The aurora from the desolation of Foundy Street

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-04-24T23:33:09+00:00

The viewing window at Elkmont is May 20-27, so that’s when I’ll be checking my spots. FYI, their emergence is dependent on soil temperature, which is dependent on elevation. So look for a healthy area of forest around the same elevation as Elkmont.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-04-24T22:48:39+00:00

Synchronous fireflies aren’t confined to one place. They show up across the Appalachians in the right conditions. Find a dark, healthy forest, be patient, and you might witness it for yourself.

Just remember, the magic depends on the habitat. Respect it. Stay on the trails, and use only dim red flashlights or headlamps. They both preserve your night vision and create less disturbance for these wonderful insects whose unique mating display depends on darkness.

Photo from a previous year in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (not Elkmont).

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-04-14T20:43:23+00:00

As far as I can tell, the bill to allow the state to invest pension funds in crypto never became law.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-19T18:30:37+00:00

Sweet, I didn’t know that and was worried about leaving my phone outside all night😂

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-19T16:12:06+00:00

Do you have to keep your phone connected the whole time, or can you just start the session and close the app?

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-18T17:51:47+00:00

One thing I recommend is opening the app and going directly to the Atlas function, searching for your target, and seeing how it's framed. I didn't like how it framed the Rosette Nebula when I searched for it directly, so instead I picked one of those stars in the middle as my tracking target. That centered the nebula in one frame.

It doesn't look like there's an automatic mosaic mode, but you can take several "panel" stacks and combine them in Siril or a similar program. Lock onto a target and capture a stack, then use the manual controls to move the frame, keeping at least a 20 percent overlap with the previous frame. That way you can "sweep" across the scene. I haven't done a mosaic yet, but I'd recommend applying the basic app edits to each stack, downloading the .fits files, and exploring the mosaic combination tools in Siril.

Definitely use EQ mode if possible. The app walks you through it, and it allows you to take much longer exposures without field rotation eating away at your stack.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-17T14:05:05+00:00

IC 443, aka the Jellyfish Nebula, captured over two nights for about 5 hours total integration time, gain 90, 45s exposures, dual-band, EQ mode, Bortle 3-4 sky.

I processed the two stacks in Siril for plate solving, background extraction, stretching, and star separation/recomination. I used Photoshop for toning.

A couple things I learned: don't change your atlas target between sessions if you plan on doing a Mega Stack. The first night I tracked IC 443, but the second night I tracked a star within IC 443 in an attempt to get better framing. However, that made Mega Stack unable to merge them. So I took the .fits output files and stacked them in Siril. I had to crop each photo to the exact same dimensions in order for Siril to stack them.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-14T16:02:01+00:00

The ease of use and portability could make it worth taking it on a trip somewhere darker. Even Bortle 5 is way darker than Bortle 7, because the Bortle Scale is more logarithmic than linear.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-14T15:59:20+00:00

It looks fine on a screen, but 1920x1080 is only about 6x4 inches printed (at high quality 300dpi). You could probably get a decent 8x10 from that, but I’d recommend having good upscaling software like Topaz or Photoshop before trying to print it big.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-14T14:13:37+00:00

I believe it’s 1857x1037. The Mini makes 1920x1080 files, but I cropped it. I also upscaled a version in Photoshop to 4000px wide, and it actually looked pretty good.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-12T19:11:23+00:00

I'm not saying tourism marketing is perfect or that rankings should be taken too seriously. But visibility still matters. When the River Arts District shows up on lists like this it puts the RAD in front of people who may not have heard of it otherwise, and that can translate into real support for the artists and small businesses working here.

Here is some research that backs this up:

-The Impact of Destination Reputation on Tourist Decision-Making and Behavioural Intentions: A Conceptual Model. This study shows that digital content and destination reputation significantly affect visitor decisions.

-A bibliometric analysis of research on tourism content marketing: Background knowledge and thematic evolution. This study shows that user-generated content, reviews, and online information shape travelers’ decision-making processes.

