Milky Way !!!

This is my first ever attempt to photograph the night skies. I have done night long exposure shots many times but never turned the lens towards the sky. We went for camping last weekend and it was an amazing stargazing night with fantastic people. One of our friend was our guide for the stargazing. He taught us all the details about where to look for what and we could see awesome details with simple binoculars. That is when we saw the milky way that was visible clearly to naked eye. And I decided to try and capture it ........ I surprised myself with the kind of details the camera ended up capturing. 

Milky Way is the one of the billion galaxies out there that contains our Solar system, Our Solar system contains many planets and earth is one of them, and on this earth we are one of the billions of people ............ it took me a while to realize my tiniest existence in the vast reality.
 
Here are the results. Hope you enjoy them too.

 

 

Equipment: 

Camera: Canon 7D

Lens: Canon 10-22mm

Hood Hood ....

Another one of the Pacific Northwest volcanic mountains located just 45 miles east of Portland, OR. Not only it provides amazing views but also a fantastic Ski place too.

This is on last Memorial day weekend when it was sunny not much snow left but still plenty of hardcore skiers and show boarders were trying their luck on the remainder of the non-existent winter. You can take a ski lift up just to walk around and admire the beauty of this mountain up-close.

If you look back, away from the mountain you can see a thick cloud cover till the horizon that changes the reality of few thousand feet to the dreamy feeling of "On Top of the World" for you.

At Lake Trillium where normally you can see a nice reflection of the mountain in the waters, it was playing Peek-a-Boo with the help of fast moving clouds for the whole day. It still ended up giving some stunning views of it.

This is how beautiful it was at Lake Trillium though Mt hood was under the hoodie. This lake is absolutely pristine and well maintained as only human powered floating devices are allowed in the waters.

Last but not least is the small hike to the Mirror Lake. This is a very nice and family friendly hike. On top the Mirror Lake provides picture perfect views of Mt Hood. For me the clouds were still rolling in and one of the visitors let the dog in the waters to challenge our Photography skills.

 

You can rent a VRBO in Government Camp, OR and everything is within 20 minutes from there. Though we went at end of May, it surely must be providing great views and activities all year round.

Equipment: 

Camera: Canon 7D

Lens: Canon 100-400mm, Canon 10-22mm, Canon 18-55mm

Breathtaking Blues - The Himalayan Blue Poppies

There are so many kinds of pretty blues in the nature...

Some relaxing like Hawaiian Sea ...

Some reassuring like Clear Blue Skies ...

Some are deep like that of Crater Lake ...

Some are refreshingly serene like that of a Glacier ...

This one is breathtaking!

So delicately translucent and beautiful beyond words ...

It takes your breath away for those few illusive moments and takes one to a joyful state of mind!



Equipment:
Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm

Moving Reflections

This is "Hooded Merganser" female smoothly sailing across the waters in search of the meal during dinner time. She looks amazing with the hooded look and almost spotless reflection.

This is a very colorful male "Malard". his head reflects different colors depending on how and in which angle the sunlight is reflecting. Very commonly found duck everywhere. Bright sunlight is always magical.

This is a "Shoveler" female basking in the evening sun digging through the mud and looking for food. She was startled by the dog sounds and started moving away. I hate when people take their dogs to the places where it is marked in the BOLD that no dogs allowed.

Another colorful duck -  male "Teal". He exhibits amazing colors and has a bright colored teal feather under the wing hence the name Teal. They look amazing especially when moving towards the sunlight.






Equipment:
Camera: Canon EOS Kiss Digital X, Canon 7D
Lens: Sigma 170-500mm, Sigma 150-500mm, Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter

Skyline Glamour !

Kerry Park

One of my favorite places to click the Seattle Downtown. No matter how many times you go there, which time of the year or the day or the night you go there, what weather, ....... it will never disappoint you. Each time you will get to see amazing colors and views of the downtown. 

Kerry Park at Night

As I said in one of my earlier posts about Kerry Park that it is surrounded by some of the most beautiful houses, almost 100+ years old historic neighborhood. Me and my wife love to take a stroll around, on any given day. You also have nice views of the Puget Sound, Ferries going in and out, Sea planes, Cargo ships, Alki beach, ....... it's beautiful.

Seattle Skyline from Alki Beach.

Now if you simply go across the waters to the Alki Beach on a cold winter night sometimes the water is so calm that you can see the entire glow reflected back in the water making it an amazing display.

Equipment:
Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon 18-55mm

Up Close and Personal

Getting back to my own fascination of Bald Eagles ....... this is the closest I have ever gotten to the Bald Eagle through the lens and I believe there is no more room to get any closer. Looking at it so close and in so many details you can certainly admire the true beauty of this majestic hunter. When they fly above the water you can see that all the smaller ducks run for cover. Looking at its beak it seems a little older yet in full command. This was sheer luck to get so up close and personal look at the Bald Eagle. My love for my camera gear grew a lot more after this photo. If you stare at the photo for a few seconds while looking at its eye, you will realize the terror it causes among the smaller birds, ducks or for that matter any pray.

