Let There Be Light!

I got bored while driving home from my weekend in the Sierra. So I started playing around with my camera in the long exposure setting. Maybe it's just me, but I think these came out awesome!

Night Sky

I've been experimenting with my astrophotography photos, and here are the two best ones I got from my trip to Tahoe. I think I need to do a little more research on how to take different kinds of night sky photo's. At the campground the Milky Way was bright and visible, but when I tried to photograph it, it didn't show up. I had to leave the shutter open long enough to form star trails to see it, and even then it just looks like clouds (see second photo). I'd like to work on my technique a little more, and then maybe plan a trip to Death Valley or somewhere really dark and try again.

Polaris

The Milky Way

Beautiful Bugs!

I thought I'd post a couple photos I took while I was on my camping trip in Northern California. There were a LOT of bees, and yellow jackets up there, but there were also some really beautiful "bugs". It truly is amazing how many weird and beautiful things you can find when you just take a second to look.

On the Road to Tahoe

This weekend my BF and I went up to Lake Tahoe for a quick little overnight "get away". I was hoping for a little fall/snow, you know, to get it the holiday spirit. My expectations were exceeded a thousand fold! The drive up and back was hands down the most beautiful drive I have ever taken in the Sierra! There were gorgeous fall colors, and picture-perfect snow covered Chrismas trees (technically pines and redwoods;). And the weather was spectacular. We got a sample of pretty much everything you can imagine. On the drive up we had sunny skies to start, then cloudy skies, then rain, hail, light snow, heavy snow with HUGE snowflakes, more hail, more rain, fog, more snow. The drive ended with sunny skies and poofy white clouds over Lake Tahoe, and a beautiful blazing orange sunset.You know how they say life is a journey, not a destination? Well, this trip was a perfect example of that. The drive there and back was definitely the best part of the weekend! Here are a few of my best photos! Enjoy! (P.S. These were taken from a moving vehicle, and I was trying to avoid barfing as we careened around the mountains, so I apologize if some of them are a little blurry.)

Mackinaw City, MI

We took the ferry to Mackinac Island, but we stayed across on the mainland in Mackinaw City. If you have noticed the two different spellings you are not alone. A local on the island told us that the first is the Native American spelling (although I'm not sure how that works exactly) and the other is the French spelling of the same name. We stayed at a little hotel on the water! Since I brought my camera and tripod I spent about an hour freezing my butt off outside trying to get a couple nighttime shots of the bridge and the island. They didn't come out great, and I think it was because there was too much artificial light. It's a bummer though because I really was tired and freezing waiting for them to take. Oh well. For what it's worth here they are.

Mackinac Bridge at night

Bridge and the Big Dipper!

Star trails over Mackinac Island

Star Trails over Mackinac Island and Bridge

Dawn over Lake Huron

Sunrise over Lake Huron

Mackinac Bridge at dawn

Where we had dinner;)

Mackinac Island, MI

On my trip back to Michigan I visited Mackinac Island for the first time. I rode past it dozens of times as a kid, when my family and I were on our way to Wisconsin but for some reason or another we never were able to stop and see it.
It was AWESOME! I really, really enjoyed it, and will almost certainly be back. The little downtown was great with all the touristy things necessary to keep people like me happy. More fudge shops than you could shake a stick at (whatever that means), AND we found a bar serving Michigan's own  Bell's Oberon microbrew for only $2.50 a pint! Score.The rest of the island is beautiful coastlines, nature, water, sweeping vistas of the Mackinac Bridge, exquisite sunsets...you name it! It was just great.
And the fact that no cars or motor vehicles are allowed really offered a unique experience. It was so quiet, but at the same time you could hear the quaint sound of horse shoes clicking at almost any time. It was like going back in time. Transportation options were: horse and buggy taxi, a bicycle, or your own two feet. And that's not just for tourists either. That goes for everyone who lives and works on the island except emergency response vehicles. Isn't that something? I saw inventory being delivered to Starbucks by horse and buggy, and garbage "truck" horse and buggy. There are still street sweepers there too!
Anyway, if you ever have the chance to go I highly recommend it. And if you can take the 8 mile bike ride around the island. It doesn't take long and it's really beautiful!

Here are some of my best shots. Enjoy!