Lightning is popping all around the lookout tonight (DIAL-UP WARNING)

[DemoTex]

No lightning photos, sorry. But it is scary!

Here are the photos from late yesterday (Saturday) through sunset today. The fire 5.27 miles to my east is "contained" as of 12:41 PM today (Sunday).


Yesterday's fire (5.27 miles to my east)


Sunset yesterday


Sunrise this morning


Smoke from yesterday's fire layers in the tree tops at dawn today


Smoke in the morning light


Just before sunset tonight


Just after sunset looking across the Newberry Volcano and Paulina Peak (wide-cropped for desk-top background)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear DemoTex!

They're all wonderful, but those last two! Wow.

Just blew my socks right off, they did!

Thank you...

Recommended.

[DemoTex]

2. Get those socks back on, Peg!

Your feet might get cold.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. LOL!

No worries, they're on!

I thought about photographing my sock-laden foot, but then thought better of it!;)

[tomm2thumbs]

3. Newberry Volcano picture - just spectacular!

thanks for posting - as always -

a view of a place none of us will ever see but for your pictures

[DemoTex]

5. Screen-shot of the BLM lightning map at about 21:40 PDT (10-3-2010)

I am to the east (right) of the road (black line) that is to the east of the two lakes in the Newberry Caldera (that is to the east of La Pine). I have had 14 strikes, 12 negative and two positive. Very, very strange weather for this time of year in the high desert. Exactly one year ago today I was in the second day of a 48-hour blizzard.

[glowing]

6. Amazing pictures. You post incredible pics just at the time when I'm feeling like

the whole world has lost its mind.. AND then there is nature and the amazing world that we've been entrusted to care for and enjoy. Its a perspective piece to be sure. Thank you. This post of those pictures have done more for my own peace of mind than anything has in for a really long time.

[sabrina 1]

7. Those are spectacular photos.

Especially the sunset ones, and the smoke drifting across the tree tops. I am glad the fire is contained. Good work, nice to know there are people like you keeping the forests safe.

K&R

[Odin2005]

8. fuckin' AWESOME, as usual!

[virginia mountainman]

9. I really enjoy your posts...

Thanks for sharing them!

[Alamuti Lotus]

10. amazing images

I have appreciated all of your postings that I have been able to read, DemoTex. I am an Oregonian from the valley right now, and it's always great to see these words and images from the state's better half and from you.

[pansypoo53219]

11. awesome

lightning pics tomorrow?

[MilesColtrane]

12. Holy Moly, that's good stuff!

"sunset yesterday" looks like the aftermath of a nuke test.

And, "smoke in the morning light" is freaking awe inspiring.

I think I've expressed this sentiment before, but you have the most awesome job in the world.

[orleans]

13. what absolutely beautiful pictures

what an awesome universe we live in

i teared up today when i saw these beautiful clouds against a perfectly blue sky--it just really struck me

i can only guess how emotional i'd get if i was in your shoes.

[Norrin Radd]

14. Gorgeous pics.

Looks like you might get some rain out there in a day or two. I spy mare's tail clouds beyond that cumulonimbus.

[Enthusiast]

15. Pretty! nt

[madokie]

16. Beautiful pictures and please stay safe from the deer hunters

I remember as a kid growing up here in northeast oklahoma when a forest fire would break out and if school was in session they'd let us older or experienced at fight fires, as I was, out so we could go fight the fires. There were no fire departments other than the one in town and they never left town no matter what the reason was. Now we've got rural fire departments about everywhere. Am I sure happy that is the case now as I remember the hard work it was fighting the fires as they traveled across the forest floors. We never gave thought about the danger to us kids out there because we were too busy keeping our home place and the neighbors from being burned out. Much different world we live in today.

On a side note it gives me great comfort in knowing that the caliber of people who are watching over us up in the towers is of the quality that you are and not some yahoo that fell off the tater wagon a few days ago. In other words I don't know if you are paid or are volunteering and its none of my bidness ether way, I'm just happy to know that qualified people are doing that very important job. This is a perfect example of why we need government on our backs rather than the raygun bullshit of reducing the governments size to where that dickhead 'grover norquist and his neoCON buddy's could drown it in a bathtub.

Oh and watch out for Nick when he's outside as some of those assholey deer hunters will shoot at anything that moves, I know this from experience because I've been shot at while our looking for fall mushrooms. Oh sorry man, the dickhead said, I seen something move and I thought it was a deer. I'd have kicked his ass if not for the gun in his hand and he knew that.

[cowcommander]

17. What camera did you use?

That picture quality is INCREDIBLE!

[DemoTex]

18. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark-II full-frame digital SLR

All these photos were taken with a Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS-II zoom lens with a 2X extender (140-400mm f5.6). I shoot camera raw files and post-process in PhotoShop Elements 8 (white balance, cropping, and light enhancement). I switch between manual (M) and aperture priority (Av) modes, and all of these were taken in Av.