How do you like it?

Equipment:

Camera: Canon 7D

Lens: Sigma 170-500mm

"The Devilish"

GBH - Great Blue Heron - The Devilish!

Need I say more? Again being at the right place at the right time pays off all the time. This is a bit older specimen and standing their still on one leg with perfect balance and with a cunning look. And there was a smooth breeze from behind just enough to grow couple of horns turning him into a Devilish!

This is one of my most favorite captures of GBH so far.

Picture Lake - Artist Point

I visit this place each year in multiple seasons. This is Mt Shuksan located in Mt Baker - Snowqualmie National Forest. Though Mt Baker is better known and visible from a distance, this mountain is no less when it comes to the beautiful views. There are Mt Baker Lodge Lakes just before the Artist Point. This is taken at the "Picture Lake". To reach here take I-5 North in WA state and take exit # 255 towards SR-542 East in Whatcom county. This is located at the end of SR-542.

With and without clouds it kinda gives a different perspective and beauty to the picture. I love them both. During the fall you can see amazing colors all around. In winter time all this area including all lakes is frozen and covered in the snow. Make sure you check before you visit as there is a limited time window during which the drive to the Artist Point is open in a year.




Equipment:
Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon 18-55mm

Meditative Stills

Egret is one of the birds who can stand absolutely still for hours in search of food. If the water is absolutely calm like in this photo it allows you to capture amazing mirror image. This one was standing like this for more than 10 - 15 minutes. Looks like they are in deep meditative state of mind except with eyes wide open.

 

Another one was standing on top of the abandoned decorated colorful boat. This I believe was meditating after the meal like we all do many times. This too was standing in that position for so much time. I actually waited for it to turn the head so that I can capture the profile but it never did.

Here is the classic Great Blue Heron (GBH) during the dinner time. It was looking for fish for a good meal and again for a very long time. It was a little dark at the time, I still love the silhouette in the waters. Standing still for long time.

  

 

This Egret was looking for the lunch in the bright afternoon. It was on the edge of that wooden barge standing still for few minutes. I was hoping that it can spot a fish so that I can click some action. Then I gave up and clicked this reflection. At the last minute it managed to lift the right leg just when I clicked.

In all these photos the nice blue water background illuminates the white on it, almost reflecting the sunlight, creating an amazing and equally bright reflection in the waters.

Interesting challenge I had when I clicked these was my lens malfunctioned like a day before and AF stopped working completely. So I had to click all these on MF which usually does not work with Birds as timing is important.

Equipment:

Camera: Canon 7D

Lens: Sigma 170-500mm

"Lunar Eclipse"

This was my first ever attempt to capture Lunar Eclipse as well as the time lapsed Photography. I kept clicking at every few minutes during the eclipse from start to half way through and created this collage by putting them together. It was winter morning almost 4am, out in the open and freezing cold. And right after the moon was fully red the clouds came in and covered it completely. Thanks to some of my amazing enthusiastic friends who witnessed it with me and some who could not join but watched it from window. I was thrilled with the result.................What do you think?

Equipment:

Camera: Canon 7D

Lens: Sigma 150-500mm

Tropical Sunsets

Sunsets are always picturesque in tropical regions around the globe where you see some of the biggest sizes of Sun and dramatic colors during the sunset. One of my favorite is Goa in India. It has one of the best coast line and some of the most beautiful beaches.

You can find many secluded beaches where there is no one other than you, the sea and the setting sun. You can spend entire evening in your own way admiring the view.

At the right place at the right time!

Then there are moments that hold a very pleasant surprise for you. You feel really lucky to just witness them. All you need to is Aim it and Frame it - CLICK, CLICK! It makes you realize that Timing is Everything.

At the end you call it a day part your ways with the sun and get back to the city and its night life where late night parties are just getting started ......

Equipment: 
Camera: Canon EOS Kiss Digital X
Lens: Sigma 170-500mm

Are you talking to me?

"Spectacled owl"

These are the largest of the New World tropical owls that inhabit the rain forest!

Many of us are told and so believe that owls can't see during the day or that being out in the sun is harmful to them!

Although the retina of their eyes is densely packed with rod cells that help them see in dim light, owls can also see well in daylight. Owls can adjust their pupils to limit the light entering their eyes and striking their sensitive retina!

It always has the expression - "Are you talking to me?".

 

Equipment:
Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Sigma 170-500mm

Tulip Mania Part 2 - Up Close

Here are some of the fantastic closeups of different varieties of Tulips grown in the Skagit Valley in WA state. Each flower is unique and absolutely stunning. Every year growers come up with new and unique colors, designs, size, shapes, ...... very innovative. Plus they ship Tulips all year round. These are all clicked inside Rosengarten area of Skagit Valley. Since 1984 each year Skagit Valley celebrates the Tulip Festival. These are from Tulip Festival 2015.

Here is Tulip Festival 2015, Enjoy!!!
      

Equipment:
Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm