Like the Ocean

Aurora by the city

Sathya — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 22:44:54 +0000

A little late to process and share & not as grand as the show put up north earlier his week. Still, it was a great experience capturing her dancing and hiding behind the clouds from this past Sun/Mon [4/23 11:30 PM]

The weekend was drawing to a close, and I was getting ready for some much-needed rest before tackling Monday head-on. Suddenly, the aurora alarm went off! Sadly, the ever-unpredictable British weather wasn’t on our side. Nonstop cloud cover is practically a staple here in the UK, and that night was no different. Determined to make the most of it, I researched both weather and aurora forecasts to narrow down my options: either venture up north to Birdlip, a cloudy location with a higher chance of seeing the aurora, or head south to Stonehenge, boasting clearer skies but lower aurora probability. In the end, I took my chances and went for Birdlip viewpoint.

Even amidst significant light pollution, the captivating aurora managed to put on a short but utterly enchanting performance. The cool breeze, the setting crescent moon, the city of Gloucester and Cheltenham all lit up, the aurora gleaming thru the clouds and Lyrids joining the show … What an incredible night it turned out to be!

Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 1250: 16 mm : f3.2 : 15 sec

Aurora by the city
Birdlip, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Sunrise by the stepped pushkarini

Sathya — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 15:41:54 +0000

There are several pushkarinis (also called as kalyani) spread across Hampi. Some of these pushkarinis were related to the temples. Few larger ones were built for the general public. Some situated within the Royal Enclosure, like this were specially built for the members of the royal family of the Vijayanagara Empire. It was amazing to see how these stepped tanks were connected to an extensive network of stone aqueduct that provide fresh water from the nearby Tungabhadra River.

P.S : If you would like to see this with higher water level, check this out.

Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 500 : 10 mm : f3.5 : 1/200 sec

Hampi Ruins
Karnataka, India

Sunset by Hemakuta Hill

Sathya — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 17:46:21 +0000

Every sunset is different, because every day is different, clouds are different, reflections are different, distant mountains are different, and above all – we are different!

Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 320 : 10 mm : f9.0 : 1/25 sec

Hemakuta Hill
Hampi, Karnataka, India

The autumn of our lives

Sathya — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 17:15:58 +0000

The time for longer and more everlasting contentment is in the autumn of our lives – Albert Emerson
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Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 10 mm : f/16 : 8.0 sec

Jones Gap State Park
Marietta, South Carolina, USA

Rest, not Quit

Sathya — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 17:21:14 +0000

If you get tired learn to rest, not to quit – Banksy
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Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 100 : 19 mm : f11.0 : 1 sec

Sunset Beach
Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA

Fishing hamlet by Maravanthe

Sathya — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 13:31:06 +0000

This fishing hamlet is from one of the lovely roads by costal karnataka. Hedged in by ocean on one side and a river on the other – makes it one of the most beautiful roads in all of India. As the twilight broke, the rising sun kissed the land and made the crashing waves to glisten. The golden sand, swaying coconut trees, solitude of the ocean, laid back life and the endless shore makes Maravanthe a zen of a place.

DJI Mavic Pro : ISO 100 : 4.73 mm : f2.2 : 1/640 sec

A Zen of a place
Maravanthe, Karnataka, India

Simple Life

Sathya — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 14:50:35 +0000

Life is simple –
it will continue to be so
if only, we stop to make it complicated
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Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 250: 16 mm : f4.0 : 1/1000 sec

Paddy Fields
Sagara, Karnataka, India

The not so silent Sathodi Falls

Sathya — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:35:13 +0000

Amazing, how a thundering waterfall can be so violent, yet so calming – all at once.
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Sathodi Falls – though just 15 meters high – is quite a picturesque waterfall located deep in the forests of the western ghats. The stream further flows down into the backwaters of the Kodasalli Dam.

