It’s been a minute since my last blog post which was waaaay back in May. In that particular post I was lamenting about turning 50 and all the trappings that come with it. It took a bit but I’ve finally come to realize that, just as everyone said, it’s just a number, NBD! In that blog I was also sharing some winter photos with you as well. Now, here we are at the end of September and it seems like I skipped over all the good stuff that summer had to offer. I try not to go so long between posts but I just didn’t have it in me to sit and write. Hopefully I can get back on track and start pumping out some new material because I have lots to share!
This past summer was one of the best ones, weather-wise, I can recall in a very long time and so far the fall has been kind to us as well. We will see what the coming months has in store for us, hopefully not payback for the magnificent weather we had! Needless to say there has been a lot of picture-taking these last number of months. So many exciting things happened, especially in the sky! We had a total solar eclipse, several sightings of Northern Lights, super moons and lavender skies, just to name a few. Sometimes I feel like my head is always in the clouds, of course that’s where the best pictures often are! Have a look at how I saw the world these last few months.
A rare photo of a fog bow. I’ve heard of them but the first time I’ve ever seen one.
Do not adjust your screen! This is an actual moon rise looking across Conception Bay. No Photoshop involved.
This is a photo of the sun using a special filter on my camera lens. Those black dots are actually sun spots!
On a cool summer evening in early July 2022, a few of us sat around a backyard fire laughing, telling stories, looking at the stars, having a beer. As usual, when a few drinks have been downed we start to engage in what is often called “drunk talk”. Over the years many brilliant ideas have been hatched. We’ve often crafted world peace and solved the climate change crisis while listening to the campfire crackle. Vacations have been planned to far off shores only to vanish into thin air by the time morning rolled around. One such far off adventure we planned had more to do with time than location. After all 2024 seemed like a lifetime away and the location was Newfoundland. Someone mentioned that there would be a total solar eclipse in April 2024. Right away we started planning…who was going, where we’d stay and most importantly, where was the best viewing location. Carolyn emailed some cabin owners in Port Rexton that night and booked them. Then we played the waiting game. Fast forward to Spring 2024 and the anticipation and hype over the eclipse was building. You couldn’t turn on the TV or open social media without being bombarded by it! Our biggest fear was the weather. After all, anyone who knows Newfoundland knows how unpredictable the weather can be; sunny one minute, cloud and rain or snow the next.
This is the closest point to totality that I managed to capture!
When the sun began to appear again I captured this picture of Gander Lake. It was surreal.
Totality or not, we had an amazing time in Port Rexton. Lots of food, fun, laughter, cribbage, and oh yeah, a run to Gander to chase the eclipse. It was the best “drunk talk” decision we ever made!
The main lesson I have learned about photography is that you need an abundance of patience when trying to capture a cosmic event, especially ones at night. More often that not we usually end up with cloudy or hazy conditions when the big event rolls around. That’s one of the major challenges of living here in Newfoundland. Having said that, anticipation is growing about the next “big thing” happening in the sky, the appearance of the comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in our hemisphere. That should become more visible to the naked eye (fingers crossed) around October 12th…another test to my patience!
Anyhoo, I hope you’ve enjoyed my ramblings and snaps. Feel free to leave a comment, I love hearing from you. As well, drop by my Facebook page Andrea Peddle Photography and give me a follow.
Until next time!
Andrea