Doug Smith
@receding-horizons.bsky.social
Amateur hobby photographer and backyard astronomer.
www.receding-horizons.com
Celestron Edge HD8, William Optics Redcat 51
EQ6R Pro
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, Sony a7rV
Sigma 24-70, Sigma 100-400
www.receding-horizons.com
Celestron Edge HD8, William Optics Redcat 51
EQ6R Pro
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, Sony a7rV
Sigma 24-70, Sigma 100-400
The message here is either that you don't have to look far for wildlife OR that we have encroached on most of the wild spaces. #photo #photography #birds #wildlife #wildlifephotography
October 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The message here is either that you don't have to look far for wildlife OR that we have encroached on most of the wild spaces. #photo #photography #birds #wildlife #wildlifephotography
A Great Blue Heron and my nemesis. I picked a great spot and sat until sunset with no sign of the Heron. But, the second the sun set, he made an appearance. One day I'll get a shot in good light. #birds #Photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography
October 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A Great Blue Heron and my nemesis. I picked a great spot and sat until sunset with no sign of the Heron. But, the second the sun set, he made an appearance. One day I'll get a shot in good light. #birds #Photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography
I ended up snapping some pictures of the insects flying around me since the birds weren't cooperating. The Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly is the reason I wasn't eaten alive by mosquitoes. The second pic is a Golden Northern Bumble Bee. #photography #insects #wildlifephotography
September 7, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I ended up snapping some pictures of the insects flying around me since the birds weren't cooperating. The Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly is the reason I wasn't eaten alive by mosquitoes. The second pic is a Golden Northern Bumble Bee. #photography #insects #wildlifephotography
My last shot from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. This is the Old Man of Storr, perhaps the most iconic location on the Isle of Skye. The image was taken at sunrise. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #Scotland #IsleofSkye #photo
July 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
My last shot from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. This is the Old Man of Storr, perhaps the most iconic location on the Isle of Skye. The image was taken at sunrise. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #Scotland #IsleofSkye #photo
The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, Scotland at sunrise. The moon was a happy surprise. #photography #Quiraing #Scotland #isleskye #landscape #landscapephotography
July 13, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, Scotland at sunrise. The moon was a happy surprise. #photography #Quiraing #Scotland #isleskye #landscape #landscapephotography
A couple of images taken from the shore of Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland. The images were taken from the shore south of the main carpark in Portree, looking almost due south over Loch Portree, toward the Cullin Hills. #photography #landscape #portree #isleofskye #scotland #landscapephotography
July 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
A couple of images taken from the shore of Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland. The images were taken from the shore south of the main carpark in Portree, looking almost due south over Loch Portree, toward the Cullin Hills. #photography #landscape #portree #isleofskye #scotland #landscapephotography
Neist Point lighthouse on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. This is probably on of the most photographed sights on the Isle of Skye, especially at sunset. I tried for a different perspective by traversing the steep hill below the normal picture spot. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #scotland
July 13, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Neist Point lighthouse on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. This is probably on of the most photographed sights on the Isle of Skye, especially at sunset. I tried for a different perspective by traversing the steep hill below the normal picture spot. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #scotland
Some views from the summit of Mount Bla Bheinn, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. These pictures were taken just after sunrise. My wife and I spent three hours ascending in the dark so we could be at the top when the sun came up. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #Scotland #IsleofSkye
July 12, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Some views from the summit of Mount Bla Bheinn, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. These pictures were taken just after sunrise. My wife and I spent three hours ascending in the dark so we could be at the top when the sun came up. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #Scotland #IsleofSkye
These two Red-winged Blackbirds were having a conversation when I captured these images. If you look closely, the backlit one appears to have a broken top beak. The other allowed me to walk to within about 20ish feet to snap the picture. #photography #birds #wildlifephotography
February 20, 2025 at 5:12 AM
These two Red-winged Blackbirds were having a conversation when I captured these images. If you look closely, the backlit one appears to have a broken top beak. The other allowed me to walk to within about 20ish feet to snap the picture. #photography #birds #wildlifephotography
A few images from White Sands National Park. It was a gorgeous afternoon. These images were all taken on the Alkali Flats Trail (4.4 mile loop).
