I posted this photo on my Instagram on New Years Day and touched it up a bit after. On that day I wrote, On this New Year Day, I wanted to find a shot that I hadn't worked on before that could maybe illustrate a narrative for the possibilities that 2023 could bring. So like this person in the bottom left that was looking for the incredible sunrise in Ocean City, Maryland, that didn't quite materialize, here they are now presented with another opportunity shining through the otherwise overcast sky to illuminate the water in front of them. And maybe offering other possibilities that they hadn't contemplated previously. I have no doubt that 2023 will offer each of us new opportunities and possibilities. Here's a toast to finding and grabbing the golden ones shining through the grayness.

The crescent Moon, Mercury, and Venus are captured as seen from near Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, Virginia, about an hour after sunset on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022.

Thought I'd start the New Year with a wonderful sunset, for the old year, of course! We met some friends at Stone Tower Winery the weekend before Christmas and noticed the spectacular views to the west. Always looking for a new spot to shoot from, went back a few days later and got there in time for the sunset. By the way, great atmosphere comfortable spot, tasty wines, wonderful people there.

The International Space Station is captured rising from the horizon to the west of Lake Ashby near Warrenton, Virginia, on December 4, 2022. This is a composite of 12, 20-second shots covering about 4 minutes of travel time until it disappears in the Earth's shadow and to the left of the bright star, Vega. This was the second appearance of the Station on this evening. You can see the first sighting on my Instagram account @raytolomeophotography.

Going way back in time are reviving some old negatives for this Thanksgiving day, Thursday throwback....A pair of A-6E Intruders from VMA(AW)-332, Moonlighters, over one of the many Western Pacific airfields we visited (I believe this is Saipan) during the 10-month deployment in 1991.

This image captures the Moon fully eclipsed just before sunrise as seen over Lake Ashby near Warrenton, Virginia.

Fifth floor balcony provided the perfect spot to catch some people watching as the sunrise takes place in Ocean City, Maryland.

Back to Joshua Tree for one more. Wasn't sure how this one was gong to turn out. The Station was showing up not long after sunset, so chose to shoot 1/2 second exposures to avoid the bright sky from washing out the reflection. Ended up with well over 300 exposures to stack together to create this image of the more than 3-minute trek across the sky.

Thought it was time for a critter shot. I shot this group of seagulls from the park in La Jolla, California.

One of the most easily recognizable and my favorite constellation, Scorpius traces around an iconic Joshua Tree in Joshua Tree National Park as the Milky Way extends above in this 30-second exposure on September 17, 2022.

Playing a little catch up here. On my first night on the west coast, took the opportunity for a late night excursion to Laguna Beach. It was quiet and pretty empty, as compared to what it looks like during the day. The largely full Moon was rising, which gave the clouds some particular shimmer in these 20 second shots.

The girl child recently got engaged and during a trip to the west coast, we took engagement photos on the beach in La Jolla, California. Click here to see a gallery of photos from the shoot.

While in Rehoboth Beach, DE, in support of a high school friend and attending the Walk to Defeat ALS, I got up early to catch the Moon and Jupiter setting as viewed from the Rehoboth Bay Sailing Association. I used a remote interval timer to begin shooting while I walked onto the dock and position in the image.

The Milky Way is captured from outside the main gate of Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA, on August 31, 2022, in this 2-minute exposure. Click here for another shot as viewed through some trees.

Shot from the World War II Memorial and across the Reflecting Pool as the Moon was setting toward the Lincoln Memorial on The Mall in Washington, D.C.