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lvachon.bsky.social
LVachon
@lvachon.bsky.social
280 followers 170 following 91 posts
I might post some pictures I take here
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lvachon.bsky.social
I took a #hike and shot some #photos in the #woods of #Vermont
The morning winter's light filters through the bare trees and tall pines. A pine needle and leaf covered trail ascends the hill in front of us. The trail is cut into steep terrain, the land rises to the left and falls to the right. An abandoned, flooded, mountain quarry in the woods of Vermont. A partly cloudy sky shines down on the water and hills below. Two bare trees frame the photo, while sunlit pines make up the horizon.
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
As our final #adventure my brother and I visited the town of Hytop, AL in search a nice dark #sky for #stargazing. Unfortunately local light pollution limited visual observation, but we were still able to get some good #photos of our two closest #Galaxies.
A widefield photograph of the skies around the Andromeda galaxy. This is a few shots from my Canon DSLR stacked in a (mostly futile) attempt to reduce noise. This was my star tracker's first long-distance adventure and I'm happy with it's portability and quick setup. The Milky Way galaxy from Hytop, AL in mid November. This shot is a four minute exposure taken with my Pixel 8 pro at 2x zoom to crop out some local interference.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
While in #Alabama, my brother and I ventured out to it's highest #mountain: Mt. #Cheaha. The #landscape views were spectacular.
A wide angle view from the top of Bald Rock on Mt. Cheaha. A scraggly tree is in the foreground while the land drops sharply behind it. A partly cloudy sky and the Alabama fall foliage extend to meet each other at the horizon. A panoramic composite view of the Appalachian foothills in central Alabama, taken from Pulpit Rock on Mt. Cheaha. Layers of hills and low mountains stack behind each other in the haze while the sun tries to find its way through the cloud cover. A view from one of the (scary) edges of Pulpit Rock on Mt. Cheaha in Alabama. We were able to witness the tail end of the fall colors on this adventure. My fear of falling off of cliffs kept me at least three feet from the edge at all times. My brother is braver than I when it comes to mountain ledges, so I let him go ahead and took this photo instead. Taken from Pulpit Rock on Mt Cheaha in Alabama.
November 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
I went down to #Huntsville, #Alabama to visit my Brother and say hi to my favorite #spaceship: The #Space #Shuttle. Shown here is the RS-25 or SSME and the Pathfinder test vehicle.
The RS-25 or SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) was used in a trio on the Space Shuttle and now powers the SLS (Space Launch System) core. These engines are remarkably reliable workhorses that helped build and supply the ISS as well as send hundreds of astronauts into orbit. The Space Shuttle Pathfinder sits atop a mockup of it's iconic orange external tank and pair of SRBs used to boost the shuttle into space. The Pathfinder is a 1:1 wood and steel mockup of the Shuttle used for studying and training handling and ground procedures and transport scenarios.
November 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
The #sky was clear and the moon was new, so I decided to shoot the #stars and vaguely aim for #Andromeda. Nearly every bit of my kit gave me trouble, but I cursed and battled on to get a #photo I'm quite satisfied with.
A shot of the night sky, full of stars, in the general neighborhood of Andromeda, sitting top-center. This was taken with an old unmodified DSLR and a DIY star tracker mounted to an Amazon Basics tripod 20 miles from Boston. You don't need fancy equipment or exotic locales to do this, mostly just knowledge and patience.
October 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
I caught a spectacular #sunset over the Charles #river this week.
A golden sky streaked with puffy clouds covers the calm waters of the Charles River on a late October evening.
October 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
There was a King #tide today, so I made an excuse to go to downtown #Boston and see its effects. After working in the city for nearly a decade, I finally made time to go check one out.
Boston Harbor near the New England Aquarium rises right up to the edge of the wharf today. Usually the ocean is 3 to 12 feet lower than right now, so this view is a bit unusual for a Bostonian familiar with the area. Ships stand tall upon a King Tide in Boston Harbor. I've seen these ships many times before, but they've never towered over me quite as much as today. A little bit of the Atlantic floods a low spot near the apartments by the aquarium. Waves were gently flowing through the gaps in the wall. I went over to touch the ocean and it was very warm, not surprising for early fall, it hasn't seen many cool nights yet.