Waking up at 5 AM and driving thru the unknown roads (and in few spots no roads at all) was quite an ordeal. The rustic, rugged drive and the bit of early morning trek made it only more adventurous. The thunderous waterfall, the jagged & craggy boulders, the solitude with nature, the magical mist – all this kissed by the morning twilight – made it an even more enriching experience :)

Sony A7III : Sony 24-105 mm : ISO 100: 25 mm : f16.0 : 1/3 sec

Sathodi falls
Balagar, Karnataka, India

Until next time …

Sathya — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:30:49 +0000

Just because u don’t see the moon, doesn’t mean it isn’t there :)
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Canon 7D : Sigma 150-600 mm : ISO 1000 : 600 mm : f6.3 : 1/250 sec

Partial Solar Eclipse
Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Venus on the swing

Sathya — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:33:27 +0000

Witnessed this moment on the same night as that of Venus ascending. By the remote islands of the Andaman and in the midst of the dark night – we were chasing the grandeur Milky way. Meanwhile the stars from the other side of the galaxy were probably pondering over the beauty of this rugged island. At that moment, oblivious to our presence, the Venus decided to join the party and jumped on the thing (that we call as swing) to get a ride of its life :)

Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 4000: 16 mm : f2.8 : 20.0 sec

Venus on the swing
Morice Dera, The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

The Last Scepter

Sathya — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 15:47:20 +0000

Arichal munai is often called “The Last Road of India” since another 18 km (by water) would get you into Sri Lanka. At the tip of the ruins of the ghost town of Dhanuskodi – is this spectacular meeting of the oh-so-calm Bay of Bengal and the roaring Indian Ocean. With a lovely drive accompanied by colorful sea (and ocean) on both sides, it is quite a tranquil spot. Be there early morning and the gleaming sun would light up the entire horizon.

A pair of eyes is not enough to take in the view. Hence took the aid of my flying friend to get this view, for you :)

DJI Mavic Pro : ISO 100 : 4.73 mm : f2.2 : 1/60 sec

Arichal Munai
Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu, India

Star trails & AI

Sathya — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 13:53:10 +0000

I’ve been wanting to write about star trails for a while now. I love stargazing and I’ve been fascinated by the movement of the stars and planets across the night sky since I was a little kid. I grew up in a rural area where I had to learn the names of the constellations and planets by reading books, and I’ve always wanted to share that love with others. I’m excited to share my knowledge and passion for astronomy with you in this post, and to show you some beautiful star trails I captured with my camera.

Star trails and night sky are two of the most beautiful things in the world. They capture the essence of the moon, stars, and night sky in a way that nothing else can. On a clear night, they can offer a glimpse of the universe, and if you’re lucky enough, they can offer you a glimpse of the cosmos. My favourite thing about star trails is how they capture the motion of the stars.Star trails are a mesmerizing phenomenon that occur when a camera is pointed at the night sky for a length of time. The rotation of the earth causes the stars to appear to move across the sky, giving the appearance of a long line of stars moving across the sky. The effect is most visible when shooting long exposures, and can be used to create abstract artwork or as a way to capture the beauty of the night sky.

P.S : If you have not realized by now or if you were wondering that this is not my writing style, you are damn right – the below shot is from me but this blog post was written by an AI. All I asked for was a blog post regarding star trails, and the bot (HyperWriteAI) gave me this in a split second :O Am sure very soon these algorithm with evolve to mimic individual writing styles as well. Intrigued and scary at the same time, what a time to live !

Canon 7D : Canon 10-22 mm : ISO 3200 : 10 mm : f/3.5 : 25 sec (384 shots)

Kanakapura Forest
Kanakapura, Karnataka, India

Long time no sea

Sathya — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 17:02:58 +0000

A visit to a pristine beach is the best escape anyone can have :)
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The northern side of Kapu beach in Udupi is no exception. Many visit here for the lighthouse, but a morning stroll, by the sand, waves crashing in, the cool breeze, by the dispersed fishing boats is something to experience. It has been a while and time to head back !

DJI Mavic Pro : ISO 100 : 4.73 mm : f2.2 : 1/60 sec

Kapu Beach
Kapu, Karnataka, India

Twin Towers of Somnathpur Temple

Sathya — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:55:27 +0000

This is from two years back, but still remember the day vividly. After a year of closure due to covid, we thought things were opening up (after the first wave, not realizing how the next 2 yrs were going to be) and decided to head out. The short trip to Chennakesava Temple, Somnathpur – turned out to be great. Luckily there were not many people around.

