Waxing crescent moon over neighbor’s barn

Last Saturday evening I looked out my office window and saw the crescent moon in the southwestern sky.  I gathered the camera and tripod, slipped into a light jacket, donned a cap and slipped out the back door.  As I searched for the best angle to capture an image of the scene.  I heard a loud noise coming from the southeast.  The familiar noise was growing louder.  It was a flock of geese, but it had to be a large flock.  Indeed it was.  Despite the darkness, I tried to shoot a photo of them.  Trees and buildings would add to the level of difficulty.  However, like the old saw says, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Geese flying by

Later, when I found the results less than thrilling.  I brought the black level up with my graphic program.  You can see how that worked above.  The geese had been barely visible with the eye.  After processing, I could see that there was something going by.

That blue was not enhanced.  All I did was to lighten the dark areas.

Looking over my house at west-bound geese

I turned and captured another image of the geese.  This time I had to shoot over the roof of the house.  I could only fit a very small portion of the flock in the viewfinder.

As the huge flock was leaving I could hear another flock headed my way from the south.  This time, instead of flying east and north of me across the darkest skies, the second group flew south and west of me.  Much easier to photograph!

The second flock flies through brighter skies

 Soon, the geese were gone and stillness returned.  My mind eventually remembered my original purpose.

The crescent moon chases the sunset over a silent landscape

I took my final shot and then watched and listened for a while before returning to the house to see what the camera held for me.  I entered the house feeling very good.  Satisfied with what I had experienced.