I had a fire in our outside fire pit tonight, and noticed how much of a red glow it cast on the still mostly leafless trees. So, I had to go get the camera. It was our first cookout of the season, and my photographic distractions slightly burned the hamburgers, but I got some interesting results. On this one, the fire is just below the bottom of the picture, so the tree gets a strong glow.

This is looking straight up. The moon is almost full, but there was a slight cloudy overcast, so there is no moon detail.

This was taken earlier in the evening, while the sky was still clear. As for the firelight, I think Ill be experimenting more with that in the days to come.

PS - No post work with color on the firelight pics. Slight contrast adjustment, that's all.

Wow, they're all great. No. 2 is my favorite. I've never been able to get that kind of detail from the moon.

Typically, I tend not to respond to postings in the forum - but I couldn't resist these. I love the glow of the fire light illuminating the trees - but what makes it is that the background is not washed out - The exposure is perfect! And the composition is dead-clean - nothing to distract the viewer from what you're trying to convey. In particular, I'm referring to the first two images. The third (image of the moon through a clear sky) - the framing of the moon is good, the elements of the tree branches completes the frame, but I dunno - the softness of the branches is the first thing I notice - to me, it's distracting - almost to the point where they look like they weren't supposed to be there. On the other hand, it is refreshing that someone shooting the moon knows the correct exposure for the moon! (about two stops open from sunny-16, on a perfectly clear night - hey, it's a sun-lit object!) But back to the first two images - truly gorgeous! The first one to me says "warning", and the second one screams "salvation" - (OK - maybe I'm reading too much into 'em - but be damned if they wouldn't both make powerful greeting cards - and even more powerful posters! Just my opinion...

These are wikked kewl shots, Marshall! I mostly agree with Wolfsnap here. But I love the third one as well. :-) (*

number 2 man, number 2! f'in creepy stuff it is... the other don't do much for me, but number 2 is GERE!

I like all 3!

What, and you didn't fall down the steps even once?!? he he - man, the amount of light on that tree - bonfire night isn't until November!!! (",)

"but I got some interesting results", on the hamburgers? oh you mean the pictures, yeah these are way kool, #2 is really neat, but the moon shot in #3 is real clean! #1 is like something you'd see in a Steven King, or Robrt Bloch story. I ain't going out in them wodds, no way, no how!

Jack - The moon shot was taken much earlier in the evening, almost at twilight. By the time I took the other shots some light clouds had moved in. Thanks for all the feedback, especially the in-depth analysis from Wolfsnap! And no Jordy, I didn't fall (should have never told you about that self-portrait thing). I may try this again tonight since I think it will be better without the leaves, and they've already sprouted. Thanks all... marshall