As Viewed From The Couch: September 2010

The scenery and subject matter for photographers in the northwest and western United States is phenomenal! I recently spent 10 days visiting Yellowstone National Park and even though I have been there several times before, I never cease to be amazed at the physical beauty God has placed before us.

I managed to take about 3,500 exposures in those 10 days. I got some interesting animal shots with wolves, bear, elk, buffalo, eagles, crow and ravens -- each doing what they are supposed to do in the grand scheme of nature - each reminding me that the food chain is not linear, but a never ending cycle.

In the 10 days, I watched the fall colors race upon the scene with breath taking beauty as I learned an practiced new photographic techniques.

By Dawn's Early Light

The Madison River at dawn's first light. For some reason (big smile) the Park is very quiet at this time of day.

A spider web near one of the thermals. Frost had gathered overnight and now with the first light of day the frost turned into thousands of small strands of pearls.

Stream near Old Faithful.

Lake Hebgen near the town of West Yellowstone.

Lake Hebgen and an approaching storm.

Beautiful thermals.

Geysers across the valley in the crisp early morning temperature.

What a great way to spend an early morning.

An area known as Virginia Cascades. The fall colors are highlighted in the early morning first light.

Beautiful meadow stream near Virginia Cascades.

When it comes to aviation, I will always be a 12 year old kid. I enjoy piloting an aircraft as well as being a spectator at an airshow. The weather was rather "ify" on Saturday and Sunday didn't appear to be much better, but my son, granddaughter and I decided to make the trip from Rittman, Ohio to Burke Lakefront Airport in downtown Cleveland for the Sunday edition of the Cleveland National Airshow. As we neared the lakefront airport the clouds began to break and we ended up enjoying a sun-filled day at the airshow. The headline performers were the Blue Angels an always thrilling spectacle.

A Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all naval aviators. The Blue Angels’ C-130, affectionately known as Fat Albert, begins each demonstration by exhibiting its maximum performance capabilities during a ten-minute performance. Shortly thereafter, you will see the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-jet Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two Solo pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation.

The team is stationed at Forrest Sherman Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, during the show season. However, the squadron spends January through March training pilots and new team members at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California.

A member of the United States Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights, presents the colors from on high.

In 1959 13 men joined together to form the Strategic Army Corps Sport Parachute Team, to compete in the then communist dominated sport of skydiving. The team performed so well that on June 1, 1961 the Army officially recognized, designated and activated the team as the U.S. Army Parachute Team.

For 50 years the “Golden Knights” have been wowing audiences at air shows, competitions and most recently, with high profile tandems.

The two demonstration teams travel all over the country performing aerial demonstrations at air shows and special events in support of Army recruiting goals.

The two competition teams travel, competing nationally and internationally at various skydiving competitions, continuously bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals. They are the most successful U.S. Department of Defense sports team.

The Golden Knights not only perform at air shows, compete on an international level and perform high profile tandems they also visit high schools and work with local recruiters showing young adults what type of opportunities the Army has for them.

Providing a singular blend of low-level precision formation and solo aerobatics with fascinating transitions, Red Eagle Air Sports is nationally known for its eye-popping, spectacular performances. Prepare to witness inverted flat spins, inside and outside loops, multiple snap rolls, tail slides, torque rolls, plus our signature maneuvers: the Torqued Eagle, Topcoat This, the Squirrel Cage, The Centrifuge, The Farvel Loop and the Tuck-Under Break.
Flying the Red Eagle and one-of-a-kind Talon Eagle, Buck Roetman and Dan McClung demonstrate the awesome power of these highly-modified aerobatic aircraft.

Red Eagles Air Sports - Two-Ship Aerobatic Team.