August 22, 2017
Total Eclipse Of My Heart
The total eclipse was without a doubt one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. I feel a conflict of emotions when describing just how awesome the experience was to folks who watched from outside the zone of totality. One one hand: I want them to know how cool it was to experience it in person. On the other hand: I don't want to make them feel sad for being so close to seeing a total eclipse and just barely missing out on the experience. It truly was a surreal, and magical and extraordinary experience that no photo or second hand account can explain.
I tagged along with some friends down to Eastover SC, and fortunately they were able to acquire some official eclipse viewing glasses. We also used a colander and a piece of cardboard with a pinhole to create a visualization of the eclipse.
Unless you're a professional photographer you just can't take a decent photo of the moon or sun, and especially when they are combined in a glorious ring of fire in the night sky. Leave that to the pros. I did take this kinda neat panoramic photo of the area where we were standing under the eclipse.
The Washington Post has a really great interactive map experience that allows you to use your scroll wheel to follow the path of the eclipse across the country. As as web designer/developer, and a map enthusiast, I have to say this takes the cake as one of the coolest web experiences I've ever had!
Labels: astronomy, maps, science, space
August 20, 2017
Eclipse Playlist
Tomorrow is the must awaited total solar eclipse that will pass close by over South Carolina. Sadly I am one of those who were duped by bogus eclipse glasses on Amazon, so I will be resorting to the old-fashioned pin-hole-in-a-thin-piece-of-cardboard-and-projecting-on-a-second-piece-of-cardboard-technique.
If you are planning to watch, please make absolutly sure you are using the proper eye projection!
Anyways, I figued such an important event deserved it's own special playlist, see below...
Labels: astronomy, science, space
August 16, 2017
Huffmans Out West
I've recently returned from a pretty epic trip out west seeing some of the amazing beauty in that part of the country. View the gallery.
This year instead of the typical family beach vacation, since my neice was getting married we decided to turn that trip into our vacation. My niece Hannah asked me to perform her wedding ceremony. It was the honor of a lifetime, and I was more than a little nervous about doing a good job. It turned out pretty wonderful, with the help of everyone. I would say it was the must fun and beautiful wedding that I've ever attended, and I think I did a pretty good job with the ceremony :)
The wedding was held at the AA Barn, which is on property that meets up against the Colorado River. It was a beautiful place to have a wedding, and the weather worked out perfectly.
I decided to make the most out of this trip and extend the vacation with a trip out west to see some of the awesome National Parks in our country. This was largely inspired by my trip last summer to San Francisco and experiencing the John Muir Woods National Monument.
My mom and dad were up for going with me on this journey. I tried to fit in as much as possible in the somewhat narrow window of time we had after the wedding. They did a great job hanging in there for this whirlwind National Parks experience.
We were already right next to Rocky Mountain National Park, so that's where our National Park trip began. From there we headed west on I-70 into Utah, heading for Bryce Canyon and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and then heading north on I-15 up to Yellowstone and the Tetons. It was pretty amazing.
All of the parks were amazing but if I had to pick a best one, then it would have to be Bryce Canyon. Bryce is gorgeous, and the lodge accommodations were really amazing, and perfectly situated next to the famous Bryce Amplitheater. Next time I'll definitely try to see less places and spend more time in one particular place, hiking and camping around.
Here's a gallery of some of the more interesting photos I was able to capture from the wedding and the trip to the parks.
And here's a map of our trip. I have to say, it was a pretty intense amount of driving. In a weeks time we drove over 2,000 miles. It was really impressive seeing the landscape transform as we journeyed from state to state.
I plan to pen a more detailed post about my impression of the parks later. I really can't wait to get back out there and see some more of what the parks system has to offer; they truly are some of our most precious gifts.
Labels: national parks, Photos, travel, vacation
Spring 2017 Photos
Here's some photos from the first part of this year.
Highlights include: Dana's 50th birthday, Jeff visits, Mom and Dad visit for Easter, Dad visits for father's day, Baseball game in Baltimore with Dad and the Sanders family, visiting the air and space extension.
Labels: baseball, Photos, travel