Full Moon setting over Cathedral before sunrise and Wanning Moon with sunrise-pink clouds and Lions Head

Why not go for the moon? This early morning moon set got me out of bed to photograph.

I’m still working my way through all the materials and files going back into my studio. Piles of homeless stuff litter the rooms waiting for a place in the studio, a donation trip, or the dumpster. Anyone need an oscillating fan that sounds like a jet engine?

I loved the early purple before sunrise (above) and the changing colors as the sun rose (below). I loved standing on the deck in the cold morning looking out and away from the chores waiting for me inside the house.

moon over lions head 02-11-09

Everything’s been moved out of my studio in preparation for installing a new floor. My living room looks like one of the homes you hear about where the people never throw anything away and can only move about the house through narrow passages.

My studio is a smallish spare bedroom of the house where I do all my after-capture photo work, processing raw files on my computer, printing, and framing. In a perfect world, I’d have separate rooms or a larger space for all these activities. In my world, I wonder how all that stuff in the living room will ever fit back into the studio.

Today, I paint the walls.

Moon setting over lions head 02-11-09

This was Jan. 10 at 5am, the morning before the full moon.

Had my days mixed up. I was planning to photograph the full moon setting at sunrise but the bright light of the moon woke me at 5am and I realized I was a day early. I went out and made a few images anyway. The next day, too warm and lazy to drag myself out in the cold, I only peeked from under the blankets at the moon setting at sunrise outside my window.

While I wait for a hummingbird’s return to a feeder or wildflowers, I often look around for something else to focus on between the bird captures. I never tire of “shooting the moon” and was happy one day recently when I looked up and saw the moon framed in clouds.

Today, no moon or mountain views, the clouds are very low.

I’m happy I decided to skip this weekend’s festival. It’s no fun setting up a tent full of photography in the rain. The rest of the weekend is forecast to be the same. Rain and more rain, much needed and appreciated.

I was sitting on the deck waiting for some flying things to get into position for a good image. The birds didn’t cooperate, but a jet and the waxing moon rising together captured my attention.

Shooting the moon again. This was a couple of days ago, the 24th, just after sunrise. Capture at 1/50 second, f/29, ISO 400, focal length 100mm. The rocky hilltop in this image is part of a future state park, still in the planning phase, not yet open to the public. Forbidden, while I grow old. CO State Parks, are you reading this? Hurry!