The Full Buck Moon

 

"I will never be a morning person, for the moon and I are too much in love."

~Christopher Poindexter

Full Buck Moon

Tuesday, July 29th, 2026

The Moon And The Clouds And My Camera

 

“The moon is a loyal companion.
It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.
Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.” 

― Tahereh Mafi

  Shatter Me

 

There is nothing more to say, that is a magnificent quote. But I will add a little about this photo. It was done last Thursday, just as it appeared out my front door, using no special lens to refine the details of the moon. Frankly, I kinda liked the way the clouds looked as they crossed the moon. So I guess this post is mostly about how the clouds and the moon look together! What do you think?

 

 

November's Moon

 

AUTUMN AIR

The autumn air is clear,
The autumn moon is bright.
Fallen leaves gather and scatter,
The jackdaw perches and starts anew.
We think of each other- when will we meet?
This hour, this night, my feelings are hard.” 

~Li Bai 

 

I love photographing the moon and autumn leaves in the same shot, although sometimes it seems almost impossible, and therefore completely frustrating. Either the moon is out of focus or the leaves are, but that dynamic came be quite pleasing to the eye. I got lucky with this shot, while the moon is a bit fuzzy, it is bright and clear, so the detail comes through. I don't know, I kinda like it. It's the moon, in an a clear twilight November sky. Autumn was smiling down on me, and it made me smile back! I used to try to photograph all the full moons in a year, but sometimes the sky refuses to cooperate. The clouds of January and February were brutal, so it's really hard to plan for it, and it looks like the roughest part of the Atmospheric River will take place in those two months again. 2024 will promises to be as wet or wetter than this year was. That will make for quite a challenge. Maybe I should simply plan to do a photo as close to the full moon as I can, and not worry so much about whether stage it's in. Like with this shot, it's not quite full, but it still made for a beautiful photo.

 

 

Spring Equinox

"The festival of all the spring equinox speaks of freshness and youth, of excitement an endless possibilities. Nature begins to quicken and early flowers open to the warmth of the strengthening sun, bringing the colors of lemon and yellow into our lives on the wings of a March wind."

~Carole Carlton

Mrs. Darley's Pagan Whispers:

A Celebration of Paan Festivals,

 Sacred Days and Traditions Of The Year

It's the first day of spring. The spring equinox. Only one more season to get through, or if I take the long way, the three months of spring, and the three months of summer. I prefer taking my way. Only one more season to go... and we arrive at autumn!

This was the best photo of the moon I could get because of the heavy cloud cover, but I will keep checking to see if I can get a better one. Check back, hopefully the clouds will break a little.

Updated...

~Mood: Quiet

~Me

The Full Cold Moon

Full Cold Moon ( w/mist)
December 22nd 2018
Stockton, California
Nikon

"The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human."

~Tahereh Mafi
Shatter Me 

This is an unusual full moon. It was very nearly a solstice moon, missing the beginning of this year's winter solstice by a little over 24 hours, and Christmas by just two days! That's kinda magical! I love the night sky. Eclipses, comets, which by the way, I am still chasing, stars, meteors, you name it, I will be found, if the night is clear, searching for it in the night sky! I hope to get a telescope one day, that I can attach the camera to. I'd just love to photograph Saturn, just once!

 Full Cold Moon 

( Clear Edit )

December 22nd 2018

Stockton, California

Nikon 

 

Maybe, Maybe Not And The Leaf Of The Day

"Why do they say ghosts are cold? Mine are warm. a breath dampening your cheek, a voice when you thought you were alone."

~Julie Buntin Marlena

I believe in ghosts. I believe in the paranormal. I believe in prophetic dreams. I believe in a lot of stuff. But mostly, I believe in ghosts. Since I was a child I have felt things around me that couldn't be seen. I could feel something watching me, and Ill say straight up, I can't prove there was anything supernatural there, in my presence, but it would happen randomly, and it was a strong, unmistakable feeling of not being alone.

Alan never experienced a single paranormal experience growing up, but since he had reached adulthood, he has shared some unnerving incidents, which might have had a perfectly rational explanation, but since we have been together, the incidents of things that have happened to us, that couldn't be explained, has increased significantly for both of us! If I told you all the weird stuff Alan and I have been through, your jaw would drop!

Actually "weird" isn't really the right word, because he and I have stopped thinking of it as weird, and have rather come to think of our experiences as stuff that is perfectly natural, but that most folks are too busy to notice! Although the word "weird" does initially pop up, when something new occurs. Like the photo you see above!

I took that photograph on Independence day of this year. He and I bought a box of fireworks, and had some fun in the front yard, while we waited for the Fireworks show began down at the Stockton Waterfront! We are lucky enough to have a direct angle from our house, to be able to see the annual display! Anyway, while playing with our own box of fireworks, we set off a set of cones, just after dark. I had my camera on hand to practice some night shots, and didn't notice I had taken that cool photo, until I began editing photos on my computer.

Now, I fully admit I was using a digital camera, and night photography with a digital camera can be challenging, but this shot is just plain weird, and I don't remember anything that could have produced either the shape, or the tiny orbs that surround it. It seems small, like a child, but in someways it also reminds me of my late cat Elvis. He was a lot of fun, and absolutely unafraid of anything! It's like fear never occurred to him, although he was an incredible judge of character, and more than once warned us about danger, by growling like a dog at certain people, who almost always turned out to be dreadful human beings.

Elvis passed away in October, of 2008. He died of cancer, and I miss him every single day! I now have three of the most loving, special, happy little boy cats, but Elvis is still in my heart. He is the one you don't get over! I have never seen an animal, or human for that matter, that embraced life quite the way he did! He did everything fully, there was no half way with him. And those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will remember, he insisted on wearing hats, t-shirts, and if it was sunny outside, shaded goggles! It was his will, and his alone. He was more human, than some actual humans I have known. And he was more trustworthy!

So it's not like it would hurt my feelings if he stopped by for a visit. He would only be visiting out of love, and because he knows how much he is still loved and missed. Sigh. On the other hand, if it's not him, I can't figure out who it is, or if the shape is that of a child, or a full grown person who was just sitting with us. Perhaps a former owner of our house, or maybe it was a residual ghost passing by, or I could be completely off track, and it was simply a trick of light. I haven't decided it is a ghost in the photo because I can't, there is NO proof at all that that is true, but it is weird, that of all the photos I took, this is the only one that not only didn't come out crisp and clear, but it's the only one that has this odd shape. 

Weird. There goes that word again!

Weird!

Here is one of my favorite photos from the 4th of July, not previously published on Ellipsis.

The Leaf Of The Day

#15 Leaf Of The Day

October 6th, 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Curious

~Me    :)

The Full Cold Supermoon In The Constellation Of Taurus

"I, swear, the reason for full moons is so the gods can move clearly see the mischief they create."

~Michael J. Sullivan

Age Of Myth

It's December's Full Cold Moon, it's in the constellation of Taurus, it's, the last full moon of 2017, and it is a supermoon! That's a lot for one lunar event, but it explains some things too. President Trump's insane twitter rampage this weekend, and I am betting his Tweeting will only get more outrageous, as we get closer to the morning! Also in full moon events, The Philadelphia Eagles lost to Seattle, and Alan and I BOTH have head colds!

It's the perfect merging of events, set up in the sky to knock my mood and my body flat of it's ass! Still, I loved looking up at that moon, it was cold outside, not freezing, but definitely cold, but what a sight! It made me long for Twin Peaks in San Francisco, because it would have been an amazing place to watch it rise, over the East Bay hills. I miss San Francisco, but photographing something that amazing, from my own yard, was pretty wonderful too! I'm grateful, and I miss San Francisco. See, I can do two things at once!

 #4 Leaf Of The Day

December 4th, 2017

Cull Canyon Park

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Can 2016 Just Die Already?

"If you are good at building bridges,

 you will never fall into the abyss."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

Another new night photo as I continue to practice with the new camera! Sacramento's Tower Bridge, taken the night before Thanksgiving. I was pretty happy with how it came out, but I need to do a lot more before I am completely comfortable. It takes time to build self confidence in working with a new camera, but I am trying because it's a nice distraction from worldly messes I have NO control over. Most of the time I believe, even in the darkest times, there will eventually come a time when one looks back and laughs at the circumstances that scared or angered them. The sun comes up every single day, whether we are ready for it or not. Sigh. I don't know that I will ever look back on 2016 and laugh. 2016 needs to just die already! But if I do, I will amend this post.

