The week brought great news from our largest satellite. There is water on the moon! Plus, get ready for the upcoming Leonid meteor shower, and read a great article from Astronomy.com. We round out the day with the wise Carl Sagan, telling us about the pale blue dot.
Wet moon
NASA’s LCROSS project found clear signs of significant water on the moon. Evidence of water was detected in the plumes of debris ejected by the impact of rockets on the Cabeus crater.
The impact created by the LCROSS Centaur upper stage rocket created a two-part plume of material from the bottom of the crater. The first part was a high angle plume of vapor and fine dust and the second a lower angle ejecta curtain of heavier material. This material has not seen sunlight in billions of years.
The discovery helps explain why there is so much hydrogen on the moon.
Scientists have long speculated about the source of vast quantities of hydrogen that have been observed at the lunar poles. The LCROSS findings are shedding new light on the question of water, which could be more widespread and in greater quantity than previously suspected.
While the over hyped impacts may have not made much of a splash with the media, the data gathered will help open doors for scientists in the future. LCROSS was launched on June 18, 2009.
Extras
A great article about celebrating the International Year of Astronomy via Astronomy.com.
The Leonid meteor shower peaks on Nov 17. Viewing tips and locations here.
The new moon is Nov 16 (should make for great meteor viewing)
Jumping in the car and hitting the road for a day of exploring is a great way to expand your horizons and improve your photography skills. But before you snap a single photo, you will need to cover a few bases. Listed below are several tips designed to help you avoid making mistakes that can ruin a day of shooting.
Equipment checklist:
Make sure all chargeable devices are charged and in the camera bag: Camera batteries, GPS, phone, flash units, etc.. Also make sure to bring extra disposable batteries for the devices that need them.
Make sure all devices are reset and ready for new input. Format the memory cards, clear GPS tracks, etc.
Make preliminary adjustments to your camera. Set ISO, fstop, and speed to generally match the days lighting conditions.
Make sure all devices are properly synchronized. Accurate geotagging requires the camera’s clock and the GPS to be synced.
Make sure everything listed above is in the camera bag.
Also included in your bag: Reflective vest, pepper spray, pocket knife, bug spray, small flashlight, and sunscreen.
Vehicle Checklist:
A paper map or atlas. The GPS is very handy for recording tracks and providing real time telemetry, but paper map is extremely handy for quick reference.
Have a jacket, hat, food, and water on hand in case you get stuck or stranded.
Make sure the vehicle is operating safely. Check tire pressure, hazard lights, washer fluid, fuel level.
Stow your gear in a way that will be easy to access from the curb side of the vehicle.
Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you intend to be back.
Shooting strategy:
Have a general idea of the area you want to cover, decide where you would like to be during the best light.
Drive with the sun behind you. If you are shooting in the morning, drive west and north. If you are shooting in the evening, drive east and north. Driving due south will provide good lighting, except during mid day when the sun is in the middle of the sky. You will undoubtedly come across scenes and locations that will look better at a different time of day. This is one of the benefits of geotagging each image.
Check the weather. A dreary day doesn’t necessarily mean bad photos, cloudy days make great high contrast black and white photos. If you live in an area where storm chasing is an option, get a sense of the intensity and direction of the storms. Plan your route so that you are following the storms, not being chased by them. You will have more time to shoot as the storms move away from you. It also helps to reduce the chances of being swept over the rainbow.
Some of the best photo opportunities come from taking roads that run along or near an interstate. Before interstates, these roads were the primary roads for the locals as well as people traveling through. Many businesses were forced to close as the traffic sped by, but the buildings still stand.
Follow local speed limits carefully. I try to remember that I am the outsider in small towns I visit, a little courtesy goes a long way.
Obey all “No Trespassing” signs.
Use caution when entering abandoned structures. I do not go into structures when I am shooting alone, but that’s because I am chicken.
A full day of shooting could cover 500-700 miles and around 12 hours, so eat your Wheaties. You may have a cluster of photo opportunities all at once followed by three hours of nothing. There will be plenty of time to practice being patient.
There are unlimited photographic opportunities on the roads that crisscross our country, leave the interstate and go exploring.
This was a short trip during the late afternoon on Halloween. While many people were partying at places made up to look scary, I was looking for places that were actually scary. I drove the side roads that run along Interstate 76 as the afternoon light grew shorter. I came to the town of Merino about 15 minutes before the sun went down. The old train buildings and the grain silos gleamed in the low angle light, and a few pools of melted snow provided a couple opportunities for reflections. On the way to the Interstate I found an old truck near an abandoned silo, the light was right for one more shot.
Images taken as HDR, five frames over two stops. Nikon D300, various lenses.