December 30, 2024 at 10:56 PM
A few images from White Sands National Park. It was a gorgeous afternoon. These images were all taken on the Alkali Flats Trail (4.4 mile loop).
The Tadpole Nebula. This is an HOO (Hydrogen alpha=Red, Oxygen III=Blue & Green). The image is composed of 50 5 minute exposures in Ha and 169 5minute exposures in OIII.
December 26, 2024 at 12:52 AM
The Tadpole Nebula. This is an HOO (Hydrogen alpha=Red, Oxygen III=Blue & Green). The image is composed of 50 5 minute exposures in Ha and 169 5minute exposures in OIII.
The migratory birds are passing through the playa. A Mallard Duck just showing off, a Ring Billed Gull, and some Canada Geese. #birds #photography #wildlifephotography
December 15, 2024 at 2:35 AM
The migratory birds are passing through the playa. A Mallard Duck just showing off, a Ring Billed Gull, and some Canada Geese. #birds #photography #wildlifephotography
This is part of the Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960), a supernova remnant 2400 light years away. The filamentary nebula was created when a star 20 times the mass of our sun went supernova 10,000-20,000 years ago. Fun fact, the Veil Nebula is expanding at about 1.5 million km/hour.
November 22, 2024 at 10:53 PM
This is part of the Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960), a supernova remnant 2400 light years away. The filamentary nebula was created when a star 20 times the mass of our sun went supernova 10,000-20,000 years ago. Fun fact, the Veil Nebula is expanding at about 1.5 million km/hour.
This Great Egret is one of at least five, including two juveniles currently living at a Playa in a mid-sized mid-western city. I captured this photo just as I was about to leave because of the failing light.
November 13, 2024 at 6:36 PM
This Great Egret is one of at least five, including two juveniles currently living at a Playa in a mid-sized mid-western city. I captured this photo just as I was about to leave because of the failing light.
A Burrowing Owl. The photo was taken at a Playa located in a mid-sized city. The owls take up residence in abandoned Prairie Dog burrows. #owls #wildlife #photography #wildlifephotography
November 13, 2024 at 6:31 PM
A Burrowing Owl. The photo was taken at a Playa located in a mid-sized city. The owls take up residence in abandoned Prairie Dog burrows. #owls #wildlife #photography #wildlifephotography
Maybe a Pennasco least Chipmunk (I'm not an expert, but the location is correct), listed as endangered by New Mexico and a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. #wildlife #photography #wildlifephotography
November 13, 2024 at 6:26 PM
Maybe a Pennasco least Chipmunk (I'm not an expert, but the location is correct), listed as endangered by New Mexico and a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. #wildlife #photography #wildlifephotography
One of my favorite deepsky images because of the dust and hydrogen gas connecting the Flaming Star Nebula IC 405 (1500 light years distant), the Tadpole Nebula IC 410 (12,400 light years distant), and the Spider Nebula IC 417 (10,000 light years distant).
November 13, 2024 at 5:24 PM
One of my favorite deepsky images because of the dust and hydrogen gas connecting the Flaming Star Nebula IC 405 (1500 light years distant), the Tadpole Nebula IC 410 (12,400 light years distant), and the Spider Nebula IC 417 (10,000 light years distant).
The Horsehead Nebula is located about 1375 light years away. The Horsehead is a dark nebula silhouetted by the hydrogen emission nebula IC 434. The image was taken from my backyard in a Bortle 8/9 (heavily light polluted) region.
November 13, 2024 at 5:12 PM
The Horsehead Nebula is located about 1375 light years away. The Horsehead is a dark nebula silhouetted by the hydrogen emission nebula IC 434. The image was taken from my backyard in a Bortle 8/9 (heavily light polluted) region.
The Wizard Nebula is located about 7000 light years away and about 110 light years (6.5 trillion miles) across. This image is a HOO stack of 50, 5 min Ha exposures and 60, 5 min OIII exposures. It was taken from my backyard in a Bortle 8/9 (heavily light polluted) region.
November 13, 2024 at 5:04 PM
The Wizard Nebula is located about 7000 light years away and about 110 light years (6.5 trillion miles) across. This image is a HOO stack of 50, 5 min Ha exposures and 60, 5 min OIII exposures. It was taken from my backyard in a Bortle 8/9 (heavily light polluted) region.