The moment the moon rose over the mountain, it looked like a bubble was forming. It was the perfect location. I was in awe and nearly didn't take any pictures. Some say during events like this it is best to not worry about pictures and just enjoy the moment. For me, I learned to "have my cake and eat it too." Having already set up the camera and its settings, I just held my remote trigger in my pocket, enjoyed the view with awe, and snapped away.

Being that the actual eclipse (blood moon) was near midnight and straight above, I when home and took the following pictures from my front yard.

Here are the details of the pictures:

Taken at 6.3 miles away to the launch site (I have no idea the distance it was before the Falcon 9 went behind the clouds).

Settings: ISO 200, 1/800, f/9, 400mm lens

At a distance of 6.3 miles, using 400mm lens, heat wave distortions due to refraction in the atmosphere are obvious at ground level, and the phenomenon fluctuated with sun and cloud cover. Once in sky, well above ground, this phenomenon stopped.

From launch to the time the Falcon 9 went behind the clouds was 120 seconds. I fired off about the same amount of frames.

See more pictures here: http://tonycarlson.zenfolio.com/p761171287

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch on April 2, 2018 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch on April 2, 2018 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch on April 2, 2018 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch on April 2, 2018 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch on April 2, 2018 SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch April 2, 2018 Falcon 9Just before going behind the clouds.

Cherokee Falls, Cloudland Canyon State ParkTaken in 2013

Taken the same year is this photo of the "third falls" which has become the most viewed/visited photo as of yet in my gallery.

The "third falls" at Cloudland CanyonTaken in 2013

The below set are photos I took while staying in the Yurts. I'm sharing them on this special blog post as my way of saying thank you to Cloudland Canyon State Park and the Canyon Grill. (these and a few others can also be viewed in the 2015Nature Gallery)

Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Cherokee Falls, Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon Cloudland Canyon Cherokee Falls, Daniels Creek, Cloudland Canyon

Recently, I've taken some shots that show improvement in composition and post production. I am excited and hope it continues. The attached pictures are a couple examples and more can be found in my 2015 Nature and Flower galleries. Hercules Beetle (female)largest species in the U.S.

Dahlia

Blackberry

View from Wernigerode's Castle

I had the great honor/pleasure of being asked to travel with some students to Germany as part of an exchange program from May 25 to June 15, 2014. The host school is located in Wernigerode. It is a small town nestled in the Harz Mountains. Though school was priority we did some side trips to Berlin, Leipzig, Wolfsburg and other small places. One host family took me on a weekend retreat, while another took me to Dresden. As far a photography goes, it was not a luxury photo tour vacation. I was there as a chaperone/teacher first. As such I was on a schedule with a group so setting up for the perfect angle under perfect light was not an option. There were a few short moments I got to breakaway  (in Wernigerode and Dresden) but most everything was done on the move. Looking back I learned some things, and in hind sight wonder why I didn't do certain things, but in the end I am pleased and, in some cases, surprised with the results. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

P.S. I have organized the pictures three ways, as Favorites, by Location, and by Date/Day (which includes a lot more student/group photos)

P.S.S. My primary lens was my EF-S 18-55 Kit Lens, as it was small, light, and cheap (in case it got lost or stolen). I did lug around my EF-S 55-250 Kit Lens as well but only took a couple of pictures with it as it was just too inconvenient to keep switching lens all the time. (I really do want the Canon EF-S  15-85 as a multipurpose walk around lens but cannot afford it right now. It would have served all my needs in one lens for this trip)

Winning PhotoThis is the winning photo for the Cloudland Canyon State Park annual photo contest.

I have also had the great privilege over the past couple of years of having more students ask me to do their Senior Portraits. It gives me great joy to practice portraits while giving them lasting memories.

Kathryn

My current equipment (as of this post) is:

Camera: Canon 7D

Lenses: 18-55 EF-S (kit), 55-250 EF-S (kit), 28-135 EF, 100mm 2.8 Macro, 50mm 1.8, 40mm 2.8 "pancake", 100-400 EF L series (borrowed)

Post Processing: Apple Aperture (for most all work) , Photoshop Elements (minimal use)

Sunsetat Grayton Beach

Now I need to work on doing better at framing, capturing the moment, ascetics, artistic value... and less FB type pictures

Battle of Tunnel HillFirst use of my Canon 7D

My camera was a wonderful gift from my wife and I couldn't be more thankful. It came with two ("kit") lenses: 18-55 and a 55-250. All pictures taken in 2010 and 2011 were done with the original lenses.

I have learned that 99% of a great photo has nothing to do with the lens or editing. Photography is more about framing the image, background, lighting, and camera settings - all of which have to come together just right to make a good image. THIS is the biggest thing I am learning.

Thanks for visiting

Cumberland IslandA favorite from 2010