The town of Last Chance is barely more than a few dozen buildings at the intersection of highways 36 and 71 in eastern Colorado. Limon is 40 miles to the south, Brush is 80 miles to the north. Denver is 80 miles west. An abandoned motel slowly deteriorates on a large lot at the northeast corner of the main intersection. The 4 or 5 buildings have been stripped and vandalized. Missing floorboards and dangling roof elements make entering any of the buildings very dangerous. I was fortunate enough to have a fantastic sky, adding an extra dimension to the eerie scene. An operating burger stand occupies the lot directly east of the old motel. I have never seen it open, but it is clearly used on a regular basis judging from the obvious upkeep.
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All images were captured as HDR, using 5 images covering two stops over/under a matrix reading. Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-70mm. HDR processed by PhotomatixPro.
It had been six weeks since I was able to get out of town for a full day of driving and shooting. By the time shooting day arrived, I was very anxious to hit the road. My route would be: I-70 east to Burlington, Hwy 385 North to Julesberg, then back roads into Nebraska. I wanted to end up in North Platte, Nebraska by sundown.
By mid October the days are short, and an early start is critical. I left Denver at 9am, stopping briefly for fuel and provisions. By 10:30 I was cruising past Limon, only an hour or so from Burlington. Heading north from Burlington on Hwy 385 is pretty typical of the highways that course through the plains, there are plenty of farms and quiet little towns. I passed through Wray, where I photographed one of the creepiest locations I have seen. Abandoned structures are scattered along the route, some provide great photographic opportunities, but most do not. I arrived in Julesberg, Colorado mid afternoon, the sun was well on its path across the southwestern sky, and the light was getting warmer as the sun got lower. I drove the country roads between Julesberg and North Platte, the opportunity to shoot came rarely, but I did get some great shots of some old cars as the sun set. It was a 4 hour drive back to Denver, it was time to get into get in the zone and hit the road.
It was a remarkable year for severe weather in Colorado. There would be many chances to follow large storms and hopefully capture dramatic, unique shots of the great power of nature. On this particular day in late August, I followed a large band of severe thunderstorms that began brewing over Denver then raced northeast along the Interstate 76 corridor. Powerful cells dotted the landscape, I captured this monstrous storm near the small town of Akron, Colorado. I found an abandoned structure that worked beautifully as foreground to the massive storm. The storm was still growing, but it moving away from me very quickly. I felt I only had a few minutes to capture this incredible scene. I ended up with nearly 30 minutes of fantastic light, the images made from this location were remarkable. It was a very special day.
These images are all HDR, 5 images over two stops. Nikon D300, various lenses. HDR processing by PhotomatixPro.
I drove thousands of miles during this shooting season, hour after hour on quiet country roads. The geology changes, the foliage and vegetation change, the weather and lighting change, but one thing that is ubiquitous is the stuff that just gets left behind to rot in the elements. It doesn’t matter if it is a treacherous mountain road or the most remote farm road on the eastern plains, people abandon appliances and cars out in the middle of nowhere. This is a collection of abandoned vehicles I came across this year, it is only a fraction of the material I have on this subject.
Watching a storm build from tiny popcorn clouds to an enormous rain maker is an amazing sight that can take hours and cover hundreds of miles. During the journey, you are likely to encounter small communities and other interesting stuff that would have remained a mystery to you, had the storm not been followed. It is Nature as a tour guide, in a way.
From a photography standpoint, a thunderstorm adds a dramatic element to an otherwise featureless landscape. It is important, for many reasons, to keep a safe distance from any large storm. For one, you want to have as much of the storm in the photo as possible. There are storms so large that you may need to be 50 miles away or more to get good scaling. Also, these storms can be extremely dangerous. Keeping an eye on the weather radar along with making smart choices will lead to an adventure that does not end with a car stuck in the mud or with a hail battered windshield.
Saturday, March 21. Eastern Colorado
I was in Castle Rock shooting a house in Castle Pines Village. I figured since I was further south than my usual starting point, I would take advantage of the situation and follow the large storm that had begin brewing over the southern metro area while I was shooting the house. After refueling, I headed east to Parker then south to Franktown. From Franktown I headed east trying to stay on the southern flank of the storm, which was heading northeast very quickly. It took me a couple of hours before I was in a position to get a good angle for photos, it was 530pm and light was beginning it’s dip into golden hour. I had made my way northeast past I-70, was now heading east on HWY 36, near Deer Trail. I was equipped with my standard rig: Nikon D300, 12-24mm lens, 18-70mm lens, Garmin eTrex GPS, and iPhone to check weather radar. I took farm roads looking for interesting subjects to include as foreground for the dramatic storm. There were various abandoned silos and old natural gas wells that provided amazing texture the scenes. I found a deserted Conoco transfer station with an enormous radio tower and huge above ground storage tanks. I took several shots at this area and moved on. By now, the storm was beginning to weaken and the light was beginning to fail. I decided it was time to turn towards home.