I had plans to shoot the temple tower during sunset. But the security guard had other plans. He started chasing us out by 5PM, though the documented closing time was only by sunset :( On that day, the forecasted sunset was around 6:30 PM. With no clouds in the sky, the light was still pretty harsh. Just when I was moving towards the exit, a shot captured by one of my friends, flashed in my mind. I knew I had to get the same. Dodging the security guy, ran to the extreme corner of the temple, literally dropped myself to the floor and comp-stomped this shot. I feel the black and white processing adds to the texture and composition. How do you like it :)

Thanks Ashok bro for this shot !

I want to be known for what I am, black and white, because I’m proud of both. – Logic
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Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 100: 16 mm : f4.0 : 1/8 sec

Keshava Temple
Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

Sunset by the roadside

Sathya — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 17:10:58 +0000

A cup of chai
kindled conversations
with likeminded friends
and a lovely sunset
can make even the mundane, magnificent !
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As we were headed to deep interior forests of kemmangundi (for waterfall hopping), we came across a small town. Wanting to get a break from the long drive, stopped by a small bakery for some chai. As we started the journey back, there was a small puddle of water by the roadside and the twilight sunset made the mundane scene magnificent.

Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 200 : 16 mm : f/2.8 : 1/4 sec

By the Roadside
Bokikere, Karnataka, India

Milky Way by twilight

Sathya — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:00:02 +0000

This week’s capture is from one of the rugged and remote islands of the Andaman, which probably has one of the best night skies and even more amazing sunrises. Looking back, the 4 shot panorama was not enough to capture the grandeur as it unfolded. Anyway what is more magical than watching a milky way or a dramatic sunrise – it is of course watching a Milky Way rise during a dramatic twilight sunrise.

A still more glorious dawn awaits
Not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise
A morning filled with 400 billion suns
The rising of the milky way – Carl Sagan, Cosmos
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Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 4000 : 16 mm : f2.8 : 10 sec (4 shot Pano)

Somewhere in Andaman
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Untouched beauty – Punnayar Falls

Sathya — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 16:41:00 +0000

There’s no better place than to be around a thundering waterfall and listening to its music. – Roland R Kemler

A trip to Idukki is not complete with out a visit to this beautiful waterfall – situated in a forest by Kanjikuzhy – vannapuram route. The drive itself is quiet scenic. The roads get steep and narrow as you get near the falls. When we went, there was some construction going near the Punnayar Bridge, hence we parked there and hiked the reminder of the way. Be aware that there are two waterfalls – Punnayar A and Punnayar B (wish they had better naming :)). Punnayar B is very close to the road and easy to reach. A short walk, a bit of wading thru the water or rock hoping will get you here. It is more safe and one can take a bath if they like.

Punnayar A on the other hand is away form road and involves a bit of hiking. Be cautious, the path is little deep, steep and slippery – especially in rainy season. If you have an off-roading vehicle especially bike, you can almost reach the waterfall (and reduce the hike distance). It is indeed a strenuous hike, but the view and the experience are far more grandeur and well worth it.

With the strenuous but tranquil trek in the forest, amidst the fragrance of the cashew trees, lovely & secluded waterfalls, paired with a breathtaking viewpoint of the valley down below – it is a spot not to be missed !

Sony A7III : Sony 24-105 mm : ISO 100 : 24 mm : f16 : 4 sec

Punnayar waterfalls
Kanjikuzhy, Kerala, India

Priceless conversations

Sathya — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:57:23 +0000

Conversations
with friends
by the beach
under the stars
– are indeed priceless
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Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 4000 : 16 mm : f2.8 : 20 sec

Digilipur
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Twilight by the small fishing hamlet

Sathya — Thu, 26 May 2022 15:24:32 +0000

This moment is from the wee hours of one morning by the southern most point of India – Kanyakumari (also known as Cape Comorin). As the sun was still leisurely strolling far below the horizon & the dazzling lights on Vivekananda rock / Thiruvalluvar statue were still on – the locals by this small fishing hamlet were still sleeping. It was a moment of calm, before all the tourists thronged by the bay and as the sun eventually burst into million shades !

Canon 7D : Tamron 18-270 mm : ISO 400 : 20 mm : f4.5 : 10 sec

Small fishing hamlet
Kanyakumari, TamilNadu, India

I’m wonderfully insignificant

Sathya — Tue, 17 May 2022 13:41:31 +0000

Sony A7III : Sony 16-35 mm : ISO 4000 : 16 mm : f2.8 : 20 sec

Somewhere in Andaman
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India