an Allen's?

2007-07-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

This little one was protecting one of the feeders from all comers while I was on Mt. Lemmon yesterday. Most of the time she stayed at the feeder chasing off all that approached but occasionally she would head up into some close branches only to swoop down on the unsuspecting.

At first I thought she was a Rufous hummer, as there were several visiting the feeders, but the rufous/cinnamon coverts on this one has me a little unsure enough to make a proper identification. _Hummingbirds of North America, The Photographic Guide_ suggests this might even be a hybrid of the two... but also says that a positive ID usually requires the bird in hand.

I should also say that the gorget was a brilliant gold color when it reflected the limited sunlight.

Experienced birders are free to offer suggestions of a more positive ID.

[Update] Thanks everyone who contacted me with their input on this bird.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Battle Royale'

2007-07-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Some hummers can feed in peace, others feel they have to dominate the entire feeder, not letting any other birds feed. Occasionally it is only a single feeding port that is dominated.

Recently I have been filling the feeders on Mt. Lemmon that support the activities of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network and spending some time watching and photographing the action.

Last evening, the feeders were packed with all kinds of activity, including the above mentioned "defense". Since the action is so fast and the birds so small, I thought that one bird simply chased the others away.

Here we can see this isn't always true. This male Broad-Tailed hummer is ramming the female Broad-Tail in flight! Three other Broad-Tails look on; The one perched on the right is an immature male.

Canon 20D - 1/500th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

A Pair of Young Red-Tailed Hawks

2007-07-16T15:05:00.001-07:00

While waiting for the spectacular sunset that I knew would happen, by boss Steve & I watched and photographed four young Red-Tailed Hawks playing in the outflow winds from an approaching thunderstorm. Occasionally they would meet up in flight and extend their talons toward each other.

I didn't get a chance to capture that behavior, but I did get this pair just as they started to separate.

Canon 20D - 1/1600th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 800

2/3rds Gone

2007-07-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/1250th second, 313mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 800

Flaming Sun

2007-07-16T13:22:00.001-07:00

... or maybe a solar pompadour?

Thunderstorms around the Santa Catalinas provided a great amount of attenuation of the light from the setting sun and additional interest in the structures of the clouds. The Sun passed behind a segment of contrail as it raced for the western horizon, as seen from the peak of Mt. Lemmon last night.

Canon 20D - 1/4000th second, 500mm @ f/ 32, ISO 800

A Young Male

2007-07-15T13:40:00.001-07:00

This highly cropped image reveals something I hadn't expected. On initial examination I thought this was a female Broad-Tailed, but notice the two or three red throat feathers or "gorget". This is a young male that is just hitting "puberty".

This image and the other three below were taken at the feeders on the observatory grounds at the top of Mt. Lemmon. These feeders support the hummers there and are in place to attract the birds and to aid the banding activities of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network.

Canon 20D - 1/500th second, 500mm @ f/ 8, ISO 800

What’s on the menu today?

2007-07-15T13:15:00.001-07:00

Another male Broad-Tailed hummingbird checks over the feeder before taking a drink. It is almost like he is reading a menu next to the door of a restaurant before deciding to eat there or not.

Compare how the bird’s iridescent throat patch looks gray instead of the brilliant red it takes on when the sunlight hits it just right, which can be seen a little better, below.

I probably could have done a quick refocus and used a deeper depth of field for this one…

Canon 20D – 1/800th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 800

Male Broad-Tailed

2007-07-15T12:58:00.001-07:00

Same location and feeder as the one below.

Canon 20D - 1/1000th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 800

Female Broad-Tailed Hummingbird...

2007-07-14T10:39:00.001-07:00

Late afternoon on top of Mt. Lemmon and the hummers are swarming the feeders in preparation for the coming night. Luckily, this is also the best time to shoot them at this location as the feeders are in full sun. Unfortunately, they are often bickering over the feeders and it is almost impossible to capture them in flight because they rarely hover in one spot for more than a second or two.

Depending on the size of your display, the bird probably looks twice its actual size or larger when you view the larger image.

Canon 20D - 1/640th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Everyone Plays

2007-07-11T11:33:00.001-07:00

Late in the game the Sidewinders bring in yet another relief pitcher, Jailen Peguero.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Chris Carter Hits

2007-07-11T11:27:00.001-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Swings...

2007-07-11T11:18:00.001-07:00

... and misses.

Robby Hammock takes a stab at a pitch.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 266mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 3200

Safe at Third!

2007-07-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Rich Thompson, who we see bunting to get on base below, safely slides into third.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 417mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 3200

Bunting

2007-07-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

Rich Thompson was the only player to bunt during the game. Usually reserved to advance a runner already on base, Rich got on base himself.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Jeff Bajenaru is handed the ball

2007-07-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Relief pitcher Jeff Bajenaru comes in late in the game after Las Vegas has scored a few more runs.

Canon 20D - 1/200th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Hey! Over Here!

2007-07-07T11:15:00.001-07:00

Robby Hammock was at bat as the rain started to fall a little harder in Tucson. While I was going through my images, I liked the way Chris Carter, warming up on deck, added a little confusion to exactly where the LV pitcher was going to throw the ball. Only after I started processing the image did I realize he actually had three targets to choose from!

Canon 20D - 1/160th second, 363mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 3200

2nd is far enough

2007-07-07T10:57:00.001-07:00

Randy Choate keeps an eye on the Las Vegas player on second.

This shot was taken from the grassy area beyond the home run fence in center field. I had to rest the end of my lens on the top of the fence since I was using a very slow shutter speed at full magnification, but I think the results were pretty good.

Canon 20D - 1/125th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Now pitching, Randy Choate

2007-07-07T10:36:00.001-07:00

We continued to move around the stadium and when left handed pitcher Randy Choate took over, we were placed well to capture his style a little bit better.

Looks like a normal throw so far...

Canon 20D - 1/320th second, 313mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Side Arm Randy Choate - 48665

2007-07-07T10:32:00.001-07:00

Yep, this is kind of a weird "pose", but Randy throws side arm instead of the more common over hand.

Canon 20D - 1/320th second, 363mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 3200

Broken Bat

2007-07-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Alberto Callaspo breaks his bat.

Canon 20D - 1/320th, 161mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 3200

Sidewinder Mike Schultz 48626

2007-07-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Another view of Mike Schultz pitching, this time from behind home plate.

Canon 20D - 1/320th second, 313mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 3200

Ball!

2007-07-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Moving around the field as the game progressed, Jim, Tuugii and I captured shots of the actoin from all sides.

Tuugii is a new U of A student and is here from Mongolia. This was his first baseball game.

Here we see Sidewinder Jason Smith watching an obvious outside pitch go by.

Canon 20D - 1/64oth second, 226mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 3200

Out at second!

2007-07-06T12:10:00.001-07:00

The top half of the 1st inning wasn't good for the Sidewinders. At least Alberto Callaspo made the tag on this Las Vegas player as he tried, and failed, to steal second base.

Canon 20D - 1/800th, 266mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 1600

Sidewinder Mike Schultz 48515

2007-07-06T12:08:00.001-07:00

The first pitch of the game.

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 313mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 800

Sidewinder Mike Schultz 48507

2007-07-06T12:05:00.001-07:00

I finally got to attend my first Tucson Sidewinders game. Here, warming up just before the start of the game is Sidewinders pitcher Mike Schultz.

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 226mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 800

Tucson Fireworks 48480

2007-07-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

Jim, his family, Tuugii and I got together to watch the July 4 fireworks launched from A Mountain. This is one of my better shots from the 100+ I took during the 30 minute show.

Canon 20D -

Tucson Fireworks 48474

2007-07-05T12:22:00.001-07:00

Another shot taken from the 6th St parking garage.

Canon 20D -

Dead Dragonfly Close Up

2007-07-03T18:21:00.001-07:00

My cat Sydney brought my attention to this dragonfly which had died just outside my back door. I thought it would make a good subject to use to experiment with the macro-bellows I had purchased a few months ago. Note how the legs are curled up in rigor mortis. I do like how the catchlight in the insect's eye(s) is hexagonal. This is due to the light reflecting from the many hexagonal lenses that make up it's compound eye.

Canon 20D - 10 seconds, f/ 22, ISO 100, Bellows @ ~50mm, yielding a life-sized image on the camera's sensor.

Dragonfly Closer Still

2007-07-03T18:19:00.001-07:00

Another image of the same dragonfly, this time at about 2.5x life size.

Canon 20D - 5 seconds, 50mm @f/ 22, ISO 100, Bellows @ 125mm

A pair of Stellar's Jays on top of Mt. Lemmon

2007-06-15T19:54:00.001-07:00

I was getting ready to observe with the 1.5-m Mount Lemmon Survey telescope when I heard these Stellar's Jays raising a ruckus outside the dome. I grabbed my camera and took a series of images as I slowly approached them. They only allowed my to approach a little before they headed to lower elevations where the trees are more densely packed.