I was probably only 30 minutes behind the storm, which had dumped a large amount of rain in a very short time. The roads were uncomfortably muddy. Visions of a short slide off the road and a long, muddy walk to find help kept my speed down and my nerves up. It was four miles of muddy, slick roads. I could drive no faster than 15 mph or else the tires would begin to lose traction and the car would lean sickeningly to the side. The air smelled like new growth and fertilizer, probably a smell that is very familiar to the folks that live near farms but to a city boy it smelled new and it smelled great. I eventually made my way to HWY 71, then HWY 36, then I-70 to Denver. I had a good set of photos and an exciting escape. It was a good day.
I headed up to the mountains after completing a couple of morning appointments and some playground time with ERL. It has been very warm lately and I was hoping that the stream ice has melted enough to provide a couple of fishing areas. I arrived at the bridge (where I park) at around 3:30p, and to my amazement the river was virtually ice free. As an added bonus there was enough of a current to allow for some decent early season fishing. The sky was overcast, a light downstream breeze, the temperature was 52 degrees. During the summer, the small trout that occupy the stream go CRAZY for a well-presented #16 elk hair caddis. On some summer days you can practically catch a trout on every singe cast. However, in the early spring the fish rarely rise for a meal. They seem content to slurp up anything that floats by, while they wait for spring and think their fish thoughts. The stream also fishes differently in the spring than it does in the summer, the path is narrower and the seams and runs are crystal clear. During the summer, the water is fast and twice as deep. The holes are dark and full of big fish.
I started with a #8 beadhead hare’s ear, with a very small lead weight approx 8″ up from the nymph, with a yarn strike indicator 6ft from the nymph. I approached the first seam quietly and began to cast. Achieving a good drift was proving difficult due to the cross currents and my rusty skills. I felt like a bit like a bull in a china shop, the line flailing madly and the fly slapping loudly on the water.
After frightening the fish in that area for a few minutes while I got my groove back, I moved to a little riffle. I removed the weight and adjusted the strike indicator down to compensate for the shallower water. The casts were getting better, but no strikes.
Over the next two hours, I moved from seam, to run, to riffle. The weather was beautiful and the sound of the stream is exaclty what the doctor ordered for my frayed nerves. I was having no luck catching fish, but the meditative quality of fly fishing was in full effect and I was feeling about as balanced as I can be. I had switched to a #6 beadhead prince nymph a little earlier and I was fishing a relatively deep run along a grassy overhang. I felt good about this area because I was getting a good drift and easy casts. I cast four times before the first strike. And I missed. I cast 25 more times before the next strike. Got him. Photographed. Released.
I was letting the water rest and just as I was about to make a note in the journal, I heard what I thought was my car alarm going off in the distance. I clumsily splashed to the bank and ran like a wild man towards the car (what a sight I must have been). I finally reached the car to discover that it was not my car with the alarm issue. I was pleased that my car was undamaged, but the meditative vibe was gone. I was done fishing. I removed my vest and placed it along with the rod into the car. I left my waders on because I had a feeling the sunset was going to be spectacular, and I wanted to be on the river with my camera in case I was right.
For twenty minutes the river and forest became filled with light and color. Bright yellow clouds reflected the low angle light onto the ground, making the river glow with what looks like its own inner light. I snapped shots and walked, hearing the stream and my own breath. By the time the sun was down, I was back into my meditative groove, back in balance.
This is the first MONW post to implement a live map with the locations and shooting data for the photos. I am also working on a page that will have the photos from all MONW trips on a large map. Other future improvements will add GPS tracks to the map and other geo related info (weather, etc). Eventually, there will be a Middle of Nowhere site separate from Picherthis.
This MONW excursion covered 505 miles, including the towns of Limon, Hugo, Genoa, Cope, and Lindon. I left Denver at 11 am, arrived in Limon at 12:30. I found a deserted motel and quickly snapped a few shots of the slowly deteriorating structures. From Limon, I headed to Hugo where I found a few prime subjects. Heading Northeast from Hugo (with the sun behind me), I traveled the county roads, looking for abandoned structures. On HWY 71 near Last Chance, I found an old farm. The house was creepy (as most abandoned houses in the middle of nowhere are). All of the furniture was overturned and falling apart. Every surface was covered with bird shit, and there were more appliances scattered inside and out than the house originally was equipped with. This is clearly where people discard old, large objects when they don’t want to go to the landfill. Up a hill to the west of the house was the farm. An old truck, slowly rusting farm implements, and several ruined grain silos covered the large grassy area. The photos of the old truck are definitely my favorite images from this trip. I hit several other areas over the next few hours, eventually finding myself in Edson, Kansas. From Edson, I returned to Denver on I-70 arriving home at 830pm. It was a fun trip, allowing for plenty of time to reflect on the week that had just passed, and the week that was coming. The experience left me feeling relaxed, focused, and centered. There is nothing better than a freshly scrubbed brain.
