#just ran into image limit sadly or this post would be a million miles long

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oldschool Angelic Pretty strawberry dresses🍓

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The Great American Eclipse was witnessed by millions of people across the country.  This was the first I had seen, so I was excited.  This is my story.

The Location

I knew I wanted to do something with our photography group for the eclipse.  One friend in particular is quite good at seeking out the lesser-known locations to avoid crowds.  However, despite attempting to plan and having everything else in place, it still wound up being a last-minute scramble to select our location.  We settled on a spot about two hours outside of town on the other side of Estacada, Oregon.

Surprisingly, traffic was non-existent, and we were well in place by Friday afternoon.  We also didn’t have much in the way of neighbors, but we had deliberately avoided official campgrounds.  We then entered eclipse countdown, killing the days with some local hikes and lots of camp games.

We popped into the nearby Ollalie Lake, simply out of curiosity, and the place was a madhouse.  Sure, it would likely provide some good views of the eclipse, but only while bumping shoulders with your neighbor.  Seriously, folks crammed their cars in at trailheads, pitching their tent at their bumper because there weren’t any other options for space.  That doesn’t sound like a pleasant camping experience.

Somebody at Ollalie was training pack goats!

The Sky

We kept a constant eye skyward.  We have a lot of forest fires (which also meant we couldn’t have a campfire), and the daily haze seemed to be getting worse.  After all this time, the last thing I wanted was for cloud cover to get in my way of seeing this extraordinary event.

We were honestly quite worried, but we were committed to this spot (we couldn’t get anywhere else even if we wanted to).  We’d make the most out of whatever we got.

That night, as we prepared our camera gear for the big show the following day, darkness descended, and a glance upwards revealed a tapestry of stars.

I was beside myself.

The haze had evaporated, and the sky was clear!  Now, if only this held up for another 14 hours…

It was difficult to determine early the next morning; the nondescript solid color of the sky could have been dawn or haze.  I at least wanted to see the eclipse.  Of course I wanted to photograph it as well, but I wanted to at least see it.

The Hike

With limited traffic having passed our campsite all weekend, we had high hopes of having little competition at our final eclipse viewing spot on top of a nearby mountain.  However, as we pulled up to the trailhead, we were met by a parking lot simply packed with cars – most looked to have been there for some time.

Too late to change our plans, we continued onward… and upward.

Sadly, Aaron had caught some camping bug, and he wasn’t feeling well.  Barely into the hike, he let the side of the trail know just how poorly he was feeling – and he terrified our hikingmates with the sounds in the process.  I hung back with him while the others proceeded, and we were in for a long haul.

The trail just kept going up.  And up.  And up.  And it didn’t take a direct route; it seemed to veer way out in the wrong direction before doubling back to ascend the ridge line.  Almost 2.5 miles up almost 1400 feet.

And I wasn’t going to be caught needing a lens I failed to bring with me, so I had it all – at least 35 pounds of gear plus a tripod and a liter and a half of water.  It was a slog.  And yes, I know I’m crazy.

And Aaron was feeling the weakest he had felt in some time.

The forest was beautiful in the early morning light (and the sky was clear!), but we complained at the elevation and cursed the other hikers passing us.  We passed a few makeshift campsites of folks who parked it just off the trail (probably the smarter way to do it).  Just when I saw more blue sky cutting through the trees and could swear we were almost there, another mound of mountain would loom up, laughing at our pitiful hope.  When we got about 3/4 of the way to the top, we finally caught back up to the other two of our party.

The leader of our gang had spotted a steep field and thought it a good spot to park our tripods, away from the inevitable crowd at the top.  Like a fool, I followed him, even though I felt immediately it was a bad idea.  I don’t get along well with steep hillsides, and I swear I’ve learned better by now.

But he said he saw a rock outcropping with a couple of people, and the farther up you went, the better the magic (surprise surprise).  All the while, I was fretting how we’d get back down this thing.

