tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60951405865751300872026-08-30T16:21:55.839-04:00Chris Zimmer: Photography, Nature, WeatherChris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-43667006449812188732026-08-30T16:21:55.839-04:002026-08-30T16:21:55.839-04:00

Here’s my video of Union Pacific Railroad’s massive locomotive Big Boy 4014 as it traveled through Mentor, Ohio. The first trip eastbound was on June 8, 2026; the return trip westbound was on July 13, 2026. Both videos were taken at the Station Street/Maple Street area. 

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-48133127301749981342024-04-10T16:57:00.001-04:002024-04-10T16:57:35.797-04:00

&nbsp;As totality approached, the shadow of the moon began to erase the halo around the sun.<!--[if gte mso 9]> 800x600 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-32187346755292324812019-01-31T07:50:00.003-05:002019-01-31T07:50:25.496-05:00

Below zero air temps and about -25 wind chills in NE Ohio this morning didn’t stop me from going outside to get a photo of the crescent moon, Venus, and Jupiter in the southern sky. All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com Check out my blog home page for the latest information, chriszimmer.blogspot.com, here.

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-46516090923904606312018-10-11T08:20:00.001-04:002018-10-11T08:20:18.806-04:00

Yesterday, the temperatures were in the low 80s, perfect for an October walk outdoors to look for autumn color. We visited The Rookery in Munson, Ohio, part of the Geauga Park District. An interurban railway used to pass through this area, the path which now serves as a beautiful trail through the woods. This straight trail provides a wonderful tunnel-like view through the trees. While

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-83842436910056351142018-09-05T07:45:00.000-04:002018-09-05T07:45:30.271-04:00

Yesterday, we were sandwiched between two thunderstorms; one 20 miles directly south and the other about 20 miles to the east. The back end of the storm to the east had cloud cover that reached overhead, with distinct mammatus clouds, accompanied by a curving cloud on the back end. We could see the storm to the south peeking below the high clouds from the storm to the east, and it was as

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-42797935427328059392018-07-27T10:26:00.001-04:002018-07-27T10:26:01.902-04:00

I haven’t had much time to write lately, but have had plenty of time to take pictures. Yesterday we visited Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland Ohio, part of the Lake County Metroparks. The weather was pleasant and the temps were perfect for a walk down – and then up – the long stairway into the gorge. I counted about 135 steps. The stairway is moderately steep but very wide, so the walk down

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-56083859168768668212018-06-03T16:20:00.001-04:002018-06-03T16:20:23.780-04:00

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Lake County, Ohio – and we certainly got a severe thunderstorm. There was the sound of continuous thunder for many minutes before the rain came. When the rain arrived, it was with high winds and lightning, but the sound of the thunder was drowned out by the sound of the rain. Here’s a video I took from inside my garage,

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-13133424406081277912018-01-18T14:40:00.001-05:002018-01-18T14:40:28.693-05:00

We’ve had bitter cold for what seems like forever this winter. Lake Erie is almost completely frozen, so we decided to visit Mentor Headlands Beach to see the large ice chunks which crowded the shoreline. The sun was bright, the wind stiff and bitter cold, and the ice was blinding. Still, it was an amazing sight to see the huge chunks of ice and the bit of sparkle as the sun bounced off them,

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-29388182697745485132017-08-22T09:06:00.005-04:002017-08-22T09:06:43.412-04:00

Yesterday, in Northeast Ohio, we had a partial solar eclipse. The total eclipse was just south of Ohio, so we experienced an 80% eclipse. It was still an amazing sight.&nbsp; As the eclipse progressed, the sunlight dimmed and the air cooled slightly.&nbsp; Here are photos and a 5 second time lapse of about 10 minutes of the eclipse. We had clear skies for the most part, and some high clouds

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-16796057086224626892017-08-13T12:28:00.001-04:002017-08-13T12:28:20.896-04:00

I was out in the very early hours on August 12 and August 13, scanning the sky to spot the Perseid Meteor Shower. This year, I didn’t see any meteors, possibly due to the occasional high, thin clouds. I did see the Pleiades, and a nice bonus of a very brilliant Venus rising in the east. Here are two (meteor-free) photos. All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-70350499908971762952017-08-10T07:43:00.002-04:002017-08-10T07:43:35.632-04:00

We made a trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia to fly fish the nearby Mossy Creek. Mossy Creek certainly lives up to its name, the clear spring creek waters full of undulating moss. The day we arrived, we had a short time in the afternoon for my husband to fly fish the public stretch of the creek in Bridgewater. Sadly, the next morning we were inundated with 3 inches of rain and the creek quickly

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-87058787359960059022017-08-02T13:32:00.005-04:002017-08-02T13:33:25.334-04:00

The sky was brilliant blue and the temperatures were very warm, perfect for a walk around Euclid Beach Park, part of the Cleveland Metroparks. A script “Cleveland” sign has been installed which is a nice footnote to the Cleveland skyline off to the west. The beach was just freshly combed, which provided some interesting patterns. Of course, I was compelled to walk on that perfectly combed

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-74942369270948920852017-07-19T10:38:00.001-04:002017-07-19T10:38:22.498-04:00

We hadn’t been out to Harpersfield (in Ashtabula County) for a few years so we decided to take the drive to see the covered bridge which spans the Grand River. There were several people fishing off the bridge walkway, and several Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were also trying to catch fish as well. After visiting the bridge, we walked downstream and found a nice spot to fish. Nearby

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-13495181068554609622017-04-29T15:10:00.005-04:002017-04-29T15:10:58.995-04:00

Someone driving down our street yesterday hit a raccoon and it didn’t take long for a huge turkey vulture to drop in for a snack. The bird pulled the raccoon off the street and into our yard so it could eat in peace, away from traffic. They are somewhat homely looking birds and they are quite large. Here are a few photos; I suspect that raccoon will be history soon.

