When the news of the August eclipse started going around last year, our daughter suggested that we should all meet in Wyoming to view it. Mark didn't want to go, but I was curious and thought it might be a special treat. So, I planned a trip with Kate - to meet in Salt Lake City and drive together the six or so hours to Dubois, Wyoming, a laid-back  town of less than 1,000 people.

As you might imagine, there was a pretty good crowd in Dubois for the occasion. We scouted locations from which to view the eclipse and found a perfect one at the Scenic Overlook in the middle of town. There were quite a few people there, but no one got in anyone's way and it really wasn't crowded given the nature of this event.

We arrived there about 9:30 am, as I wanted to set up and make sure all my cameras were working. I took my Canon 6D with its 300mm lens, Canon G3X [which has a 600 mm  lens and which took the best shots], and my iPhone 7+. I decided to put my 6D on my tripod and use the G3X as a handheld, every now and then using my iPhone.

To do this without damaging the cameras, I purchased a Mylar sheet 10" x 10" which I cut into pieces to cover the lenses of the cameras. I used rubber bands to attach the sheet to the two large cameras and the iPhone. I did have a set of glasses obtained through the eclipse2017.org site.  Frankly, the Mylar worked great for its purpose with the two larger cameras, but not so much with the iPhone.

As we waited, I took a number of pictures of the sun in its full glory, prior to the moon chomping through it. Then, a little after 10 o'clock, the moon started to cross the sun. It seemed to take a long time. But as the moon moved, the sky in the surrounding area got darker and darker and the temperature became cooler and cooler and then finally Totality occurred.

I made sure to get some pictures of the Totality and got a number of them with the full corona using the G3X camera. They're not fancy shots but I'm happy with them. While the moon was covering the sun, for approximately 2 minutes and 34 seconds, it was amazing how cold it got (must've been 10 to 15° below what it had been) and dark.  I looked behind me and took a picture of the far west horizon which seemed to show a sunset. That was rather odd, having the sun at almost noon in the sky and yet a sunset at the west horizon.

I'm glad I went, it was a unique experience and it was a lot of fun seeing family and friends there. I am going to collect some of these photos and post them. There are quite a few wonderful pictures by NASA, National Geographic, and many regular people who are much better photographers in these occasions. But I feel privileged to have taken some special shots.

I have posted a selection of some images on my gallery site.  I learned it's best to have a telephoto lens long enough [400mm or over] but even with other lenses you can get some good shots.  The gallery for the Eclipse images is:  http://gallery.journeyzing.com/Galleries/Newer-Work/Eclipse-2017-in-Dubois-Wyoming/

[pricing is special,  for family & friends].

At Artisan Gallery 218 in Valley Junction, on Tuesday night the 26th, I'll be offering a class entitled 'Creating Enticing Photographs' with libations and munchies. [2 hours for $30]  The idea is not to teach how to use a camera as a technical matter, but how to find images where you are taking pictures or images from those  you have taken.  It will be more of a discussion, demonstration format.  Full details are under "Classes" at the gallery's website, www.ArtisanGallery218.com.

Three classes at AG218 for every interest and age group - Drawing classes for 6-9 yr olds starting 1/16; Maskmaking and Felting on Jan. 19th pm and Photography - making your photos enticing, Jan. 26th pm. Details at www.ArtisanGallery218.com

Artisan Gallery 218 has opened.  AG218 has art for all sorts of interests, tastes and budgets.  Artists displaying include a sculptor [Hilde DeBruyne], painter [Mary Kline-Misol], jeweler [Louise Mcilhon], fiber artist [Julie McCullough], vintage repurposer [Annie Temple] and myself as the photographer.  

We are open Tuesdays-Fridays, 11am-6pm, Saturdays 10a-5p, and Sundays 12n-4p [holiday hours] and look forward to seeing you there.  It's located at 218-5th Street, West Des Moines, IA. and has a Facebook page and a website address as well, Artisan Gallery 218.