Eventually, he called down to me (as I was literally crawling up this rocky and grassy hillside) that the hill met up with the trail anyway.  So I called down to Aaron and our other fellow adventurer to just stay on the trail (Aaron would have hated this “shortcut”).

I was already committed, and it would be more difficult to get back down than to just continue upwards.  I finally made it to the top to find Aaron had passed me (even at his slower pace), and a fellow hiker remarked that it was easier to just stay on the trail (yes, I know! blame our fearless leader…).

Yet, even after all that, we still weren’t at the top.  Did this trail ever end?

A few switchbacks more, and the dirt finally gave way to rock.  We popped out on top to find a modest collection of 40-50 people in addition to a tent of someone who had obviously slept on top of the mountain.

The Eclipse

Now the real work began.

With so much anticipation, I was honestly nervous about being prepared for this event.  Unlike a sunrise, I couldn’t just try again tomorrow if I messed something up.  I decided early to focus my efforts, or I wouldn’t get anything.  My priority was to get totality itself – the black orb revealing the stunning corona and solar prominences.

I ran two cameras, one long and one wide.  I was able to control the latter from my phone so I could keep my focus close, and I bracketed the telephoto shots to ensure proper exposure.

It was hard to tell that anything was happening at first.  Looking through the camera and the solar glasses, we could see the tip of the moon just beginning to obscure the sun, but the landscape around us looked normal for most of the eclipse.  I happily shot away at the ever-decreasing orange smiley and chatted with some of my fellow viewers.

The sun was a tiny sliver by this point – still so bright!

Ever so gradually, it got darker.  And it grew colder.  Soon, I was shivering – with chill or excitement, I’m not sure (perhaps both).  I was told we might be able to see the shadow racing across the landscape, so I was sure to look down as well as up.

The lighting was simply eerie.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  It’s dark like twilight, but every object is still illuminated with a wicked glow.  It’s indescribable.

Then totality hit.

Like a roller coaster cresting it’s first peak, the crowd’s voices rose in a chorus of “whoa!” as the last sliver of sun disappeared behind the moon.  Everyone tore off their glasses as I frantically removed my stacked ND filters (no, I wasn’t going to spend so much on a onetime-use solar filter) to shoot totality.

“Look up with your eyes!” Aaron implored.

I took a moment to look away from my camera to witness the event firsthand, and it was incredible.  Simply magical.  I took notice of the 360 twilight and snapped a wide shot on my secondary camera.  Returning to my big rig, I managed a couple more pictures before the sun started peeking out again.

That was the fastest two minutes of my life.

I caught the “diamond ring” and the ever-growing orb of bright sun fighting its way back from behind the moon.

Warmth returned along with the daylight; I was surprised how much of the sun could be obscured and still illuminate the earth.  The viewers actually applauded.

Still reeling from the awe of totality, I watched as others packed up their mats and backpacks to begin their descent, numbly snapping a few post-climax shots.  Eventually, I packed up my gear, and we made our own exit (thankfully sans treacherous hillside).

The Lessons

I missed a few things, but nothing can put a damper on this experience.  Even Aaron thoroughly enjoyed it, sick as he was.  Next time, I’ll inquire about a lens much sooner, I’ll probably go for a 600mm, and I’ll try to capture that crazy darkness, shooting back at the viewers.  I’ll look out for the natural pinhole shadows and those shadow snakes that I missed this time.  I’ll find a better way to ensure I’m shooting raw on my secondary camera (apparently the phone trigger also switches the mode to jpg – doh!).

I’ve seen some remarkable photos with brilliant silhouettes, though that would require considerable planning.  Also on my list for potentials is a time lapse and a panorama of that twilight.  But like this one, I’ll have to choose which is truly important.

Like totality.  Wow.  Just wow.  I couldn’t get over it!  I still can’t!  What a remarkable experience.  I will forever remember that day.  Yes, totality is absolutely worth it; 99% doesn’t quite cut it.  I’m glad the weather cooperated (especially since the winds changed and blew all the forest fire smoke into the valley the next day), and I couldn’t be happier with my resulting images.  Everything worked out, and I got exactly what I wanted.

