Over the past month or so I have witnessed a few stellar phenomena such as the total solar eclipse in Arkansas on April 8 and a record solar flare-induced aurora light show in Florida (of all places.) Throw in a Space-X Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral and it’s been a great month. I may have access to a telescope soon that I can hook up the iPhone to and maybe view/capture something else- like an orbiting Tesla?
The world’s most powerful artificial intelligence machine has decided you are a threat and is targeting you. From there, anything goes. I’d give this a 3 out of 5 stars because 3/4 through and the novel has lost it’s way diving into computer science and black majick.
A shame because I had high hopes for this book based on the premise that really never delivered. Up next, a book from a Florida native entitled “Bad Monkey.” I’ve never read Carl Haissen’s works before but figured when in Florida…
Today is the 108th day of the year and I have 108 images posted for the 366/2024 photo project. One photo a day, every day for a year so far using the Hipstamatic model 10 camera.
My sleep schedule is off. My weight is over. My creativity is stifled even though I have major ideas I want to tinker with. All because of this move prep. Cannot wait to eventually get settled so I can correct these annoyances.
My sleep schedule is off. My weight is over. My creativity is stifled even though I have major ideas I want to tinker with. All because of this move prep. Cannot wait to eventually get settled so I can correct these annoyances.
“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lau Tzu
This will be the last newsletter for a few weeks until I have completed another cross-country move. Once I am done with relocating to Florida and have unpacked and then organize, I can start thinking about cranking out a newsletter and podcast.
During the past few weeks of sorting, organizing, and packing, I’ve had a chance to reflect on a few thoughts that help inspire me to live and maintain a minimalistic lifestyle.
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” -Tyler Durden, Fight Club.
Until next time,
“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lau Tzu
This will be the last newsletter for a few weeks until I have completed another cross-country move. Once I am done with relocating to Florida and have unpacked and then organize, I can start thinking about cranking out a newsletter and podcast.
During the past few weeks of sorting, organizing, and packing, I’ve had a chance to reflect on a few thoughts that help inspire me to live and maintain a minimalistic lifestyle.
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” -Tyler Durden, Fight Club.
Until next time,
After a three hour drive to Paris, Arkansas, I parked the car behind a roadside bar and awaited the moon to orbit in between the Sun and the Earth. I’ve experienced multiple solar and lunar eclipses but this was by far the best In a total coverage of the Sun.
I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture the moment, shot in RAW and full magnification behind an old DSLR lens filter. Well, the neutral density filter was not strong enough so I just used the special-filter glasses for better results.
While the others grabbed beer being served at 1PM on a Monday in small town Arkansas, I was setting up the tripod and watching the moon make its journey in between myself and the Sun. I lit my pipe and relaxed as the shadow slowly moved from the south. The sky turned cobalt blue, then purple and finally it was dark. Off to the west the sky glowed as if the sun were setting as it should but that won’t happen for another 7 hours.
My eyes were darting back and forth from the astrological event above me and to the tripod to push the camera button as the slow shutter perfectly adjusted to the low light in the sky around the moon perfectly and even captured some solar prominences.
The sky remained dark for a few minutes, the wind stopped and the temperature dropped. Everything was surreal and quiet except for the chatter of my companions. Can we not enjoy the moment in reverence?
Seven frustrating hours later I arrived back home to relax and wonder at what we had witnessed. Then it was my turn for a beer at the pub and thought it was appropriate to sing ”Eclipse” and “Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd. What a great misadventure today was.
After a three hour drive to Paris, Arkansas, I parked the car behind a roadside bar and awaited the moon to orbit in between the Sun and the Earth. I’ve experienced multiple solar and lunar eclipses but this was by far the best In a total coverage of the Sun.
I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture the moment, shot in RAW and full magnification behind an old DSLR lens filter. Well, the neutral density filter was not strong enough so I just used the special-filter glasses for better results.
While the others grabbed beer being served at 1PM on a Monday in small town Arkansas, I was setting up the tripod and watching the moon make its journey in between myself and the Sun. I lit my pipe and relaxed as the shadow slowly moved from the south. The sky turned cobalt blue, then purple and finally it was dark. Off to the west the sky glowed as if the sun were setting as it should but that won’t happen for another 7 hours.
My eyes were darting back and forth from the astrological event above me and to the tripod to push the camera button as the slow shutter perfectly adjusted to the low light in the sky around the moon perfectly and even captured some solar prominences.
The sky remained dark for a few minutes, the wind stopped and the temperature dropped. Everything was surreal and quiet except for the chatter of my companions. Can we not enjoy the moment in reverence?
Seven frustrating hours later I arrived back home to relax and wonder at what we had witnessed. Then it was my turn for a beer at the pub and thought it was appropriate to sing ”Eclipse” and “Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd. What a great misadventure today was.
Recently, I discussed how my photography is now more of a documentary style rather than a portrait or landscape genre. But now that I have some time, I want to dive in and play with the existing images to create something entirely different.
Long ago, I purchased Pixelmator Pro, the alternative to the expensive Adobe Photoshop, but rarely had a chance to use it. So now I’m going to dust it off, take it out of the toy box and start to play.
The first step was to add two different images, one black and white and the other full-on color blast as a stark contrast. After manipulating both images individually as I needed, I then merged those separate layers into one and added some fine-tuning. It isn’t perfect. It doesn’t have to be since it is a first attempt, and I am playing. Learning as I go.
Recently, I discussed how my photography is now more of a documentary style rather than a portrait or landscape genre. But now that I have some time, I want to dive in and play with the existing images to create something entirely different.
Long ago, I purchased Pixelmator Pro, the alternative to the expensive Adobe Photoshop, but rarely had a chance to use it. So now I’m going to dust it off, take it out of the toy box and start to play.
The first step was to add two different images, one black and white and the other full-on color blast as a stark contrast. After manipulating both images individually as I needed, I then merged those separate layers into one and added some fine-tuning. It isn’t perfect. It doesn’t have to be since it is a first attempt, and I am playing. Learning as I go.
“The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can.”
– Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit
