| As landscape photographers, one of the great | | | | dates are |
| challenges is | | | | already in our calendar.In a previous newsletter, |
| knowing when to be at a location for either | | | | we have already reviewed another |
| sunrise, sunset, | | | | program, Ephemeris, which gives the times for |
| moonrise or moonset. We recently purchased a | | | | sunrise and |
| software | | | | sunset and positions of the sun and moon. |
| program Heavenly-Opportunity that makes this | | | | Ephemeris has |
| task much | | | | three main advantages over Heavenly |
| easier for photographers in the United | | | | Opportunity: 1) the |
| States.Heavenly-Opportunity accurately predicts | | | | interface is a little easier to use, 2) it has a |
| the time and | | | | version |
| location for each of these events, as well as the | | | | available for the Pocket PC, so that we can |
| phase of | | | | carry it into |
| the moon for over 30,000 locations in the US. | | | | the field with us more easily, and 3) it's free. If |
| The program | | | | we're |
| includes information for much more than just | | | | going out into the field and want to know when |
| about every | | | | tonight's |
| city or town in the country. It also includes | | | | sunset or moonrise is, then we tend to use |
| information on | | | | Ephemeris. The |
| 500 National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and | | | | two main advantages of Heavenly Opportunity |
| recreation areas and 2500 names lakes, | | | | over Ephemeris |
| mountains or other | | | | are the much larger number of locations included |
| named geographic feature In the past we had to | | | | in the |
| find | | | | program and the search function. The search |
| information for the nearest major city, now we | | | | function alone |
| can have | | | | is well worth the cost of the software. If we're |
| information about the exact location we're | | | | planning |
| planning on | | | | trips, we use this program to plan where and |
| shooting at. On my recent trip to Cape Cod, I | | | | when to be. We |
| knew exactly | | | | wouldn't mind if future versions of |
| when I had to be on the beach in the Cape Cod | | | | Heavenly-Opportunity |
| National | | | | addressed the first two issues; we certainly |
| Seashore to get the sunrise photos I wanted.In | | | | won't begrudge |
| addition, the software allows you to enter a | | | | paying a reasonable fee for valuable |
| latitude and | | | | software.Heavenly-Opportunity is distributed as |
| longitude and get information for a specific place. | | | | shareware by Fossil |
| This is | | | | Creek Software of Fort Collins, CO. You can use |
| a great feature if you are GPS to determine | | | | an |
| your location.Another wonderful feature is the | | | | unlicensed version for 30 days. After than, you |
| ability to search for | | | | really |
| specific criteria for a location - and determine | | | | should purchase the license. The cost for a |
| what dates | | | | licensed version |
| you should plan on shooting. For example, we've | | | | is $ 24.95. The license allows you to install as |
| been wanting | | | | many copies |
| to get a photo of the Lincoln Memorial, | | | | of the program as you need - we have it |
| Washington Monument | | | | installed on both |
| and U.S. Capitol Building with a full moon over the | | | | our desktop machines and our laptop.As far as |
| Capitol. | | | | we are concerned, Heavenly-Opportunity is must- |
| We know where to take the photo from (the | | | | have software for landscape photographers. We |
| US Marine Corps | | | | really |
| Memorial in Arlington, VA), that if the moon | | | | encourage everyone to go to the Fossil Creek |
| comes up | | | | site and |
| between roughly 80 - 100 degrees and if | | | | download the trial version. Be sure to buy your |
| moonrise after | | | | copy before |
| sunset - we should be able to get the image we | | | | the 30 day trial period is up. Once you start using |
| want. With | | | | Heavenly-Opportunity - you will wonder how you |
| Heavenly-Opportunities, I know that my | | | | ever got |
| opportunities for | | | | along without it.Patty Hankins & Bill Lawrence are |
| taking the photo in the next year will be on | | | | the co-owners of Hankins-Lawrence Images, LLC, |
| either | | | | a photography company based in Maryland. HLI |
| September 8, 2006, October 7, 2006, February | | | | Photonotes, their ezine, provides information and |
| 2, 2007 or | | | | tips for photographers. |
| March 4, 2007. Needless to say, all of these | | | | |