Photo of a lizard, probably a Western Fence Lizard, resting under a tree.
The photograph titled "Lizard" captures a small reptile basking in a sunbeam amidst a dappled forest floor. The lizard, positioned at the center, is textured and sunlit, accentuating its rough, scaled skin in contrast to the smooth, blurred shadows surrounding it. The play of light and shadow creates an intimate atmosphere, with leaves and twigs framing the creature as they softly bleed into the shadows. The background, composed of muted browns and occasional splashes of green, conveys an earthy, serene setting, imbuing the scene with a natural tranquility.
The style of the photograph embraces naturalism, where the emphasis is on the subject within its authentic environment. The composition utilizes chiaroscuro effectively, drawing the viewer’s attention to the lizard’s details while maintaining a mysterious, shadowy ambiance around. The use of natural light is both a strength and a limitation; while it highlights the texture beautifully, it also leaves portions of the image too dark, potentially losing detail in the shadows. I appreciate the organic framing and the realistic portrayal of the subject, though the darkness in some areas could have been balanced better to reveal more of the surrounding habitat. Overall, it's an evocative capture that celebrates the subtle beauty of nature.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Lizard #photo #lizard Photo of a lizard resting under a tree. )
The International Space Station passes over San Francisco (first crew bearing Dragon capsule attached). 14 stacked two second exposures.
This photograph captures the ethereal dance of the night sky over the charming landscape of San Francisco. Dominated by a rich, deep blue canvas, the image prominently features the International Space Station (ISS) streaking across the heavens in a series of dotted lines, a result of the long-exposure technique. Below, the silhouette of rooftops and trees punctuates the horizon, adding a terrestrial touch to this cosmic scene. The linear progression of the ISS draws the viewer's eye diagonally across the frame, encapsulating a fleeting moment that ties earth and sky.
In terms of composition, the photograph beautifully employs the rule of thirds, with the horizon positioned in the lower third. The long exposure technique used to capture the movement of the ISS is both creative and effective, giving motion and life to the night sky while the static foreground anchors the scene. The color palette is minimal yet powerful, dominated by deep blues and muted earth tones which enhance the serene and contemplative mood. One could argue that the indistinct outlines of the buildings could be distracting, overshadowing the celestial display above. However, these elements cleverly balance the image, offering a sense of place amidst the astral spectacle. The juxtaposition of the infinite and the familiar evokes a sense of wonder and harmony.
(Published to the Fediverse as: ISS over San Francisco #photo #iss #sanfrancisco 14 stacked two second exposures of the International Space Station (ISS) passing over San Francisco, California. )
37.2 unique miles in May. Photo is the fog shadow behind Grand View Park.
Hike starts at: 37.741726, -122.471298. View in Google Earth.
(Hike Map)
(Published to the Fediverse as: Coronavirus Hikes: May 2020 #hike #sanfrancisco #coronavirus #map Pandemic lockdown hikes around San Francisco for May 2020. )
4K video of an International Space Station lunar transit on May 7.
Coronavirus hikes.
Timelapse of stars over San Francisco.
Catfood Software updates: Earth 4.01 and WebCamSaver 3.21.
Previously:
3/5
I've been trying to put my finger on why Scot Harvath is only OK and I think it's because he's so awesome that he never really suffers from any setbacks. Everything kind of clicks into place for him and he always remembered to bring the right tactical dodad for the job. Nearly there...
4/5
The Revenger series comes to a close and my only regret is reading the books when published - with a sizable gap in between it can be a challenge to come back up to speed. It's a thrilling swashbuckling ride and wraps up the mystery of the quoins and the occupations. I hope he comes back to this universe at some point.
Unusually good night sky conditions in San Francisco recently. Here's a video of several timelapses shot over the last couple of months. The sequences are: (super) moonrise, no Lyrids over Sutro Tower, Ursa Major rotating around Polaris, Orion setting, moonset.
(Published to the Fediverse as: San Francisco Stars #timelapse #stars #sanfrancisco #sutrotower #video Time lapse of stars over San Francisco (including moonrise, Orion setting and Ursa Major rotating around Polaris). )
Catfood Earth 4.01 is available for download.
The timezone database has been updated to 2020a. There is also a small fix to a problem with screensaver installation on recent versions of Windows 10.
Catfood WebCamSaver 3.21 is available for download.
This update fixes a screensaver install issue on recent versions of Windows 10 and has the latest webcam list.
In 2020 the Summer Solstice is at 9:44pm UTC on June 20.
