The Magic of the Telescope

Yesterday I told you about having to get up early.  So this was the purpose of it all - to bring my telescopes and accessories used to demonstrate how lenses and mirrors work, and then how telescopes work.  I have done this a number of times before, but this time, the teacher asked about how the children could look through the telescope.  So I found a photograph of the planet Saturn, and we pasted it on a wall at the end of a hallway about 100 feet away.  The children were blown away when they looked into the eyepiece, and the picture of Saturn was magnified, and they could see it in great detail.  Look how much this student is enjoying the view!

Early to Bed, and Early to Rise...

Early to bed and early to rise is not part of MY world!  Nosireee!  But, I am involved in the Project ASTRO Program where I go visit a school and work with a teacher to teach astronomy to middle school children.  In order to do this today, I had to wake up at 5:30 AM to get to the school on time!  I hope my body can recover from the shock!  So I guess I was rewarded for my sacrifice, by driving by a golf course that was covered with early morning dew, and that's where this photograph was made.

Checkin' Things Out

I must confess, the kitties are an endless source of amusement.  I can't help but stop and watch them and some of their antics.  I was sitting at the dining room table reading after breakfast, and I caught some movement out of my eye - it was this kitty poking her head up, after climbing up on one of the chairs.  She just looked at me for a bit.  The trick was getting up slowly, finding my camera, coming back, and sitting down, without any sudden movements, so she wouldn't go away.  I really only got one shot, before she jumped down and walked away.  Whew!

Trick or Treat

Look what's living in our house!  Kathy decided she wanted to make a mask for trick or treating and so set to work.  She made the one on the left, and decided it wasn't quite what she wanted, so she started work on another mask on the right.  You start with a thin plastic shell, and then add modeling clay, and finally cover it all with paper mache.  She got this far, and then realized that she had to work Halloween night, so we couldn't go trick or treating!  Actually, they are a bit scary to look at.

Winter is Approaching

It is interesting to me sometimes, to step back and see what kinds of things I am photographing.  Sometimes I get into a groove, and photograph the same subjects for a while.  I appear to be stuck on the sky these days.  But, hey, if I see a really wonderful photograph, it would be hard to ignore it.  That was the case today - blue sky, cumulus clouds, and these trees lit by late afternoon sunlight.  Who could walk away from that?  Not me.  I love the contrast of the bare branches, with the fully leafed out tree.

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Light...

It was a gorgeous day today, and the skies were beautiful with luminous gray clouds.  As I finished my bike ride, I stopped at my favorite park bench that overlooks the harbor.  And what a lovely sight, to see the sunlight streaming through the clouds in the distance.  There is a name for these rays, and you are really lucky, because I am going to tell you their name: "Crepuscular rays."  Aren't you glad you stopped by today to learn this?

Fall Color

I was driving home along one of my favorite roads on Long Island.  Cedar Swamp Road, also known at Route 107 has fields like this, and horse farms.  It is an easy place to find a picture, and I have photographed along this road for years.  I came around a bend in the road and saw this, so I pulled over and took this photograph, and then  I went exploring with my camera.  I thought this view was both pretty, and traditional.  Then I became interested in what else I could find.  The photo below is my answer.  It is certainly less traditional, and even has a sense of dread about it, perhaps.