The other night I caught a “hawkmoth” (thanks Granny J) with my digital camera. Today I figured I’d follow two around and see if I could do better. I’m not sure that I did better, but I thought I’d share the photos all the same.

Oh, and I think no near dusk photography tonight.  While the mosquitoes here in AZ aren’t as bad as those in New Hampshire, I haven’t been chewed up in quite some time.  I’m not accustomed to it, so I think I’ll take this evening off and let the mosquitoes find another dining hot spot!

I can’t sleep, and I’m exhausted. So, this is one of those posts. If you’re here for Airstreams and other fun stuff, skip this post. I’m in a thinking mood. Sorry, it happens!

Reality is setting in. Over the weekend I was so enthused. An opportunity that matches my skills to a T. Exciting.

The enthusiasm turned to a lower level of excitement, and many other things. Realization. What I want to do on the career level isn’t matching where I am. Enthusiasm and disappointment then competed with each other for dominance.

Afterward, remnants of excitement, coupled with a growing sense of loss once more. There’s a familiar feeling. Loss. I’ve had a ton of it over the past few years, and I didn’t need a revisit!

Still, I’ve kept a sliver of hope that something interesting and unique would turn up here. Work should be entertaining, fulfilling, and meaningful. All indicators point to my most recent opportunity. It’s just that opportunity doesn’t lie in the place I currently reside.

Today has been a day of coping with what feels like loss. And coupled with it, my desire to not be ungrateful for things that have been dropped in my path. I’ve started letting my new friends know I’m heading out soon. There’s an opportunity I can’t ignore, and I’ve got to go after it full on. It matches me. I’ll do well at the job, and I’ll bring a lot to the table in this roll. Bottom line, it provides me a purpose once again.

Have I not had a purpose? Sure, I’ve been driven to find solutions to the medical junk that started in 05′. I’ve had to make my way after losing so much that meant the world to me. Travel, seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing the kindness that our country has to offer. There’s purpose in all of that. I guess I just want more. I defy you to point out someone who doesn’t strive to be something beyond what they currently are.

So, with all of that…… I went out and took too many pictures today. Documenting. My home for four months needs it’s place in all of what’s occurred. Prescott has been the stop in my journeys where I’ve found the strength to heal so much. Walking out for miles alone again. While not a new experience, a new one in recent years. Confidence restored. Digging my nails into granite to hang on a few seconds more. Hanging on has become an art form in my life recently. Finding fast friends, and wonderful friends…… How good can it be?

And now packing. Organizing the Airstream for one more jaunt. This will be the last for a while I think. That hits home. I’m ready. And I’m sad with saying good bye once more. Especially to the place that has brought so much back into my life.

With all of that, I went out and took too many pictures today. I will again tomorrow, and Friday, and Saturday. This is a special place. It has so much to offer. If you’re ever looking for a place to line everything back up, I’d suggest stopping by. It’s done me a world of good. And it’s home. Glad to have found it!

Tonight I don’t have much to blog on. Considering the latest job options, a pending road trip, and what’s coming next.

So, I present for your viewing pleasure, tonight’s sunset photos.

Clouds by Thor’s Marbles

Loved this glowing rock

Blending blue into pink.  Nice trees too. 

Really love the trees both dead & alive in this one.

Pretty wild one!

Want to see more?  Check out my latest Flickr uploads.  Oh, and make sure to check out the titles to the shots.  I’m so darned original…… 

All shot with the Canon Digital SLR. 

I’ve always wondered how people get wonderful photos of fireworks. And now I know. That doesn’t mean I got wonderful photos of fireworks last night, but I did get photos of them!

We made our way to the largest rock formation in Point of Rocks RV park to watch the fireworks across the valley. Pioneer Park, the site where I participated in the Hike, Bike, Ride fund raiser, is easy to see from a high spot in the Granite Dells.

The evening was perfect. Temperatures in the 60’s, and a nice light breeze (at first). After sunset the winds picked up, and they really picked up.

Finally, while I was taking photos of a constellation (need to look up which it was), my friend Sadira told me the fireworks had started.

I spun the camera around on it’s tripod and got ready to shoot the fireworks. My first photos of fireworks ever.

Two things stood out to me when I started taking photos. The first, the book was right, I should have used my big zoom lens. I was hoping to get the mountains in the background. But the second problem had nothing to do with me being a novice. See, the fireworks were super low from my vantage point!

I’m figuring the fireworks were kept low for a good reason. The winds! It’s really dry here, and if any spark drifted too far, who knows? And it was windy, look at the photos and see the direction that the lights are drifting…..that was due to the wind.

The entire display went off well, and seems to have been conducted very safely. I’m glad to have seen it, and it was fun to watch the fireworks from the Granite Dells.

For my first fireworks photo shoot I’ve learned a few things. Bring the big zoom like the book suggested. Should have set it to about 200mm, but the zoom was in the trailer. My second lesson, try to be below the fireworks instead of being eye level with them.

