@Night: Santorini

                                                                                    Santorini, Greece
                                                                                June, 2015

While on vacation,  I definitely don't pack up my camera after sunset. Taking night time and early morning photos pose some unique challenges. Due to low light conditions, you have to take long exposure shots. If there are some bright lights in your frame, long exposure will washout the details. Often, you will be the only person standing outside in a cold, dark and unfamiliar location. Given all the challenges, I absolutely enjoy the experience. More than my day time photos, I like my night time photos. 
      

Armeni Village, Oia, Santorini.
June 25, 2015. 9:06 PM.

Armeni Village: Panaromic view from out side our cave!
June 26, 2015. 6:13 AM.

Long exposure is needed to get the buildings exposed correctly. But, the moon gets washed out.
June 24, 2015. 11:52 PM.

So, I hid the moon behind the tree branches. The constellation Scorpio and Saturn are at the left side.
June 24, 2015. 11:56 PM.

View of Oia from the northern tip of Santorini.
June 24, 2015. 9:06 PM.

June 24, 2015. 9:12 PM.

Restaurants at Oia.
June 25, 2015. 9:01 PM.

The two bright planets are Jupiter and Venus.
June 25, 2015. 9:35 PM.

Santorini Sunsets !!!

                                                                                    Santorini, Greece
                                                                                June, 2015


Astronomy Trivia Question: Is it possible to see a star in the sky during the day time?

Oia is at the northern tip of Santorini and the sunsets are best when viewed from Oia. All the tourists staying in other towns ( Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli ) arrive at the northern most point in Oia to watch the sunset. The old castle in Oia is the gathering place for all the sunset watchers. To get an unobstructed view, one need to get there at least an hour before the sunset.


 

A good reference map of Santorini, from Fira's Bus station.

The old castle in Oia.
Since it is at a good elevation, you get amazing views of the buildings and the sunset.
This is the first place that gets filled up to watch the sunset.
On our first evening, we had to elbow our way to the castle ;)

Do you see the flag and the church bells near the right edge?
That is where we went the next day to watch the sunset (photos below).

Most folks leave the area right after the sun disappears. Hang around little longer.
Slowly, the building lights come up and create an enchanting view.

Trivia answer: Of course, we all can see a star during the day, the Sun. :)