Worm Moon

by

Photography: Worm Moon

I came back from Las Vegas on a night with a full moon and a total lunar eclipse. The event known as the Blood Moon. Despite setting an alarm, I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed. I woke up in a panic at 6 a.m., raced to a local park, and then discovered I had the wrong lens.

The event that all the local photographers had been planning for the entire month is something I missed.

With only five minutes until a hill hid the moon, I hiked in as fast as I could. It was cold, and I wanted to quit. What’s the point? These photos won’t be right. I’ve already missed it. Who cares anyway?

But I didn’t stop. Once I secured the camera strap around my wrist and lifted it to my eye, I wanted to use it. I wanted to see what looked cool through the lens. Even these imperfect and messy shots feel like another step in my journey. I became obsessed with water droplets on leaves. The way I could see warmth when the sun hit the grass. Faraway reflections which I couldn’t get in focus, but still hold a certain truth. A lone bird at the top of a tree taking in the morning sun.

I keep getting messages I’m on the right track, so let me know what you think. You like these? Have a favorite?

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  • These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 40-150mm lens and edited with Lightroom Classic.
by

Photography: Worm Moon

As I carefully walk toward the rippling water my shoes sink in the soft mud. You tell me to listen to what the frogs are saying. I try, but I don’t know how to be still enough. A small patch of yellow flowers grows near the shore and I struggle to get closer to them. What are they saying? The Worm Moon bursts out from behind the clouds shining a spotlight across the water. Everything seems to be calling out. I swallow my words and listen harder.

“The gold tree is blue,
The singer has pulled his cloak over his head.
The moon is in the folds of the cloak.”
—Wallace Stevens

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For my third attempt at full moon photography, I visited Folsom Lake at sunset. It felt magical and different. My daughter drew a moth in the sand. Spring is here.

Let me know if you like these and if you have a favorite. These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.