The Photo Challenge topic is Last Chance. The Last Chance to selection a few photos taken in 2024 that have not been shown. Those that didn’t fit a particular challenge topic or were not quite good enough to make the first cut. These first several images that did not fit any of the the topics. First is the header image showing a colorful lawn party being set up at a well-known Playhouse in Ogunquit, ME. Then, two pictures taken during the October aurora and the last in this series shows a fallen tree during a thunderstorm. (Double click a picture to enlarge the details.)
In early October it was forecasted that a severe geomagnetic storm would be visible in many states in the US. Here are a couple of pictures showing the aurora borealis (or Northern Nights) as viewed from our back yard on this clear, starry night in southern Maine. For the first picture, I faced North and then for the second one I looked East towards the Atlantic Ocean. These were taken less than a minute apart so this shows how quickly the sky was changing. Interestingly, the colors were not as intense when viewed with the necked eye, it was only when taking these with an iPhone was I able to see the intensity of the storm.
The picture below was taken a couple of days after a July storm when high winds passed over Kiawah Island and other neighboring SC Islands. Unfortunately, this beautiful 3 or 4-hundred-year-old Grand Oak Tree was not able to survive the powerful winds. This gives you an idea of how massive these trees can grow to be, especially when seen beside a police vehicle.
This next picture didn’t make the final cut in a previous post when featuring images created by ICM (intentional camera movement). This particular blurring effect was created in the camera by moving the lens upwards in a straight line during the shot.
For the topic ‘Details’ I featured a scene on this Maine beach right after the seasonal restriction on pets was lifted. These two images didn’t make the final cut so I wanted to include them here. I remember it being such a beautiful fall morning when taking my dog for a walk, along with many other people and their pets out walking and taking in the ocean sounds, fresh air and sunshine.
Hope you have enjoyed seeing these few images. As the year comes to a close, I want to wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday Season plus a Healthy and Prosperous Year in 2025! And please remember,
“Simply slow down and be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life – music, painting, theater, dance and sunsets.” – Eric Carle
Terrific set Sylvia – that tree down is incredible, sorry I missed it! (But happy it missed us!) Happy holidays.
That is one huge tree!