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Photographing the Solar Eclipse

/ Seattle Park Lover / 6 Comments

 

The last time I had a chance to see a solar eclipse was in 1979. It was 98% coverage where I lived in Edmonds, if I’m recalling correctly. But, typical of Western Washington, we had thick cloud cover on that February day. It was so disappointing. The year 2017 for the next eclipse was impossible to even comprehend for my 17 year-old self.

But here I am, a middle-aged woman in the year 2017. Amazing. The whole thing is still kinda weird if you ask me.

When this eclipse started drawing near I was hesitantly excited because I so much wanted to see it but was dreading another huge disappointment. I figured this would be my last chance to see an eclipse in this lifetime.

The weather gods took pity on me. We didn’t have the typical morning marine layer as the day dawned, only horizon haze, with no clouds to speak of overhead.

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Red Moon Rising

/ Seattle Park Lover / 10 Comments

 

For more than a week the skies in much of Washington State have been full of smoke from forest fires burning in British Columbia. At times the smoke is so thick you can see it in street lights at night and from the Space Needle cam you can only see the nearest hills. From Seattle we haven’t seen the mountains since the smoke first arrived. People have irritated eyes and trouble breathing. It’s expected to continue like this until the weekend.

The smoke has made for some extremely eerie sunrises, sunsets, and moons. The theme for the WPC this week is the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. I’m missing water, but this photo I took of the full moon rising this week represents the other three quite nicely. The rocky soil of the moon, and the air full of smoke particles from distant fires.

I haven’t altered the colors, it really did look red as the moon rose through the thickest band of smoke on the horizon.

If you want to see what the city looks like with all the smoke visit the Space Needle cam.

 

Wonderful Water

/ Seattle Park Lover / 10 Comments

 

The theme for the WPC this week is “satisfaction.” For me, water in its many forms is insanely satisfying. From small burbling fountains to the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Water is audibly satisfying. It can be melodious or deafening. Water is visually satisfying. It creates never-ending patterns and designs as it moves, or as wind riffles its surface. It reflects sunlight and moonlight in dazzling displays, or lights or scenery in peaceful calm. Even its taste. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of drinking cold water straight from a spring on a hot day.