My wife Julianna has treated me to several delightful, amazing adventures over the years; our week-long visit to the Big Island of Hawai'i in 2007 was certainly one of the sweetest.
During our stay (at a friend's rented house a bit outside of Hilo) the heavens put on a spectacular show by means of the finest lunar eclipse I've ever seen; the glowing reddish-copper coloration of the Moon gave it a breathtakingly three-dimensional aspect. Set against a jet-black night sky, freshly scrubbed crystal-clear by a gusty rainstorm, the event was riveting. I rousted my love from her bed at 2.00am to take in the celestial experience on the deck from which I'd been gazing, and she too was deeply moved by the beauty overhead.
I took the sunset photograph below on the very same day preceding the eclipse; nature was certainly in fine form, painting the sky so lusciously as a prelude to the sun's second act yet to come later in the evening. Here, however, an ocean liner is the companion to a bit of solar choreography -- Luna would get her turn in a few hours.
Appearing on the horizon as it does, the vessel reminds me of a childhood joke, the gist being that the history books we learned from were incorrect regarding Columbus' voyage to America: contrary to popular belief he sailed with seven ships . . . four of which fell off the edge . . .
Hilo Sunset Ship, #8227
© 2010 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.
(click image for larger version)
Details: August 28, 2007; Canon 20D ; f/9 @ 1/160 sec; ±0 EV; ISO 200; 55mm.
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Beautiful shot...
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