August 20 - 26

This month has been non stop since last post. I have been snapping pictures like mad including for Ava's cheerleading team. That work is reserved for the squad but back on the 20th, I was fortunate to get a few shots during a game that tie in with the kind of things I produce.





After the game...





and later that night from E of Forsyth IL.





Sunday the 21st I went for an early morning walk.











Then on the 24th during a severe thunderstorm watch that turned into a bust, I was NE of Taylorville IL to catch end of day light on area convection.





Thursday took us into S IL for an assignment with a quick stop at Ramsey Lake State Park on the way back home.







and finally on Friday the 26th while looking for steam devils that did not happen as it is still not cool enough though I thought it might be...



Like just about everyone else, I have been following Irene coverage. At the time of this writing, there is concern within our family that a property owned by my uncle and his partner near Lewes DE may have been in the path of a tornado to have reportedly set down in the area. It's definitely a small world considering that we can now track entire hurricanes from within the palm of our hand. The following statement is c/o SPC.

2 SW LEWES, SUSSEX DE - AROUND 15 HOMES DAMAGED IN THE NASSAU STATION AND TRADEWINDS SUBDIVISIONS SW OF LEWES. ONE HOME DEMOLISHED.

Saturday Shots...

This past weekend was a big one for being among other things, my daughter's sixth birthday. Saturday was by far the biggest day for besides scheduled obligations including assistance with a family shoot, significant weather in the way of severe storms with a history of producing large hail affected the region. I would miss the first and worst batch of storms to pass just to our N where numerous damaging hail reports were logged. More from the hail event courtesy of NWS Lincoln can be found HERE. Showers associated with the same complex along with a peek of sunlight timed itself perfectly as I was fulfilling a shot request seen below.



Well after the severe weather exited the region and would be on the way to Indiana, additional storms producing numerous photographic opportunities developed towards sunset. I would head S then eventually SE from Decatur. Below was taken along IL 48.



Continuing S on I-72/US 51 near Elwin IL, I spotted an area of interest on the SW flank of a cell to the distant NE. Unsure of what was genuinely happening, all I could do was zoom in the best I was able. Showers to develop moments after the first shot helped produce yet another rainbow opportunity.







Now just N of Macon, the same shower complex as previous but moving away.



Now in Shelby county near the small town of Pleak (which I only know exists because of Google maps), looking NE at the cell to produce the earlier lowering. At this time I was targeting cells to the SE.



Now S of Bethany.



Same location along 121 and facing NNW, incoming arcus cloud generated by outflow from the cell to the N.





Looking S on the same arcus cloud moments before crashing into the previously shown precipitation core. The rolling motion would have made for good video but I had no time.



Heading back, NW of Bethany.



Still NW of Bethany, I paused to get the sunset color on the backside of the S complex.







Finally at Dalton City, the now distant cell started kicking off lightning so I paused once again to try for a few shots. Not realizing it at first but the moon began rising behind it. I was fortunately set up to shoot continuous and was able to assemble a short DSLR time lapse of this scene found HERE. yet another time lapse opportunity would present itself in that the International Space Station was scheduled to fly over at 9:39 PM CDT so I stayed put. Noting the direction and angle of ascent, I was able to produce a very pleasing composition from a vantage point I rarely get to enjoy since it usually passes when I am work. Suffice to say on day that I didn't think I would get to do any weather photography at all, it worked out to be one of my best sessions this entire year.









Other perspectives from around the region this day...

DAN ROBINSON

ANDREW PRITCHARD

JOHN FARLEY

KEVIN RADLEY (YouTube video from Sullivan IL)

Can't access Facebook so...

For whatever reason at the time of this post, I cannot log on. I suppose I'll just use the opportunity to actually be productive lol. Per the first picture which was a predawn attempt on Wednesday at catching an early Perseid as well as the International Space Station, I was very disappointed to see a break in the trails as result of my camera glitching. It was most likely paused to buffer and catch up on what had been up until that point a full hour of shooting. A basic Rebel is not the best choice for this type of photography but I make due. The Azure Bluets from a morning walk once the sun came up also illustrate another problem I've been having as they are soft. The 300mm I had been using took a tumble out of the bag a few weeks ago and has not been right since. The barrel sticks and I believe may be contributing to a slight focusing issue. Again, I make due and am grateful for the equipment I use but I would prefer not having to fight with it.

Photogenic Line

It's hard to come up with a snappy title when there were two tornado warned storms in the region on Monday and you were nowhere close so you had to settle for piddly rain showers on the very tail end of the line. From just outside of Kenney IL, at least the light was just right...









Click HERE to see incredible captures by Andrew Pritchard who was further upstream on the same line at approximately the same time.

and on Sunday from the same area...

End of July...

After what has been a firecracker of a month with all manner activity including significant positives as well as negatives, the last day of July 2011 closed on somewhat of a high note. During the overnight hours I set up with the hope of catching a meteor or two emanating from one of several showers that had been ongoing but no such luck. The end result of a few hour long star trail tracks was still worth the effort.





The following morning I went for a walk and was able to come home with a few new additions for the portfolio including this Common Buckeye.



Ebony Jewelwing - Couldn't decide which I liked best so I just put up both, you decide...





Entrails of insect larvae boring into wood. Roughly the size of spaghetti.





Blue Faced Meadowhawk which is a new one. I almost got close enough with the macro lens but it decided to play difficult and go high. Tough shot as I had the tripod fully extended to head height and was at 300mm. Shade didn't help things either but I'm happy with the result knowing what I had to go through lol.



Hatchling Brown Snake (DeKay's), measured length 2.5"





Eastern Tiger Swallowtail... and my first decent capture of this common species.