Blood Moon SEP 2025

 Some Before and  After Images

It all started with climbing upstairs to the roof, hauling camera gear around six PM.

A few minutes before 7 PM, the moon appeared.

It's been a while since the last time we've seen a full moon on this island.

Clouds or rain have kept the moon hidden over the past few months.

This time, a power line ran across the bottom of my photo.

Cropping it out was easier than Photoshopping. So, that's what I did!

Blood Moon Peaks at 2:09 PM

Not so sure about what most 70-something folks are doing at that hour. I sleep!

Here's a shot taken with a 100mm lens from the back door of my house.

Time: 0348

Parting Shot

At 6 AM, the moon was setting over Ishikawa when I took this photo.

From the bypass on HWY 329, the dog pulled me uphill so I could nap at home.

End of Full Moon story.

JUN 2024 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 It's Been Awhile

The Moon hasn't appeared in my viewfinder since March of this year.

And, it tricked me by showing up way farther south than I had expected.

A few quick adjustments and, by 7:30 PM a final shot was made and, I got off the roof.

June 21st happens to be the first day of Summer.

So, I decided air-conditioning was where I needed to be!

The MAR 2024 Full Moon and A Health Update

 The First Full Moon Over Okinawa This Year

Well, let's just call it the first one visible to us down here.

Two nights in a row, I climbed the stairs of my house and took photos of the moon.

This one shows what the moon looked like at 100%.

It was only 99.3% full the night before.

So, what's the Health Thing All About?

From March 2d until March 13th I was a resident of Nakagami Hospital.

Somehow a pneumonia virus sneaked into my body and made breathing difficult.

They had me hooked to an oxygen machine and heart monitor.

Drugs, I don't even know the names of were pumped into my veins.

Cute nurses that looked boinkable watched over me.

The doctors and medical professionals all took good care of me.

They say it's best to take it easy for a while so, that's what we've been doing.

Getting lots of rest and climbing the stairs a few times a month, to see if the moon appears!

DEC 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 

Maybe Weather Will Be Better Tomorrow

Cool and cloudy outside tonight this was the clearest shot I could get.

No promises but, tomorrow a better image might be obtained.

Enjoy the Holidays!

November's Full Moon Took Some Patience

A Few Hours Ahead of Time

 The tripod and gimbal were hauled upstairs and positioned on the roof.

Due to some recent surgery, no heavy weight-lifting is allowed.

So, I put the 560 MM lens in a backpack and pretended it wasn't heavy.

Clouds Have A Way Of Ruining Photos

Every month I attempt some Full Moon Photography but, the weather doesn't always cooperate.

A quote stolen from Forbes via screenshot came to mind so, I hung around and waited.

The time between the first and second moon photo: One minute!

OCT 2023 Full Moon

 Shining Over Okinawa

This was shortly after 6 PM and the moon was only 99.6% full. That's close enough for me!

AUG 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawa

Called A Blue Moon

Better late than not at all, here's how it appeared from the roof of my house. 

Some Wi-Fi problems (typhoon-related) kept me from posting earlier.

Does it look like a Blue Moon to you?

JUL 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawwa

 

It Was Tricky

Climbing the stairs to my rooftop an hour before sunset gives me time to prepare.

The tripod is set up, the lens gets cleaned and some basic adjustments are made.

While I was setting things up it started to rain.  It was just a sprinkle and wouldn't last long.

The rain eventually quit but, threatening black clouds kept appearing.

The moon could be seen from my location shortly before 8PM.   But, it was windy.

Clouds would roll in and out, making it impossible to capture a clear shot of the moon.

Out of three dozen shots, only three full moon images will remain in my files.

This was my favorite one.

Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

March 2023 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 It's Been A While

Finally a decent image of the Full Moon in Okinawa.

Amen

Horrible Blood Moon November 2022

 Wind and Clouds with Camera Shake

Normally I wouldn't post terrible photography like this or, even process the images.

But, I got thinking. "Why not show the world how it really gets sometimes?"

The clouds blocked out the moon many times and the wind was blowing, shaking my camera.

This is how the moon looks sometimes after 10 too many beers.

About a dozen times I tried (unsuccessfully) to get a nice sharp image.

It Never Happened

The photo I would have liked to publish never got taken.

But, I was out there and got to witness the Full Blood Moon of November 2022.

Some photo editing was done to attempt to clear the blurred image.

But, shaky hands don't do the best job of patching things up.

If you all don't mind now, I'll go back to bed.

August Full Moon Over Okinawa

 Last Night of Obon

For those unfamiliar with local customs, Okinawa, Japan has a three-day holiday called Obon.

It is believed that the spirits of the deceased visit their family during this time.

The light of the full moon guides them back to the heavens.

 The weather had us worried because clouds and rain periodically ruined the view.

At 10 minutes past 8 PM the shutter was snapped on the scene.

July 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa, Japan

 It Peeked Through Clouds at 7:47 PM

For the past few months, Full Moon Photography was practically impossible.

Last night, just a few minutes were spent on the roof, capturing this shot.

Can you see the Rabbit?

The April 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 It Wasn't Easy

Living on an island the weather can be tricky.  Knowing this, I make plans for moon shots.

Like, climbing onto the roof of my house hours ahead of moonrise.

The camera and tripod are pointed  East in the general direction of the anticipated full moon.

The moon was supposed to rise shortly after 5:30 but, I knew it may take an hour to be visible.

