A Cowboy and an Eclipse

Linda, Kati and I scouted out Picketpost Mountain Trailhead as a possible site to photograph the eclipse on Monday night. Conclusion, it would be OK. But as most photo trips go, this one had a delightful surprise! We met Terry.  I will let Linda explain 'the rest of the story'.

"Meet Terry, a Christian cowboy with an intense love for the Lord),  riding the Arizona Trail with his compass aimed at Colorado. He was camping; resting his horses and dogs for a couple of days and was fascinated by all the fuss we photographers were making. He was not aware that the eclipse was on its way that very evening! Personally, I believe that Terry and his story(s) were as interesting as the Blood Moon phenomenon. I have a love for portraiture so I was thrilled that Terry was willing to let me indulge in my passion! God speed Terry….you are in my prayers."

All of Linda's portraits were shot 'wide open' with her new 85mm f1.8 prime lens at IOS 200. As she added, "BOOM!!"

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Linda returned with us on Monday with a big care package for Terry with his favorite tobacco, canned goodies and even treats for his dogs. I took him peeled mandarin slices and a sandwich full of lettuce, tomatoes, red peppers, (the works!!). He said that after several weeks on the trail, eating out of cans, the fresh stuff tasted really good.

There were a number of photographers at the trailhead by the time the moon started its eclipse. We arrived much earlier and Tom got in some hiking along the trail. Later, he got a moonlit photo of Terry's mare.

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Personally, I think Picketpost Mountain has a lot of character, especially in the golden light.

Oh yes! The moon!  Here is a short summary thanks to Tom who compiled my images. I have a lot to learn!

Here is a question for you.  Tom and I could not agree (easily) on how to present the moons.  I preferred keeping them at the relative size they were in the sky.  As the moon rises and then crosses the sky it gets smaller as it nears our overhead view and then larger again by the time it sets.  For me, proper representation would have the moons get smaller as they go from left to right.  Tom felt that they appeared better being more the same size. Of course, either way can be achieved by the magic of your crop tool so it comes down to being a pedestrian documentation (my way) or an artistic rendering (his way). I think the moon is laughing at us right now, saying . . . "but I don't change size". Guess I'll just have to put my big girl britches on and deal with it!!

Special thanks to Linda for sharing her portraits and to Tom for rendering my moons in Photoshop.

Next up . . . photos from a two day trip we took with the Jon and Phyllis Pardoll. ASARCO Mine, Titan Missile Museum, Tumacacori, San Xavier del Bac and the AZ Desert Sonoran Museum were our stopping points. Whew! Lotsa photos!