Moonlit Tree

[JimFox]

Well, actually the tree isn't moonlit, but the title sounded cool...

The tree is lit by dozens of cars zipping by at 55mph just about 20 feet behind me. So the mood wasn't exactly tranquil, but the end result felt that way. Besides it did feel awesome to get out and shoot!

Being at my daughters one of the fun things that I get to do is help take the grandkids to their various activities. In this case it was once again my oldest granddaughter Addy, who has a gymnastics class she takes (Tonight) on Monday out at a gym that is located out in the boondocks. The gym may actually be an old converted barn, I am not sure. Anyway, her class is 2 hours, from 4:30 to 6:30pm, and with the sun setting around 4:30pm now, I had grabbed some of my camera gear because I figured that gave me about a good hour while I was waiting for her to go photograph the stars! I am always one to not waste any windows of time to photograph. So I spotted this tree on the drive to gymnastics, and then went back to it. I think it worked out well. It was a quarter moon, but shot at f13 to get the moonstar look.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

 

[AlanLichty]

Fun result - and I can't hear those cars at all gazing at this obviously tranquil scene on my monitor

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great shot Jim, I like the placement of the moon relative to the tree.

 

[JimFox]

Fun result - and I can't hear those cars at all gazing at this obviously tranquil scene on my monitor

Thanks Alan! I have done so little photography the last 2 or 3 months, it’s such a treasure to be able to carve out even an hour like this.

 

[Bart Carrig]

Great thought, Jim. Well seen and executed.

Next time, maybe you could get another parent to do a short video of you at class, performing a roll into a kip on the parallel bars. I'm sure your granddaughter could show you how. : )

bart

 

[JimFox]

Great thought, Jim. Well seen and executed.

Next time, maybe you could get another parent to do a short video of you at class, performing a roll into a kip on the parallel bars. I'm sure your granddaughter could show you how. : )

bart

Thanks so much Bart!

As to your video suggestion it seems that you would like to have an entry into America’s Funniest Video’s...

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nicely done, Jim.

 

[Amy Earl]

That's lovely, Jim! I like the "moonstar" look. From what you're saying the moonrays are affected by aperture? I didn't know that!

I know what you mean about making the best of any waiting-around time to shoot. I always make sure to have the camera with me in those situations too!

 

[JimFox]

That's lovely, Jim! I like the "moonstar" look. From what you're saying the moonrays are affected by aperture? I didn't know that!

I know what you mean about making the best of any waiting-around time to shoot. I always make sure to have the camera with me in those situations too!

Thanks so much Amy!

Yep, like the sun, the smaller the aperture you have the better the sun or moon star will look. With the sun you need for it to be along an edge typically for the Sun star to appear, but with the moon it’s much easier to do consistently, perhaps because it isn’t as bright? I am not positive why it’s easier to get a moon star but it is.

With this one, I was able to get the moon star look starting at f10 up to f16.

 

[Aaron Macomber]

This is really well done, I love the comp and the moonstar, it looks cold and otherworldly like only snow and darkness seem to provide. Love this

 

[JimFox]

This is really well done, I love the comp and the moonstar, it looks cold and otherworldly like only snow and darkness seem to provide. Love this

Thanks so much Aaron, it was fun to find on the fly and then to have the moon work out like that.

 

[Tom Narwid]

Very nice Jim

 

[Mike Lewis]

Fun to see this, as I know about exactly when you were shooting it

In spite of your surroundings, you managed to convey a great mood in this one, much more peaceful than it sounds like it actually was. Like the result with the stopped down aperture too. Really nice.

ML

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Excellent photography Jim. Everything is in perfect harmony.

 

[Beth]

awesome shot! love the moon rays.