Canon 20D - 500mm

One of the Stellar's

2007-06-15T19:52:00.001-07:00

This is just a cropped version of the main image above.

Canon 20D -

Summer Milky Way Reprocessed

2007-06-15T00:08:00.001-07:00

This image was made a few minutes before the same scene three images below. I tried a different amount of processing to see if I could bring out more detail in the galaxy.

Canon 20D - 20 seconds, 20mm @ f/ 2.2, ISO 800, Auto-Dark

Galiuros 45627

2007-06-14T00:30:00.001-07:00

You usually don't have to go far to see spectacular geology in Arizona. One of the benefits of working on Mt. Lemmon is the view across the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuros Mountains on the other side.

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 313mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 800

Galiuros 45633

2007-06-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

Another view across the San Pedro River Valley near sunset as seen from "my office". As I say, the best office view in all Tucson.

Canon 20D - 1/1000th second, 417mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 800

The Summer Milky Way

2007-06-13T15:32:00.001-07:00

Here is southeast Arizona, we had a very dry pulse of air push through at after an uncommon June rain event. I was on my last night of a four night run at the Schmidt and had a feeling I was in for a very dark, clear, steady night. I wasn't disappointed.

I set up the camera to the west of the dome, facing east, to build an all night time-lapse animation. This and the next two below are single frames from that video.

During the Summer we are looking across the Milky Way in the direction of it's center, so as you can see on the right side of the image, we see many more stars and stellar nurseries.

Canon 20D - 20 seconds, 20mm @ f/ 2.2, ISO 800, Auto-Dark

Northbound Iridium Flare

2007-06-13T15:27:00.001-07:00

The dawn sky was lousy with satellites crossing in all directions. This Iridium communications satellite provided some accent to the endless parade of barely changing dots crossing overhead.

Canon 20D - 20 seconds, 20mm @ f/ 2.2, ISO 800, Auto-Dark

Hubble Flies By

2007-06-13T15:23:00.001-07:00

One of the most impressive satellites in use and to see fly overhead is the Hubble Space Telescope. We see it here racing east towards the sunrise.

Canon 20D - 20 seconds, 20mm @ f/ 2.2, ISO 800 Auto-Dark

Evening Conjunction

2007-06-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Now that my move into my new home is nearly complete and things are beginning to settle down again, I have some time to start posting images.

On the 19th of May, the crescent moon and the Planet Venus joined each other in the evening sky to make a beautiful pairing.

Canon 20D - 1/50th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 100

Male House Finch in FLight - 45402

2007-05-05T16:04:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of the high winds, I attempted some flight photography of birds coming in to the feeder. While I didn't have too much luck, a couple of the better ones are presented here.
Canon 20D - 1/1250th second, 72mm @ f/ 20, ISO 1600

White-Winged Dove Landing - 45485

2007-05-05T15:56:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 99mm @ f/ 29, ISO 3200

Kansas Mine Ore Tipple - 41698

2007-04-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

An abandoned ore tipple along Duquesne Road north west of Wahsington Camp and Duquesne. Both are mining ghost towns near the Mexican Border in southeast Arizona

Canon 20D - 1/50th second, 30mm @ f/ 4, ISO 100

Harshaw, Az - 41612

2007-04-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/80th second, 14mm @ f/ 29, ISO 400

Harshaw - 41606

2007-04-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Abandoned abode house in the ghost-town of Harshaw, Az.

Canon 20D - 1/400th second,28mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 100

An Occasional Visitor

2007-04-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

This Northern Mockingbird surveys the surrounding area on a rare visit to my front yard watering hole.

Canon 20D - 1/1250th second, 363mm @ f/ 9, ISO 800

Looking for Lift

2007-04-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

A Turkey Vulture catches a little bit of a thermal over the runway at Flying Diamond Air Park.

Canon 20D - 1/500th second, 500mm @ f/ 9, ISO 400

Tail Stretching Thrasher

2007-04-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

One of my yard Thrashers ruffled and stretched some of its feathers for me this afternoon.

Canon 20D - 1/2000th second, 500mm @ f/ 7,1, ISO 800

".. Oooh Baby, Oooh, Said Oooh"

2007-04-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Older readers may remember that part of a chorus from a Fleetwood Mac song...

One on the many White Winged Doves in this part of the Sonoran Desert slowly approaches the water for a drink. The less brave among the flock are standing back at a distance.

Canon 20D - 1/125th seond, 500mm @ f/ 20, ISO 400

Thirsty Jack Rabbit

2007-04-22T00:33:00.000-07:00

For most of the time I was out in my yard taking pics of the wildlife, this rabbit drank from the leaky pipe that is the source of this water hole several times. On this rare occasion it had come back and drank from the puddle, all the while keeping a wary eye in the direction of the strange sound.

Canon 20D - 1/1250th second, 500mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 400

Closeup - Male Gamble's Quail

2007-04-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

Another shot taken with the Sigma 50-500 "Bigma".
Gamble's Quail are pretty nervous birds, so it took a while before they became calm enough when hearing the sound of the mirror slapping inside my camera to come out into the open to allow me this shot.
Canon 20D - 1/2000th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 400

Male House Finch with the "Bigma"

2007-04-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/5000th second, 500mm @ f/ 6.3, ISO 400

Wildcat on the Catwalk

2007-04-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

A group of UA students were using the 61" Kuiper telescope while I was searching for NEOs at the Schmidt. As expected, someone went out on the catwalk during the night to look for clouds or just enjoy the view of the stars, as witnessed by the flashlight trail.

Canon 20D - 20 second, 10mm @ f/ 4, ISO 3200

Male Broad-Billed 41427

2007-04-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

Here's the other shot that was broadcast on KOLD news last night and today.

Erin Jordan got my name right. Thanks Erin!

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 400mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 400

Broad-Billed 42420

2007-04-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

Viewers of Tucson's Channel 13 news at 10pm saw this image of a female Broad-Billed hummingbird at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon.

I'm not sure why Chuck George called me David though!

Canon 20D - 1/5000th second, 400mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 1600

Madera Creek HDR -41437,8

2007-04-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

While in Madera Canyon, I made some exposures to try out High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. This is a first attempt, using two images.

Canon 20D - 1/4 & 1/30th seconds, 20mm @ f/ 32, ISO 100

Saguaro National Park, West - 41510

2007-04-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/800th second, 285mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 100

Saguaro National Park, West - 41499

2007-04-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Canon 20D - 1/250th second, 47mm @ f/ 13, ISO 200

When plain water isn't good enough!

2007-04-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Acorn Woodpeckers are rather common at Madera Canyon. This guy wasn't satisfied with plain old water, but instead got his fill of sugar water from the same feeder the Rufous Hummingbird (below) stopped at a short time earlier.

Canon 20D - 1/2500th second, 320mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 1600

Male Rufous Hummingbird

2007-04-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Spring migration has begun!

This male Rufous hummer was not very happy with me sitting on a bench just feet away from where he was trying to feed at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon. This little guy is only about 90mm (3.5 inches) from head to tail.

I took his image and then let him re-energize in peace.

Canon 20D - 1/1600th second, 400mm @ f/ 10, ISO 1600

Ghost Town Cemetery

2007-04-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

From the late 1880s through the early 1900s, Helvetia was a copper mining town southeast of Tucson. During its height, about 500 people lived and worked there and hundreds of tons of copper was removed from the ground beneath the town. Today, almost all that is left are the reamins of the mines and the over-grown, seldom visited cemetery.

Canon 20D - 1/250th second, 120mm @ f/ 32, ISO 1600

Lucy's Warbler - 42134

2007-04-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Another, much rarer visitor to my front yard watering hole, a Lucy's Warbler.

Canon 20D - 1/1000th second, 400mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 200

Female Cardinal

2007-04-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

This highly cropped image is one of a handful of shots I got of this female Cardinal visiting the water hole at my front yard. She was a bit more skittish than her partner, taking flight away from the sounds of the shutter and mirror slapping. She must have been pretty thristy as she came back rather quickly, so I didn't take too many shots. Instead I let her relax and slake her thrist

Canon 20D - 1/1000th second, 400mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 200, "Up-rezed" in Photoshop CS using Bicubic Smoother

Finch & Sparrow 42066

2007-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

A male House Finch and a White-Crowned Sparrow check out the neighborhood..

Canon 20D - 1/1600th second, 400mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 400

White-Crowned Sparrow 42059

2007-03-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

Another of my yardbirds.

Canon 20D - 1/1600th second, 400mm @ f/ 7.1, ISO 400

Curve Billed Thrasher 41744

2007-03-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

While the Thrasher two images below was near the cemetary of the ghost town Helvetia, this guy is one of my "yard birds". The sun was getting low and I used my car as a blind so the birds wouldn't be spooked by my presence.

Canon 20D - 1/1000th second, 400mm @ f/ 5.6, ISO 400