Why the moon looked red during the eclipse

Last night’s lunar eclipse was stunning, and caught me totally by surprise.

Not that I didn’t know the rare event was happening. It’s just that I assumed it would be covered by the clouds that threatened and stormed all day. But as I got ready to slip between the covers, I thought I’d peek outside one last time to see if I could see the moon.

See it I did! By the time the eclipse was beginning, at about 11:15 p.m., scattered clouds scooted mostly out of view, so I stepped outside in my bathrobe and slippers and peeked heavenward.

Yikes! The full, white orb was directly overhead in my Sacramento neighborhood, covered three-quarters of the way with a rather brilliant reddish-orange overlay (a Photoshop term seems best in this case).

I dashed back inside to grab a camera, fit my longest lens, scrounge for a CF card, and ran back outside. My first few guesses at the exposure were off.

Evidently, the Sunny 16 rule works for a regular full moon, but not an eclipse. Hand-holding and bracing on the mailbox were not going to give me the stability I needed, either.

Back into the house I ran for a tripod. In the meantime, unfortunately, the eclipse progressed to fully cover the moon. But I did manage to get some steady shots of a fully darkened moon.

Upon later inspection, the rusty-brown surface looked quite like a basketball, minus the seams. It was an awesome sight.

I wondered what made the moon appear reddish-brown during the eclipse. According to one explanation by EarthSky, an organization that makes such scientific mysteries accessible to laypersons like me, the color of the moon is from light refracting off dust and clouds in Earth’s atmosphere. Were there no atmosphere, the moon would be totally black as you might expect.

I know a lot has been made of the fact that this total eclipse occurred on the date of the winter solstice, which evidently hasn’t happened since 1638.

Although I don’t believe the coincidence has any particular significance, it is easy to see how early civilizations might have freaked out when they saw the great night luminary turn red, like blood.

For those who missed this complete lunar eclipse, you can catch the show again in 2132. So you should have plenty of time to get your camera settings ready!

I'm a Social Media misfit

OK, I admit it. I'm guilty.

And I'm feeling it.

I've convinced myself of the importance of blogging and sending e-mails and Facebooking and Tweeting ... and then I rarely do it.

Alas, I'm doomed.

Or, am I?

Lately I've been getting a newsletter about simplifying life, slowing down and taking time to enjoy the simple things--called, appropriately enough, Rowdy Kittens. Now, doesn't that just make your smile? How can you get irritated at a kitten?

So I've been reexamining the guilt-trip I've had to keep up with all the So-Mo-Joneses out there (that's social media Joneses). Is hourly Tweeting, daily Facebooking, twice-weekly blogging and monthly e-mailing really necessary to build my client base?

Truth be told, it probably is. I realize that. And I'm gonna try.

I'm just not going to stress out about it. Life is short. If you don't take the time to look around once in a while, you might miss something (Ferris said).

So enjoy today. It's mid-November, the leaves are turning beautiful shades of scarlet and gold, and the sky is blue. And don't forget to tell me (comment below) what you did to make this day special.

When you know it's love...

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Darn barn swallows

For a couple of years now I've had a string of aluminum foil strips hanging above my front door, causing my friends to wonder what Eastern philosophy I've converted to.

I always laugh, explaining how the shiny metal is keeping the pesky birds from building their nest there.

That is, until this year.

A pair of barn swallows came back with a vengeance this spring, swooping and diving at the front entry, screeching their disapproval, daring the illicit metal tags to stop them from rebuilding their nest there. The chatter was pretty terrifying, actually.

After hearing the commotion for several days, I went out on the porch to see what was up, and there above our door sat two of the sweetest little birdies you could imagine. I was surprised to see them stay put while I examined them. Their little heads cocked; I asked what they were doing.

They held their ground. And I relented.

"OK, you can stay," I told them.

Immediately after that -- and not before -- the pair began depositing throatfuls of mud and straw, layer by bubbly layer, in the area surrounded by the foil strips. Soon bits of fluffy feathers lined the nest and I waited expectantly for the chirping of hungry babies.

Finally, after weeks of waiting and washing little poopies off my doorstep, we saw an egg. Cracked open on my doormat, that is. Soon another fell from the nest -- or was pushed out by a predator.

I am crestfallen. I had my camera all poised for a shot of hungry little mouths, opened wide, waiting for sustenance. But I got bupkiss.

Soon the "sweet" little birdies will be gone. And I'll be up on the ladder, scrubbing away all their hard work.

It's not that I'm a bird hater. Really. I just can't stand the heartbreak.

A photographic scavenger hunt

Kodak is sponsoring a contest this month that asks us to enter five specific photos each week during June. I've been having a bit of fun with it--looking for creative ways to fulfill the assignments.

Week 1 asked for a photo of a cupcake, so I called upon my daughter Mindi. (Poor thing, that's what she gets for living with me!)

Pretty yummy, huh? I like to call this one "Guilty Pleasures."

The face of determination

The Community Collaborative Charter School graduates celebrate reaching their goal.

I recently photographed the graduation ceremonies of two independent study schools. These kids have had to overcome disheartening odds to reach the stage this day, where their proud principals, school board members and teachers waited to award them their diplomas.

Many of these young people are foster kids, homeless, working full time, single parents ... to them, issues like who wore the same dress to prom really are kid stuff.

One young woman accepted her "overcomer" award with tears streaming down her face. She'd endured the exhaustion of working full time, with two small children, as she finished her requirements. Another young mother persisted until, on her eighth try, she finally passed the math portion of the high school exit exam.

Many were of above-average age: one of the teachers proudly pointed out the 22-year-old who came back to see him at the independent charter school after having dropped out -- again. He had a job offer, but the employer couldn't use him unless he had a diploma. His priorities clear, he finally completed his coursework.

Sitting among the audience, listening to the hubbub of the parents, friends and babies, I could tell that many of these youth would not repeat the scene among university compatriots. Nevertheless, this day would change their lives forever. They have at least tasted the satisfaction of completing a worthy goal. They know now that hard work does pay off.

They can do anything they set their minds to do. Congratulations, Class of 2010!

Inspired by vegetables!

I was simply strolling through the produce aisle the other day, gathering my tomatoes and zucchini for dinner, when shazam! -- I encountered the most breathtaking artichokes I'd ever seen.

Their silvery petals bent uniformly inward, like a delicate flower (which I guess they are!). Completely spherical, these were. Unique little orbs of goodness. I had to have them--not so much as a tasty appetizer--but for a photographic study.

Once I had these little beauties home on my kitchen counter, I gathered up all their little fruit and veggie compatriots and we went into the studio. My mother even contributed lemons and pineapple for contrast. Am I making you hungry yet?