Posts from the ‘Moon’ category

Moon mystery

This morning out with Bear, the full moon was still hours away from setting. There is a day old skiff of new snow making the dark o’clock outings not quite so dark.

This photo…I couldn’t see those colors. I was trying to capture the moon lighting up the mare’s tail clouds above it.

I increased the exposure in post processing and I have no idea if those colors are actual refraction of moonlight in atmosopheric moisture or if they are some sort of chromatic aberration of the camera lens. Per the weather information, it is foggy in Kalispell so there may be enough moisture to allow a kind of “rainbow”…I just don’t know.

Out and about

Another work deadline met, Bear and I headed to town for a few supplies, stopping on the way at a favorite river access for a quick walk.

The light looks like Fall light – that crisp, clear light with sun, some clouds and sharp contrasts.

The boat launch looks a bit on the iffy side… BUT, there was a truck and empty trailer in the parking area, so someone figured out how to get on the river. Bear and I stood and contemplated…

And then went on to the dump…

A cold front was whooshing in. Dark clouds with openings here and there, light on the lake – beautiful.

The days errands accomplished, we headed home and later…

the waxing gibbous, more than 3/4 full but high in the sky before sunset.

First moon: 2012

Last night, the sky was clear, the moon was bright and the stars were thick in the night sky. The eve of the new year.

Today, was clear and sunny. It was colder than it has been – actually normal cold of mid-20’s but it felt colder since it has been so mild.

Tonight, first night of 2012, the quarter moon is fuzzy in cloud cover. Fog is forecast for late tonight and early tomorrow.

Bear and I puttered in the woods as dusk turned to dark. After a bit he laid down in a small patch of snow. I sat on the front porch and we enjoyed a companionable sharing of the night. The quarter moon had risen mid-afternoon and now, was shining through the trees, muted…with no snow to reflect its soft light.

But through the camera lens, drawing the moon close with all the zoom I have…the moon was bright through the branches.

First moon: 2012

Morning moon

This morning’s moon, still high in the sky at just after 8:00 a.m. this morning. And the sky still very dark as sunrise is currently 8:24. This far north in the United States, the winter sun follows a low southern arc, so even on a clear day it does not seem as if we get full daylight until 9:00ish and by 3:30 in the afternoon there is that softening of light that is the prelude to dusk.

I walked out with Bear this morning, a dark morning with no snow on the ground to help the waning moon light the ground. As my eyes adjusted, the moonlight seemed a bit brighter. The air was balmy for a pre-Christmas morning at 32F. Bear bounced around the woods on his rounds and then came to stand near me and we both watched and listened. I am sure he saw, heard and smelled more stories than I will ever know of. I use this early morning time to be still and hear whatever I can.

This morning, by the light of the morning moon.