October 9, 2025 at 11:28 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
My #pigeon pals are starting to recognize me. This little one came scampering over for some seed once they noticed my arrival. I love working in a proper city.
A Bostonian pigeon stands expectancy upon some bricks by the wharf, awaiting their rations of bird seed.
September 26, 2025 at 1:49 AM
lvachon.bsky.social
#Pigeons in #Worcester
Several pigeons proudly perch upon a plinth in Worcester, Massachusetts.
September 17, 2025 at 10:13 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
Charles #river #sunset in late #summer, #Boston.
Lookup upstream on the Charles river in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts just north of the Longfellow Bridge during a mostly cloudy sunset of orangey-pink. The river is filled with pleasure craft of all shapes and sizes, most are sailboats darting back and forth across the basin.
September 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
The #bay was calm and teeming with life this weekend. The #cormorants and #herons were out getting their fill.
Several cormorants perch upon a pier over the bay. One of them is just landing, it's wings spread out wide. The glassy smooth waters of Assonet Bay reflect the clear blue sky, and verdant green trees that surround it. A white heron stands in the water just off shore, waiting for one of the many fish to swim just a bit too close.
September 17, 2025 at 10:02 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
The #Wachusett #Dam up close and from afar. The chance of rain kept everyone at home and we had the place to ourselves.
A shot looking across the valley down the length of the Wachusett Dam from a few feet below it's lip. Large stone bricks make up the structure of this massive dam embedded in the grassy hillside. A panoramic view from below, near the bottom of the Wachusett Dam. It is quite an imposing structure. Built around the turn of the 20th century it helps supply water to the people of eastern Massachusetts.
September 16, 2025 at 9:24 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
The #Wachusett #Dam #spillway was putting on a show after the previous day's thunderstorms.
A thundering torrent of whitewater barrels down a rocky chasm in the forest. The Wachusett Dam spillway is mostly carved out of the bedrock, and it makes for a great show. The very bottom of the spillway flows under an arch bridge and into the still waters of the Nashua river below. We saw this in the distance and had to investigate further. Near the top of the Wachusett Dam spillway looking downhill as the stream rounds the bend and begins to pick up speed. The leaves are just starting to change into their fall colors, a few splashes of red and yellow here and there amongst the green.
September 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
#Sunset by the #river in #Springfield
A faint reflection of sunlight peeks over the horizon. The silhouette of Memorial Bridge in Springfield Massachusetts separates sky and water, the last bits of light in a growing darkness.
September 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
Saturday, I spent the morning #hiking on and around #Holyoke #Mountain. It is a wonderful place that I need to visit more often.
The Connecticut river winds it way through the hills, forests, and farmlands of Hadley and Northampton Massachusetts on a partly cloudy Saturday morning. The "Devil's Football" is a large boulder in the woods on the slope of Mount Holyoke. Glacial erratic boulders like these are always fun surprises to bump into in the New England woods. A millipede steadily moves his way across the forest floor. Its body has alternating brown and black bands, it's head hints of orange and green, and it's many (many) feet are crimson red. Those feet move in a wave pattern that flows opposite to the direction of travel. It's quite mesmerising to watch.
September 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
A quick preview before I properly "develop" my #photos from today. Today was one of those days you remember forever.
A scenic vista from the mountain top, looking over a meandering river, partly sunny skies, and the full summer's glory of trees. Sunset along a wide calm river. A bridge with prominent towers spans the distance. Ancient marking from beasts long dead imprint the landscape. Millions of years separate us, but we occupy the same space. Looking back at a conquered challenge, beautiful rewards abound for those with the stamina to seek them.
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 AM
lvachon.bsky.social
That weekend under the #stars inspired me to try #widefield #astrophotography more often. I didn't want to drop the hundreds on a tracking mount, so I designed and #3D-printed my own. Last night was the first proper test and I'm very pleased with the results!