For this holiday season, there are all sorts of original, locally made, gift ideas and a gift certificate would also be welcomed, no doubt.  And for this coming Small Business Saturday weekend, come in and get 10% off selected items.

 

 

Is having a show this  next few months,  Greater Des Moines Exhibited 21 - information at 

Polk County Heritage Gallery   [Reception is this Sunday at 1-3pm]

after which, I'll be having my own show there:

Adventure Awaits - Traveling through the Camera of Victoria Herring - February 16 through April 2, 2015.  See preview of photos at  http://gallery.journeyzing.com/.  Reception TBA.  

I'll update as we firm up details, but this is going to be fun - when I was married almost 30 years ago we held our wedding reception in the gallery space in this lovely building.  Lots of positive memories.

In September, we went to Wales, starting with Cardiff then going to mid-Wales for genealogy research then over the Aberyswyth, then north around Snowdonia and onto the Isle of Anglesey.  So far I have only been able to put images from Cardiff and the area near Dolwyddelan Castle on Flickr.  But, I'll be at Alexander's Photography in Historic Valley Junction from 5pm-9pm on Friday, October 10th for Historic Valley Junction's Gallery Night.  I hope to have pictures from Wales to display, as well as other locales.

 

I will be attending the Reception tomorrow evening:  I'm one of 6 artists whose works [photographic art] will be on display at the Deer Path Art League Gallery in Lake Forest, Illinois.  The reception for the show is on Friday, June 8th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and the show will continue through to July 27th. 

Among the images I will have at the show will be Two Monks, Pouring Tea, Still Life in Bhutan and Through a Rome Doorway, winners of various awards, among others.

 

 

I enjoyed taking an hour or so last night at Wesley Acres doing a presentation on my fine art photography, explaining how I got into it and some of the processes involved.  About 12 of my images are on display in the entryway and as many are favorites of mine, it's fun to talk about where and why they were shot.

In April, some of my smaller [11" x 14" exterior] images and greeting cards will be available starting in April at

                TLC Vintage Collection, 7518 Hickman Road in Des Moines.

And of course, if people want other images or sizes or methods of printing, they are available at my gallery site for JourneyZing.

 Watercolor-style wine bottles and glasses, Paris, France, February 2011.

[Come see some 'old' and new images, booth 117 at the Metro Arts Expo, November 3, 4 & 5 at Capital Square in Des Moines]

  on a fall day.

[Come see some 'old' and new images, booth 117 at the Metro Arts Expo, November 3, 4 & 5 at Capital Square in Des Moines]

on a cool, dreary February day.

 

[Come see some 'old' and new images, booth 117 at the Metro Arts Expo, November 3, 4 & 5 at Capital Square in Des Moines]

I will be in booth 117 [main floor] with my art work at the Metro Arts Expo - further information can be found at MetroArtsExpo.org

 

 - from Paris, stairway to the 2nd floor of a bookstore

Download JourneyZingNewsletter_082411 - Here is the Fall Newsletter with updates on shows and a coupon towards purchases.

I have been accepted into a number of art fairs, but had to select among them as to which to attend.  The following summer juried [i.e., selective] Art Festivals are those where I'll be in attendance, and looking forward to good weather and a great time for all:

    Edina Art Fair 2011 [Edina, MN]  - June 3-5, 2011 [completed & had excellent weather!]

    Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival 2011 [Hinsdale, IL] - June 11-12, 2011 [had to cancel due to transportation issues;  too bad because I enjoy this show]

    Art Fest Midwest 2011 [Des Moines, IA] - June 25-26, 2011 [loads of fun inside and with air conditioning;  a fun show to do - in large part because of those who stop by]

    Highland Fest/Art Festival  [St. Paul, MN] - July 15-17, 2011

    Trails West [tentative] [St. Joseph, Mo.] - August 19-20, 2011

    Deer Path League's Art on the Square  [Lake Forest IL] - September 4-5, 2011