 

Mood: Quiet

~Me 

Art About Town: San Francisco... The Bay Lights, By Leo Villareal

The Bay Lights

By Leo Villareal

October 2013

 

"San Francisco is the longest lasting love affair of my life. 

Her beauty inspires me anew each day and

  I am very thankful to be able to live here

 on the edge of the continent in what I feel is the heart of the world."

~Nicole

 sfheart.com

The Bay Lights, on the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge, is the largest public art sculpture in San Francisco, and it is probably the most beautiful piece of public art I have ever seen! Those tiny, sparkling lights twinkle from dusk to dawn, at least they have for the last couple years since their debut in March of 2013. But for the next year, or so, the tiny lights won't be shining. You see, all the little LED bulbs are needing to be replaced, with longer lasting ones, because what started out as a temporary art project, has turned into a permanent part of San Francisco! In early 2016, when the lights comeback on, they will be on for good! I, for one, will miss them terribly. There is nothing quite like those beautiful lights, especially on a warm autumn night. I took the picture above on a night just like that. Alan and I took a dinner cruise on San Francisco Bay, and sailing toward those lights was nothing short of magical. A cool bay cruise, some romantic lighting, the sight of the most beautiful city in the world, and the right someone to share it with! That's the stuff of happiness!

San Francisco

October 2013

Shame on me! I had begun to take those lights for granted! When the lights come back, I think I will be doing a lot of photography of the lights, and the beautiful Bay Bridge. 

I love it so much!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Night Lights... Mel's Drive-In, San Francisco

 

 "Most love stories are nocturnal. That's what makes them so fascinating"

~Raymond Federman, 

Smiles on Washington Square

I have been eager to do this series for a long time, finally I think I am ready to give it a try. Welcome to my new project, Night Lights.

First up is the gorgeous retro eatery, Mel's Drive-In. I love this place for it's awesome comfort food, it's retro decor and it's friendly waiters and waitresses! But the most interesting element to Mel's is it's rich history, and it's connection to the films American Graffiti and Guess Whose Coming To Dinner! Both of which were filmed at Mel's and which just happen to be two of my very favorite movies!

You know how much I enjoy visiting the sites of where movies and TV have been filmed around the Bay Area, so visiting Mel's Drive-In was a natural choice. My experience was so positive that Mel's may, in fact, end up in more than one of the different photography projects I have planned, but for now, just look at the beautiful light it shines into the night!

And think to yourself... yeah, I could go for some eggs!

Mood: Happy/Inspired

~Me :)

Visit the official website for Mel's Drive-In to peruse their delicious menu, or learn more about the history of their restaurant!

Plans

"It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun."

~Ray Kroc

For about 5 years in a row, my pal Steven, from my AOL Journal days, and I, challenged each other to come up with the perfect hamburger for Memorial Day. May is National Hamburger month, and May 28th is National Hamburger Day. I haven't done a good hamburger photo since Steven passed away, my heart just hasn't been in it. But maybe next year I will suggest it as a theme for the Round Robin Photo Challenges, or maybe I will just hold the challenge here. We'll see. All I know is that Steven would think it was stupid to not enjoy that challenge. It would be a nice way to honor his memory I think. :) I miss my friend, but the fun times still make me smile.

:)

Mood: Reflective

~Me :)

In Twilight And Fog

"At night the fog was thick and full of light, and sometimes voices."

~Erin Bow, Plain Kate

 

Last Saturday night, Alan and I decided to stay in San Francisco, after a long day of playing tourists, to watch the Pier 39 fireworks. They have been holding a fireworks show, each Saturday evening this month, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Pier 39! So far we haven't been able to see a single fireworks display, for one reason or another, but most recently, last Saturday, it was because of some very ill timed fog. Fog that just somehow knew what time to roll in, to keep us from seeing the fireworks from high atop Twin Peaks. Sheesh! It was clear all day. And the evening was wonderfully clear. Perfectly clear. Until 8:15 PM, when the fog came rolling in, settling nicely between us and the fireworks. It's hard not to believe that fog, once in a while, has a sense of humor!

