November Supermoon, 2016

I just barely made it to today's Supermoon event down at the lighthouse (touted as historic, and the largest-appearing moon since 1948 - who could resist?); almost missing the main reason I recently spent a small fortune on my new monster lens. That's what I get for trying to cram too many things into one afternoon (note to self: realistically, you can only do one thing at a time, dummy).

It all turned out for the best, however. If I had had time to arrive earlier and assemble with the crowd down beneath the lighthouse, I would have missed the largeness of the moon; my 600mm lens being way too long to fit the lighthouse and the moon into one frame, necessitating my having to back off on the zoom, and what I would have ended up with (and did, when I finally found my way over to the lighthouse after getting my emergency and impromptu shot from the causeway) would not have been much different than many of my other moon/lighthouse shots in the past. Distance and landscape and context were my friends in this case.

This is not exactly what I expected, or had planned on, but it will suffice as a learning experience.

Now, what time does this thing set?

Test Driving a New Lens

A Veteran's Day off afforded me some time to get a few odds and ends done around the house and also coordinated with the arrival of my new Sigma 150-600mm lens, which was put to the test on this gorgeous - and mild - November afternoon. The goal is to be ready for the Super Moon on Monday night. My initial reaction to the new lens? Wow! I think I'm ready.

Sun and Surf at Moshup Beach

The Edgartown contingent packed up and headed to Moshup Beach today for a little family fun in the sun, with an awareness that summer is short and winter is long, and that summer is more than half over now. And a fun time it was. The great thing about Gay Head is it's as far away from home as we can get without taking the ferry, and it truly is another world up there. The southwesterly wind is fresh off the water, and the sun even feels closer on the western-most end of the Island. Then add the clay cliffs, the boulders - glacial detritus deposited here eons ago - and the rolling waves, and you've got all the ingredients for an exotic Sunday afternoon. Okay, I'll confess: I was also eager to have another go with my new waterproof camera.






It still feels totally counter-intuitive to walk into the surf with a camera, I must say.


My family's umbrella to the right, Gay Head Lighthouse to the left.


Boogie, baby!








Found art.


He's a wanderer.








Nature's art.