SUPER MOON REDUX

The new year started off with a Super Moon (or Wolf Moon), the first full moon of January. I barely got pictures of it as it was high in the sky. (See my January 2^nd post.) My second chance came on January 31^st as the second Super Moon in January, also called a Blood Moon arrived. It was the confluence of a Super Moon, Blood Moon, and a Lunar Eclipse. This was the first time in more that 150 years. This time I was prepared. With the help of a friends’ star tracking app, I was able to identify the best time and place for photos. Right around sunrise the full moon would be setting in the west. My hope was that the eclipse would be partially over the moon at a time when its proximity to the horizon would make it look even larger.  

Visions of a partially eclipsed moon looming reddish and large over the open fields of Ida Lee Park went through my mind as I crawled out of bed and faced the 19-degree weather. But it was not to be. A layer of haze hung over the horizon. Occasional breaks gave an opportunity for a few photos as the moon was descending. But the moon was not near the horizon. A dark cloud came in and the moon disappeared well before I could get photos of the moon and the landscape together. A couple shots came out okay. The first was the moon looking yellowish as it was transitioning into the reddish phase of the eclipse. The other was of the moon viewed through haze. Maybe the eclipse next year will turn out better!

NOT ALL ACTION IS ON THE COURT

Photos of players in action tell a story of the game. But that is only part of the event. Coaches, cheerleaders, and fans provide a glimpse of the drama and excitement, or lack thereof, surrounding the game. The look of anxiety or concern on a coach’s face. Referees discussing the game during breaks. Students pretending to be ESPN broadcasters. Cheerleaders with posters for the senior players. All combine to make up the tapestry that is high school basketball.