I still like the photos, but this was my first learning experience. Oh, I even shot some video and it might be popping up as a podcast too.

Recently I got a Flickr Account. You can go there to see more of last evening’s photos. Rather than posting them all here, my favorites are now getting posted over there.

Hey, a non work related post. How nice. After all, I’m still Airstreaming, enjoying a pretty area, and being happy I found this town. Different things get priority in posts, and my mind has been heavily on finding work in this area!

Currently it’s heating up once more. The past week has seen some pretty high temperatures, and I’m staying out of that kind of sun. Believe me, the days are beautiful, but I need a chilled pool to enjoy this type of heat.

Yesterday we saw over 100 here again. Today we’ll break the 100 mark once again. According to my macintosh dashboard widget, 101 today. According to other services, 103 or 104. Whatever the actual temperature, it’s not Phoenix.

Last night I plugged my Elgato EyeTV in, and watched the news on my laptop. That’s right, I watched TV for the first time in a while. Why you ask? Curiosity. I wondered when the monsoons might begin, so I thought the folks on the news might give me some insights. They didn’t, but they did tell me the heat in Phoenix was high.

For fireworks last night in Phoenix at 9 p.m. they suggested a temperature still above 100. Here in Prescott we’ll see 60’s or 70’s at the worst. It cools off nicely here each night, and each morning I’ve seen temperatures below 60.

Staying in

So, what do I do hiding out inside? Well, the past few days I’ve been reading 2 books on Digital Photography. “Canon EOS 30D: Digital Field Guide”, and “The Digital Photography Book.” Both are good reads and easy to follow.

Also I’ve just about finished “PHP for the World Wide Web.” While I already knew a good bit about PHP I decided to do more with my free time. Going through the book I decided to install my own PHP setup along with a MySQL server. Both drive Wordpress, and Wordpress is what powers this web site. I want to customize my site further and create more tools for it as well. I can now experiment on my computer, rather than on the web server that readers come to every day (aren’t you glad, I’m not experimenting on you).

So, there’s the excitement indoors the past few days. Wonder how many readers I just lost?

Other things to do indoors

Of course, movies, radio, books on tape, etc., are all items that one can do indoors. And I’ve been doing them all. I’ll be watching the latest Ghost In The Shell movie this afternoon, and then probably take a nap. Staying up late tonight to photograph fireworks, so I’ll need a nap.

Finally, I’ve been thinking about gear to write about for readers. I’d mentioned the other week that I’ll be posting more about the gear I use. So I’ve been making the “check list.”

What’s in store for you today? How about towels? That’s right, towels.

I use quick drying towels while on the road. My favorite manufacturers are MSR and Aquis Adventure Towels. Even linking to them and giving some free advertising.

The microfiber towels were first “discovered” when planning for my AT hike in 2001. Normal towels are big and bulky, take tons of

space, and don’t pack well in a backpack. Repeat the list of drawbacks, and then apply it to an RV. It’s the same issue.

But microfiber towels don’t have those issues. Better yet, they pack away small, dry quickly, and dry you off quickly as well!

If you’re packing up for a short trip, several months, or going full time, I’d suggest checking into microfiber towels. They dry so fast compared to a normal towel too, and they’re super for drying up spills, even grape juice!

There’s the wrap up on today’s RV gear recommendation.

Exhaustion has set in. Right now the moon is rising, and I’m not watching it!

This evening I took a short and quick stroll up onto one of the close rock formations here at Point of Rocks. I missed the sunset, but thought I’d play with the low light photography a little more. Tonight I present only 3 photos!

No, the red streak isn’t a lens issue.  It’s an airplane passing through the shot.  I heard the engine in the distance, turned the camera, and decided to do a 7 second exposure to see what I could see.  I like it.  Nifty!

I was so thrilled with my airplane streak that I decided to turn the camera toward route 89.  As you can tell, very little traffic on 89 tonight.  One car coming toward me, a few driving away.  Makes me feel all artsy. 

Finally, I thought I’d include a “planet” shot.  Not sure what planet is glowing so bright in the west, but there it is.  Oh, and the streak to the left of it is yet another high flying plane’s con trail.

Nice to know that with a little remote cable I can experiment at will with my Canon digital SLR.  Makes for a fun evening, and I think it sure beats watching TV.  If only I wasn’t so spent from two nights of late photography I would have stayed out longer.  But now at 9:26 my head really needs to call an 8 hour conference with my pillows!  Good night! 

I returned to the Dells again this evening for another round of playing with low light and night photography. Between the new book I got the other day and talking with Mike I think I’m getting there. Oh, and the remote cable I got for my camera helped too.

With all that said, I’ll post the photos and put a few comments here and there. Hope everyone enjoys them as much as I enjoyed taking them.  Oh, and you should see these things full size!!!  Very nice. 

Looking to the Northeast over the dells

A zoomed version of the first photo.  Sunset in the Dells rocks!

A lone tree growing out of the rocks

Yeah, I like this one!

