A full Moon, Super Moon, Harvest Moon, Corn Moon, and a few other titles I am leaving off as I have never heard of them before. These were all titles that the full moon of September 17, 2024 deserved.

Full Harvest MoonSeptember 17, 2024

Full Harvest Moon, Super Moon, Corn Moon, September 17, 2024

And just in case that list of titles was not enough the full moon was also promptly followed by a partial lunar eclipse. At 8% it was not as striking and if one did not know about the event it was easy to miss it. But it was also easy to see with bare eyes knowing about it.

Partial Lunar EclipseSeptember 17, 2024

Partial Lunar Eclipse, September 17, 2024

On the technical side, these photos have been captured with a Nikon D610 and the Nikon AF VR ED Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5 - f/5.6D lens fully extended to 400mm and mounted on the Kenko 1.4x Teleplus Pro 300 teleconverter for a total reach of 560mm. I have used wired cable release to allow everything to settle down after obtaining auto-focus. I also used the mirror lock-up feature and allowed for 5 - 10 seconds between lifting the mirror and firing the shutter. Oh, and did I mention the lens was attached to a tripod using its tripod collar?

While full moons are impressive to photograph and lunar eclipses are too, I believe the other moon phases where the moon is not fully front-lit actually result in better defined photos of the moon. As usual, shadows help add depth. I'll try to follow up this post soon with a comparison to a Waning Gibbous or Third Quarter Moon.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Full Blue MoonKnox Farm Blue MoonBuffalo, NY Full MoonBuffalo, New York

Nikon FE2 This was a very fun photo series I did back in the spring. During one of my visits to the local Hamburg Beach there was a lot of drift wood pushed up the beach after the fall and winter seasons and some of it was rather picturesque. It happens every year and is the result of the beach being in the southeast corner of Lake Erie.

I returned back within just a few days but to my surprise, I found the beach almost empty, all debris cleared. The crews must have been very busy. As so many times, it confirmed that if there is a picture to be taken, it should be done right away. Returning back to improve or revisit is always an option but one has to start somewhere. And if it is a unique situation that catches one's eye, no time should be wasted. Clearly, a beach can be cleaned, trees can disappear, old barns can collapse, and my most recent experience showed that a whole house can disappear without a trace (other than the empty lot).

Broken Staff2024 Driftwood Series

Broken Staff, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Not all was lost though, there were still a few pieces of driftwood either freshly washed up or able to escape their removal. It was a different approach to the planned Drift Wood series but I liked the challenge of searching for subject matter. After all, what's there to complain about walking around a beach and watching waves crashing in? Yes, it was after some weather moved through and the lake was rather talkative.

Driftwood Pattern2024 Driftwood Series

Driftwood Pattern, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Each piece of wood was different. Some caught my eye by their shape, some by their texture, some by the place they were at and interacted with their surroundings, some a combination. The driftwood above had a great texture and contrasted the rocks it parked on.

Drums2024 Driftwood Series

Drums, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Even from a distance the two logs above reminded me of drums. You don't see it? Well, I did and quite convincingly. Maybe it had something to do with me hanging around a marching band, maybe it was just wild imagination, but I had no doubts. I photographed the two a few times from different angles and in the end struggled picking just one. As you can see, the sun cooperated quite well of a beach scene helping with illumination, contrast, and even providing some shadows.

Drum & Stick2024 Driftwood Series

Drum & Stick, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

And look, another drum and this one even with a stick. Maybe it was a hint and I should have drummed a beat of a favorite song. Instead, I performed my little photo dance looking for the best perspective.

Above the Beach2024 Driftwood Series

Above the Beach, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Just about midway through my wondering about I looked away from the lake towards the cliff above the beach and could not skip taking that photo. The silhouetted trees against the morning sun were a perfect distraction from being overly focused on my subject matter.

Grass2024 Driftwood Series

Grass, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

It was definitely not just driftwood thad caught my attention but I felt there was no problem leaving the series a bit lose and intertwining driftwood, rocks, trees, grass, and whatever else I found on or around the beach. That's what the morning experience was and that's how I captured it.