There were thick clouds on the horizon. It would be nice to catch moonrise over the ocean.

But, I knew it would be a waste of time, walking down to sea level.  My roof would be better.

Standing on the roof, I kept looking off to the east for some gold-colored light in the sky.

It seemed as if the moon would never make an appearance. 

Eat lots of coffee candies, talk to the dog, zip up the jacket, stare off into the sky.

It must have been in the low 60's Farenheight. When it's windy that's freezing in Okinawa.

At 7:34 PM for a few seconds, the moon shined through the clouds.

A quick snap of the camera shutter and it was gone again. Miserable night!

Everything was tightened securely and, I covered the camera lens.

Downstairs, I told the wife the camera could stay on the roof overnight. 

There wouldn't be any decent full moon photos today. GROAN

About an Hour Later

Downstairs I played some Solitaire on the computer and checked email and SNS sites.

YAWN, when it's dark outside the sleep monster crawls up on my shoulders.

First, I went to the kitchen and looked outside to see if any moon had shown up.

Hallelujah!

There it was, a big bright moon with hardly any clouds around it!

Quickly, I prepared one photo for posting on Instagram and Facebook then hurried off to bed.

One good photo of the moon with the Rabbit facing upwards was all I needed.

Y'all know, I don't believe in the Easter Bunny. But, just in case.....

The Full Moon Finally Showed Its Face

 Last Night's Lunacy

Capturing my first Full Moon images for the year 2022 was a bit of a challenge.

Knowing the moon would be at 100% on Friday night, I prepared early.

Standing on the roof of my house, the tripod and camera were ready an hour before moonrise.

It was cloudy and windy. Black clouds moved quickly across the sky.

Here's a Favorite Image

Close to 100 times the shutter button was pushed and held for 3 shot series.

Normally, I would use the camera timer but, tonight there wouldn't be any use.

Clouds would blow across the moon's surface and block the light.

Half of the images taken were thrown away, I only saved some of the cloudy ones for you.

Google Photos Helped Create This Animation

There are three days each month, where full moon photography may be worthwhile.

So far, this year the weather and my physical condition, haven't been cooperative.

Last night was a blessing and, I'll leave moon-chasing to someone else for tonight.

Let's hope this end-of-winter-moon brings us a warm spring.

And an improved world situation, as well!

Last Full Moon of the Year 2021

 When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie

 Fairly busy with end-of-the-month and year chores, This will be a short blog.

This photo was taken at 6:29 PM from the roof of my house tonight DEC 19, 2021.

Tomorrow morning there won't be time in my schedule for shooting the moon setting.

This rising moon reminded me of an old tune, I had to do a search to find for you.

PLEASE ENJOY!

This Dean Martin Video

OCT 2021 Full Moon Appeared Over Okinawa

 Breaking News

It didn't peek through the clouds on schedule. The full moon was supposed to happen last night.

However, the big orange ball appeared in the sky briefly, at 7:01 PM.

Standing on the roof of my house, I got a quick shot before clouds covered it again. Amen.

May 2021 Supermoon Over Okinawa

 Cloudy Skies Didn't Stop the Moon from Showing

They just made it a bit challenging for photographers and moon viewers.

Here are 4 photos depicting this month's Full Moon, an eclipse, and the Supermoon setting.

It was 8:39 PM on May 26th when this eclipse photo was taken.

It would be 9:59 PM before an almost cloudless image of the moon could be captured.

At 4:56 AM on May 27th the moon shined brightly setting over Kin Bay.

At 5:29 AM a parting shot was taken of the moon before it disappeared again.

Supermoon APR 2021 Over Okinawa

 Some Call It a Pink Moon

It wasn't exactly pink but, we're glad it made an appearance.

To catch the moon rising over the ocean, we spent a few hours on the east coast of the island.

Heavy clouds interfered with that plan but gave the rising moon some decorative colors.

It was 7:22 PM when this scene was captured.

More dense weather rolled in and the decision was made to leave the wind and beach behind.

Back Home the Moon Made Another Appearance

On the roof of my house, this scene was composed at 8:54 PM.

Too tired to process the day's photos, this old man went to bed.

The plan was to wake up early and hike to somewhere the moon could be seen setting.

The Morning After

By the time I reached the destination where the moon could be captured setting I groaned.

A thick wall of clouds, off to the west, made it impossible to see the setting moon.

All of a sudden I looked towards the Kin powerplant and there it was.

No longer a Full Moon but, a smokestack covered the part that was missing!

End of story.

FEB 2021 Full Moon Setting in Okinawa, Japan

 

 Foul weather hid the full moon as it rose on the evening of February 27th so, I didn't shoot it.

This morning at 0632 here's what I saw as I was leaving my driveway for a morning walk.

The moon appeared gold-colored as it was setting off in the west.

Rather than rotate it, to show the Moon Rabbit, sitting upright, I left the image natural.

Can you handle an upsidedown rabbit?

New Year 2021 Moon Over Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

We Missed the December Full Moon

 The last full moon photographed over this island was on Halloween night, October 31, 2020.

Clouds and rain have kept the full moons hidden for the past few months.

Maybe, this is a sign, things will be better this year. Coronavirus get under control.

And for heaven's sake, USA quit arguing about who's president.

One guy came in first and the other can say he came in a close second!

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 560 MM with 1.4 Converter Focal Length 784 MM

Exposure:  f/16  1/125  ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 1, 2021  6:34 AM