In the wait

I had about 30 minutes while waiting for my daughter, second time in one week, so I parked my car and stepped out to enjoy the changing light and clouds. Across the street was a baptist church with two crucifixes. One set high and the other lower in the parking lot. The power line silhouette looked like a third cross, and I was taken by how the three looked against the sky. A large military plane flew in the distance roaring with the hum of the traffic of nearby Interstate 10.

     

As I was taking this last shot, a woman driving an old white van with square windows running down both sides pulled to my side of the street, which was against the traffic for her. She rolled down her window and asked, "What do you see there?" For whatever reason I felt unsettled about her approach, but still answered her briefly. She maneuvered the vehicle as to park and then asked, "You a member of this church?" I quickly replied no and walked behind her van to cross the street to my car. She didn't get out, waited a moment, then pulled away. The whole interaction had an "X-File" feel to it because she seemed peculiar in her mannerisms. Of course I would have been grateful for Mulder and Scully to have stepped out from the church parking lot at that moment and show me their ID, but that didn't happen. I'll always wonder about that interaction, and would like to return to the location to shake it off a bit with another '30 minute shoot'.

#30minuteshoot #sunset #clouds #batonrouge

The kindness of the moon and clouds

I couldn't resist heading back out to spend time with the moon after walking Sparkle.  I didn't go alone, though, and took out 70-200 with me to see what it could do under low light. Hand held!  I'm more than pleasantly pleased, and it felt great to be carrying this big lens again. Thank you to a dear friend for sending it my way. x

Cloud rise

Yesterday and today, I've had my bedroom window open because the air has been cooler, yes cooler, with a slight breeze.  It faces east with a small wooden stool sitting below it.  Each morning, my six-year-old has closed her eyes facing the incoming light and breeze.  Yes, a breeze, too.  She said, "Come feel this.  You'll always remember."  With pleasure I did and completely shared in her joy.

Today I was inspired to step outside with my camera for a nice frame of the clouds rising.  Their movement was so lovely and promising.  I wished in me that others would be in a good place for themselves to see and appreciate its beauty.  It was a birthday wish for a special friend, too.

#lightforafriend

Do you see it? It's still there!

I had the most amazing rainbow session with my girls and husband tonight. Usually the event is short lived when spotting one in a rain shower or while driving in the car. Well, the workings of an incoming storm and the end of day sun sustained the colors and magic for nearly an hour for us. The sky went from gray to blue and back again with big clouds coming in and out, yet a section of the rainbow arc was always present. That sets a Kato rainbow viewing record and a dang good excuse to gather in the street and act like sillies (besides Mardi Gras). :)

Anyone out there ever been with a rainbow for longer than an hour?

Three words

I put myself back in this moment and think three words.

Refresh.  Our humidity and heat can slow me down and feel oppressive, and any form of relief is greatly appreciated.  The temps were actually under 90 F degrees, and that bright blue sky was a positive to view.  Insert continuous bursts of water from the downtown fountain splashing my feet and happy children running through for a release.

Rejoice.  Bright blue skies, lovely puffy clouds, and a cool place to be with my children and friends under it all makes for a good feeling.  It's hard to feel down with this surround sound. 

Appreciate.  Water is a precious gift, and the fact that I'm in a fortunate place on this planet to access it easily is to be appreciated. 


What are your three words?

The Transit of Venus - a look at the lookers

While I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't get a Transit of Venus shot myself, I did take photographs telling some of the story of this historical event.  I love gatherings of many people looking at the sky, wondering over celestial mysteries.  It must be the space geek in me, and it's lots of fun to witness and participate.  This time I DID get people's names, nearly all of them, just in case I wanted to share a couple images with The Advocate.  The unknown man in the pinhole box from the partial solar eclipse stays with me.  ;)  I handed out my business card again, too, hoping that those photographed will visit.

Ashley Rodrigue from Channel 2 News

A patient observer waits for the sun

John LeBlanc, Director of Stargazers Camp, Highland Road Park Observatory

My daughter and friend were interviewed by a local news TV station. 

The waiting

The sun's near emergence over the top of the observatory's dome

Allen Hall with granddaughters, Bailey and Neily Hall

iPhone solar viewer filter

Three-and-a-half year old Madison Clement being lifted by her father, Steve Clement for a look.

From left to right Holiday Durham, Celia Escudero, Forum Shah, Jeff Covington, Bhavani Jayaram, and Sudip Bajpeyi

This group of friends were very enthusiastic and lots of fun.  I wish the image was of better quality, but I'm guessing that their iPhone grabbed a great capture.

THE shot, real time.  This viewer was attached to the side of the telescope by John LeBlanc, Director of the Stargazers Camp, of the Highland Road Park Observatory.  What a great idea!

Clarity

Asawari Korde

If you'd like to see and share the photos in album view. I appreciate you giving me credit as photographer is these are shared off of this site. Enjoy, and thank you! :)  

Two girls and a cloud

Another great night of gorgeous weather got the whole family out.   We went to the levee path with our favorite gear - my  husband with his bike and Sparkle, my older daughter with her roller blades, and my youngest with her bike.  Me, of course, carried my camera and of course found myself walking down the incline of the levee towards the grasses and Mississippi to see different perspectives of the sunset.  My girls were calling for me, but before heading back up towards them I took this shot.  I first asked for a pose which didn't work out right.  They must have seen my husband in the distance and both turned at this moment.  The spontaneity worked out great, and that little cloud in the distance was a great plus, too.

Moon play

 

I stepped outside around 11:30 with my dog and looked up to see low lying clouds floating over the tree tops filtering the moon light.  It looked like I could touch them, and I loved the play of light, wind, and clouds as they passed by to my right toward the west.   Sometimes a halo orange/sepia formed and other times the faint appearance of the spectrum.   After laying on the ground, waiting, watching, shooting, and enjoying,  I was able to nearly capture the "night rainbow" of my experience.

Goodbye, sweet Daddy

John Bognar
August 29, 1938 - August 27, 2011


9.20.11, 1:05 AM:
I've been delaying posting in this blog that my father passed away. It's not as if not writing has made it any better in the healing. Even though every time I share it hurts, not sharing has hung with me like a weight. Finally, I need to write.

It was horrible getting the phone call from my mother in the early hours that Saturday, all I could do was weep and hold my heart. Later that day is when I had my wailing session once my husband took my daughters out of the house. I felt like my shouts were connecting to something bigger in this world, to the shared loss endless people were experiencing at that given moment. I remember grabbing a notebook to write a prayer or mantra of sorts as I dropped myself into a chair. The words sit in an evolving box of memoirs, but these are the ones that run through me and hopefully into the space of goodness:


"Sweet, Daddy spirit, set yourself free of your pain and become part of everything beautiful in this world."


I imagined that magnificent show of clouds that I had seen during one of my return flights from my parents on June 27. The view was stunning, and left me, along with my fellow window seat neighbors, in a complete state of awe. I shared my amazement with my parents upon my return, and made a print of this image for my father to see for his birthday. The print was en route as my mother shared the news, and it broke my heart that I didn't get it there in time. I have to hold onto the hope that my excitement and the words about the scene gave him a sense of the greatness and wonder. In my heart and mind, this is the beauty he is now with, and in that is reassurance and healing. It is the tribute to my father's love.

Flight Delay

Cloud sweep

Moon Rising