We get solstice from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to cause to stand) - the moment when the Sun stands still in its journey from north to south and back again.
Summer Solstice is the instant when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky, on the longest day of the year for the Northern hemisphere. This happens because the Earth is tilted by a little over 23 degrees (our planet rotates once a day, but relative to our orbit around the Sun the axis of rotation is at an angle). As we orbit the Sun this tilt means that different latitudes experience more or less sunlight over the course of a year. This pattern is most extreme near the poles. In the Arctic Circle the Sun never sets at the height of summer and never rises in the depth of winter. We mark two solstices each year, summer and winter. At the Summer Solstice the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer (a little over 23 degrees north). We also observe two equinoxes, spring and fall (vernal and autumnal), halfway through the cycle when the Sun is directly over the Equator and a day is the same length everywhere.
The video below shows how the pattern of day and night changes over one year. You can see when the poles are completely dark or light, and the moment when the Sun 'stands still' before days start to get longer or shorter again.
Here's another perspective. This video shows a view from San Francisco made from pictures that each show a complete day (each vertical line on the picture was shot at a different time with noon at the center). You can see the length of day changing throughout the year. On less foggy days you can also see the position of sunset moving, especially with the days getting longer towards the end when San Francisco experiences less fog.
Summer Solstice isn't always on June 20th - sometimes it's June 21st or June 22nd. Irritatingly a day on your clock is not the same as a solar day and a calendar year is not the same thing as one trip around the Sun. This is why we have leap years and leap seconds to stay roughly in sync with celestial mechanics.
It's also interesting to note that Summer Solstice isn't when we're closest to the Sun or when temperatures are the highest. The Earth's orbit is elliptical and we're actually furthest away around the Summer Solstice (for now - this changes over time). Our Northern hemisphere summer is driven by sunlight hitting us directly rather than at an angle (seasons are driven by the 23 degree tilt and the position of the orbit more than our distance from the Sun). Temperatures continue to rise after the Summer Solstice mainly because it takes a while to heat up water, and so warmer weather lags the increase in direct sunlight (and vice versa as we head into colder weather after the Winter Solstice).
The exact moment of Summer Solstice pictured at the start of the post and the video of day/night over a year were created using Catfood Earth. Catfood Earth generates wallpaper from NASA Blue and Black Marble images to show the current extent of day and night combined with near real time cloud cover. Catfood Earth is totally free and available for Windows and Android.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Summer Solstice 2020 #code #solstice #summer #winter #earth #northern #estival #video In 2020 the Summer Solstice is at 9:44pm UTC on June 20. Summer Solstice is the moment when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky, on the longest day of the year for the Northern hemisphere. This happens because... )
I tried this with a solar transit last year and discovered that my expensive phone can't keep time. Learned my lesson - for this lunar transit I shot video a few minutes before and after. The video is 4K and has the unedited 1 second transit and a zoomed in slow version where you can actually see the thing. Unfortunately this means the composite at the top is made from frames extracted using ffmpeg. Next time, two cameras, so I can attempt a burst as well as a video.
Shot on a Sony RX10 IV from San Francisco.
The photograph titled "ISS Lunar Transit (4K Video)" captures an ethereal moment where the cosmic dance of celestial bodies is frozen in time. The image features the full moon, luminous and detailed, its surface awash with the contrast of light and shadow that reveals the familiar, pocked face of our nearest neighbor in space. Positioned against a backdrop of deep blackness, the moon's brilliance captivates as it hovers in the void. The framing of the moon to the right of the center allows room for the unexpected appearance of the International Space Station, which, though not visible here, would be a fleeting silhouette across the lunar surface, hinting at the intricate choreography of our universe.
This image follows the principles of minimalist composition, with the stark contrast between the bright moon and the darkness of space creating a compelling visual impact. The rule of thirds is subtly applied, positioning the moon slightly off-center, which adds an element of dynamic tension to the otherwise serene scene. What I appreciate about this photograph is its ability to evoke a sense of wonder, as it visually narrates the silent passage of human ingenuity against the timeless, watchful moon. However, without the actual visible transit of the ISS captured in this frame, those expecting a more evident narrative of motion might find the photograph lacking in excitement. Still, its technical clarity and the awe-inspiring subject matter maintain its allure.
(Published to the Fediverse as: ISS Lunar Transit (4K Video) #photo #iss #moon #video 4k video of the International Space Station transiting the moon on May 7, 2020 shot from San Francisco, California )
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