Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are times we race thru things. Actually we are conditioned to race for everything in life – both professional & personal. It takes effort to slow down. Be mindful. Adapt to natures pace. Once you get her secret, life would be much enriched :)
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 800: 119 mm : f11 : 1/6 sec
The Rise
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Initiated around 1793, the core building of The Capitol (Washington D.C) construction took 33 years. It was interesting to learn that the current dome of the capitol building was actually the second one. The original wooden dome was subsequently replaced as a precaution for fire.
Today it stands as the meeting place of the nation’s legislature. The Capitol also houses an important collection of American art, and it is an architectural achievement in its own right. The several blocks from Washington memorial to the capitol building houses the various Smithsonian museums and is a great place to take a walk !
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 200 : 33 mm : f4.0 : 1.5 sec
| The Capitol Washington, D.C, USA |
For most people, we often marvel at the beauty of a sunrise or the magnificence of a full moon, but it is impossible to fathom the magnitude of the universe that surrounds us :)
– Richard H. Baker
The last quarter of 2016 had been treating us with Super Moons. To the casual watcher it does not make much of a difference in size, but it does give an excuse to go out, shoot and enjoy.
All the planning did not come together during Oct and Nov, as the weather Gods had other plans. The third and final installment of this supermoon trifecta adored the sky earlier this evening (Dec. 13, 2016). And Oh boy, was it awesome !
This is not a composite (not that there is anything wrong with composites). But it was much more fun and challenging to plan and get it all together, restricting to a single focal length.
As I came to the spot shortly before the moon rise, was worried the anchored boat would be a hindrance. But once I walked around, the composition fell in place – and in this case, I feel it adds to the scale of the shot :)
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 320: 270 mm : f5.6 : 1/8 sec
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Moon Rise 12.13.2016 St. Petersburg, Florida, USA |
Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon ?
Great food, but no atmosphere …I wonder how come its still full ;-)
After a couple of months, decided to plan for a full moon shoot for this year ! After scouting couple of locations, decided the Sunshine Skyway bridge would provide a nice backdrop. May be, without realizing, I was trying to mimic the mountains with this urban set up :). Anyway, weather had different things in store for the evening. It was so cloudy by the horizon, that the supposedly big moon, was not even visible during the rise. Then began a game of hide and seek. Eventually, she peaked out for a while, giving just enough time to capture this scene !
Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 320 / 125: 169 mm : f5.6 : 8.0 / 1/15 sec
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Sunshine Skyway Bridge St Petersburg, Florida, USA |
If you have read the “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon”, you would known about Minli who sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.
Here is a magical shot from valley of Sandy River, as the full moon dances with the majestic Mount Hood. A big cheers for all the adventures and answers you seek for in the coming new year. A Very Happy New Year – 2016 to my Friends out here. May this new year be beautiful, sweet, creative, and happy one for you.
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 100 : 270 mm : f11 : 1/20 sec
| Jonsrud View Point Sandy, Oregon, USA |
Super moon, Blue moon, Pink moon, Harvest moon – are all nothing but whimsy media terms. Believe me, there is nothing super about the super moon.
I am definitely not an expert at shooting the moon. I have captured the moon in the past, but am still learning. One thing that helps in getting a captivating shot is to capture the moon when it is low – real low – on the horizon. The other is to include a foreground subject to get a scale of reference. Just make sure you far away from the foreground subject and shoot with a really really long long lens [ beg borrow or steal, just get the longest lens you can :) ]. Shooting with the long lens helps actuate the size of the farther object (in this case the moon) by playing with your mind. As with the below shot or this example of the sunset. It becomes much more obvious in this shot by Photographer Alessandro Della Bella.
This evening the weather was playing hide and seek. It was supposed to be clear. Then it was all overcast. After lot of deliberation, decided to drive out to the planned spot. It was still an hour or so more for the moon to come up. It was still drizzling. Decided it would be a nice evening walk, if not anything else. Just around the time of the moon rise, the clouds had cleared a bit, but the the horizon was still overcast and hazy. What is the fun if everything goes as planning right :) After suspenseful wait the moon decided to show up – just at the right spot. At the end it was all worth it. Yes – there is nothing super about the super moon. Actually – every full moon is indeed super. What do you say ?!!!
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Super Moon on 6.23.2013 @ Chicago Lighthouse Chicago, Illinois, USA |
I am so close, I may look distant.
So completely mixed with you, I may look separate.
So out in the open, I appear hidden.
So silent, because I am constantly talking with you.
- Rumi
The below shot is a moon set, yes you read that right, it is the moon set and not sun set. It was one of those rare early morning twilight moments during the beginning of the harvest months, when the moon is fiery, large & bright – due to its low position in the horizon. The colors were as is and not modified. You can read more about the harvest moon in this older post from last Aug.
Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : No Filter : ISO 800 : 270 mm : f5.6 : 0.5 sec
| Harvest Moon Crater Lake, Oregon, USA |
Crater Lake probably has inspired hundreds of people. One can say no place else on earth is such pure deep lake, sooo blue, sheer surrounding cliffs of around two thousand feet high combined with a violent volcanic past. It definitely is a place of immeasurable beauty but did u know there is a spooky side to the place.
That particular day or rather evening, the sun was setting just behind my back. I was not aware that it was full moon and that the moon rise coincided with the sunset. I was happy to see the moon, just I was about to leave. Deciding get some shots, set up the tripod to capture the moon. The shades from the twilight were extraordinarily bright and the blue lake was pretty much under spooky pinkish blanket. For a moment I was able to get a glimpse of the eerie and spooky side of the lake, that not many people are aware of ….
