Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 and Pentax F-1.7x AFA

I always love taking photos related to the moon. I don't quite get the hang in getting the sharpest picture as I have been using teleconverter to get closer to the view of the moon. And any post processing in cropping adds to the degradation on image quality. The moon reminds me of a love story in Chinese about a legendary romantic story with a lovely couple who had flung to the moon and lived their romantic lives together. I don't remember exactly the story but part of it was sad leading their departures to the moon. My teenage years celebrated the mid-autumn festival with my Chinese family in Macau and it was a festival not to be missed. It was always filled with fragrance that my mom put fragrance powder in an alter honoring the story along with tasty food as in moon cakes and desserts. The mystic stories of the legendary couples adds to the joy of Mid Autumn Festival for Chinese.

I will suggest my readers to take a pause in the middle of the night and find the moon to appreciate its sheer beauty at night. Best to hold hands with your loved ones if they are there with you. It can become an enlightened moment only you and your other half can unfold the love story you both see in the moon.

All photos taken with Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 and
Pentax K20D

I woke up at 2:00am trying to shoot the falling stars with Perseid Meteor on August 12, 2009. I went for the wrong location where the city lights disrupted the beauty of the night sky and the meteor happened behind the mountains and trees lower in the horizon. Instead, I salvaged the moments on a couple of shots on the moon and a plane flying over.



Though the sky is not as dark as my encounter of the dark night in camping in Yosemite, I sat alone admiring the night sky while waiting for the camera ready to take the next contiguous shot of 30 second shutter shot. In between shots, I made the connection to the Almighty creator for the universe. I felt His awesome presence while appreciating His wonderful creations and I was in awe of its natural beauty at night. Though I have not made a successful attempt in getting a good picture with the falling stars in Perseid Meteor, I am renewed in spirit in the admiration of His countless stars in the sky sparkling in a great distance that show His wonderful creation and love of mankind.

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

³ There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

⁴ Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

⁵ which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.