Did you see the eclipse?  How was it for you?

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Photostory: Totality The Great American Eclipse was witnessed by millions of people across the country.  This was the first I had seen, so I was excited.  

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New Post has been published on https://atticusblog.com/the-forbidden-citys-treasures-for-the-masses-at-their-finger-tips/

The Forbidden City’s treasures for the masses, at their finger tips

At China’s 5 century vintage Forbidden City inside the coronary heart of Beijing, sixteen million traffic a year navigate via its several halls and pavilions with red partitions and yellow-glazed roof tiles perched on white marble terraces. Museum officials are hopeful that the visitors dispose of with them a draw close of the aesthetics of Chinese historic structure and the brilliance of the artisans, in addition, to be persuaded via the “soft strength” of a rustic with five,000 years of civilization.

China’s breakneck economic increase tempo over the last 30 years has spread out a widespread new possibility to commercialize its history, permitting the museum to make a bucket in a foreign country’s maximum hallowed cultural heritage. A vast array of vending is on the show, from notebooks proposing the 12 fantastic concubines of the Qing Emperor Yongzheng to earphones akin to Empress Dowager Cixi’s Buddhist prayer beads. The most important palace on this planet has raised its retail sport and became it into a proliferating commercial hub, raking in more than 1 billion yuan(US$one hundred forty-five million) a year from merchandising and retailing alone.

The Palace Museum closing week took a step further.

It positioned the imperial court’s mystery recipe alternatives up on the market on Alibaba Group Holdings’ on-line marketplace Tmall. They covered Cixi’s preferred black sugar ginger tea concoction and sticky date pancakes, home made by a few pick out Beijing bakeries that have been rumored to have fed the gourmand-obsessed Chinese monarchy centuries ago.

The Forbidden Cupboard

  As an infant, I had always seen my mom appearing all her obligations genuinely and attempting her stage fine for the betterment of our circle of relatives. So to mention our circle of relatives comprised of simply three individuals; me, my mother and my father. Even though it’s miles glaring that we belong to a nuclear circle of relatives, however, in the beginning, the story becomes a chunk exceptional.

At the beginning, we used to live in a joint family

It turned into an exquisite feeling to live with the worrying elders and loving members. We loved our lives as much as the fullest; till one day, whilst a bad information propagated towards our family. I obtained a blow once I heard the subsequent phrases echoing from my father’s mouth; “I have misplaced my process”. I received even a tougher blow some days later when I heard that as we couldn’t make contributions a single pie within the own family we should go away the residence. Soon we moved into a much smaller condominium. Because it changed into very difficult for us to pay the residence lease my mother took up a process in an entertainment institute.

Seeing that then, my father have become a silent man.

He discovered solitude in his isolation and turned into always preoccupied with thoughts strolling from anywhere to everywhere. Even though he by no means informed us, but still we knew that he was trying hard to discover an activity, but sadly his good fortune did now not desire him. Then one day after I again from faculty I couldn’t locate my father everywhere in or close to our condo. It changed into like he had vanished out of the blue. I searched for him frantically, fear took over me. So I determined to name up my mother. whilst she reached home she looked faded and terrified but remained sturdy. She did no longer even attempt to search for him.

It was I who ran madly via the streets trying to find him.

When you consider that then my mom has become expressionless and has emerged as greater dutiful and has become into a workaholic female… those are a number of the recollections and emotions of my mother which I came across the forbidden cabinet. I broke all the way down to tears when I completed reading my mother’s diary. I kept the diary carefully and reached for something; it was tender and smelled sweet. after I took it out from the cabinet I broke into a wry smile, because it was a bit red teddy which probably my father had given my mom.

