August 12, 2013
Sleeping under the stars is an experience unto itself. Add a streak of shooting star and it becomes magical.
Perseids meteor shower is one of the consistent ones. Capturing it west coast last year was fun and exhilarating. Equipped with the past experience and learning had been scouting locations and planning for it this year. Unfortunately the weather was not playing along over this particular weekend. Almost all of Illinois was forecasted for gloomy weather and thunderstorms.
As I was debating, there was a forecast for Aurora sighting over this past (same) weekend with a level of 5. Both these together made it too tempting to drop the plan. I decided to take my chances with the weather. After lot of deliberation decided to drive up north to for 8 hours. The plan was to get out during the daylight and scout the location as much as possible. Thought it would make it easier to maneuver again during the night, but boy oh boy, could I be any more wrong !!! The pitch black unknown trails were kind of eerie. But once the stars came out it was a totally different world – so serene and tranquil.
I am beginning to love the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night :)
45 hours on the road with just few hours of sleep, in search of that one spot to capture the Perseids. The lashing rain, the forecasted aurora that never turned up and the hide and seek with the clouds – it was all fun. Was it all worth it, you bet ! The road trip took me to one of the darkest skies of Mid Western US – Bond Falls. Would like to share with you a moment in time from that night. This was one of the two meteor I was able to capture on frame, but loved how everything came together in this shot. I do love when a plan comes together :)
The deafening sound of 500 gallons of water / second from 50 feet
The tranquil silence of the dark night
Milky way adorning the skies
A (Perseids) meteor fireball streaking across the horizon
Definitely a moment of serenity and one I would cherish !
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 3200 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30 sec [Foreground lit by Coast HP7]
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Perseids & Milky Way Over Bond Falls
Trout Creek, Michigan, USA |
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April 11, 2016
For a minute,
walk outside,
stand there,
in silence,
look up at the sky,
and contemplate
how amazing life is :)
A night under the stars always brings in thoughts of contemplation :) This was shot by the Wisconsin river late last year while chasing the Perseids. I love how a distant car left a trail over the distant bridge.
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 2500 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30.0 sec
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Wisconsin River
Blue River, Wisconsin, USA |
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April 5, 2016
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there. ― Rumi
Excessive judgments weigh you down and make you feel heavy-hearted and unsatisfied. While we are judging and discerning, sometimes it is just wonderful to allow the radiance of the universe to permeate and just be, and let go. We are always making distinctions and labeling things as right and wrong, good or bad, true or untrue … Sometimes it is exhausting to carry all the burden of excessive judgment.
Just be :)
This shot is from an early morning by the countryside of Wisconsin, as I was returning back from shooting the Milky Way & Perseids. It is always fun to shoot thru the night and into the light !
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 10 mm : f4.5 : 1/60 sec
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Countryside Corn Fields
Blue River, Wisconsin, USA |
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March 27, 2016
Somewhere, Something incredible is waiting to be known. – Carl Sagan
As Spring comes up, so does the galactic arm of the milky way. Due to the curvature and constant movement of the earth, the Milky Way is below the horizon during the months of November to February, and can be enjoyed with the galactic center from March to October (if you live in the northern hemisphere).
This shot is from the one of the most known Perseids meteor shower from the past year. We drove around the Green river state wildlife area and luckily chanced upon a remote road. As I light painted the foreground with Coast HP7, the meteor sparkled across the night sky. One of the stars even decided to play the head of the comet.
Looking forward to more adventurous nights this year :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30 sec
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Perseids (08.13.2015) @ Green River State Wildlife Area
Harmon, Illinois, USA |
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November 4, 2015
Contemplating life under stars, at Wisconsin river.
Watching the stars make you realize, how small you are. But at the same time the openness of the clear skies reminds, that you are nothing but the universe itself. The water drop is not outside the ocean, but the ocean itself. At the same time the ocean would not be there with out the water drops.
It all comes down to you :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 2500 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30 sec
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Perseids Meteor (08.15.2015)
Blue River, Wisconsin, USA |
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August 17, 2015
The Perseid meteor shower, is associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle and appears to streak out of Perseus constellation. Perseids usually is visible around 2nd week of Aug. With little or no moon to ruin the show, this was a great year for watching the Perseid meteor shower.
Every time the comet dives in towards the sun, it leaves a trail of rocky icy bits along its path like a cosmic, frozen Hansel and Gretel trail. This trail can remain intact for decades after the fact and gets refreshed with each new pass (the last of which was in 1992 and the next one is 2126). As the Earth barrels through the debris field, all the little bits in it’s way burn up in the atmosphere, creating brilliant streaks across the sky. Even particles the size of the sand can create some lovely views like this.
