Sunday Stills ~ Clouds

 

I was totally planning on taking some photos of brilliant white fluffy clouds back-dropped against our bright blue New Mexico skies for this week’s challenge, but then a unique opportunity revealed itself to me instead.

Last Saturday, we’d had a busy day beginning in the early morning. That evening there were fireworks scheduled for the Edgewood Route 66 Celebration, but my kids and I were too tired and lazy to go. But I also realized that sometimes we are able to watch fireworks going on in Edgewood from my bedroom balcony.

So, that night as we watched the fireworks above the ridge across from our valley the sky above the mountain ridge turned red. For a moment I was worried that the fireworks caused a fire. But I soon realized what had caused the sky to turn red.

It was the moon!

A red-tinged moon…and what were the chances that the moon would rise in the exact same location that the fireworks were being set off?! What an awesome, unique, and rare photographic opportunity!

   

And there were wispy clouds covering the moon, too.

 

Please keep in mind that the fireworks were being set off about 3 miles from our house, as the crow flies, and I only use a little point and shoot digital camera (Canon Powershot SX110 IS), so the photos are not as sharp as they might be with one of the fancy professional style cameras. I’m still very pleased with what I was able to capture in just a couple minutes, using only my auto setting with a porch light on behind me, no tripod and no flash.

As the moon rose higher, the red color faded to orange and then to yellow.

And still, the fireworks were sent up to decorate this beautiful moon as if celebrating it’s stunning arrival. I felt very privileged to be able to witness such a rare and unique event. I think I forgot to breathe a few times, actually.

 

And even after the fireworks had ended and the moon had risen much higher above the mountain ridgeline, it was still quite spectacular to see with the long, thin clouds seeming to slide across it’s surface.

I’m thinking that sometimes being lazy and deciding to stay home, can work out really well. What do you think?

 

To see how other folks have taken on this challenge, check out Sunday Stills.