Traditional Iconoclast

. . . a photo-op.

Well, for me at least, it’s often an op; it’s not always a photo.

Such was the case with the partial lunar eclipse about 10 days ago, which was barely a viewing op. Remarkably for Ottawa during any celestial event, the skies were actually clear. The moon? Clear. The eclipse? Less clear.

With decent binoculars and at full partial eclipse (if you see what I mean) and with a bit of squinting, there was . . . a dark smudge atop said moon. Neither of my cameras–nay, neither phone camera on the Night setting nor non-phone camera fitted with a long lens and an extended shutter time–I say again, neither camera was any use to me in capturing said smudge. Neither was any good at even capturing the moon. As you see. I maybe said a few things.

But it was a lovely evening on the front porch, as well as a reminder that many things in life require something beyond in-the-moment participation. In this respect, photographing the heavens is just like baseball: You don’t get in shape for it by playing it.