Minotaur 2nd Stage Fires

Photo of Vandenberg AFB's rocket launch of a Minotaur on September 22 at 19:24 PDT. The vehicle will place DARPA's Streak satellite into orbit. Supposedly visible as far away as Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico, but definitely visible and impressive from our deck in Poway, CA. This was a bulb exposure -- I held the shutter open for only about 7 seconds though. You can clearly see the break between the first and second stages.

This contrail remained only for a few minutes after the launch, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

Lightning

Last night we had a good old fashioned lightning storm here. It was probably one of the best I've seen here in So. Cal., but still doesn't rival a Nebraska thunderstorm. Still, I got some pretty nice shots. I'll post them later. I didn't even turn on our computers last night for fear of a power surge due to the storm.

I wasn't feeling well at all yesterday and left work early. I went home and straight to bed. After 4+ hours of "napping" I got up, watched a little TV and ate some dinner. All evening it had been doing a show, but for some reason I hadn't thought about taking the camera out for a show. I guess maybe because I wasn't feeling well, the idea of standing outside in the rain to take pictures really didn't appeal to me.

At around 11:30 PM or so I was about to go back to bed when the bright flashes of light FINALLY caught my attention. I took the camera out on the deck for a few shots. It wasn't raining and the deck was only wet in spots, so I could easily stay on the dry parts -- a major desire since I was only wearing socks on my feet, no shoes.


I spent about an hour out there, pointing the camera where I thought a lightning strike might happen and shooting 30 second exposures at a time. I got some pretty good shots, I thought. I brought the camera in, and took out the notebook computer (battery powered -- no chance for surge) to see what I'd just shot. While looking at those pictures -- and there were some nice ones -- the storm really moved in. I couldn't give up now.


With camera & tripod in hand, I went back out on the deck -- this time the whole deck was wet, and of course, eventually so were my socks. The rain had already stopped -- or was just stopping. I started out by hanging around under the eves -- on the dry part of the deck, but eventually wandered out for the better shots. Now here was a show worthy of getting my socks wet. I managed to point the camera in the right direction on multiple occasions.


It seems that everytime I gave up on a spot and move the camera, it would get a great strike where I HAD been pointing. I decided to employ a 5 exposure rule -- I would shoot 5 30 second exposures at the same location. If it gave me nothing in 5 shots, I'd either choose a new location to point at, or give up. I never got to the end this way. The storm was still going on when I finally gave up at 2:00 AM and went back in side. Of course, as I looked at this recent set of photos on the notebook, the storm once again moved in closer and the light coming in the dining room windows was almost blinding at times -- but I resisted a 3rd trip outside. I do believe I got one of the best lightning shots I've ever taken during that second pass, so it certainly was worth it, but I did need some sleep. After all, I was sick, man.

Padres Snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat

The Padres were getting kicked by the Nationals, all the way through the top of the ninth, and with a score of 5 to 0, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, it looked like it was going to be time to leave soon, with a total loss. Not so. Padres got a hit, and another, and another, to get the first run. Then a walk loaded the bases for Khalil Greene, who hit a grand slam to tie it up. The game went scoreless until the 12th inning, with two out -- and who got a hit? Why, Khalil Greene again. His single started the rally. X Nady got a hit to put two on and then Ramon Hernandez got a home run, giving the Pads a victory of 8 to 5. What a game.

I feel sorry for all those folks who left early, thinking the Pads had lost another game. Well, maybe not that sorry. I've learned over the years, it ain't over until the last out. Games can turn on a single swing of a bat. I'm glad I stayed until the very end. Maybe a few others learned that lesson the hard way tonight.