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Category Archives: Photography

PhotographyTravel

I visited Iceland and Paris in 2010. I’m finally ready to share what happened.

Mike Specian October 1, 2022 Leave a Comment 149 Views

It’s been almost twelve years since I visited Iceland and Paris in winter. I brought my now-ancient Nikon D40 with me, and captured images all along the way. Our flight was technically a one-stop from the U.S. to Paris, but we managed to secure a multi-day layover in Iceland. It provided a great, but limited opportunity to explore the capital of Reykjavik and the southern coast. Click on the button below to see what transpired.

I do want to share one story from the trip that didn’t make it into the photo collection. We had driven east out of Reykjavik with the goal of traversing the southern coast, then turning north at the edge of the island. We didn’t make the turn north until after the sun had set, and the instructions we had received regarding the location of a town we could spend the night were vague. We didn’t have GPS capability, and the deep December cold was settling in.

We saw an isolated house at the end of a long driveway off the main road. We pulled off, approached the home, and knocked on the door. A graying Icelandic man answered the door. Behind him, dark wood paneling and furntiure colored in deep orange and pea green was illuminated by some incadescent lamps. It looked straight out of the 1970s.

We asked the man for directions to the nearest town with lodging. He looked confused, and replied to us in Icelandic, a language we had not heard since our arrival two days earlier. We pointed at our rudimentary map and pantomimed the best we could, but the best we got from him was a gesticulation over the next hill. We thanked him the best we could and headed blindly in that direction.

The advice was good enough, because lo and behold, over that next hill was a sizable hotel, with what looked to be close to 40 rooms. There were no lights on inside and the front door was locked. Closed for the winter season, we thought.

We approached a trailer on the outskirts of the hotel property to see if we could obtain more information. We knocked, and a woman in her nightgown opened the door. She was not expecting visitors, but she did speak English. After we explained our situation, she instructed us to wait where we were, then shut the door. A few moments later she reemerged and led us towards the hotel. She produced a set of keys and opened the door for us. She flipped a couple of breakers, turning a subset of common area lights on. We could see a large, but dimly lit reception area in front of us disappearing into the darkness. To our left and right, long hallways shot off the entrance, leading 40 yards in either direction.

She instructed us that we should just pick any room that we liked, then departed. As we gained our bearings, we couldn’t help but feel like we were in The Shining. An isolated hotel at the edge of the country, surrounded by snow, completely empty…well, except for us. We decided to try out the piano, sending full, rich sounds echoing throughout the vacated premises.

The next day, I drove our stick shift vehicle back to the airport and we departed for Paris. This was my first time visiting France in any capacity, and the city blew away my expectations. I had adopted the popular image of a culturally rich city overflowing with green spaces, romantic boulevards, and people bustling about. But this was winter. And what we found instead was a cold, wet city drenched in artificial light. The photos I captured in the gallery below reflect the spirit of the place as we experienced it at the time.

PersonalPhotographyTravel

Tamil Nadu’s Top Station

Mike Specian February 5, 2014 Leave a Comment 3232 Views

At the boundary of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu lies Top Station, an idyllic hill location that stands at the highest point of the Munnar-Kodaikanal Road. Top Station is about one mile above sea level. On clear days visitors are afforded wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. On days like the one depicted in this video, clouds roll over the mountains providing the calm sensation of being in a cloud forest.

 

PersonalPhotographyTravel

Good Morning, Windermere

Mike Specian January 30, 2014 Leave a Comment 2572 Views

Continuing with the theme of my travels through India, today I present an interactive panorama from the state of Kerala.  The images that comprise this panorama were taken at the Windermere Estate near Munnar, Kerala at sunrise.  Here the sun rises over the eastern mountains while the hills cascade downward to the south, disappearing into the early morning haze. Here’s the location:

 

To see the full India photo gallery, click here.

PersonalPhotographyTravel

On Boats in India

Mike Specian January 27, 2014 Leave a Comment 2611 Views

The Indian state of Kerala is referred to by many as the “Venice of the East” by virtue of its many channels, backwaters and lush green vegetation. One of the more popular attractions in the city of Alleppey is a houseboat tour. In this video, I chronicle what it is like to take an overnight excursion on one of these boats.

In the second part of the video, I head east into the mountains to the Mattupatti Dam Reservoir near the town of Munnar. We rent a paddleboat and take it onto the water for a first hand look at the reservoir and beautiful surrounding area.