Yeah, yeah I know... but you know? (Insert perplexed expression here).

Mood: Silly

~Me :)

Winter By Day Winter By Night

"Colder by the hour, more dead with every breath."

~John Green

 

"One moon lights a thousand forevers..."

~Meng Chiao

In continuing with my night photography project, I decided to see how the leaves that are left on the trees change the feeling of the photos when captured at night. I like the tree with the tiny yellow leaves, but the big leaf maple leaves me a bit indifferent. A goal is to do some early morning photography, but if possible, I would like to have some snow on the ground to help bounce the light a bit. About 30 years ago, while visiting my aunt in Maryland, I was lucky enough to see what the moonlight can do, when it bounces off some new fallen snow. It illuminated all the tips of the trees and leaves that remained, making it look like someone had poured tiny diamonds all over the earth.

"By day each soul must walk within it's shadow. Only night can make us whole again..."

~Nicholas Gordon

As if that wasn't beautiful enough, she had a rooster that roamed freely in the yard, and just happened to be near my window, and the feathers on the rooster just glowed. It was quite a scene. I would give anything to be back in that moment sometimes, only with my cameras in my hand. I would love to see another scene like it one day. With some luck and some planning, I hope to be able to head up to the Sierra foothills sometime before spring to get in a little practice working with the snow. It's going to take a nice full moon, a crystal clear sky, and some patience. It's that last part that I may need the most help with. It was 6 below zero in Truckee last night, brrrrrr. Needless to say, my arthritis would be protesting LOUDLY. Still, where there's a will there is a way!

"How lovely are the portals of the night, when stars come out to watch the daylight die."

~Thomas Cole, Twilight
















 

~Happiness

~Thoughts?

~Me

Day And Night

"The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why."

~Mark Twain

 

It's clear and painfully cold. That happens in January. This year it seems colder than any I remember, but the bright clear days and dark cold nights give me a chance to practice some ambient light photography I  have wanted to do for a long time. So far, I am pleased with the result. I am going to do more of this type of thing as the month moves along, maybe even in some rainy conditions to get a different kind of light play.

The baby bat
Screamed out in fright
Turn on the dark
I'm afraid of the light

~Shel Silverstein

~Me :)

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #129: Night Photography

"Most glorious night, thou wert not send for slumber!"

~Lord Byron








PLEASE NOTE: If you don't see your name and link listed on the participation list, it's because you didn't leave me your information per the Assignment Guidelines. Please take a moment to read the guidelines.

EMPS #129: NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. NOW CLOSED!
Okay photographers... time to go out and photograph the night! Any subject at night will do fine, Moon shots. Street lamps. Cities all illuminated. Neon signs. It's all good! It's time for you to show off your NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY!

Extra Credit: Show me a photo taken at dusk!

Guidelines for Assignment Submissions...

1.The EMPS closes each Sunday evening at 9:00 PM (ET). No submissions will be accepted after that time.

2. Submit your entry by getting your photo, uploading it to you blog or website, and then comeback here and leave me your link in the comment thread. PLEASE REMEMBER... THE LINK YOU LEAVE MUST GO BACK TO AN ENTRY WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT! A general link to your site will not do, and will not be added to the list of those participating the following Monday. HYPERLINKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!

3. Please be sure to provide a link back to the assignment in your submission, so your readers can find the assignment and join us. Everyone is welcome to play along!

4. Please keep in mind that the image you submit for the EMPS assignment, must be your own original photography. NO LIFTING!

Please Note: I have set aside two days during the week for visiting your submissions. Thursday and Sunday, so look for me then!

Participation List for EMPS #128: Garden Creatures 06/13/2011

1. Freda

2. Jama

3. Karen

4. Carly (Hey... lookie there, I participated also!)

Very nicely done Freda, Jama and Karen! Thank you for your participation this week! It's always appreciated! Okay, see everyone next week with a new assignment. :)


-Carly

By The Light Of A Nearly Full Moon

How like a queen comes forth the lonely Moon
From the slow opening curtains of the clouds
Walking in beauty to her midnight throne!

