Thursday, January 16, 2020

Lucky Shot

Some photos are just lucky. Right place, right time. No planning. All you have to do is push the shutter release button. But let me share a couple photos from the day before my lucky shot. This would have been last Wednesday.
I was walking to the school to pick up my granddaughter and noticed these wild clouds. This is straight out of the camera (in this case, my old iPhone 6).

Then I noticed the moon rising on the horizon.

Nearly a full moon, but not quite. I made a mental note to check the time of the moon rise for the next day. Using my "real" camera with a telephoto lens, I might get lucky and get some dramatic shots of the moon rising through misty, colorful clouds. At least that was my goal.

Fast forward 24 hours to last Thursday (the first full moon of 2020). I'm ready! I've hiked up to a nice lookout point, I have my camera and telephoto lens. But, unfortunately, the sky is hazy and there's a low cloud cover.

Not nearly as pretty as Wednesday night's sky. Oh well, looks like dramatic moon shots aren't on the menu tonight.

Pointing my lens from east to south provides a totally different view over central Orange County. The low clouds add a bit of drama. The buildings on the left are (among others) UCI Medical Center. Moving a little right I think I can make out the spire of the Crystal Cathedral poking up from behind a building (I think it is now called Christ Cathedral). On the right side, I see a gaudy-looking building that I think is part of Disneyland. Perhaps part of the new Star Wars section of the Park? And when I enlarge the image, I can definitely see the top of the Matterhorn to the left of the gaudy building.

Back to why I'm here... the moon. As it rises on the horizon, there is less haze now. I decide this would be a good time for a close-up using max power of my telephoto lens (400mm). As I'm focusing, I notice a little bird or something flying in front of the moon. Without thinking, I fire off a couple shots.
Ha, that's not a bird! Talk about a lucky shot!!

As I start to head back home, I take one final shot of the moon. The trail takes a sharp drop just beyond this point, hence the "watch downhill speed" sign. I pack up my camera in my backpack and start back.

Wait... just one more. I want to capture that golden light as the sun slips behind the trees. OK, now I'm done.

Wait, just one more! For this one, I was already driving home but couldn't resist pulling over as the moon was silhouetted behind the tree branches.

Really, I promise, one final shot!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!

41 comments:

  1. Well you put me to shame gtting a photo of a plane infront of the moon. Wasome shot. I hav ebeen useing my Iphone for more pictures and hav enot bought an iPhone 8plus with the zooom on it. Only drawback with it is the size.

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  2. Gorgeous photos - I like them all. The moon is fantastic.

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  3. I really like the moon and the plane. I half expected to see ET on a bicycle.

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  4. Beautiful series. The plane was a great capture!

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  5. You say you were lucky. I say that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Those shots are wonderful and the one with the jet right in the middle of the moon is sublime.

    Good job!!

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  6. Love all these moon shots! Some may have been happy accidents, but don't cut yourself short! The other captures have been years of working at honing your skill! Also love the color of the sky in the last two shots. Isn't it satisfying when a photo shoot turns out this way? Wow, incredible!

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  7. More you photograph more lucky you are. You have to be there to get the shot.
    Nice set of moon shots, keep up the good work!

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  8. Boy oh boy--that happens with Moon shots. Just one more and oh one more and on and on. Each is magnificent!
    MB

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  9. Nothing wrong with a bit of luck. And as the golfer Gary Player famously said "I admit that I'm sometimes lucky - and the more I practice the luckier I get"

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  10. Besides your lucky shot (which is wonderful), all others have a beautiful light.
    Happy weekend!

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  11. Yes, the phone shots were pretty. But the shots from the next day were far more. The airplane shot is a very lucky one. You are a wiz-- or is it whiz?

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  12. Great shots and that they now can fly to the moon just incredible.

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  13. Hello, a beautiful series. I especially love the last few shots of the moon with the trees and airplane. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great weekend!

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  14. One of my not so famous sayings is: That would have made a great picture. I know nothing but point and shoot, but I can tell real results when I see it. Great shots that takes an EYE and CAMERA, not many have. In some cases I am sure timing is everything.
    THANKS the candy is good!

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  15. Exceptional photos and the plane in front of the moon, just wow!

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  16. And the winner is, the plane flying in front of the moon. Awesome shot and the others are fantastic. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  17. Gorgeous photos all ~ and that moon shot with the airplane is Fantastic! Wow!

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  18. Just wow. That "lucky" shot with the airplane is a classic. I could have sworn it was ET for a minute, though....

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  19. ...that shot of the moon and the plane is a one in a million. You are blessed with some might nice skies, my friend!

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  20. Wow! Beautiful skies! Your are so lucky to get that lucky shot. Happy weekend!

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  21. Dramatic clouds and beautiful shots!

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  22. Fantastic "lucky shot" !
    Happy weekend !

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  23. Wonderful post! Love the clouds and the moon. Spectacular zoom shot with the plane! Well done!

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  24. Great photos! I love pictures of the sky and how it is constantly changing. The one of the plane and moon was awesome!

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  25. I"m loving your moon shots especially of the one where the plan is in front of it.

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  26. LOL....just keep shooting that one more shot. Loving how much fun you have shooting the moon. Made me smile for the day. Thank you for being you.

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  27. Fantastic picture with moon and airplane!

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  28. Beautiful! I liked each photo more than the last :)

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  29. Those are great. And lucky catching that plane in front of the moon.

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  30. Lucky shot? No, I think you are just a very good photographer who spends a lot of time getting it right! These are all wonderful.

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  31. Amazing! You got some spectacular photos! My hubby got an airplane in front of the moon one time! We didn't even realize it was there until we looked at the pics on the computer! I love the color in the clouds! Beautiful!

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  32. Oh gosh, these are wonderful...the airplane lucky shot but also the ones before and after. That clouds in the day before shot are really different, they remind me of a fountain. ...and I’m amazed at all you can see from your moonshot viewpoint ...and on a cloudy evening even. ....and I’m glad you kept on taking one more shot! Would have been a shame to miss any of them.

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  33. Well, I'd say that little trip was well worth it. What wonderful photos. It took me a very long time but I think I finally spotted the Matterhorn. The moon with the jet in front is a fantastic capture. It's the kind of shot photographers dream of. I also LOVE the moon behind the trees. Great job!

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  34. Well, you made us wait for it, but it was totally worth it! Unbelievable shot with the airplane!!! And then I laughed with "one more shot", "one more shot". We've all done it. (And probably more times than we would care to count!)

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  35. Too fabulous SPP, every shot a gem but oh wow, the plane flying past the moon is the money shot 💛

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