Latest Milky Way Picture

Things are getting better with the Milky Way imaging. This is looking south from the ridge at the Pinnacles.

Piece of Mind

Time to start putting this little book together. I'm calling it Piece of Mind, and it will contain some thoughts I've put together over the past years.

Sample: 

As the chopper landed to our south, it kicked up clouds of thick, red, whirling dust. The door slid open, and amid the sound of the rotary blades, a stretcher of taut, green canvas was laid on the metal taxiway. Two shadowy, green figures off load a body--unknown to me--and place him in a dusty slump onto the plank of canvas. Off they strode, the body covered from head to toe, all except his wrist, hanging limply off the left side, swaying in cadence with their stride.

Milky Way - Low Density Red Gas

I thought this red tinge area was an artifact. But, after reading more, it is most likely low density red gas.

Milky Way - Big Cottonwood Canyon @ Silver lake

Silver Lake has some potential for Milky Way pictures. There is some harassing ground clutter (building lights) and the partially blocked "glow" of Salt Lake City to the west, but all in all, not too bad. 30 sec exposure, 3200 ISO, f4, Sony alpha 500 camera with wide angle Sigma lens.

I enjoyed with my wife, Jena.

Thanks for watching.

Full Moon Reflection - Strawberry Pinnacles

I am chasing two picture opportunities right now, a perfect picture of the red-necked hummingbird at the Pinnacles, and a take-your-breath-away picture of the Milky Way. I'm getting neither. When I took this picture, there was no red-necked humminbird, and no Milky Way. But, there was a full moon off to the southwest that reflected off of this yellow cliff. The picture was taken about 10 PM, 30 sec exposure, 200 ISO, f4. Looking forward to perfecting this one a bit. But, note the Big Dipper (or Little Dipper??) in the upper left of the photo. Thanks for watching.

Sunset at the Bonneville Salt Flats after a Thunderstorm

You can't beat the Bonneville Salt Flats for reflections. This is after a thunderstorm rolled through, leaving a pool of water on the flats. Taken 30 July with our friends Bob and Malone. Also submitted to Fox13now.com for hopefully a spot on the Fox News weather broadcast. We will see. Thanks for watching.

Strawberry Pinnacles at 11PM

Well, my son and I went to the top of one of the cliffs overlooking the Strawberry River to try and get some nice shots of the Milky Way. But, as luck would have it, the moon was almost full, and the sky was so bright, there was no way off seeing the Milky Way.

However, on the way back, we passed by the Strawberry Pinnacles, with the reflection of the full moon. We pulled over, and he waited patiently as I got a couple of 30-sec exposures. This is one of them.

This was about 11PM Mountain Time on 24 July. I'm going to be here again when the moon is hidden, and maybe the Milky Way will be in full view.

Thanks, Dan, and Happy Birthday.

Love,

Dad