Nightscapes

A National Parks Journey - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

This Park is a tribute to the mighty volcanic forces that created and sculpted this archipelago in the middle of the Pacific. Featuring ancient lava tubes snaking through verdant tropical jungles as well as rough undulating black masses of freshly solidified lava with still-smouldering vents, this Park contains enough features to satiate the appetite of budding and mature volcanologists alike. But perhaps what captivated me most was staring at the orange glow from the gaping maw of the active volcano: it was a chilling reminder of the geological forces that was responsible for these and many other volcanic islands, and of how quickly it can change the landscape around.

I returned back to the park that evening to see the scintillating night sky framing the rising smoke from the volcano, a memory I will never forget of the first volcano I had ever visited.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
HI USA

A National Park Journey - Yosemite National Park

There is no grander a cathedral of granite than Yosemite National Park. Stepping into its hallowed halls with walls of towering granite from whose ledges gush waterfalls, is like stepping onto another planet. And while its star attraction, the Yosemite Valley, carries all the trappings of modern civilization, the towering geological features put the human efforts to tame it to shame.

When I lived in California, I used to visit the park multiple times a year, enough to observe the sharp change of seasons. But the summer in its mountains holds a special place in my heart. In the summer, my favorite place in Yosemite, however, was not the valley, but the high Sierra terrain. Far away from the maddening crowds, the quieter pace of the delicate alpine terrain offers an opportunity to slowdown and admire the small flowering plants as well as the iconic granite peaks topping above the forests. And at night, the higher altitude affords an humbling opportunity to observe the night sky far away from sources of light pollution.

This image showcases the night sky during one such summer visit.

Yosemite National Park
CA USA

A National Park Journey - Kings Canyon National Park

The first National Park I had visited in the country was Sequoia National Park. Being a sister park to Sequoia, Kings Canyon was the obvious choice to visit after Sequoia. After the intimacy with gentle giants in the first park, Kings Canyon was a shift in scale. I gazed with wonder at the towering granite canyon walls where gushing waterfalls flowed into bubbling creeks that meandered amongst grassy meadows laid out along the South Fork of Kings River. I even gained my first hiking chops on one of the many hiking trails that climbed up from the valley.

That vast mountainous landscape would draw me again for many years after that. Since then, I have hiked and backpacked in many different parts of that park that covers a vast swath of the Sierras far away from any civilization. I have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to explore this spectacular part of California, and this wilderness nestled in Kings Canyon holds a special place in my heart.

This image was a night sky from one of the many backpacking trips to Kings Canyon national Park

Kings Canyon National Park
CA USA

Winter Lights

The Pacific Northwest, though known for its amazing landscape and inspiring outdoors, is a tough place to live in in the winter. As we approach the winter solstice, the prolonged conditions of short days that last only 8 hours, and the ubiquitous grey and gloomy skies can put anyone in a dank mood. This double whammy has been exacerbated this year by the pandemic restrictions on travel and socializing, and poor economic and social outlook. Many people have lost their loved ones or their livelihood.

But there is hope around the corner. The vaccines are coming, and after tomorrow, the days will slowly get longer. Our lives will slowly achieve a sense of normalcy, and we can soon look forward to traveling and experiencing the delights of the world we live in. Like this display of the aurora borealis from Iceland.

Bordeyri

Iceland

A Strike on the Galaxy

As part of the work to create my annual photography calendar, whose proceeds this year will go to National Park Foundation, I look through the archive of over 5000 photos I shoot every year. I don't ever get time to comb through every single one; it is a task which I have been failing miserably at. However, occasionally I chance upon gems that I often missed at first glance.

This is one such catch from a trip to the eastern half of the North Cascades in a remote wilderness region, far away from any light pollution. I visted this place early in the summer, far before devastating wildfires impacted visibility in these areas. As I was shooting a timelapse of the Milky Way, a bright meteor streaked the southern half of the sky. I had no idea if the camera had captured it, at least not until I came back and reviewed it on the big screen. I was lucky to catch this bright streak arcing across the band formed by the central disc of the galaxy.

Paseytan Wilderness

WA USA

Skyfall

From the time of childhood, I had been exposed to the wonders of the night sky, starting with the lullaby Twinkle twinkle little star. And that fascination with the night sky continues to endure to this day, where with every backcountry trip I take, I look forward to staring at awe at the starscape that forms every night.

This trip to the Sawtooth wilderness was no different. Apart from being a fascinating place to explore a new environment, the lack of any light pollution provided a prime opportunity to indulge in this passion. And the Sawtooths delivered like no other. Tracking the band of light that stretched across the sky, I tried to capture the swirling masses of spectral clouds at the heart of the Milky way that seemed to illuminate the light of a thousand suns. Right at that moment, a bright (possibly) Perseid meteor scintillated just above the jagged outline of the Sawtooth range.

Sawtooth Wilderness
ID USA

Staring at the Stars

After a long day of hiking, I wanted nothing more than to cook up a hot meal and settle down for a night of well-deserved rest. I was going to do that until I saw the night sky above. It took a while for my eyes to adjust, but eventually the night sky became bright with stars, and the faint line of the Milky Way traced a line across the sky. Faint satellites moved against the collage of stars that frequently played hosts to the scintillating flashes of meteors.

At that moment, I felt blessed to be living in a region where I could head out to experience the darkness of the night sky as it truly was.

Alpine Lakes Wilderness
WA USA

Stretching the Stars

The pandemic does strange things to ones mind. I have spent many a dull moment cooped up indoors thinking what my past self was up to a year ago.
And this time, last year, I was up in the mountains of the French Alps, hiking a portion of the Tour du Mont Blanc, a famous hiking circuit that circumnavigates Mont Blanc on the border of France and Italy. Hiking up and down rugged mountain passes through glacial valleys and lush green meadows, and never far away from the jingle of a rustic cowbell, the trip will take a special place in my heart.

On this one rain-free night, I snuck out of the Rifugio to catch a catch a glimpse of a moonlit valley, with mellow clouds streaking above a windswept landscape of the Valley of Glaciers

Bourg St Mourice

France

Fairy Silhouettes

As I turned away from the last light of the day setting behind the profile of the North Cascades peak, I saw the crescent moon, high in the cloudless sky slowly making its way to its own twilight. A trio of conifers rose up towards the heavens, framing the graceful gradation from orange hues to the dusky twilight sky.

I tried to imagine what it would look like on camera, but I didn't have to. A quick snap with my phone revealed that this composition would work, and that eventually led to this fairy silhouette against the moon-lit night sky.

Paseytan Wilderness
WA USA