சூர்ய கிரகணம் (Solar Eclipse)

Warnings:

1. Never look at the Sun directly.
2. Never look at the Sun through a Telescope or Binoculars unless you have the
    proper Solar filters installed.
3. Never photograph the Sun (except Sunrises and Sunsets) through your camera.

#1 & #2 will cause permanent eye damage.
#3 will cause permanent camera damage.

Once I knew the Annular/Partial Solar Eclipse is on may 20th, I didn't want to miss it. The next one is 5 years away and may not be even visible from California. Good, this one fell on a weekend. Initially, I thought I will just watch it with everyone and enjoy it. As the date got closer and closer, the "shutterbug" started biting me more :)). I realized, I am completely unprepared to photograph the Eclipse.

I scrambled in the last minute and ordered 4 simple Solar Filters for us to look at the Eclipse safely.

I ripped out 2 of the filters and taped it to the old

Tele lens :))


















This is my first ever attempt to capture the Solar Eclipse. Enjoy :))

3:41 pm. Test shot, before the Eclipse began.

5:41 PM

5:50 PM

6: 03 PM

6:25 PM

6:37 PM

6: 48 PM

While the eclipse was progressing, Shreya  and I tried some simple experiments and had fun :))  If I was not able to rig up my lens, these are the only fotos you would have seen.

We made pin holes on an aluminum foil and projected the Sun's image

4:12 PM, befoe the Eclipse began.

6:09 PM

6:51 PM The peak of Eclipse.

Shreya's fingers formed a pin-hole camera :))

As the Sun started going down behind the houses, Sheila and I drove to the Hilltop Park nearby. The place was packed with people, watching and photographing the eclipse. One person had set up his telescope and projected the image of the Sun.

Projected image of the Sun

As we drove back, the Sun was setting behind the hills and offered a glorious view of the final stage of the eclipse :))

Super Moon

For 2012, the Moon was at its closest point to Earth (Perigee) yesterday night.   My plan was to go to a nearby location and capture the moon as it emerges from behind a mountain.  By the time I reached my destination,  the Moon has popped out already :))  The atmosphere was little bit hazy and the shots didn't come out that good.

Astounding Antelope Canyon

While Zion and Bryce canyons are very impressive, Antelope Canyon, though small, amazed me with its unique display of colors. Antelope Canyon, located in Page, Arizona, is just 2 hours south east of the Zion Mountain Ranch. Interestingly, the land where the canyon is located belongs to "Navajo" Indian tribe. You can only take a guided tour that is organized by the Indian Tribe. This type of very narrow canyon (you can touch both the walls with your hands),  is called a "Slot Canyon".  There are many 45 minutes tours available throughout the day, but to experience the dashing display of its brilliant colors and light play you must take the 11:30 midday tour. That is when beams of Sunlight strikes the canyon floor and the effect of scattered light puts on a colorful show. Our guide was very good and pulled us out to the right spots to take the fotos. Each turn, each rock, each curve carved out by flash floods through the canyon was a feast to the eye. We reached the other end of the canyon and returned through the same path. During the return, the Sunlight beams have disappeared and the canyon looked little dull.

Diana wanted to see the purple rocks of Antelope Canyon :))

On the way back, we stopped by "Horseshoe Bend" where the Colorado River makes a U turn :)

At the Horseshoe Bend, Suji was trying to flip Siva over the edge :))

Grottos and Hoodoos!

Bryce Canyon is north east of Zion and it took us just less than 2 hours to reach Bryce from Zion. The drive is beautiful, dotted with small villages and winding through mountains. Just before we reached Bryce, we drove through a much smaller Red Canyon.

Red Canyon

Bryce is a unique canyon with beautiful, vertical rock formations called Grottos and Hoodoos. You can walk along the nice walking trail along the rim of the canyon or drive to all the view points.

This is a horizontal panoramic shot. Don't miss the extended part on the right. 

Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon                                                                          

This is a horizontal panoramic shot. Don't miss the extended part on the right. 

Grottos @ Bryce Point                                                                        

There is no way my photos capture the beauty and splendor of Bryce. With the following fotos, I tried something new. While looking at "Thor's Hammer" formation,  some wheels in my brain cranked and I thought the only way to capture the beauty of Bryce is by taking vertical panoramic shots.

Thor's Hammer

Sunrise Point

Trail leading in to the canyon

Located at an elevation of  ~9000 feet, Snow can fall anytime @ Bryce

Weight lifting competition; Siva beat me up :))

As promised :))

Zazzy Zion

Whether you want to do a casual hike or climb a 3000 feet tall sheer vertical rock,
Whether you enjoy watching people or the Bighorn Sheep,
Whether you want to go horseback riding or biking,
Whether you want to camp or stay in a nice lodge,
Whether you like to photograph the landscape or the night-sky,
Zion National Park has something to offer.

Zion's orange, pink, red and white, textured sandstones with a brilliant blue sky as the backdrop are a delight to watch, touch, feel, hike or rollover :))  If you ask me to describe Zion in one word, I would say "Red"!

Red, Blue, White, Green, Heaven

Checker Board Mesa

Temple of Sinawava

Rock climber at Temple of Sinawava

Emerald Pools Trail on the left & Virgin river.

On the Emerald Pools Trail

On the Emerald Pools Trail

Relaxing after hiking on the Emerald Pools Trail

Loved the grooves and the curves :))

Siva made a dent on Zion :))

Three Bighorn Sheep

Of course, this has become our trademark and  I promise you will see more jump shots :))

Buffaloes in the Backyard :)

The place where we stayed for a week, during this breathtaking road trip to Utah & Arizona -  "Zion Mountain Ranch" (ZMR) -  turned out to be the highlight of the vacation. Credit goes to Sheila for picking up this place out of so many options :))

To start with, it was centrally located and that made it easy for us to do our day trips to Bryce & Antelope canyons
and be back  in the evening.  ZMR, is a real working Ranch with log cabins built on a rolling hillside for guests to stay
and enjoy the nature. The ranch was surrounded by a  forest, a  deep canyon and a mountain on 3 sides.

The 2-story log home we stayed with Siva's family, was nicely located overlooking the meadows and the mountain range.

The ranch had a big herd of Buffaloes roaming the rolling meadows behind the cabin.

A small watering hole is located right behind the cabin and the Buffaloes would all gather there to drink water.

Any time we were relaxing in the cabin or return from our excursions in to Zion, we started looking for the Buffaloes. 
For the week we stayed at ZMR,  we all became very close to and fond of the Buffaloes.

Swetha, Shreya & Riya running back to the house after a Buffalo viewing session :))

Everyday during the morning,  a herd of Deer came across from the forest and surrounded our cabin to graze in the grass.  The ranch also has plenty of horses and 2 cute ponies for guests to go riding on the horses. One of the many best things I loved about staying in ZMR is the "Pristine and Crystal Clear" night skies.

More on the Deers, Horseback rides and clear skies on upcoming posts :))