Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : Perseid

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Happy New Year from PhotoGraphic Expressions

Highlights of 2011

As 2011 swiftly comes to an end, I would like to dedicate this week's blog to recapping some highlights over the past year. There have been so many exciting adventures it would take an entire book, however the following are the most outstanding or unique.

The New Year was welcomed in with festivities in Reno, and to add to the fun, I spent some quality time at Idlewild and Wingfield Park getting photos along the Truckee River in the snow.

Also in January, we had the weather phenomena called Pogonip or freezing fog. Although it is very cold and even dangerous to breathe the cold air for long periods, I braved the cold at Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and was rewarded with some intriguing photos.

In March, I had the most amazing adventure in Death Valley, California with our Wildflower Photography Workshop. We camped at Furnace Creek, enjoyed great gourmet cooking, photographed wildflowers in the early morning and explored Death Valley during the rest of the day. The best part is, everyone is looking forward to doing it again this spring! If you would like to join us, please contact me via email.

Following the Death Valley trip in April, I was invited to exhibit my "Clouds, Sky and Moon" photos at the NeverEnder Gallery in Reno. Thanks again NeverEnder for a great reception and thanks to everyone for coming out and showing support!

During the month of July in Reno, the entire area celebrates the arts with Artown. I joined in the fun and action with the Purple Summer Festival held at Lavender Ridge. Again, I want to thank everyone, it is great to make new acquaintances and see familiar faces.

July was a busy and exciting month because the following week after the Purple Summer Festival, I was in Virginia City doing the still photography at the Americana Music Festival.

What wonderful music and the best part was meeting great musicians like Darrell Scott,

And Kathy Boyd with Phoenix Rising

Two favorite and unusual photography events occurred at night. In August, the Perseid Meteor Showers were due to peak at the same time as the full moon. After careful planning, I went out on August 11th. at 2:30 am to catch the sky while the moon was setting.

A total lunar eclipse occurred on December 10th. and again I braved the cold to be out at 5:00am to catch the eclipsed full moon just as it was setting over the Wassuk Mountains.

2011 has been a wonderful year and would not have been possible without your interest, support and inspiration. Thank you all for being along on the journey. I look forward to new adventures and thrills in 2012 and wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!

Photographs Make Great Gifts

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences.

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

Many of these images are available on my website:

http://www.bonnierannald.com/

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download.

All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Perseid Meteor Showers

Catch a Falling Star Over Walker Lake

The week of August 8th, the Perseid meteor show is due to peak between August 12th and 13th, becoming more spectacular in the early morning hours before dawn. The greatest difficulty with this spectacular meteor show is the light from a Waxing Gibbous or nearly full moon and of course favorable meteorological conditions with clear skies and calm winds.

I chose to take my chances with the meteors on the morning of August 11th. because the moon was due to set around 3am. I arose at 2:35am and when I went outside, the sky was very light even though the moon had already dropped behind the mountains to the west. Just as I was setting up my camera, I saw several brilliant star trails streak across the northeastern sky.

To try and photo the meteors, I selected my wide angle Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens. Using a cable release on the Nikon D90, I set the program on manual and the shutter on bulb so that I could control the speed. From past experience, I can get a 10-20 second exposure with the D90 without too much digital noise. For these night photos, I set the aperture at f/8 and the ISO was on 200. I also used my heaviest Bogan tripod to prevent as much camera as possible.

Around 3:35am, the sky to the northeast began to darken and I was all set up, ready for action. The radius point where the meteors will originate is in the constellation Perseus, just below the Cassiopeia's W in the Northeast sky. However in the early dawn, I noticed shooting stars in all directions of the sky. The problem is being able to catch the meteor trail during a 10-20 second shutter opening.

I did manage to capture one nice meteor trail to the east just before dawn.

Once the eastern sky began to lighten with dawn quickly approaching, I could not resist to take more photos in the starlit sky.

With dawn's light accenting Walker Lake, I walked to get a closer image of the early morning light.

For more information:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors