Penning Photography Daily

If you look closely, you can see strings of lights radiating outward and down from near the top of the State Capitol dome.

It’s that time of year again.

Christmas time, holiday time, time for lights on buildings.

I get a kick on many levels at the State Capitol building turned into a giant Christmas tree at night. Such a religious holiday, being celebrated on a secular building. I’m amazed at the effort that is put into stringing the lights by the Secretary of State staff each year. Up they go, and after Christmas, down they come. They are usually up but not turned on before Thanksgiving, and remain up but turned off, after Christmas.

As a youngster, I would compete with my sister for the first one to spot the capitol building, when we were returning from a family trip. Being the flat Central Plains, the building used to be the highest around. It still is one of the highest and I still exclaim to fellow passengers, family or business, “I see the capitol!” That earns me some looks from non-family folk, so I get the chance to tell some family travel stories.

I was walking downtown today, enjoying the mild temperatures in a short-sleeved shirt, when I spotted the capitol against the perfect sky. That blue with spots of puffy white clouds always draws me in. So I framed and captured a few poses.

What’s even more interesting, is counting the number of lights that burn out as the season progresses. I’ll have to get a good capture of the lighted effect early on, before too many go dark.

Think putting the lights up is a challenge? What about the person who has to raise and lower the flag, or move it to half-mast? That’s a nightmare for me.

I’ve been pushing the envelope on my fear of heights, but that is one challenge I’ll leave unanswered.

Know thyself!