Harvest Moon Setting over the Stansbury Mountains October 6, 2017Harvest Moon Setting over the Stansbury Mountains October 6, 2017 – Nikon D810, f11, 1/125, ISO 320, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 170mm, natural light

I didn’t get to see the rising Harvest Moon but I did get to photograph it as it was setting here yesterday morning over the Stansbury Mountains in the West Desert. The sun light kissed the mountains with a beautiful golden hue for a few minutes along with the moon slipping slowly down behind them, how could anyone resist stopping and taking a few photos?

Sun rising opposite the setting Harvest MoonSun rising opposite the setting Harvest Moon – Nikon D810, f11, 1/1000, ISO 320, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light

The sun was rising over the Oquirrh Mountains as the Harvest Moon was setting over the Stansbury Mountains while I stood between the two mountain ranges so I felt I had to include a photo of the rising sun too. I’m not sorry about the lens flares, they add a little bling to this photo.  This photo was taken about one minute later than the photo above.

October 6, 2017 - Harvest Moon slipping behind the Stansbury MountainsOctober 6, 2017 – Harvest Moon slipping behind the Stansbury Mountains – Nikon D810, f11, 1/200, ISO 320, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 200mm, natural light

And this photo was created just a few seconds later, one minute can sure make a difference when it comes to the moon slipping behind the mountains. It wasn’t long before the moon was completely out of view.

Ferruginous Hawk near farm land, West Desert, Tooele County, UtahFerruginous Hawk near farm land – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

So, other than seeing the Harvest Moon my primary goal for the day was to locate and photograph birds. Truthfully I had better luck with the moon and mountains than I did birds yesterday except for one handsome Ferruginous Hawk perched along the road near farm lands. There had been a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk near it but that hawk flew away immediately while this one stuck around for a few minutes. The regal looking hawk was perched on an old wooden fence post in the morning light and I was delighted to have it in my view finder. I also thought the background turned out beautifully because the morning light and shadows on the countryside and a reddish colored bush almost looks like it was painted.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Ferruginous Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.