· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Sketching Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 rolandlinda3 Post Laureate Reged: 01/24/06 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Two Absent Heroes       #3254662 - 08/04/09 10:50 PM Attachment (51 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sometimes the largest factors in an observation are absent from the scene. This was the case on the last day of July 2009 about four mountain ridges west of piedmont Virginia in the little town of Monterey. A front passage had just occurred, but it was a weak front that did not contain enough pressure gradient to produce winds that could scour the terrain of moist air. Hence, the cloud cover broke but did not completely dissipate. Although the sun had set behind mountain ridges further west, its effects still dominated the broken clouds by turning their highest points into a yellow orange that framed the moon as they raced eastward. And, there was enough sunlight to still clearly see the mountain colors along Jack Mountain. It was a pretty scene, and made possible by the first absent hero: the sun. The first sketch is the record of the scene at 8:15 local time and includes the appropriate Psalm 19 reference regarding the sun. Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Post Laureate Reged: 01/24/06 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: rolandlinda3]       #3254670 - 08/04/09 10:52 PM Attachment (45 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   By 8:42 (second sketch, left view) the fading sunlight had deepened the sky color a little bit but the passing clouds were still showing the orange yellow and formed a semi-transparent filter over the moonscape. Even the little 8x25 binocular was a sufficient instrument to capture the observation. At 8:52 (second sketch, right view) the sky had turned grey-blue so the clouds formed a ghostly mask over the moonscape. The second hero, who seems absent but is not, is the Designer Himself. The heavens certainly declare the glory of God and their language is universal. However, this little series of observations combines heaven things with earth things by showing just a tiny bit of the exquisite balance of sunlight, sunlight reflected off the moon, sunlight reflected and refracted through a moist cloud-studded atmosphere, and the effects of earth’s rotation in the midst of a scant hour of changes as the sunlight recedes. Neither the process nor the scenes I sketched are unique; they can be commonly observed. Nevertheless, the precision and balance of light and elements from a thin life-filled observing platform (earth’s surface) speak volumes. Hence, the second reference from Psalm 19 at the bottom of the sketch. It was a good evening to give thanks. Post Extras:       kraterkid Post Laureate Reged: 03/07/05 Loc: Jacumba, California Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: rolandlinda3]       #3254903 - 08/05/09 01:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Beautiful Roland! Post Extras:       frank5817 Postmaster Reged: 06/13/06 Loc: Illinois Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: kraterkid]       #3255026 - 08/05/09 04:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, These are wonderful,colorful lunar sketches with great atmospherics. Frank Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: rolandlinda3]       #3256091 - 08/05/09 04:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, These binocular moons are very beautiful. Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Post Laureate Reged: 01/24/06 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: rodelaet]       #3256547 - 08/05/09 08:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you. Would love an evening one day where we just see one these, happen to pull out our pads, and enjoy the changes as we sketch. Roland Post Extras:       Kris. Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/16/04 Loc: Belgium Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: rolandlinda3]       #3257446 - 08/06/09 11:05 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, i always enjoy your color pencil drawings, those clouds look really nice! Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Post Laureate Reged: 01/24/06 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Two Absent Heroes [Re: Kris.]       #3258049 - 08/06/09 05:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Kris. Wish I was that handy with pencils but it's actually pastels. It was a fine evening to sketch even though most observers would probably have not tried it. Sure enough, a little later it was completely clouded over. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 1 registered and 6 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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