August 17, 2020
Even though true night would start hours later and because of dangerous cliffs and the prospect of losing my footing in the dark, I began shooting at the start of the Milky Way rise… 9:10 to be exact. Look how visible it is despite the sky still being very light-filled. Read more…
There are several legends surrounding the origin of Dead Horse Point State Park’s name and each is upsetting and unfortunately quite literal, having to do with dead horses. The most popular version begins in the 1800’s when the area used to have herds of wild mustangs about, living their lives Read more…
I have this thing that happens at sunrise. I bolt up and grab my camera, often leaving within the same minute of the bolting up! Since these sunrise pictures of the hoodoos at Goblin Valley State Park are in my view better than the sun-drenched ones mid-day, here they are Read more…
August 16, 2020
Another extraordinary sky fell upon this extraordinary landscape. And I had some big photo plans. First, I’d need the Milky Way. And boom, there it is. Next, I’d need a good spot. Yes, this would be perfect. Then–become a Galaxy Fighter! Yes, a weird idea I had on my couch Read more…
In yet another fascinating display of what time and the elements can do to the land, it would be a hunt for whimsical Jurassic-era sandstone creatures of all shapes and sizes within Goblin Valley State Park. Used in the film Galaxy Quest, the otherworldly landforms span three free-roamable square miles Read more…
August 15, 2020
The Great Starry Way continues with my dark sky park number 10, Bryce Canyon National Park. Much like Cedar Breaks the previous night, this park also boasts a high altitude and pure deep, unadulterated darkness. Though I was skeptical that a sky could come close to last night’s, Bryce Canyon Read more…
Every once and a while you need to splurge on yourself. You are, after all, your most important supporter. So on this night, watching the pink landforms catch the last rays of the day’s light on their outdoor deck, I showed myself how good I can treat myself–at Stone Hearth Read more…
After my strenuous dip into Utah’s national parks, starting at Zion, Bryce Canyon National Park was very “user friendly.” You can drive and park to all of the gorgeous viewpoints–offering the best perspective in which to view its prominent features: 14 amphitheaters of hoodoo action, layers of time-worn rock–some gracing Read more…
August 14, 2020
The first of 9 IDA-certified Dark Sky parks I plan to shoot within on this journey, Cedar Breaks National Monument’s altitude sets it apart from any place I have shot in the dark. I’d be 10,000 feet closer to them. I know I say this a lot, but this night Read more…
Like all of this land, indigenous peoples got to know it prior to European-American settlers’ arrival and established names based on its distinguishing features. The Southern Paiute called Cedar Breaks National Monument “u-map-wich”, which translated to “the place where the rocks are sliding down all the time..” The Southern Paiute’s Read more…
August 13, 2020
Before Zion National Park was declared a national park, it was a national monument–Mukuntuweap National Monument, established in 1909. The words of Mormon bigwig Isaac Behunin appealed to decision makers when it received national park designation. He said, “A man can worship God among these great cathedrals as well as Read more…
Look at a topographical map of the United States and find the big mass of crinkled brown. That will be my home for the next 14 days. The extreme landforms of this part of the country are otherworldly, beautifully impractical. Lack of easy access to water and its canyons, cliffs, Read more…
August 11, 2020
After a long day of exploring Long Island’s largest decaying state asylum, we headed to the Island’s end with hopes to catch some kind of meteor shower activity. The night was an exploration of light–first from the beautiful Montauk Lighthouse. But a haze of cloud cover thwarted our plans initially… Read more…
August 2, 2020
Because it looks like rain a-coming for the actual full moon, I happened to catch it in the phase of Almost. To follow, a random collection of moonspiration I had building up, along with the shots from my telephoto lens. This is the best I can do with my equipment… Read more…
July 24, 2020
My trip to Virginia’s dark sky parks was a good effort, but cloud cover was a big issue. In the brief sliver of time when the clouds opened up at James River State Park, I did mange some shots. Then the rain came again, bringing me back to my tent Read more…
July 19, 2020
I have several dark sky adventures planned given the new moon and my rental car. Firstly, a trip to Long Island’s Custer Observatory, a public observatory within the dark skies of Southold. Their Saturday program includes the opportunity of utilizing the observatory’s equipment, like the tremendous telescope housed in the Read more…
July 1, 2020
Where once my couch housed my behind for a good portion of the week, today brought an old cemetery, an abandoned asylum and, in the evening, an astroshoot. Now if only of my vegan food leads would be successful (Damn Corona!), the day might have been the perfect combination of Read more…
April 8, 2020
While putting my compost to the curb, she shined upon me. So I went back in, paused The Shawshank Redemption and got my camera. It was nice to stand square in the middle of the street in the dark, knowing Bay Ridge was already tucked in for another night, and Read more…
March 10, 2020
A sign of Spring, the Worm Full Moon, marks the reemergence of the earthworm from the thawing Earth. But there really wasn’t much freeze this winter! With the worms squiggling once again, the birds will return for feasting. Piece by piece, spring’s plan plays itself out–bringing blooms, renewal and rebirth. Read more…
February 22, 2020
I’m a window seat gal. I love watching the land from above. Here are some painting-like pictures, blotted and splotchy in their pixelatedness, of our beautiful country as I traveled from one end to the other. Starting at my home… I like to see the boroughs hold hands via a Read more…
February 19, 2020
I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight on a bed of California stars… I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight on a bed of California stars 🎶 I’d love to feel your hand touching mine and tell me why I must keep working on. Yes I’d give my Read more…
On solo mission now, a trip to the dark sky desert. Arriving with plenty of blazing sun, I captured the remote landscape… inhabited by enormous sculpture by artist Ricardo Breceda. Borrego Springs is a magical place where one can easily get a soy latte but also be in the middle Read more…
February 18, 2020
Los Angeles is a massive sprawl of things to do. Like pedal boating in Echo Park. We rode the swans on a lovely LA morning. The La Brea Tar Pits are an interesting stop detailing the ancient history of the area. With many outdoor exhibits there is no need to Read more…
December 25, 2019
Gift Spoiler alert! 🎁 Don’t read if you’re a special person in my life! This holiday season I am giving what I am most proud of–the evolution of my skills in astrophotography! Spending hours pouring over my photographs from this past year, I kind of got choked up. I saw Read more…
November 10, 2019
If the moon wants to glow bright, I won’t complain, as I have been. Tonight, far from Brooklyn, it’s her I capture. Because she won’t have it any other way. Because I have no idea how and that’s alluring. Because I’ve been taking her for granted, resenting her light. And Read more…
October 22, 2019
It always strikes me as odd that more people are not glued to the window during flights. How often can you see the beautiful Earth from the perspective of 30,000 feet? I’m always amazed how much like a quilt the land always looks, a quilt stained with enormous cloud shadows. Read more…