2 AM in the Morning, Watching the milky-way, Sipping a cup of hot tea – is an experience unto itself. Add a shooting star and what more can u ask for :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 2500 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30 sec
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Perseids Meteor (08.15.2015)
Blue River, Wisconsin, USA |
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July 27, 2015
When life knocks you down, just roll over and enjoy the stars :)
This shot is from a few years back, when I was out at Trillium Lake to enjoy the Perseids Meteor Shower. Being my first night-out shooting, I consider myself lucky to have captured the Perseids. It really did not start out that way. The first half of the night was more of hide and seek, as the meteors were adorning the skies, especially where the camera was not pointed at. I was much worried that the possibilities would only go down, as the moon was coming up.
As the night was wading, the moon was coming up the horizon. But only after I decided to stop chasing the Perseids, did I notice that the moon brought in Venues and Jupiter along, in a lovely celestial alignment. As I zoomed in to capture the night sky along with the Moon, Venue & Jupiter – a Perseids – decided to join the show too. I couldn’t be more glad, when all things came in alignment :)
Perseids Meteor Shower is one of the more consistent meteor showers in the northern sky. Its coming up in a few weeks (Aug 12-14, 2015) and the waxing crescent (3%) would not be hindering the same. Have you planned where you would be enjoying the show from for 2015 ?!
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 1600 : 19 mm : f5.6 : 15.0 sec
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Trillium Lake
Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA |
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February 16, 2015
Though Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, you could get a flavor for the same in the neighboring upper peninsula of northern Michigan too.
This shot was from the day when I drove up to Bond falls, to capture the Perseids. After initial scouting, realized the back drop of the falls was not conducive for sunset. Hence decided to fire up Google maps and started driving towards a water body with a west side view. After a couple of miles and a few lakes, ended up at this lovely view. The banks of the lake was laden with mosquitoes and a bit swampy – but the view from behind the grass, the colors from the setting sun and the crescent moon – made up for it :)
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 19 mm : f8.0 : 1/10 sec
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Sunset by the Lake
Land O’ Lakes, Michigan, USA |
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September 24, 2014
The perks of shooting out the whole night is that you don’t need to wake up early to catch the sunrise ! After chasing the perseids over the night, it was well worth stopping by at Jonsrud Viewpoint. With a view like this, just a few steps from the parking, this spot never disappoints !
It was quiet cold for a summer morning, the sun was coming up in the horizon and kissing the valley with its golden light. And as if to respond the blanket of fog started rolling, without haste to reveal the Sandy river below. As I walked out that mid summer early morning, this is what I saw !!!
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 13 mm : f4.5 : 1/750 sec 
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Jonsrud Viewpoint
Mt. Hood Scenic Byway, Oregon, USA |
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May 21, 2014
This is a single RAW shot processed for the milky way. The ambient light bought in the details of the falls and bit of reflections. Shot this while chasing the Perseids last year. I liked this shot for how this brings out the grandeur of the milky way. At the same time, it is amazing how walking couple of steps and lighting the foreground can bring in such a different feel. Here is the shot with a bit of light painting on the foreground.
It is amazing how much camera’s can see these days, but still – far superior is what the eyes can see :)
darkness of the night
stillness of the forest
rumbling of the falls
twinkling of the stars
grandeur of the milky way
– adorned by a shooting star !
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 2500 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 30 sec
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Perseids & Milky Way Over Bond Falls
Trout Creek, Michigan, USA |
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May 8, 2013
Trillium lake is one of my favorite places from Pacific North West. For folks that are not from around here – this is one lovely spot located at the higher elevations of the Mt Hood. Its unique location makes it a great spot – be it an ideal summer fun afternoon, or a leisurely walk in the evening or some boating / kayaking. Being away from city lights it is also a great place for some amazing night photography. This shot of Perseids Meteors shower and milky way was from from this same spot !!!
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 18 mm : f10 : 1/50 sec
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August 13, 2012
Sleeping under the stars is an experience unto itself. In addition, being away from the city lights takes on a whole new level of fun, when you start taking star pictures. If u have not done it before, definitely give it a try :) In expectations of capturing a moment of Presides Meteor shower, headed to Trillium lake over last weekend (Aug 11-12, 2012) . Overall the meteor shower was pretty elusive than expected, always managing to put a show where the camera was not pointed. As the night was passing by, was worried that the moon rise (around 1:30 AM) might reduce the possibility of meteor sighting. But I was pretty surprised when everything just lined up just (around 3:30 AM) – the Venus, the Moon and the Jupiter – and even a meteor was adorning the scene. The star cluster you see a little off center on top is Pleiades nebula.
Hope u enjoy viewing as much as I did during the shooting !
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Perseids Meteor
Trillium Lake, Mt. Hood, Oregon, USA |
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