After a couple of months I finally decided that it was time to go back and look at some of the photos I shot back in December 2010. This photo was taken late on the night of December 20, 2010 (the eclipse lasted into the early hours of the 21st; full eclipse was around 12:15 a.m.). That night was just one of those nights that comes along (as they say) once in a blue moon (even though the full moon was orangish). It was the first total lunar eclipse in almost three years and the first to happen in a long time as a full moon and coinciding with the date of the December solstice (Winter solstice). I didn't stay up for the total eclipse as it went on for close to six hours (and it was really cold out), but this photo (a composite) was shot over a one-half hour time span (camera on my tripod and set at about three minute intervals - manually timed so the exact time is not exactly three minutes between each shot). I like to try different styles of photography and from time to time I set my eyes to the sky and try to catch what nature presents. I'll be out in the night sky (weather allowing) during the next two lunar eclipses (which will also be total) and occurring on June 15, 2011 and again next December on the 10th (2011). It will be interesting to do a comparison between summer and winter lunar eclipses. Stay tuned.
What a spectacular view residents of Modesto received this year. There was no need to fly to the East Coast or New England to see vibrant f...