Simply I could make it out from the be aware that turned into connected to the teddy bear’s ears

The teddy bear Even though became intact but its girlie pink color had dwindled, just like the very lifestyles of my father. By now the teddy was moist with my tears. I saved the teddy and my arms got here in touch with an e-book. It was a photo album which contained snapshots of my dad and mom. “They appeared so satisfied collectively and so in love”; I Said to myself as I flipped thru their images.

One Man’s Treasures

We’ve usually heard the pronouncing that one man’s treasure is any other guy’s junk or one guy’s junk is any other guy’s treasure. And if you will look at all the garage sales and estate sales, you’ll see just how authentic it is.

I bear in mind my one and only experience setting some of my junk in my storage and having a storage sale. I was stunned with the aid of the wide variety of folks that sold the objects that I was throwing out. I hadn’t even marketed it; I just placed a sign on my the front garden announcing that I was having a storage sale on a certain date and a variety of human beings just showed up to buy matters.

Michigan’s lost treasures never recovered

As hard as this changed into for me to agree with, and I am nonetheless shaking my head at the memory, I used to do plenty of things out of sheer boredom, specifically, paint large paintings via wide variety and then I’d buy cute frames and cling these abominations of artwork in my residing room. And they bought. I had even carried out a paint by way of range on black velvet that bought. That one wasn’t so terrible but you couldn’t likely describe it as artwork. And that I puzzled how the spouses of the customers who offered these items considered those “treasures.” treasures found in old houses.

Even in the first-rate of times, I am no longer a shopper. The worst punishment you may give me is to take me buying and have me choose out merchandise that I like. It’s absolute torture. For the first half of-of my life, the ones nearest and dearest to me offered my clothes and taken them home to me to attempt on due to the fact they knew I wouldn’t move into shops of my personal accord. And that’s why I was sincerely amazed at the wide variety of individuals who showed up that day to choose via my junk.

Largest buried treasure ever found

Even now, this kind of a long time later, I still shudder at the memory of all those folks that stood out inside the blazing sun looking forward to me to open my garage door to allow them to in. Maybe if this had been an estate sale I would not be so surprised but it became a normal residence And I hadn’t even marketed it. I hadn’t even put up posters on cellphone poles, as turned into the custom in the one’s days. I had simply positioned up a bit sign up my the front garden giving the date and the time.

If all of us can explain the phenomenon of why perfect strangers might get any such pleasure in choosing over someone else’s junk, and in fact buying it, I wish they might explain it to me. For now, I simply shake my head in wonder, just glad that I got rid of those atrocious paint through number artwork.

Home Based Business – 12 Ergonomic Tips For Your Computer Workstation

While operating from your home workplace you could be inclined not to take as many breaks as in case you were in a traditional workplace.

Tips procedure patient education

You can discover yourself operating for hours earlier than getting up out of your chair, as the interruptions are normally fewer to distract you. Because of this, it’s far vital which you deal with yourself – and arm yourself with the basic ergonomics to prevent or at the least limit any bodily stress due to computer work.

Tips definition

Here are 12 recommendations for putting in place an ergonomic computer workstation

1. Use an amazing chair with a dynamic chair lower back and seat pan. Sit lower back and use it as opposed to leaning forward

2. Role the pinnacle of reveal casing 2-3″ (5-eight cm) above eye degree

3. Use a no glare screen, and an optical glass anti-glare clear out wherein wished

4. Sit down at arm’s length from the reveal

5. Location your feet on ground or stable footrest

6. Use a file holder, ideally in-line with the PC display screen

7. Preserve wrists flat and directly when it comes to forearms to use keyboard/mouse/enter tool

8. Your arms and elbows must be secure and close to body

9. Center your monitor and keyboard in front of you so that you aren’t turning to apply them

10. Use a terrible tilt keyboard tray with an upper mouse platform or downward tiltable platform adjacent to the keyboard for quality wrist attitude

11. Use a stable work floor and solid (no bounce) keyboard tray

12. Take common short breaks (micro breaks)