Over the Moon
There have been so many awesome pictures of moons on Skywatch. Every time I’ve attempted capturing a moon shot, I’ve been miserably disappointed. But because of my slight OCD tendencies I keep trying. Even though in my head I kept repeating "Idiots are those who keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." I kept doing it.
1) spotting a cool moon
2) running in for my camera
3) pointing and shooting
4) pointing and shooting
5) pointing and shooting
6) repeat steps #3-5 four or more times.
I mean - if I could have a penny for all of my failed/deleted moon shots, I might be able to help out with the national economic crisis in a significant way.
This past week (or maybe 10 days), I have stumbled upon shareable shots. I’m amazed. And that whole "idiot theory" just got shot down. Because it’s the same nut, loose, behind the same camera, pushing the same button, with the same shaky hands. And here’s what I got.. . .
This is from outside my front door. I know you can’t see the cool color of the leaves, but who cares!? Do you see that white thing? That’s a MOON, thank you very much! And if you were to ask me to ignore the moon and focus on the trees so you could see their color. . . ? Ummm. You might need to check with a different chik. This one hasn’t a clue. (And luckily my OCD hasn’t latched on to that little task.)
But guess what!? We went to see Elk again (one of my brothers and his family came to visit, so we took another little outing). Check this out:
My hands weren’t shaking!! And that isn’t a figment of my (or your) imagination! And you can trust me on this: I did NOT put the moon there with the aid of paint shop, or iPhoto editing, or . . . (here I show pure ignorance) that other fancy photo-editing software you all play with to add or change effects. This moon is the real deal.
Please allow this digression: The next picture appears to not be clear. But let me preface your viewing with a detail. There was a significant halo around this moon - so it even seemed sort of blurry when I was looking at it in real life. Really! It was the coolest thing. My daughter suggested I take this shot for my skywatch post.
And, umm. . . You can see the fall colors in this shot (which is good, because it would otherwise be quite a boring photo). This is taken from the side of our house.
On the far right of the picture you can see the beginnings of a rock face. There are actually cliffs there where some people repel and do other dangerous and stupid extreme things. I’ve hiked up there. Twice maybe. A LONG time ago. I think it was before I married Prince Farming. Probably in an attempt to show him how tough I was. I am totally resenting that little endeavor, even from this far in the future. I should have made him carry me up there if he wanted me to be there. Then he would have known that I’m really not made of all the stuff farm people are made of. That picking up and stacking 16′ lengths of 6 x 6 lumber (in the dark) after a day of crazy shopping in the big city while planning a barn party is really out of my league. Even on the days when I don’t have a sick and throwing-up stomach. I really MUST have a talk with my daughter about her choices of activities. Doing Herculean feats while courting will NOT render her desired results. Her herculean activities will only redouble in her aging years and bite her in her butt. Which is no small thing (I’m talking about the activities that aren’t small - no comment on the butt, people!)
Good grief. Isn’t this a skywatch post? I’m so sorry for taking you down that path. Something must have snapped in me. I will refrain from dragging this out for any longer than I already have. I know you have things to do and blogs to visit. Thanks for stopping by mine. You can see other amazing sky pictures (and STUNNING moon shots) every week by visiting this site.
Oh - you’re still here? I know what you’re missing. Alright already. Here you go:
Aren’t the colors pretty? Can’t wait till the reds start peaking - should be this weekend. We’re supposed to have a bit of a cold spell, which should help out the color variety in a big way.
Happy Skywatch Friday!
Tags: fall colors, moon, Photography, Skywatch Friday

October 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Those are just amazing shots! I like the 2nd one!~Mine is posted HERE. Happy SWF!~
October 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
The moons are nice. I have so far refrained from posting moons myself, but I have 3 that I’m thinking about.
I agree about the Herculean feats while dating!
And the pond shot is fabulous. Love the mistiness and the colors. I was going to take a shot of the pond while I was in Missouri, but it has a leak and just wasn’t full enough for a pretty one.
October 16th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Cngratulations on getting the moon shots! Happy Sky Watch!
October 16th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I like your photos, especially of the fuzzy, hazy moon.
I always get a smile in the morning when seeing the moon trying to hang on and not go back to bed, so the sun can have her turn.
~Lisa
October 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I think you won your battle against the moon here. Your shots are fabulous.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
RFL: I must say these full moon shots did not disappoint. Glad you didn’t forget the pond.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
You’ve framed the moon beautifully with the silhouette of the leaves.
I ran outside with my camera last night to capture the moon and half way through taking a few shots the batteries died… Doh!
October 16th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I know how you feel, Ive been and done that time and time again, but you see you got there, great photos.Well done.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I smiled all the way through this post - reminds me of my attempts at the moon. As a matter of fact I too posted some moon images from this week. I don’t have the right camera but I keep trying too.
And, I think you did quite well - they are lovely.
I love the framing on the first one with the silhouette of the trees.
October 16th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Hi RFC, you did well to get the lovely moon shots and I would have missed greatly seeing your (water feature)pond.
Re the efforts of courtship, Can’t think of how many stupid hours I wasted following football,darts, cricket,boxing, car racing.
Now we are sensible its golf only, much easier to talk about.
Happy SWF
October 16th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Perseverence pays in the end. Nice skywatch post.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Enjoyed both the lovely photo and your wonderful text to explain all your hard work. Great captures!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The moon is a tough one to shoot. I have tried many times myself. These are great. Well done.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
If you stop by my place Halloween night you’ll get my version of full moon… stop by the next day and you’ll get to hear what I went through to get it.
I haven’t tried catching the full (or other) moon on the rise yet. And now that I see these, I don’t know why I haven’t. Put that one on my “shots to get” list…
Oh, and I laughed my big old butt off at your digression… You crazy chick you…
October 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
You there was an Impressionist painter who did an orange (I think it was an orange at least) over and over in the same place trying to capture it in every imaginable light and shadow. There was a point to the exercise and you have inadvertently engaged in the same quest. It worked! These are very good. My absolute favorite was the first one. I loved the framing of the tree leaves against the blue of the sky and the bright little moon in its off center position. Good shot! keep going.
October 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Wonderful moon pictures! My favorite is the second.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Beautiful moon in the sky! I always wish I could capture it in a photo but my camera is not good enough. It’s nice to see it in yours.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Well…. bravo… the moon shots are excellent! It was a good read as well… you are doing fantastic.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Well done! Your moon shots are great! Happy SWF.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
well done great shots and wonderful fall colors coming on… cant wait to see more!
October 16th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
As Tipper says, even a blind pig can find an acorn every now and then. haha I do the same thing. Was this evening. You should be proud!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:39 am
The moon shots are great (particularly the 2nd one) but I just love the last photo. It’s hard to capture the mist but you did a great job. We have a cold front coming through this weekend too. Like you, I’m hoping it will give our leaves that last boost.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Well done, those great moon pictures. I know how difficult this is.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I enjoyed this post and especially your narration with the touch of sense of humor. Thank you.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:30 am
I like the moon with the halo (and the fall foliage bonus) — and of course, the misty pond! Great Skywatch.
October 17th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Hi Ms. Farmer, when do you get the crops in? All I ever see is you having fun with your camera and never working.
Those chance shots, carry your camera at all time.
Today I have a bear sitting on a fan if you have time.
Happy Skywatching,
..
October 17th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Oh, I forgot to say that your moon shots are gorgeous! I like moon pictures, and the moon too.
Happy Skywatching,
..
October 17th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Your moon shots not only sharable they are amazing. The 3rd one appears to be on fire.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hey, stop mooning me!
Most of my moon shots look like I took them with beer goggles. But try, try again. I love your daytime moon photo.
And hooray for the lake shot!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Oh, your post is giving me smiles to last the day! Thank you! Your moon photos are very nice. I try without much success to photograph the moon. I couldn’t write my thoughts about it as cleverly as you have….but, my mindset about it is similar to yours.
You have a great blog! Your writing is superbly clever…..I may need to put you on my blog list. Thank you for the smiles!
October 17th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Your moon shots are wonderful. It took me a long (LONG) time to figure out how to capture the moon. Then I didn’t practice what I’d learned, and now I’ve forgotten it.
I enjoyed reading about your hike and stuff, too.
October 17th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Your moon shots are great. and the post is a good read. Have a great weekend.
Cheers
October 17th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
The only way to get the ‘right’ moon shot is keep taking the dozens and dozens of pictures - occasionally your persistance (or OCD if you like!) will pay off. These are great moon shots, good job
No post of yours would be complete without the pond shot, it looks so beautiful in its autumn colours.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Congratulations! You got some lovely moon shots!
October 17th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Love the misty pond and the peaceful bovines. Doesn’t that make you almost change your mind about being a reluctant farm chick? I mean, how often do you get a peaceful feeling from a scene in a city? By the way, your moon shots were great. Here’s another idea - take the photo through binoculars or a telescope…my hubby gets stunning results that way!
Whoa, girl! I just noticed I’ll be the 34th comment! You rock!!
October 18th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Practice makes perfect - so the more shots you take (with the camera, I mean) then the better your pictures! And your digression was funny!
October 18th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’m fond of the first one. And it’s cool how you end with the pond, the reference point
October 20th, 2008 at 6:10 am
I like your moonpictures very much,they are beautiful.And so is the photo with the pond.Thanks for the comment on my blog!
October 20th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Nice Moon pics, from different locations. Good photos!