A different exposure of the tree 10 minutes later

Deeper colors looking Northwest

The first edited photo placed on this site.  I should have exposed it longer.  It was actually really dark, the moon rising ever so slightly.  Nice star too, eh?  The editing.  I used the auto enhance on Iphoto, and the picture was lightened a touch.

Town lights and the sunset

Moonlit Watson Lake

Clearly I’m not a late night person. We were up until 1:00 a.m.

Mike, Nate, Aaron, and I went out to their favorite tree in Prescott Valley. An interesting excursion.  The “spot” is well into a cow field of all things.  No, there was no cow tipping involved.  There was heavy avoidance of large piles of manure.  There was also a growing concern as the cows moved in on us!  Not kidding, they closed in! 

After a short time in the field I decided I wasn’t too thrilled with the incoming cows in the dark.  The moon lit the area well, but still, do you really want to run into a bull in a field carrying cameras and lawn chairs?

Everyone else agreed to pull up stakes.  I suggested returning to the Granite Dells, as I really wanted to see what they were like fully moon lit.

From the photos you can see, my experimentation with longer exposures has begun.  I tried several star photos, but they didn’t come through, even with 8 minute exposures.  The moon really washed everything out.  But that’s ok, I now know what I’m after!

Since I’m still half asleep I’ll end this post now.  I need to wake up, clean up, and head down town for the parade that launches Rodeo Days here.

There’s always something to do in this town…… and it can get really exhausting (in a good way of course).

The temperatures this evening in Arizona were just right. Well, at least at elevation. Phoenix is probably another story. Here at Point of Rocks another beautiful sunset gave me one more opportunity to get some practice in with my camera.

Since I have the time, work on my evening photography has continued. More sunsets, more moon shots. This week is a little odd. The moon is rising an hour before the sunset. Still, I found some nice scenes and thought I’d share a few here. Sunset was at 7:46 tonight, moon rise at about 6:40.

My Canon EOS 10D shoots some large photos. After I off load them onto the Mac I resize the photos for the blog. No sense in oversized photos here. I’ve found that keeping photos under 500 pixels wide on web sites works well for most browsers, and most laptop screens. My little 12 inch IBook wouldn’t be too happy with pictures much larger.

Working with the photos is pretty easy on the Mac. Iphoto boots up the moment I connect the camera card and offers to import from the card. That simple. Pretty easy to organize with it as well.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting an entry at the Digital RV’s Podcast site on importing photos with a Mac, and some introductory information on working with IPhoto. Pop by and take a look if you have a chance. In a few days an entry on importing digital photos to a Windows system will also be added. I hope viewers find the tutorials helpful.

Other than resizing my photos for the web site I don’t edit my photos. Either I shot it right or I didn’t. You can really make photos “pop” with things like Adobe Photo Shop, but I’m trying to improve what I shoot. Working with software is pretty easy for me, but getting a good photo with my camera is the fun challenge!

I’m sure readers are now very familiar with the Granite Dells, but every time I head out into them I seem to see something new. Different lizards, birds, odd squirrels (with lynx like ears), more rabbits, snakes, etc. Every time I go out I also see the rocks in different ways. Actually, a little like climbing. Crevices look different with different lighting, trees offer a different view, and working around the rocks I find new things every trip out. 3 months and the place still “wows” me.

Well, four photos were my favorites from this evening. Hope you’ve enjoyed the latest photo tour in the Dells. Tomorrow night I’ll be heading out with Mike (check the blog links on the right column for his site “I am Mike”) to do some late night photography. Maybe I’ll get an amazing photo or two that I’ll share here. Maybe I’ll get some “Bert quality” photos (Hi Bert!). One can only hope!

Later in the afternoon I returned to the bluegrass festival. Still very warm, light breezes, and a big crowd!

I couldn’t find anywhere convenient to sit and set up the camera this time. So, instead of sitting I wandered around the square, and found several of the local players in groups. While I couldn’t get close to the stage, I could get right into a circle of players and enjoy.

During my wanderings I picked up several fun sets of video for the upcoming podcast.  The podcast is done and ready to load, but I’m having FTP issues, and must borrow another high speed network if I want to get it up today.  So, keep watching…..

Walking in and out of the random groups playing was a real treat.  Older players and younger players came together randomly.  A person standing outside of a circle would be asked in, and they’d join the fun.  Too bad I only know how to play the piano!

Young and old, there were players of all ages.  And all talent levels.  Honestly, I really enjoy the fiddle players & banjos as well.

Over the course of the day I broke out my Canon EOS 10D to take photos.  Then my handy little Canon SD 550.  Finally, the Sony hard drive camcorder came out a ton.  My biggest disappointment in the shots from yesterday was the stage area.  An extremely bright day, a very dark stage.  Photos didn’t turn out exactly as I wanted them, even with experimentation.

Fortunately the video and stills looked a whole lot better when I got into the shaded areas around the courthouse, and in with the smaller groups of player.  So, some shots and video I really liked, and some shots and video that left me saying I have a lot more to learn.