-George Croly, Diana

It's rather easy to let the mind wander on nights like this. As I looked out the window, just to the right of my desk, I saw the moon, nearly full, with wisps of clouds dancing a ghostly ballet for the Man-In The Moon's pleasure. He smiled and turned away, as he kept to his schedule. I always half expect on nights like this, to see a ghost look back at me, as I raise my camera to capture the moment.

Do ghosts wander on nights like this? When the moon is nearly full, and the last chilly rain of the year covers the earth in tears?

Tell me what you think!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #38: Night Shots!

"Phooey! The porch light is burned out, and I cannot see if it is dark or not."

-Dave Beard








Time to stretch our wings a bit. :) NOW CLOSED!

EMPS #38: NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.
Okay everyone, grab yourselves an afternoon nap, until the sun goes down, then grab your cameras and show me some NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY! A porch bulb. A group of fireflies. Your car's dashboard all lit up. Neon lights. The Moon. A Tiki Torch. A Bonfire. It's really up to you. Lets be imaginative, but let's also stay on topic with this one. I am specifically looking for NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. The subject is up to you, as long as it is taken at night. Anything after dusk is fine.

Extra Credit: Write a little about what NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY is like for you. Love it? Hate it? Tell us all about it!

**Please Read**
You have until next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET to get your photo, post it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link. Please, NO HYPERLINKS. It must be a link, specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. Also, please remember to link back here, so other folks will be able to find the assignment and play along.

Linking List for EMPS #37: Theaters. 05/11/09

Now Closed!

Karen (1.) and (2.)

Martha

Liz (1. ) and (2.)

Mike


Ok, well done everyone. Tune in next week for an all new EMPS assignment!

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: Night Shots

Click on the above photo to see it in a larger version!

"Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man resembles his fragmentary self, and grows with the calm of a tree."

-Antonine de Saint Exupery

LOL. Apparently, I control the weather. See, I chose my friend, and RRC teammate Steven's topic, Night Shots, because it's summer, and I thought it would be the most comfortable time of year to tackle the subject, but just after I posted it in the announcement entry, a cold snap hit the Bay Area! LOL. If it hasn't been cold and rainy, then the fog has been a factor! LOL. One night this past week, it actually registered 52 degrees at 9:00 pm! In August!?

So forgive me, but with my bum knee, which I have some news about, and will sharing with you next week, I had to do some looking around in my photo files, for some photos I hadn't posted before. I was delighted to find some that I had previously thought unworthy. It's funny how you can take a picture, just hate it, and go back months, or sometimes years, later and see it in a whole new light. Anyway, here is my contribution for this round. By the way, please click on the black and white photo above, to see it larger. I am rather proud that I could get both the pumpkin and the moon in clear detail.

Night Shots...

A Storm Rolling In

Happy Christmas Bear

Winter at Justin Herman Plaza

A Rainy Night In Berkeley

Coit Tower At Night

The August Moon Over San Francisco

San Francisco Skyline At Christmas

Orange Trees

Be sure to pay a visit to Steven at his blog, (sometimes photoblog) to see what he has for us, and then click on the links below to visit all the participating Robins for this challenge. If you want to join us, there is still plenty of time, just pay a visit to the official Round Robin Challenge blog to get all the details.

Linking List

Steven... (sometimes photoblog) (P)

Carly... Ellipsis (P)

Vicki... Maraca

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures (P)

Karen... Outpost Mavarin (P)

Celeste... C's Life (P)

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods (P)

Molly... Return Of The White Robin (P)

-rRose... Wait-Not Yet

Jama Hameed... Sweet Memories (P)

Robinella... Robinella's

T.J. ... TJ's Photo Expressions (P)

Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin

Marie... Photographs and Memories

Or... Photographs And Memories Too

Sandra... Strong Chemistry (P)

Annie... Pictures Of Craziness

Gina... Gina's Space (P)

Momma... Sandcastle Momma (P)

Sahvvy... The Instantaneous Exsistence Of Me (P)

-OndineMonet
"Howling At The Moon"
October 31st, 2006
Berkeley, California
Early Evening