This is an Announcement of the “Chester County (PA) Photography” Fan Page on Facebook!
The Group is primarily devoted to the Chester County (PA), a South Eastern part of Pennsylvania
We are also working in association with several area Flickr Groups:
Please feel free to join us!
It was a cold early morning with a steady wind blowing across the area, but the night sky was crisp and cloud free!
While waiting for the event to start, I was reading various Facebook posts from friends talking about how the clouds in their area where making in nearly impossible to see the moon.
I was also using “The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE)” software program to figure out a particular capture I had in my mind.
Finally, at about 1am, I packed up my car with my camera bag, tripod and extra clothing, and set off to my secret location.
Driving to my location was very easy, and I was surprised not to see many people out looking into the sky.
After getting to “my” location, and setting up, I realized, “my shoot” was not going to happen with the event occurring nearly straight over head.
Oh well, I was going to get some picture no matter what.
What really surprised me was how bright the moon was!
I did take a few early shoots from “my secret location”, but then packed up and headed back home because the wind was cutting right through me.
At home, I setup again, but used the garage to block some of the wind, and I was able to go inside to warm up a little between captures, and have a beer!
Initially, I was able to shoot at ISO100 at 1/15-1/80 in the ƒ8-11 range, but by the full eclipse, I had to push the CCD sensory speed up to ISO1600, and focusing was becoming very difficult.
By 3am, I packed up for the morning, and went inside.
I was too tired to download my images, and went to bed.
After a night to recover, I finally transferred my 150+ images my computer, and used Adobe Lightroom to sort though all of them.
Even with a tripod, I was able to notice, the wind moved the camera just enough to cause many rejects.
I ended up shooting a 50:1 ratio, which is not very good, but if I had been using traditional film, I would have gone broke with processing charges!
Yeah Digital!
I did spend some time looking on Flickr to see what others had captured before I created my final composite, and finally posted everything to my “2010 Winter Solstice – Lunar Eclipse” Flickr set.
NASA – “Eclipses During 2010”
Flickr group – Lunar Eclipse December 21 2010
WOW! What a morning of activity!
My alarm clock did not go off…
No need, instead, all one could hear in the house was the screaming giggles of joy!
“It’s my Birthday! It’s my Birthday!”
Madison is now 7, and I think the whole township is aware!
After getting the kids off to school and daycare, I could start my day by checking in with the world.
As I checked Facebook, I too got my own present!
My “Abiah Taylor Barn (1724)” image that I had taken on Tuesday (12/14) had been selected as this week’s VisitPA’s “Friday Foto“!
This is my second “Friday Foto“, with my first one back in September, and once again, I am deeply honored for the recognition!
What was really humbling, was reading some of the comments…
A couple of people posted say that the images reminded them of the work of Andrew Wyeth.
I have a LONG way to go, if ever, to reach that caliber of mastery.
But I do wish to Thank VisitPA.com again for their selection!
and…
Happy 7th Birthday Madison! — We Love you very much!
432 visits today on Flickr !
The images that were getting the most view were of the Downingtown Christmas Parade!
Thank you ALL for visiting!
Yesterday was the Annual Downingtown Good Neighbor Christmas Parade, and once again, it appeared to be a big success!
The weather was definitely warmer than last year, with the temperatures in the low 40s, and mostly overcast. (Several members from the Flickr groups I belong to, also expressed delight with the warm weather!)
Madison and I were the only ones from our family that were able to go. Logan was coughing way too much for Mom to allow him to stand around outside. (Our whole family, plus many other folks I know, have been fighting this dreadful lingering cold…)
We headed downtown around 2:15pm, with the thought of trying to avoid the hassle of trying to find parking, and to get a good viewing spot.
As we got closer, there did not appear to be much of a crowd, which made parking a breeze.
We walked from our spot at the Downing Center lot, and headed over to the center of town.
As we arrived, there were some people already there, with unfolded chairs and blankets, but not as many as I would have expected with the parade starting so soon.
We decided to walk around, and ended by stopping into the Minquas Fire House, where the Christmas Committee was hosting an Open House with Cookies and Hot Drinks.
After a few minutes of warming up inside, and some cookies, we talked back down town, and eventually staked our claim in a little spot near the Rt. 322 intersection, almost the same spot as last year.
As we waited and watched, we noticed a group of parents and kids gathering to the right of us, in front of the Coffee Cup, getting ready to perform.
They started a little after 3pm, after they introduced themselves as “The Touch of Class Dance Studio“.
As the instructors started to move the littlest members onto the street and into position, things started to get a little strange.
To the left of us, you could see that the police had already stopped the Rt. 322 traffic from turning on to the main parade route, but several Township vehicles and Police cars were still driving up and down Rt. 30.
At one point, a fast moving township pickup truck seemed as if it was going to run right into the little performers sitting in the street!
Needless to say, the spectators were getting a little agitated with what they were seeing, causing one parent from across to street to yell out: “Guess they did not get the memo!”.
The little dancers were easily cleared from the street without problems, and one of the adults from the Studio, did walk down the street, and confront an Official to confirm that it was okay to continue, and she was assured that is was.
Several minutes later, another unmarked gray police car drove back down the street, causing the kids to once again to scamper of the street, sparking an even more satirical comment “One more time!” from the same parent as earlier.
Finally, the Studio was able to continue without incident, and thrilled the crowd with their various dance routines.
On several occasions, with the music playing and the dancers jumping and spinning, children from the crowd entered the street and joined the performing Dancers.
As the performances continued, proud parents and children moved to the street to get a better view of the action, including one child, who seemed to just want to take a nap!
After about 30 minutes, the whole Troop gathered on the street to finish their performance.
Now it was time for the Main Event!
The celebration of the Holidays, is to look back to the past…
as well as what we have today…
as well as trying to remember the innocent’s of youth…
and good food! (Think these pretzels are big enough??)
and our animal friends…
as well as the music of the season…
and the array of colors!
or the First Family of the Holiday’s, that help to bring it all together!
Happy Holidays to all!