Andromeda Galaxy

/ Photo, Science

DSC_2164_final_andromeda

Here’s a photo Annie and I shot of the Andromeda Galaxy last night. I was using my dad’s old 135mm f3.5… and the humidity took away some contrast… But overall, it’s a step in the right direction.

Oh yeh, the image was stacked using 18 photos shot at around ISO 256,000. There was a ton of noise, but by aligning, stacking and doing a median filter, I was able to get a cleaner image. It’s bonkers what software can do now-a-days. A couple of clicks, and bada-bing, a noise-free image.

I kind of wish I had a newtonian telescope with a star tracker. Oh could you imagine how sweet some of these photos would turn out?? One day… one day. ^_^

Hopefully we’ll get another clear this evening—I’m looking forward to grabbing a couple more snaps.

Apple iPhone 7

/ Tech

Apple iphone7 jetblk airpod

Ah, the new iPhone 7. I’m really looking forward to the using the new dual camera. It’s going to be interesting to see how apps will creatively use these new features.

Yeh, I’ll probably get one, but I’ll wait until I’m up for a renewal in November.

As for the new wireless headphones, I’m actually relieved that they’re going in that direction. The damn cords with the old iPhones were just annoying. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, so it’s probably something that I’ll spring for as well.

Anyone else getting the 7? If so, what color?

Old Man Jack

/ Too Cute

DSC_9663

Can’t wait to see Jack this week. It’s kind of a bummer that he’s lost his hearing. It must be hard for the little guy, since he feeds off of other people’s energy. Now he spends most of his days napping.

I guess the good life—no worries, sleeping all day, and being loved. Being a corgi isn’t that bad after all.

Hiking at Mussel Rock

/ Cali, Me, Photo

DSC_9732

The California coastline is indescribable during a sunset. All the colors are surreal, almost a starting point for a painting by Dali.

DSC_9731

Part of the experience isn’t just the colors, but the sounds of the birds, the warmth of the sun, and the breeze from the ocean.

DSC_9736

Days like these make me regret selling my car. Most of the time I need to take an uber or public transportation to get to these kinds of views.

DSC_9745

Perhaps in the future, there will be room for some sort of vehicle.

DSC_9738

The amazing thing is that most of these views are within 20-30 minutes away from my current home.

DSC_9756

There are days where I’m so focused on work and being productive, it’s easy to forget why we’re here. It’s nice to take a moment, take a breath of fresh air, and simply enjoy the moment.

DSC_9751

There are all these techniques to reduce stress like meditation, listening to music, etc… but nothing brings me back to balance like watching our sun set into the horizon.

Hiking at Mori Point

/ Cali, Me, Photo

DSC_9864

I went hiking at Mori Point a few months ago. It’s a stunning park a couple miles south of Fort Funston (one of my favorite places near SF).

DSC_9868

When you first arrive, you’ll notice a wall of boulders lined up against the shoreline.

DSC_9876

There are views in every direction, including a nice bike path that takes you through a small marsh.

DSC_9896

However, there’s a less travelled path that takes you up the hill for an exquisite view.

DSC_9910

Some of the paths are gnarly… and in some cases, a misstep could cause you to tumble down to a very painful death. You can’t really see it in this photo, but there’s about a 100″ drop-off to the left of this path.

DSC_9904

And did I mention that the wild flowers were absolutely stunning.

DSC_9927

Here’s what the park looks like from the other end.

DSC_9934

That hill doesn’t look like much, but it’s pretty steep. I wanted to get a better view, so I went for a climb.

DSC_9939

At the top, there’s a spiral made of rocks. I’m not sure exactly what it means, but it’s pretty cool.

DSC_9935

From this view, you could also see about a dozen whales. It’s quite a spectacle.

DSC_9951

These steps definitely made it easier to get back down.

DSC_9954

DSC_9959

So this beat may look nice, but I heard that there used to be a sewage line that connected nearby. Pretty amazing hike. Highly recommended.

Annie Catches Two Croakers

/ Me

DSC_0017

Here are some more photos from July 4th. Annie caught two croakers on a line by using clams.

DSC_0024

Mom cooked up a storm, once again.

DSC_0013

And nothing’s complete without her dessert. This is her delicious cheese cake.

DSC_9986

Annie’s dad and sister looking at crabs off the dock.

DSC_0776

What an incredible weekend.

« Older Entries Newer Entries »