Sail Along, Silvery Moon

View from the 52nd floor of the Westin Peachtree Plaza on a brilliant winter's eve.

I was so thrilled to be able to visit Atlanta. As a fan of Gone with the Wind since the age of 8, I experienced a literary thrill from staying at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. On Peachtree Street! Five Points! Aunt Pitty-Pat's house! Lawsy, Miss Scarlett!


My company was kind enough to book me into the 73-story hotel that defines Atlanta's skyline. My room was on the 52nd floor — the highest room I've ever been in — and one with incredible views such as this moonlit night looking west. Note the lighted Christmas tree near the lower right corner.

I'm linking to Skywatch Friday. Click here to see fantastic photos from around the world.

Till next time,

Moonrise Over Phoenix, Arizona

I'm no Ansel Adams by any means, but I did manage to shoot a very weak homage to his famous "Moonrise Over Hernandez, New Mexico" (See its wonder here) a few months ago. Adams caught the setting sun's reflection on this tiny village as the full moon rose in the east. I could only manage some sunset-tinted storm clouds above the big city of Phoenix. The towering thunderheads and wind-brushed palm trees are a perfect representation of summer evenings in Phoenix.

Adams' photo was black-and-white, so I suppose mine should be too.

I don't like it nearly as well; the loss of quality due to the zoom factor seems a lot more evident to me even though you can see it in the original as well.

Here's another view.

I'm torn between the two views. The clouds are much more dramatic in this shot, but do you think the two palms are too much of a distraction?

Which view do you like best? Do you prefer the original version or the black-and-white?