This photo shows what this mount can do in mediocre conditions. A dense field of stars and the Milky way galaxy partially obscured by the streaky dark ghosts of trees that were in the way. The stars are nice and round, the focus is decent if not perfect, the framing is okay. I'm very happy with this shot, I didn't expect this much success so soon. My CAD model of the mount I whipped up in Fusion (360). It's stupid simple, just a 10:1 reduction and some brackets to align things. The big wheel has a 1/4-20 bolt followed by a skate bearing pressed into the underside. The bearing rides on a stubby axle and the bolt allows the mounting of a camera or ball-head. The mount after printing and assembly, integrated with the tripod, ball-head, and camera. I figured I'd be able to use the pan and tilt functions of my cheap tripod to drastically simplify the tracker design. It seems to work well.
August 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
After years of cursing them for blocking the stars, I can't stop taking #photos of #clouds these days.
A towering wisp of grey cloud rises in the morning sun against a blue-grey sky A fluffy cloud climbs to catch the last of the setting sun. The tiny silhouette of an airliner in front of the cloud gives the scene a sense scale. Clouds much higher and thinner give the sky a gentle pastel pink and orange gradient. Just your everyday scene on Earth.
August 20, 2025 at 1:17 AM
lvachon.bsky.social
A pair of #pigeons down by the wharf posed for a few #photos in exchange for some bird seed.
A pretty pigeon perches on a park bench, looking at the camera with it's vibrant orange eyes. Iridescent green and purple coloring adorns its neck, and its wings are a complex pattern of black and white. A pigeon struts its way along the granite edge of the wharf. The clear blue sky reflects in the water behind it. This one is sporting delightfully fluffy birdy-pants.
August 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
lvachon.bsky.social
The #city #skyline of #Downtown #Boston near #sunset from a hill in #Eastie
A neighborhood of East Boston is spread before us on a hazy summer afternoon. The skyscrapers of downtown reflect the setting sun against a pale orange sky.
August 20, 2025 at 1:05 AM
lvachon.bsky.social
Spending a couple of #nights under the #stars last weekend rejuvenated my mojo for #astrophotography. Last night I lugged out the old gal and aimed her at a target I haven't shot in years: NGC 6960, the western end of the Veil #Nebula #supernova remnant.
The Veil Nebula is a growing shockwave of compressed ionized gas that is slowly expanding outward from it explosive origin as a supernova about 10-20k years ago. Pictured here is a portion of the western end of that nebula. Filaments of red and cyan gas and dust swirl around and form a glowing "front". A bright star is in the center of frame, it is unrelated to the nebula and is in reality much closer to us. I like that star though because it makes this shot very easy to frame up.
August 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
A better look at the one of the bull #frogs that populated the #pond next to our campsite. This handsome specimen was more than happy to pose for my #photos.
An American Bullfrog sits half submerged in a lily pad filled pond. Evening light bounces off nearby trees and reflected in the water's smooth surface. The frog is looking very Kermit-like with it's spherical bulging eyes and big mouth. This one is also sporting a healthy pair of froggy cheeks in the back.
August 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
A bull #frog and a #dragonfly engaged in a staredown. The #pond adjacent to our campsite was filled with life and extremely pleasant to be around.
A dragonfly sits perched upon a twig over a pond filled with lily pads, and a at least bull frog which has noticed its presence. The two seem locked in a staredown, daring each other to move first. Personally, my bet is on the dragonfly.
August 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
A beautiful #swamp in the #forest #morning light. While camping in Granville #Massachusetts we spent a morning wandering the nearby #woods.
A lush green swamp in the middle of a fern carpeted forest. A small stream leads off to the left,small ferns catch the dappled morning light, and young trees stand around the marshy clearing that lights the scene.
August 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
lvachon.bsky.social
The moon was new, the #sky was clear (enough), and I found myself #camping under the Milky Way #Galaxy this weekend. My trusty camera busy taking #photos all #night, and the best shots were combined to make this:
The Milky Way galaxy from Granville, MA on July 26th, 2025. Countless stars and the haze of the galaxy fill the frame. The bottom right has dark ghostly artifacts from where the trees were in the (many) source images that make up this shot.
July 29, 2025 at 3:34 AM