6:45 AM: Griffith Park, LA., The Observatory and the Moon

 

Continuing a theme from my last post, once again we have the last quarter moon hanging above a fairly well known landmark –  the Griffith Observatory and Science Center overlooking Los Angeles. It was day two of a family vacation with a somewhat newer SLR film camera, early in the morning of November 11th, 1987.   

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

6:45 AM: Griffith Park, LA., The Observatory and the Moon

 

Continuing a theme from my last post, once again we have the last quarter moon hanging above a fairly well known landmark –  the Griffith Observatory and Science Center overlooking Los Angeles. It was day two of a family vacation with a somewhat newer SLR film camera, early in the morning of November 11th, 1987.   

54.041 11-11-87 Los Angeles, Griffith day 2

54.046 11-11-87 Los Angeles, Griffith day 2

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

The Louvre, Paris – Just a Courtyard

The Louvre Museum was one of the many highlights of our vacation to France back a few years ago. Here, simply, is a view of one courtyard, a small, un-pretensious treaure in itself, and only a few steps away from the “Mona Lisa” and so many other trully celebrated works of art.

(Nikon D80 – f/11 1/500 sec, 18mm, handheld on the go!)

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

America’s Cup 2017 – How The Wealthy Play

Coinciding with our vacation to Bermuda last week, was the America’s Cup Yacht Preliminaries.

As seen from the bow of our cruise ship, Norwegian Breakaway, the America’s Cup Village is seen just behind Celebrity Summit, in Bermuda’s Great Sound.
Over the preceding months and many locations, preliminary races determined the ultimate “challenger” to the current “defender” (USA’s “Oracle.”) Above,  New Zealand’s “Emirates” (in contest with Great Britain’s “Land Rover”) takes the lead with Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in the background, and has now earned that challenger privilege.
The boats have evolved over 147 years, from more conventional sailing yachts, to highly refined and sophisticated racing platforms, now utilizing hydrofoils to significantly reduce drag and increase speed.
Rules prohibit any energy sources other than the sea, air and human input. The helmsman, (see image above) who is ultimately responsible for navigation and articulation of control surfaces under race conditions, must continuously evaluate and decide when and where to guide the boat and how to do it. His hands are on a multi-remote laced steering wheel. Also, as the boat’s direction and roll-attitude changes, the entire crew will run across to the opposite (upper) pontoon to man duplicate stations.  Great theater! 
Just after winning this heat over Land Rover, Emirates is seen here coming down off the foils. The boats often exceed 44 knots (50 mph) in racing.

Although all the 50′ catamarans  are essencially the same, teams have virtually unlimited options as to trimming and power usage, including navigating savvy, and human endurance.  For example, Emirates utilizes bicycle-like human power stations, while Oracle uses the more traditional hand cranked “grinders.”  The science of these vessels and the methods employed are awesome, details of which can be found here .     

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

On The Road to Tobacco Bay, Bermuda


Last week, we cruised to Bermuda from NYC on the 145,000 gross ton Norwegian Breakaway. Day six of this family vacation brought us to St. George via the ferry  and a short walk to Tobacco Bay, on the far north shore for swimming, snorkling and exploring, 

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

A Gleam in the Children’s Eyes – Mickey’s Magic Kingdom

As it was two years earlier with our daughter’s family, we once again had the opportunity to experience Florida’s Disneyworld through the eyes of our grand kids – this time with our son’s family.

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…Happy Holidays!

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

Changing Seasons and Summer Memories

Eleven years ago this week, returning to New Jersey from a business trip to Rhode Island, I stopped by this charming little 19th century coastal community known as Watch Hill, RI. Among the shuttered and closed buildings was this Book and Tackle shop 

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At the time, I wrote of the town’s story and the unique practice of the shop,  its signage asking  patrons to simply take what thay want… and leave a payment under the door.

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Although more extensive, and unwanted development never occured, the Book and Tackle Shop, as seen to the left above, is now gone.

 

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The Seaside Merry-Go-Round stood empty, stripped of its carousel figurines and “summer glow and song.”

🙂 Thanks to Gina for the framed gift. 🙂

..As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

Martha’s Vineyard, (Two) – Magnificent Summer Cottages in Oak Bluffs

 

These colorful unique cottages date back to the late nineteenth century within a community of picket fences, pocket parks, and even an outdoor tabernacle. They are found in an intriguing area of shaded narrow streets and pathways ideal for walking.

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In addition to pondering the value of being a house painter in Oak Bluffs, one would be a bit envious of those who choose to rent here; close to shops, restaurants, waterfront parks and the harbor.

Read more on Wikipedia, here.

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

A Great Cosmic Clock – Perseid Meteor Shower

 

The Perseid meteor shower occurs around August 12th every year.          EVERY YEAR.

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Above, a so so “capture” from the NJ Pinelands of a Perseid meteor last year  (8/13/15 – 18mm ISO 4000, 15″, f/4, enlarged)

 This morning, while watching for and seeing a few impressive Perseid meteors, I tried thinking of the first time I ever saw a meteor. My memory brought me back to a family vacation in Barnegat Light, New Jersey – a rental property near the beach with a flat roof accessible by outside stairs.  Years later, while scanning old B&W pictures, I failed to establish an accurate date for that particulal week, but at 4:30 AM this morning, out there in the night,  I recalled as a young boy being “scared” at the frequent fast moving streaks in the dark sky during that vacation. Dad was introducing my brother and me to ‘meteors.’ 

I pondered that memory and  the timely annual recurrence of meteor showers… and  realized (as an aside,) that I finally had an accurate date frame for that early Jersey Shore vacation! All in all pretty insignificant, but…how neat!

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Above, Dad on the roof –  town of Barnegat Light, NJ.

Below, my older brother and me on the beach, with Barnegat Lighthouse beyond.

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As usual, comments and inquiries are welcomed. Thanks for viewing. M 🙂