Rick Olson
@bloozyguy.bsky.social
Retired from corporate nonsense, enjoying photography, music, friends and family.
Late edit / cellphone shot from a few weeks ago along rte 441 in TN, GSMNP. My first fall trip there, I will certainly be returning!
November 21, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Late edit / cellphone shot from a few weeks ago along rte 441 in TN, GSMNP. My first fall trip there, I will certainly be returning!
The cellphone did great, but this is from the real camera. Having missed the first night, our Kp got above 8 around 10pm, and we saw it on our screens. I've removed some annoying lights from the far shore, but the color is real - to cameras, anyway; I saw none of this live! 10 sec shot, Nikon Z8.
November 13, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The cellphone did great, but this is from the real camera. Having missed the first night, our Kp got above 8 around 10pm, and we saw it on our screens. I've removed some annoying lights from the far shore, but the color is real - to cameras, anyway; I saw none of this live! 10 sec shot, Nikon Z8.
Beautiful night with Mary and friends at Carter's Lake, all of us out there shivering for a chance to get the aurora. Never saw it - much less the reflection! - but cameras did. This is a cellphone shot, tripod mounted S24+, "night mode" (LE - 10 seconds).
November 13, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Beautiful night with Mary and friends at Carter's Lake, all of us out there shivering for a chance to get the aurora. Never saw it - much less the reflection! - but cameras did. This is a cellphone shot, tripod mounted S24+, "night mode" (LE - 10 seconds).
Banks Lake, and hour before the storm.
November 9, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Banks Lake, and hour before the storm.
Banks Lake, swamp cypress showed some nice color...then the T-storm rolled in. One quick moody shot before running for the car!
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Banks Lake, swamp cypress showed some nice color...then the T-storm rolled in. One quick moody shot before running for the car!
Hate to see it happen, but my favorite season is coming to an end. Mother Nature's official announcement was floating on this pond at Gibbs Gardens, 2 days ago.
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Hate to see it happen, but my favorite season is coming to an end. Mother Nature's official announcement was floating on this pond at Gibbs Gardens, 2 days ago.
Tremont last weekend, cellphone image.
October 31, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Tremont last weekend, cellphone image.
Trying to photograph the Pleides thru clouds...
October 18, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Trying to photograph the Pleides thru clouds...
The Milky Way, straight overhead last night from north GA. The diagonal smudge in the upper right area is M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, about a trillion stars some 2.5 million lightyears away.
October 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The Milky Way, straight overhead last night from north GA. The diagonal smudge in the upper right area is M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, about a trillion stars some 2.5 million lightyears away.
The comet was disappointing, but it was a perfect night anyway for some astral work at Nottely Dam - comfortable and the seeing was awesome!
October 15, 2025 at 5:30 AM
The comet was disappointing, but it was a perfect night anyway for some astral work at Nottely Dam - comfortable and the seeing was awesome!
The monarchs are in flight at Gibbs Gardens!
October 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The monarchs are in flight at Gibbs Gardens!
Lovely trip to Gibbs Gardens with my sweet bride today. Fall wildflowers abound: cosmos, coreopsis and zinnias especially. And accordingly, lots of monarchs, sulphurs, fritillaries and other flying beauties have arrived. Here, a black swallowtail heads for the perfect bloom.
October 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Lovely trip to Gibbs Gardens with my sweet bride today. Fall wildflowers abound: cosmos, coreopsis and zinnias especially. And accordingly, lots of monarchs, sulphurs, fritillaries and other flying beauties have arrived. Here, a black swallowtail heads for the perfect bloom.
This pretty lady is just about plump enough to start her annual journey across the Gulf of Mexico. But for the moment, she's protecting (hoarding!) a few more calories just beneath her perch.
September 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This pretty lady is just about plump enough to start her annual journey across the Gulf of Mexico. But for the moment, she's protecting (hoarding!) a few more calories just beneath her perch.
About 15 friends from CPS and NGPC joined me Friday night for our annual Milky Way / star trails workshop Friday night. Light clouds early on, it cleared out nicely later. Love this location! (Carter's Lake.)
September 22, 2025 at 7:52 PM
About 15 friends from CPS and NGPC joined me Friday night for our annual Milky Way / star trails workshop Friday night. Light clouds early on, it cleared out nicely later. Love this location! (Carter's Lake.)
Gorgeous night at Carter's Lake.
September 20, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Gorgeous night at Carter's Lake.
Moonrise! Time to head home
September 12, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Moonrise! Time to head home
Hoping for a decent image of the Andromeda Galaxy tonight! A bit hazy, but maybe it'll work
September 12, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Hoping for a decent image of the Andromeda Galaxy tonight! A bit hazy, but maybe it'll work
Mary's cosmos are nearly as tall as I am, an easy target for my cellphone camera - and as I was framing a shot, this guy politely photobombed!
September 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Mary's cosmos are nearly as tall as I am, an easy target for my cellphone camera - and as I was framing a shot, this guy politely photobombed!
Another Iceland image, this one a cellphone shot thru a van's window. Stark landscapes draw me in like iron to a magnet.
September 8, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Another Iceland image, this one a cellphone shot thru a van's window. Stark landscapes draw me in like iron to a magnet.
Remembering Iceland: every day, hundreds of visitors approach the chilling mist from this powerful waterfall, Skogafoss.
Hofskirkja Church is almost as creepy as this B&W rendering suggests.
And I found myself "reflecting" on ancient ice at Spinafellsjokull glacier.
Hofskirkja Church is almost as creepy as this B&W rendering suggests.
And I found myself "reflecting" on ancient ice at Spinafellsjokull glacier.
September 5, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Remembering Iceland: every day, hundreds of visitors approach the chilling mist from this powerful waterfall, Skogafoss.
Hofskirkja Church is almost as creepy as this B&W rendering suggests.
And I found myself "reflecting" on ancient ice at Spinafellsjokull glacier.
Hofskirkja Church is almost as creepy as this B&W rendering suggests.
And I found myself "reflecting" on ancient ice at Spinafellsjokull glacier.
From Feb 2024, the sea stacks at Vikurfjara Black Sands Beach, Vik, Iceland. Taming those waves to this degree required a 20 second exposure.
September 4, 2025 at 8:07 PM
From Feb 2024, the sea stacks at Vikurfjara Black Sands Beach, Vik, Iceland. Taming those waves to this degree required a 20 second exposure.
Tonight's moon, waxing gibbous at 67%. I love the detail that shows at this phase. I grabbed the camera because I liked the look at blue hour, but the B&W conversion is better.
Nikon Z8 handheld, 180-600 @ 500mm, 1/500, F / 6.3, ISO 800.
Nikon Z8 handheld, 180-600 @ 500mm, 1/500, F / 6.3, ISO 800.
September 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Tonight's moon, waxing gibbous at 67%. I love the detail that shows at this phase. I grabbed the camera because I liked the look at blue hour, but the B&W conversion is better.
Nikon Z8 handheld, 180-600 @ 500mm, 1/500, F / 6.3, ISO 800.
Nikon Z8 handheld, 180-600 @ 500mm, 1/500, F / 6.3, ISO 800.