BAD MOON RISING

Hanging low over the harbor and the ships at anchor. Whether you are humans or animal, all feel the strange effects of the bad moon. 

SUNSET ON BARNSTABLE BEACH

PERFECT WEATHER AT HOTEL HELL? OR PERFECT HOTEL WITH WEATHER FROM HELL?

I've been to beautiful places and done nothing but watch the rain pour down for a full week. Talk about depressing.

This time, it was a pretty bad hotel ... but the weather was ideal and we we able to get up and out and really enjoy at least that.

I suppose, in the end, brilliant weather trumps luxury. Mother nature rules. Especially if you are a fanatical photography enthusiast! Even more so if you are a couple and both of you are enthusiasts.

EVENTIDE ON THE CAPE

One of the more entertaining challenges for photographers is venturing out of our comfort zones. To try taking pictures under conditions which are less that ideal.

I wanted to do sunsets -- always problematic on this piece of Atlantic coastline. From anywhere on the east coast getting a clear view of the western sky can be tricky. Or impossible.

So it proved. I had hoped by virtue of a hook of the land the view from Barnstable's beaches might provide a partial view of the setting sun, but a rise of land blocked it. We got colors, but no sun.

The other places from which we might have gotten the picture were universally located on properties that forbid stopping for any reason (you can get a ticket -- or hauled to jail -- for getting flat tire and needing to change it), much less parking and trooping around with cameras. The very rich like their privacy. I'm surprised they let us drive through at all. Ultimately, we wound up -- as expected -- on one of Barnstable's public beach areas. It was lovely, duney and included parking. Even a lighthouse and a view of the ferries ... but no west facing view of the sky.

Our next photographic issue was shooting handheld in very low light. We continued shooting after the sun was gone. I'm surprised so many pictures came out so well. We are better than we think we are, and so, apparently, is our equipment. It rose to the occasion.

It was twilight and light fades fast. We needed to get started if we were going to grab a piece of the light. There were other luscious views to shoot. I think Garry grabbed the best pieces, but mine aren't so bad. I'm going to present Garry's pictures in a separate post since they demand their own space.

These bunch are mine, the type of pictures Tourist Boards like to put on calendars and postcards. Pretty. Cape Cod is definitely very pretty.

THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT - Edward Lear

I

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea     In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money,     Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above,     And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,       What a beautiful Pussy you are,           You are,           You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

II

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!     How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried:     But what shall we do for a ring?' They sailed away, for a year and a day,     To the land where the Bong-tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood     With a ring at the end of his nose,           His nose,           His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. III 'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling     Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' So they took it away, and were married next day     By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince,     Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,     They danced by the light of the moon,           The moon,           The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.