Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star

Ever notice a star that twinkles in multiple colors? Here’s why!

Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star

“This is because of scintillation (“Twinkling”) as the light passes through the atmosphere of the Earth. As the air moves in and out, the starlight is refracted, often different colors in different directions. Because of this “chromatic abberation,” stars can appear to change colors when they are twinkling strongly.”
—March 1999, Dave Kornreich

Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star

To capture these colors, I set up a telephoto lens on such a star during a recent trip to Trona Pinnacles, and then gave the tripod a sharp tap to make the star “wander” around the frame, leaving a light trail behind it, showing the changing colors.

Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star

El Matador in the Moonlight

In February 2012, I joined a few friends for a full moon shoot at Malibu’s lovely El Matador Beach.

Each of these are long exposures using only the full moon for lighting.

El Matador Beach in Moonlight

El Matador Beach in Moonlight

El Matador Beach in Moonlight

El Matador Beach in Moonlight

El Matador Beach in Moonlight

The full set of images can be found on my Flickr

Firespinning

One of the new light painting techniques I’ve learned is steel wool firespinning.

Firespin at Salton Sea Airport

In an abandoned airport structure at Salton Sea

Red Rock Canyon Firespin

In Red Rock Canyon State Park

Firespin near Three Sisters

In a dry lake bed near The Three Sisters at Salton Sea

Salton Sea After Dark

On Shore at Bombay Beach, Salton Sea

Firespin at Salton Sea Airport

In an abandoned airport structure at Salton Sea

It’s actually pretty simple to do, fluff up a pad of steel wool, tuck it into a whisk, tie a bit of string or robe to the whisk… find an interesting spot with a noted lack of flammable vegetation or furnishings… wait till dark… set your camera to 30 second exposure at f8 and a delayed timer… start the timer, when the shutter clicks light the steel wool with a lighter, and then spin it! You’ll throw sparks for about 15-20 seconds, but the leftover will glow for a bit, so keep spinning until the shutter closes again.

Try spinning in front of you, over your head, in different directions… turn slowly around will you spin it (spin it in the opposite direction that you turn to keep from hitting yourself)… chain a couple whisks together… get creative!

More images will be added to my Firespinning set on Flickr

Borrego Palms Canyon

Took a hike up Borrego Palms Canyon

Borrego Palm Canyon

Borrego Palm Canyon

The Salton Sea

The now annual Black Friday Salton Sea trip.

Salton Sea

Salton Sea

Salton Sea

Salton Sea

Salton Sea

Busy Bee

Flowers and Bees

A Moment of Peace

My furkids in their (infrequent) quiet state.

Dodger and Blue

Dodger and Blue

My Baby Girl Blue

Descanso in Spring

I spent a lovely morning with flickr friends exploring Descanso Gardens. It is always lovely in the spring as things are coming into bloom, and was made even more so on this morning as everything was still covered in raindrops from one of SoCal’s infrequent rains.

Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens

Welcoming Blue to the family!

Introducing:  Blue!
This is Blue, a 3 month old black lab rescue. Her older “brother” Dodger isn’t completely sure of her yet, but they are quickly becoming friends!

Adoptive Siblings, Dodger and Blue

Dodger and Blue

My furkids, learning to get along :)