Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – NGC 6914 – Reflection Nebula Complex – also known as Bluebird Nebula 10 Nov 202310 Nov 2023 NGC 6914 is a Reflection Nebula in the Cygnus Constellation, it is situated north of the celestial equator and, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Rookie…
Nature Photography 2023: Missouri – Things do not always work out as intended or do they! 30 Oct 202331 Oct 2023 I was fortunate enough to acquire a Celestron EdgeHD 8 telescope in early June this year. Before purchasing it, I was aware of the potential challenges of collimating it. However,…
Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – The Consigned to Oblivion – Clamshell Nebula SH2-119 in One Shot Color Dual Narrowband. 29 Oct 202310 Nov 2023 About this project I had the opportunity to take advantage of a rare stretch of clear nights and decided to try my luck at capturing a very faint target. According…
Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – Heart Nebula (IC 1805) and Soul Nebula (IC 1848) 17 Oct 202331 Oct 2023 About this project This was a short test, working with a new Narrowband light pollution filter. Narrowband filters are specialty tools that only allow a narrow range of specific wavelengths…
Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – North America Nebula and Pelican Nebula (NGC 7000 and IC 5070) 16 Oct 202331 Oct 2023 As we bid farewell to summer, I welcome Fall. As I become more familiar with astro-imaging, I thought it would be a great time to tackle my first project -…
Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – Widefield view of NGC 6888, SH2-101, and WR 134 14 Oct 202331 Oct 2023 In the summer months, we can capture the wonderful nebulae region in the constellation Cygnus. In this frame, the beautiful Crescent and Tulip nebulae and the material from the hot…
Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – The Cygnus Loop 2 Oct 202331 Oct 2023 The Famous Cygnus Loop The Veil Nebula Complex, also known as Sharpless2-103, is a supernova remnant located in the Cygnus constellation. It's estimated that this star went supernova between 2,500…
Nature Photography 2023: Missouri – Platanthera peramoena (Purple Fringeless Orchid) 21 May 202331 Oct 2023 In 2022 I lead a Webster Groves Nature Study Society, photography field trip to Castor River Conservation Area. The goal being to document and photograph - Platanthera peramoena, the scientific…
Nature Photography 2023: Missouri – Yellow Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) 7 May 202331 Oct 2023 I have to admit when I first heard of wild orchids in Missouri, it harkened me back to being home; where to catch a glance, one would have to look…
Astrophotography 2023: Missouri – Rosette Nebula and Star Cluster NGC 2244 15 Feb 202331 Oct 2023 Clear nights in winter, in the great state of Missouri, are not really a thing of frequency January 27th 2023 astrophotography adventure from the front yard, with a Bortle Sky…
Astrophotography 2022: Missouri – Diamonds on a Black Velvet Sky – Imaging of M45 “Pleiades.” 10 Dec 202231 Oct 2023 Another Astrophotographer adventure is here - it’s the 19th of November, 2022 in the Midwest, I arrived at the Bortle Class 4 location at 4:00 pm, and sunset was at…
Astrophotography 2022: Missouri – My first Astrophotography image – M31 “Andromeda Galaxy” 27 Nov 202231 Oct 2023 Hello everyone, I hope all is well. It has been some time since I have shared anything on my blog.At the time I wrote this post, in Missouri, it was…
Nature Photographer 2022: Missouri Deeproot clubmoss “Diphasiastrum tristachyum” 16 Aug 202231 Oct 2023 How many times have you been told, "keep your head up while walking on the trail!" It's a good thing to do, but in this case, I was on a…
Nature Photography 2022: Missouri – Orchids: Small White Lady’s Slippers. 10 Aug 202231 Oct 2023 Small White Lady's Slippers Orchid (Cypripedium candidum) is native to eastern North America across the northern United States and southern Canada. This species was described by Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg…
Bird Photography… 2022: Missouri – Summer Madness – Look a Bluebird! 4 Aug 202231 Oct 2023 It is summer time in Missouri, the heat is here and as of late so has the rain. A play on light, that is what I call the Indigo bunting…
Nature Photography 2022: Missouri – Spring Wildflowers – “Wild” Red Columbine. 12 Jun 202231 Oct 2023 Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a beautiful and unique native plant. Delicate red and yellow flowers resemble tiny ballerinas as they dance on slender red stems over finely divided blue-green…
Bird Photography 2022: Missouri – Spring Migration – “Red-eyed Vireo.” 8 Jun 202231 Oct 2023 Back at it again, another spring migrant, images from Tower Grove Park - St. Louis, Missouri. The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) is an American songbird of the order Passeriformes. As…
