Ray Tolomeo Photogallery


With a nod to the late, great Ronnie James Dio, a place for my images caught in time.


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A place that I intend to be a somewhat running commentary on what I've shot recently. Best of the images will then be moved to the applicable gallery after some unspecified period of time.



Venus and Saturn @ Lake Ashby, January 21, 2023



Skies cleared in time to catch Venus (brightest) and Saturn (right above her) setting over and reflected in Lake Ashby near Warrenton, Virgina, in the evening twilight last night. The bright star Deneb Algedi is also easily visible to the left of Venus.


A Moment of Illumination, October 29, 2022



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.



Moon, Mercury, and Venus, December 24, 2022



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.



Sunset at Stone Tower Winery, December 20, 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.



International Space Station, December 17, 2022



You don't always have to be in a pitch black spot to enjoy seeing this marvel of human ingenuity circling the Earth. On the morning of December 17, just before sunrise, the Station rose above my neighborhood in Bristow, Virginia, reflecting the early morning Sun, big and bright, and raced on past the crescent Moon. This is a composite of 71, 2-second exposures covering about 2 1/2 minutes of its flight.


Moon and Mars, December 7, 2022



On December 7, 2022, the Moon and Mars were at opposition from the Earth--meaning they were directly on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun--and as viewed from Bristow, Virginia, very close to each other. The shot was actually helped by the fact that there was a fairly heavy fog in the air that cut down on the brightness of the full Moon.


International Space Station at Lake Ashby, December 4, 2022



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.



Moonlighter Pair, Summer 1991



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.



Progressive Lunar Eclipse over Lake Ashby, November 8, 2022



This composite image captures the Moon moving into the Earth's shadow from just after 4 a.m. until just prior to 5:30 a.m. as seen over Lake Ashby near Warrenton, Virginia. In the upper left corner is the star, Aldebaran and the Pleiadas star cluster is just above the Moon.


Lunar Eclipse over Lake Ashby II, November 8, 2022



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



International Space Station & Lunar Eclipse over Lake Ashby, November 8, 2022



This composite image image captures about a minute of the International Space Station coming out of the Earth's shadow, moving past Mars, and proceeding out of the frame as the Moon nears its full eclipse as seen over Lake Ashby near Warrenton, Virginia.


Lunar Eclipse over Lake Ashby, November 8, 2022



This image captures the Moon nearly fully eclipsed as seen over Lake Ashby near Warrenton, Virginia. In the upper left corner is Mars. Capella is in the upper right and the Pleiadas star cluster is just above the Moon.


Watching the Sunrise in Ocean City,
October 30, 2022



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



International Space Station in Joshua Tree,
September 17. 2022



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.



Flight of Three, September 16, 2022



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



International Space Station @ Lake Erie,
October 2, 2022



Shot from the Miller Road Park Pier on Lake Erie near Cleveland, Ohio, on a windy October 2, 2022, evening the International Space Station is seen cruising over the NRG Energy Power Plant before disappearing in the Earth's shadow as it approaches Jupiter. This is a composite of 7, 20-second exposures covering a little more than 2 minutes.


Scorpius and Milky Way Over Joshua Tree, September 17, 2022



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.



International Space Station in Joshua Tree,
September 18. 2022



The International Space Station is seen moving from left to right crossing the northern sky just below the Big Dipper before disappearing behind the terrain in Joshua Tree National Park in California on September 18, 2022. This is a composite of 9, 30 second exposures covering about 4 1/2 minutes of its travel across the sky.


Laguna Beach Looking South,
September 11, 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.


Laguna Beach Looking North,
September 11, 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.



Britt and Bernard Engagement Photos,
September 16, 2022



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.



Watching the Moon and Jupiter, September 10, 2022



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.



Milky Way from Sky Meadows, August 31, 2022



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.



Moon Over Lincoln Memorial, August 2, 2022



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.



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Ray Tolomeo Photogallery



Bristow, Virginia


All Images on this site are copyrighted by Raymond Tolomeo