But look, we are back to driftwood in the next two photographs.

Wood & Rocks2024 Driftwood Series

Wood & Rocks, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Shapes of Wood2024 Driftwood Series

Shapes of Wood, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Another diversion coming up. The cliffs disappearing in the waters of Lake Erie have been the subject of many of my photographs over the years but it's hard to resist and it's even harder to find a reason to resist. Why? Watching the water clash with the rock over and over seems to have therapeutic properties. It's so calming and it is also fun to try to time the moment right. How to best tell the story of the water and the cliff?

Where the Cliffs DIsappear in Water2024 Driftwood Series

Where the Cliffs Disappear in Water, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

I had photographed the Watersports shed before too but on this morning, rather than isolating the building with the lake in the background, I took advantage of the pickup truck parked by and went for a combo.

Water Sports2024 Driftwood Series

Water Sports, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

Roots2024 Driftwood Series

Roots, 2024 Driftwood Series, Hamburg Beach, New York
Photographed with a 35mm Nikon FE2 camera on Agent Shadow 400 Black & White Negative Film

And as you can see, I closed off the experience and the series true to the theme back with a rather large piece of driftwood. I really liked the intricate pattern of its root bulb. And now looking at it finishing this blog post it became clear to me that this photo will need an alternative presentation too. How do you think it will look as a cyanotype? There's only one way to find out for sure.

Thank you very much for stopping by and spending a few minutes with my photography.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. And for more black and white photography hop over to the World without Color photo collection.

Street Flower Market, TorontoToronto, Canada Juicery @ The HatchBuffalo, New York Bridge between Canalside and Naval ParkBuffalo, New York

This was a gorgeous walk along the coast. Picturesque views in all directions and at all times and no people because it did require walking :-) I started at the Shipwreck Beach and the trail quickly took me up on the cliffs rising above the Pacific.

Sand and Lava of Shipwreck BeachKauai, Hawaii

Sand and Lava of Shipwreck Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Part of the appeal of this hike is that it feels remote despite being very close to civilization. Finding undeveloped stretches along the Pacific Coast is not easy. Based on Internet information, Malama Mahaulepu is trying to keep this stretch of land undeveloped and I hope they succeed. If you are also a fan of this beautiful coastline, the organization takes donations to keep their efforts going.

Waves Spilling on Shipwreck BeachKauai, Hawaii

Waves Spilling on Shipwreck Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

The ocean views of this wild section of the coast were absolutely breathtaking. If places lose their original character to resorts and other development, will there really be a reason to travel to such resorts? Maybe to some, but for me the value of travel is to see the true character of the places I visit. And having an opportunity to experience this short section without the nearby civilization in my face was great. And look, it was even possible to take a natural landscape photograph without humanity being all over.

Rugged Mahaulepu Shore TrailKauai, Hawaii

Rugged Mahaulepu Shore Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

I wish I knew more about the secret behind these stone circles but I don't. I tried the all-knowing Internet and found nothing. If you are reading this post and know, I would very much appreciate if you'd leave a comment.

Mystery of Mahaulepu Shore TrailKauai, Hawaii

Mystery of Mahaulepu Shore Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

It would not be too bad to be there right now. What are your places you dream of?

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Hawaii: The Beginning - Seaside Pinhole Photography - Tropical Clichés - Windy Drama of a Tropical Morning - Quite an Ad - Searching for Sun and Warmth - Not Your Sunrise Cliché - So Peaceful - Some Morning Drama - Farmland in the Canyon - Further up Waimea Canyon - At the Edge of Kalalau Valley - Tropical Sunrise - Tropical Sunset - The Photo at Your Back - Hawaiian Mix - A Beautiful Morning Faraway - Mahaulepu Heritage Trail

Shipwreck Beach SunriseKauai, Hawaii Makawehi WavesKauai, Hawaii Gulf Shores Beach SunsetGulf Shores, Alabama

Pololu Valley BeachThe Big Island, Hawaii Poipu Beach Going to SleepKauai, Hawaii