Bird Photography 2022: Missouri – Spring Migration- “The Magnificent Magnolia Warbler” 6 Jun 20223 Oct 2023 Spring of 2022, one of my goals - get better images of spring migrants! The Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) is a member of the wood-warbler family. The active, confiding Magnolia…
Bird Photography 2022: Missouri – Spring Migration – Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Jun 202231 Oct 2023 Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica): Breeds from south-central Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to the east-central U.S. from New England to the Great Lakes region, and in the Appalachian Mountains.…
Nature Photographer 2022: Missouri – Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers “White Trout Lily” (Erythronium albidum.) 22 Apr 20221 Nov 2023 While out on a Webster Groves Nature Study Society Nature Photography hike to the woodlands, El Presidente, Senor Ozark Bill, "put me on game" He pointed out the leaf structure…
Nature Photography 2022: Missouri’s Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers “Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria.)” 14 Apr 20221 Nov 2023 Five years, that is how long it has been since I last picked up my macro kit and attempted to photograph wildflowers. Many a thing has changed in the world,…
Nature Photography 2022: Missouri – Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers – “Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)” 13 Apr 20221 Nov 2023 Leaving work today, I saw a small patch of these amongst some tulips, outside my office. Glad I had my camera with me. This most attractive spring perennial is spectacular in large…
Bird Photography 2021: Missouri – Look what the wind blew in! 23 Mar 20221 Nov 2023 In the winter of 2021, into 2022, a rare migrant from the Arctic appeared and made where I am in Missouri, its winter home, and “bird watchers” are taking notice.…
Bird Photography… 2021: Missouri – The Harrier and the Owl. 12 Mar 20221 Nov 2023 "Try and try again." yeah that is the saying, in my case I have been trying, trying, trying, going all the way back to 2016. I have been trying to…
Bird Photography 2021: Missouri – Hopes for a Short-eared Owl! 10 Mar 20221 Nov 2023 It’s that time of year again. Christmas is in the air; the New Year is right around the corner and Old man Winter is coming! Boy wildlife photography is about…
Bird Photography 2021: Missouri – Manny look at that Pelican fly! 10 Mar 20221 Nov 2023 This may arguably be the most famous one-liner in movie history, in reference to a pelican. "Look at these pelicans fly. Come on, pelicans!" Look at this pelican fly! Sure…
Bird Photography 2021: Illinois – The Little Eastern Screech Owl. 9 Mar 20221 Nov 2023 Another winter is here, while some shudder at the thought of snow fall, I embrace the season of change, as winter migrants make their return to our area. Only 10…
Bird Photography 2019: Trinidad and Tobago – “Home!” Yerette – Home of the Hummingbird – Part Five. 19 May 20191 Nov 2023 This is the last in a five-part blog, reflecting on a 2019 trip to Trinidad and Tobago. It was a bittersweet sunrise; knowing my vacation was coming to an end,…
Bird Photography 2019: Trinidad and Tobago – “Home!” Chagaramus – Part Two. 8 May 20191 Nov 2023 On this day I met up with my good friend and hands down, one of the best birder and nature photographers on the island - David S. Huggins. This "bredda's"…
Bird Photography 2019: Trinidad and Tobago – “Home!” Caroni Swamp – Part Four. 30 Apr 20191 Nov 2023 Someone once told me, "Miguel you are my family." those words changed my perception and ultimately adjusted my reality. Being a family means you are a part of something very…
Bird Photography 2019: Trinidad and Tobago “Home!” Birds from the Backyard and Front Porch – Part One. 28 Apr 20191 Nov 2023 April 2022 is upon us. Where has the time gone? It has been almost 3 years since I visited my family back home. The "Pandemic" event of the past 2…
Bird Photography 2019: Trinidad and Tobago – “Home!” Asa Wright Nature Center – Part Three. 12 Apr 20191 Nov 2023 The roosters have been crowing since 430am. I did not get much sleep, I was excited about the day ahead. So I got up, showered and packed my camera bag,…
Nature Photography… 2019: Missouri – “A perfect day for winter landscape photography.” 21 Feb 20191 Nov 2023 Yes, I acknowledge that winter is behind us, personally, I love all the seasons, coming from where I am from, you have a dry season and a wet season. Having…
Naturalist 2022: Missouri – Handy Field guides 12 May 20221 Nov 2023 If you are a native plant enthusiast. These are my field tools, app PlantNet and Missouri Wild Flowers. Each state I believe has a wildlife flower field guide. Until the…