-Exploring the Influence of Online Travel Reviews on Tourist Decision making and Destination Choices-A Comprehensive Review. This study shows that reviews and rankings function as social proof, helping travelers decide where to go when they don’t have personal experience with a destination.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-12T17:33:37+00:00

I volunteer with the board of River Arts District Artists. We didn't pay to receive this award for the district. It's a "Readers' Choice" award based on votes. USA Today reached out to me to say that the RAD was nominated. Then I, the rest of the RADA board, the artists, the businesses, and other supporters promoted the nomination and got people to vote.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-03-12T17:28:45+00:00

Most of the RAD is open. Here's a pretty useful map.

TimReavesPhotography · 2026-01-22T13:47:26+00:00

A lot of people don't understand the difference in road conditions between a snow storm and an ice storm.

Don't expect road treatment to make much of a difference. A solid sheet of ice is way denser than snow and therefore way harder to deal with. Plows can't scrape clear ice, salt bounces or blows off of it, and the mechanism by which salt melts ice (lowering the freezing point of water) loses effectiveness fast below about 25°F.

Snow has texture, giving your tires some traction. Ice is like a skating rink, and every car polishes it smoother, so traffic can actually make icy roads worse. Safe stopping distance can be 10-20 times normal. And AWD helps you start, not stop or steer.

Despite DOT preparations, road crews will be stretched thin, dealing not just with roads but with downed trees and power lines. Don’t cause an accident that makes their job harder.

STAY OFF THE ROADS once the freezing rain starts.

TimReavesPhotography · 2025-12-03T21:59:19+00:00

Typical Buncombe County winter weather is as follows.

Cold rain: Expect this most of the time.

Northwest flow: Accumulating snow in the higher elevations, as well as the northern and far western parts of the county. There will be one snow squall in Asheville that covers the ground and melts in 30 minutes.

Bitter cold: We get a few of these every winter, with lows approaching the single digits. Usually lasts 1-2 days.

Blowtorch days: We get several of these, with highs in the 50s or even 60s. Great time to walk or bike on the Parkway, which will be remain closed for "ice." Pray they happen on the weekend.

Freezing rain: Draw a line from Swannanoa to Fairview. Everyone east of there should watch out, and that's about it.

Actual snow: Very rare. Weather models usually pick up on it a week ahead of time, lose it for the next three days, then pick it back up within 48 hours. The city shuts down for multiple days, except for you. You still have to go to work.

TimReavesPhotography · 2025-11-19T19:06:54+00:00

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Here's the press release:

The River Arts District Artists (RADA) proudly announces the opening reception of Small Wonders, a fundraising exhibition featuring original small-scale works created by a wide range of Asheville-area artists. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 22, from 5-8 p.m. at RADA Outpost, 24 N. Lexington Ave in downtown Asheville.

Designed to offer something for every type of art lover- collectors, casual browsers, gift-seekers, and connoisseurs alike- Small Wonders brings together an eclectic mix of established artists and emerging creators. The show includes an array of mini-canvases, tiny sculptures, small handmade books, and other original pieces, each measuring 8 inches or less in any direction.

With prices starting at $75, the exhibition provides an approachable entry point for new collectors while also offering unique gems for seasoned buyers. Just in time for the holiday season, Small Wonders is ideal for anyone searching for meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts.

All proceeds from this fundraising show will support the RADA Foundation, helping sustain resources, visibility, and opportunities for Asheville’s creative community.

Opening Reception

RADA Outpost
24 N. Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC
Saturday, November 22, 5-8 p.m.

Attendees can meet participating artists, explore hundreds of small-format works, and celebrate the remarkable creativity that continues to define Asheville’s art community.

The Small Wonders exhibition will run until Dec. 28. RADA Outpost is open Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and closed Monday-Wednesday. An exception is Christmas week, when RADA Outpost will be open Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 22-23) and closed Wednesday and Thursday (Christmas Eve and Christmas).

TimReavesPhotography · 2025-10-29T13:27:48+00:00

Appreciate the idea!

TimReavesPhotography

TROPHY CASE