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-14403545555854573172017-03-16T13:06:00.002-04:002017-03-16T15:53:55.483-04:00

In December 2010, the Cleveland Harbor West lighthouse was encased in ice due to high winds, big waves, and bitter cold. (I wrote about that event on my blog at this link: ”Cleveland Lighthouse Becomes an Ice Castle “.) The weather conditions were similar this year – maybe not as bitterly cold – and the lighthouse froze over again. Wanting another chance to photograph it, we headed to the

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-34303010150834570022017-03-09T06:27:00.001-05:002017-03-09T06:27:09.991-05:00

There were high wind warnings in northeast Ohio yesterday, and when the winds blow big, I like to watch the waves churn on Lake Erie. We visited Mentor Headlands State Park, where the winds were much stronger than those just a few miles inland. The waves did not disappoint. The wind at the time was roughly 35-40 mph sustained, with gusts to 50. (Some areas reported gusts of 60 mph.)&nbsp;

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-44582664333844791492017-03-04T17:20:00.003-05:002017-03-04T17:20:45.833-05:00

We’ve had red-shouldered hawks visit our yard, nesting close by,&nbsp; for decades. Last year, we watched as a pair raised a brood of two. This year, a pair - maybe the same one from last year -&nbsp; has been spending quite a bit of time in our yard over the last few days. I was able to get several photos today, and was fortunate that the pair perched in my back yard so close together that I

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-35164933420900223562017-02-24T14:52:00.001-05:002017-02-24T14:52:52.916-05:00

Temperatures are unseasonably warm for February – it was already 74 degrees by noon here in Northeast Ohio. We decided to visit the Girdled Road Reservation, part of Lake Metroparks, and check out the suspension walking bridge over Big Creek. The hike to the bridge is a little over a half mile from the parking lot, and one segment is down a steep trail. Walking down is not a big problem, but

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-69396989476372622912017-02-19T08:37:00.003-05:002017-02-19T08:37:33.263-05:00

We had record warm temperatures the day before – 69 degrees. While it was still chilly the next morning, the mid-40s before dawn in February is tolerable weather to do some stargazing and star photography.&nbsp; A slice of the moon was intruding but it wasn't bothersome.&nbsp; Here are photos that I took this morning, while some cirrus clouds crawled into the skies. All Content © Chris

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-9196495514893726162017-02-08T08:29:00.001-05:002017-02-08T08:29:46.189-05:00

Snow melt and heavy rain caused many of the area rivers to exceed flood stage. At about 3:15 on February 7, 2017, the river gauges showed the Chagrin River in Willoughby, Ohio at 12.89 feet. Daniels Park in Willoughby was closed off due to the high water, so we headed to Chagrin River Park, which has higher banks and a walking bridge over the river for safe viewing of the rushing waters.&nbsp;

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-8627105391836239982016-10-21T07:52:00.001-04:002016-10-21T07:52:22.138-04:00

My husband enjoys fly fishing in the Clear Fork River at Mohican State Park in Loudonville Ohio, so we try to make the trip once or twice a year. This year, we hit the fall color at its peak. The weather was spectacular with warmer than normal temps. The downside: it was very windy and as the morning progressed, the river began to fill with fallen leaves, making it hard for the fish to even

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-59514044252878671372016-10-16T14:00:00.001-04:002016-10-16T14:00:14.354-04:00

&nbsp;The beautiful colors of autumn have arrived here in northeast Ohio. The color is not as noticeable at ground level as it is when the viewed from above the treetops. At Chapin Forest, part of the Lake Metroparks, you CAN rise above the treetops. There is a trail (paved, but steep at first) which leads to a fantastic overlook with views of Lake and Cuyahoga Counties. On a clear day, the

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-7258029771502619632016-10-09T14:48:00.001-04:002016-10-09T14:48:57.883-04:00

Niagara Falls - view from the American side I’ve been to Niagara Falls three times in my lifetime: 1972, 1976, and 2016. Each time,&nbsp; I took photos and video of the area, but the quality greatly improved in that 40 year period due to the changes in digital cameras and photo processing software.&nbsp; I thought I'd share some of these old and new photos to show how things looked then

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-35546908650748019332016-09-15T16:14:00.001-04:002016-09-15T16:14:06.293-04:00

The new observation tower has finally opened at Lake Erie Bluffs, part of the Lake Metroparks system. The weather was comfortably cool,&nbsp; there was a stiff breeze,&nbsp; and it was sunny - perfect for viewing the surrounding area.&nbsp; The tower steps are easy to navigate and the top of the tower has plenty of room. &nbsp; The Fairport Harbor West lighthouse at Mentor Headlands was

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095140586575130087.post-63016668016479028422016-09-11T17:22:00.002-04:002016-09-11T17:24:49.792-04:00

There was a cold front that was expected to move over the area yesterday, and with the temperatures hot and the air very humid, thunderstorms were expected. As the clouds began to bubble up in the afternoon, we decided to drive to the nearby Mentor Headlands Beach to watch the storm roll in. We had to wait about an hour and a half for the front to come in, but it was well worth it. We

Chris Zimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13396812488545996709noreply@blogger.com0