Perserverance-seen through the lens!

One of the thing I have seen time and time again through the lens is examples of perseverance.  Take the graceful Loon as an example.

What would such a beautiful, graceful and need with perseverance?  They are incredible swimmers, and their dedication to their kids is legendary.

But have you ever seen one try and take-off?  This is one Loon, one take off run...

He finally got up after this--13 seconds after trying to start...have you ever though about how long 13 seconds really is? Try humming a note for 13 seconds straight..it is longer than you think!

 That Loon never gave up..in the long run, it will be a matter of life and death for him.  But here.. it was just a faster way to get the the start of the lake.  If I had half the heart this Loon showed..I would be unstoppable!

The Moon and the shutter.

I don't know about anyone else, but I have always been fascinated by the moon.  It might have something to do with having been born while man was on the way to land on the moon for the first time.  But I know the closest I am likely to get is through a lens.  And until I started really looking at the moon and photographing it, I had not really thought about how the Earth,  Moon and Sun interact from a lighting side.

May 10, 2011 6 PM

I used to think that it was rare to see the moon up during the day..

April 14, 2011 6 PM

Or a picture with the moon in the background was pure luck.

July 22 8:45 AM

July 22 8:45 AM

Notice how much the stars moved in the time it took to take this picture.  It was only 10 seconds! (April 7, 2011 9 PM)

April 7, 2011 9 PM

Nov 20, 2011 4PM

Nov 20, 2011 4PM

Oct 19, 2010 4:30 PM

Oct 27, 2010 8:30 AM

The less of the moon is lit, the sharper the shadows. (Nov 13, 2010 6PM)

May 2, 2009 3:45 PM

So what have I learnt?  Well, for one thing, as obvious as it seems, if you want to know where the sun is, it is on the shiny side of the moon.  Which means if it is morning, the mouth of the crescent faces West,

July 23, 2011 8 AM

and in the evening, the crescent faces East.

May 2, 2009 3:45 PM

And if you want to see a gorgous and colorful moon, it happens twice a year, when sunset and moon rise match.

And the biggest thing I have learnt is,  42 years after man landed on the moon, I for one, am still reaching!