Thursday, October 02, 2008

Sky Watch Friday!

Saturdays are for sleeping in

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sometimes.

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The guys called a meeting, and we chose 7AM, because it is less likely to interfere with all of our schedules... except when that schedule involves sleeping in.

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On the way to the meeting, I passed the field where we hold our soccer practices. There was an eerie mist hovering low on the pitch. The sky displayed soft, subtle, dreamy pastels, so I pulled over and snapped away a few "frames." (Can we still call them frames with digital photography?)

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Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining about getting up for a 7AM meeting. I like the idea, even though I didn't get to sleep in. In fact, I had already been up and about that morning. My son, the barista had an opening shift that day. That means that I was up at 3:30 to wake him up and then drop him off for a 4:15 start time. Trying not to waste the starry opportunity, I set my camera lens-up on the asphalt at its longest exposure, and used the timer to attempt a photograph of the stars. (Sorry; I was too tired an lazy to identify any constellations.) In post-editing, I tried to make the image lighter, but it gets grainy and weird if I mess with it too much. I hope you can see it alright. [click on photos to enlarge]

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(yawn) Would you care to divulge any experiences with astronomical photography at zero-dark-hundred?

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Check out Sky Watch Friday by clicking on the badge.

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40 comments:

Juliana RW said...

wonderful sky

I hope you stop by at my SWF post also in HERE. Thanks

Anonymous said...

WOW! that fist shot looks amazing! Something you see in the movie:) Great capture!~My SWF is posted HERE. Happy Sky Watching!~

Carole said...

I do see the stars! Love the mist in the first photo.

EG CameraGirl said...

Well, I'm glad you were up to take the top photo - it's a beauty. And I'm glad you don't mind early meetings because maybe we'll see more like it.

I can see the faint stars in the second photo, I think.

Happy Sky Watch! . ;-)

Rose said...

Oh, that first picture is wonderful, just wonderful!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Wonderful photo of a misty Illinois morning.
Marnie

imac said...

Truly an avid Skywatcher here.
Great work -my friend.

Photo Cache said...

these types of magical images only come to those who wake up early. sadly, i don't have these shots.

happy skywatching.

Anonymous said...

Very nice misty shot - I can totally relate to the whole 7 o'clock thing. Not so much the 4am one though. My experience at zero-dark-hundred is, ummm, maybe SLEEP.

Carver said...

I love the foggy morning shot and good attempt to catch the stars. That's so hard to do.

Tom said...

I do like both of these... and I've yet to try and capture the stars.

Thank for joining in with Sky Watch this week...TOM
Mine's Here

Pernille said...

The first is so beautiful. And I do see the star;)Very nice!

Have a nice weekend:)

Jane Hards Photography said...

Enchanting images at the most unearthly hours.

Carletta said...

Love the first one - nice cozy sweater feel to it!

Leslie: said...

I love the mood of your photo of the field. Yes, eerie yet dreamy at the same time.

I've never been able to get a shot of the stars, so this is great!

Come see my simple little photo over at The Photologue.

MaryAnn Ashley said...

Great sky.. soccer field. If i squint a bit, while shaking my head I can see stars. Tomorrow is Saturday, enjoy your rest.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Craver: I do love your eerie field in the early morning light. It won't be long until you'll have to do this after the meeting the days are getting shorter and shorter.

DeniseinVA said...

Those early morning meetings can be tough even if you don't mind them. The silver lining for me would be this spectacular photograph. It is gorgeous. I also love your stars photo. Really cool to see them when I enlarged your photo. Great SkyWatch contributions.

Kim said...

Ahhh, love the mist over the field. It's dark when i get to work in the morning (at 6am) and I hate missing the whole getting light process..great shot! Starry sky is pretty sweet, too! Hope you got a coffee from the Barista for getting up *that* early!!

lime said...

that top picture is just so beautifully serene. it looks like a watercolor.

Jeanne said...

Wow love them both and well worth the early rising.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

yeah sleeping in! Cool photos !

23 degrees said...

Love the shot of the fog over the field, nice!

Have you a "B" setting on your camera? (stands for "bulb) This will allow the shutter to remain open and long as you hold it down, you may get some swirling stars)

Mary said...

That is an amazing scene! Looks like a painting.

CloudStalker said...

Now thats what i call skywatching!

magiceye said...

love the 1st pic!

Pernille said...

Hello again:)

Yes it's normal for very old houses here in Norway to have grass and flowers on the roof. Some new houses and many cabins have it too. It's very nice to look at.
I shal try after the weekend to share a photo of the whole house with you.

Have a nice weekend:)

mommanator said...

Great photo
WHO gets to sleep in any day! My hubby has started to get up @ 4:30 am and has decided I need to be up with him! Hum I could sleep longer!

Anonymous said...

I like stars. The shot you have doesn't show much but when you enlarge it, you see more. I like the enlarged shot. It seems so distant.

The first shot seems mysterious like out of an eerie movie.

L.L. Barkat said...

Dreamlike. I love it.

D Herrod said...

Very nice. I hope your son hooked you up with a latte or at least a coffee of the day for taking him in so early.

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

My friend Craver VII

Marvelous morning!
At this hour I'm sleeping always!!!
When I was young, I also woken up early!

Santilli

Anonymous said...

great snap on that "eerie mist" craver!

Martin Stickland said...

That sure is a nice photo my fiend and just look at all the folks commenting on your blog!

Have a terwifick weekend!

preacherman said...

Great pics.
You have talent.
As far as sleeping in late.
I have 3 boys: 7, 5, and 2.
Cartoons!! So sleeping in is no easy task in our home. I am going to do my best to sleep in Sat. Will see if it happens.
"Yeah Right! And Monkeys Might Fall Out of My Butt!!" Wayne Campbell

esnorway said...

nice pics

Shammickite said...

I think you need to install one of those giant photographic telescopes that poke out of the roof for your next attempt at recording the heavens!

vincibene said...

Beautiful skies!

Jules~ said...

good evening to you! You have been busy blogging while I have been away. I like all of the pictures....the misty 7am morning and the whistling flower are my favorites. Congratulations on running mic jockey for your pastor's farewell party. I know it was an honor for you.
The statement from the boy about the favorite pastor...what that a statement you heard that night? Sorry I didn't quite catch that part. You are right it is cutely naive of a young thing to say that. It made me smile. I figure as long as a youth has fond memories of church and pasors then that is too cool.

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful misty mist of a morning! lovely.