Hi Everyone! I needed to take a break last week, so I moved Wandering Camera to this week. This month the photos are a mixed bag. I took a few photos of the lunar eclipse through a telescope. The Girl and Her Cat are continuing their adventures in the north while I continue to work in my atelier.

I had intended to use my telescope for the lunar eclipse, so I got everything set up the night before.  The forecast had also called for clear skies, so I thought I was all set.  Then the not-so-proverbial clouds rolled in the next day.  Nevertheless, we decided to spend the evening in the garden and hope for the best. 

Time went by and then, very suddenly, my husband spotted the moon.  I have been watching and photographing lunar eclipses for a while now, and this one was particularly dark.  We could barely see it.  Even a thin layer of cloud made it completely invisible.  It came out  just long enough for me to take this photo of totality, then it went into hiding behind the clouds again.  

I almost gave up hope of  seeing the exit which I find most interesting.   However,  just when the exit started, the clouds parted to reveal a crystal clear moon.    During the entry and exit phases, Earth’s Ozone layer scatters red light.  It also lets through some blue light which is otherwise filtered out by the atmosphere.  The blue band along with Earth’s shadow cast over the moon are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Continue reading Wandering Camera – Curiosity and Creativity at InkTorrents Graphics.

We have somewhat settled into the new place.   One of my favourites is the abundance of trees in this neighbourhood.  Towering redwoods and other trees break up the horizon line.  Much to my delight, there are quite a few deciduous trees, lately dressed in their flaming autumn colours.  The Japanese Maple right outside my new atelier has transformed itself into a Lady In Red.

Continue reading A Quiet World at InkTorrents Graphics.

After a long gap due to being sick, I stepped outside under the night sky last week with my telescope.  My books and the night sky were two stable things in my life as a child.  Orion was the first constellation I learned about and he promptly became my friend.  I would chat away with this imposing figure in the winter sky and that continues even now.  His visit every year gets me excited about winter.  I intended to capture starlight from the Orion Nebula before I have to say goodbye to my starry friend.

Continue reading Dreaming Into The Night at InkTorrents Graphics.

Speeding Through Space

A few months ago, after I came back from a holiday, a wonderful email from my dear friend Janine was awaiting me.  She talked about a new art quilt group called The Endeavourer, hosted by her and Catherine.  We are a group of 14, creating quilts that feature a chosen theme.  This quarter’s theme was Nature.

I love spending time under the open sky, hiking trails while looking for small hidden surprises.  I made quite a few nature-themed paintings last year, and I was looking for another creative angle.  I love the natural sciences, specially astronomy.  Looking at nature through science-coloured glasses gives me a deeper joy and that is what I wanted to use for inspiration.  I began sketching.

Continue reading An Endeavourer – The Journey Begins at InkTorrents Graphics.