Happy Halloween :)
P.S: The tree trunk was enhanced to highlight the texture, age and details and the moon was slightly enlarged, but the colors were as is from the scene !
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Crater Lake Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA |
Camping out in the wilderness – it was such a cozy feeling, as I was lazing in the comfort of the sleeping bag with the pre dawn temperatures of 2oC. I was in no mood of getting out. Oh my, I was real glad I did push myself out eventually. Already short of time, I was driving a bit crazy to locate a spot for the sun rise along the rim of Crater Lake. To my left, glanced the reddish glow between the trees. My initial thoughts was -forest fire – as there was an high alert warning for the same. I stopped the car right on the middle of the road and set the tripod to get this shot. Luckily there was no car traffic to bother me, at the time of the hour :)
The Harvest Moon is usually the first full moon after the first frost or it is the full moon closest to Mabon. As MSN quoted, the harvest moon was extremely photogenic. Actually I was not even aware of the Harvest Moon until I read this article today. Now I know why the moon was so bold and red ! The Harvest moon appears larger and brighter due to its low position in the horizon, during the rise and set. The colors of this special moon – that yellow, gold and red is more an impact of the earth on the moon, than actually being a change in the moon. Autumn (Harvest) is the season when the focus is on the harvest of what has been worked on all year. Appreciation for what one had & has. As I enjoyed this scene, it definitely was a moment of contemplation …
I present to you The harvest Moon setting over the horizon, at the Crater Lake National Park Area. This shot is directly from the camera (RAW to JPEG converted for web display) with no post processing. I would have liked a closer crop, but did not do any processing, to highlight the colors as it existed. Where were u over the weekend, did u get a chance to enjoy the Harvest moon in person !!!
Camera : Canon 7D
Lens : Tamron 18-270mm
Filter : None
ISO 320 : 155 mm : f5.6 : 0.7 sec
Shot on : 09.30.2012 ; 6:39 AM
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Harvest Moon Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA |
Blue Moon is term for the second full moon in any given month. The phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ is supposed to indicate a rare event – thought the blue moon sighting is actually once or more in around 3 years. And no – the blue moon is no where near blue. Actually it was having a more warm yellowish glow, as it was rising behind the Mt Hood.
This shot was from Jonsrud view point at Sandy, OR during the blue moon on Aug 31,2012. Photographing the moon at times can be quiet intimidating. U might be tempted to treat it as night photography. The moon being a source of light can appear just as a white blob if not exposed properly. If you are planning to shoot just the moon, then a long zoom and couple of tips could get your started. Shooting it along with the landscape require a bit of planning. On that particular day, the moon being slated to rise just 30 mins prior sunset, created a very conducive and magical light. The beautiful colors were just as such and created by the alpine glow of the setting sun on the opposite side. The full moon, clear skies, the alpine glow – everything just came together. Enjoy the blue moon, as it rises :)
This shot required some pre work : being at the right place and at the right time made all the difference. The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE) – a nifty software available for both desktop (requires Adobe AIR) and mobile, greatly helped in finalizing the shooting spot and also the location / time of the moon rise across the horizon.
P.S: This was taken from the same spot from where this sunrise was shot, wow how much of a difference light can make !
Camera : Canon 7D
Lens : Tamron 18-270mm
Filter : 3 stop Neutral Density Filter
ISO 100 : 70 mm : f8 : 0.5 sec
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Jonsrud Viewpoint Sandy, Oregon, USA |
Much discussion have been floating around the so-called "super moon" that will take place tonight (March 19). Actually the phenomenon of super moon occurs once in 14 yrs or so, but this time it also turns out to be on a full moon day. The discussion has been actuated by aftermath of the Tsunamis that hit Japan around last week and the rumored natural causes around the super moon.
Is it really super. Decided to venture out and take a look at the same. Though scientifically it is indeed couple of 100 kms closer, not sure if it would not make much of a difference to a casual observer. Also the time / location of observing and the optical illusion around it (Building or know objects in the close foreground , and the moon on the far back ground at horizon) make lot of difference to the perception. As I was at the terrace , not much of interesting subject to shoot along with the moon. May be next time should head out to the lake or something !
So what do u think, Is there any thing super about super moon ? Super moon or not, it was indeed enjoyable spending some night time, out with the moon !
P.S : Drop by my Photo Site. Have updated the home page with awesome mega slide show, that fills ur browser automatically(Pure CSS / JS / HTML, yeah ditched the Flash!!! - Thanks 2 FastlineMedia for sharing the amazing library). Do share ur thoughts on the same :)
 Flickr Page |
Super Moon, Mar 19, 2011 |
After a five km hike, that too in the night, was exhausting. But having a camp fire, with an awesome view, waiting for the sun to rise – was quiet an adventure. This is from a full moon night trek. Yeah I had posted this shot as part of the travelogue. But I liked the shot soo much that I wanted to get it out here in full glory here @ the main blog for all my friends to enjoy. The way the distant city lights and the camp fire turned out was really vibrant. You should really check out the large size to see the starry sky ! Wish I had reached couple of hours earlier to do a star trail shot, need to plan for it sometime …
If you are planning for a skandagiri trek, do check out this travelogue !
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Flickr Page |
Full Moon Trek, Skandagiri |
| Marc R. on Stars by a tranquil night |
| Mariam Weber on Even her goodbyes are ever so… |
 | Sunrise by the stepp… on What a place to write ur thoug… |
 | Sathya on Simple Life |
| Sathya on Venus on the swing |
Like the Ocean 