PersonalPhotographyTravel

Indian Bustle

Mike Specian January 24, 2014 Leave a Comment 5174 Views

As a first-time traveler to the Indian metropolis of Chennai, I was struck (not literally, thankfully) by how chaotic the traffic situation is there. I found that there are generally four types of vehicles – small sedans, large vehicles like buses and industrial trucks, tuk tuk taxis and motorbikes. Each of them operates with minimal care for the others. Motorbikes will zoom in between other vehicles at traffic lights, traffic laws are lax and collisions are common.

In this video I chronicle what happened on a relatively simple drive to dinner across town. Then, I take a tour through a garment store in the city of Alleppey, Kerala and discover that Indian hustle and bustle is definitely not confined to the roadways.

PersonalPhotographyTravel

A Photographic Journey Through Chennai and Kerala, India

Mike Specian January 22, 2014 Leave a Comment 2778 Views

In January of 2009 I travelled to India for the first time. Upon arrival we began by spending several days in the 9 million-person-strong metropolis of Chennai. We meandered along the Bay of Bengal on Elliot’s Beach, enjoyed multiple excellent South Indian lunches at Morgan Idlii’s and even went to see Slumdog Millionaire! We were also able to spend time with friends, both old and new. I was fortunate enough to meet Fugan – a former Peace Corp member in South America, current Buddhist monk and exceptionally talented musician.

Next, we flew across the subcontinent to the southwestern state of Kerala. Unlike much of India, Kerala is a land of blue skies, green mountains and tranquil waterways. A hired driver transported us to the city of Alleppey where we took an overnight houseboat tour on Lake Vembanadu.

Finally we drove high into the eastern mountains to the town of Munnar. Using the lovely Windermere Estate as our base, we viewed countless hills converted into tea plantations. We rented a paddleboat to explore the Mattupatti Dam Reservoir and visited Top Station, the highest reachable point in the region. At a mile above sea level, we experienced Top Station as being continuously blanketed by a rolling sea of whispering clouds.

Below I have included my full photography gallery from this trip. I hope you enjoy it.

abad-group-of-hotels
chennai-chitra-dances-for-kishore
chennai-kishore
chitra-and-fugan-on-the-roof

mate-tea
fugan-plays-the-drum
chennai-vroom-vroom
chennai-parked-motorcycles

chennai-fitness-paradise
chennai-lazy-dog
chitra-and-fugan-on-the-beach-in-chennai
chennai-man-sells-masks-etc-on-the-beach

chennai-men-on-the-beach
chennai-women-on-the-beach
chennai-woman-watches-people-in-the-ocean-aligned
chennai-walking-on-the-street

chennai-this-dude-looks-like-daryl-from-the-office
obama-should-india-fear-him
chennai-mr-potato-head-says-to-use-safety-grills
chennai-zero-waste-huh

chitra-on-the-bus-in-india
kerala-chitra-in-our-first-hotel-room
fort-kochi-buildings-lit-in-blue-and-green
chitra-says-go-bills

alleppey-dead-slow
alleppey-lambs-graze-on-roadway
kerala-typical-indian-street
alleppey-tuk-tuks-ready-for-hire

alleppey-busy-street
alleppey-lenin-poster
alleppey-sonic-and-tails-bus
alleppey-men-begin-boat-tour

alleppey-boat-swtda17
alleppey-dilapidated-boat-interior
kerala-boat-graveyard
alleppey-nehru-pavilion

alleppey-fishermen-and-paddler
alleppey-fishermen
alleppey-fisherman-up-close
kerala-bungalow-with-the-tall-palms

alleppey-hotel-room
alleppey-long-red-flower
alleppey-yellow-flowers
alleppey-bananas

alleppey-houseboat-under-tree
alleppey-life-along-the-canal
alleppey-plants-on-the-water
kerala-lone-paddleboat-in-tropical-bog

kerala-approaching-the-boat
alleppey-houseboats-in-precession
alleppey-man-drives-the-houseboat
alleppey-lunch-on-boat

alleppey-houseboats-on-the-water
kerala-sea-and-sky-with-boats-meld-into-one
alleppey-hammer-and-sickle
alleppey-mike-chitra-and-german-woman

alleppey-stray-dogs-are-everywhere
kerala-mike-and-chitra-panorama-in-the-field
alleppey-in-boat-heading-down-canal
kerala-small-boats-view-in-the-canal

alleppey-kingfishers-on-a-line
alleppey-sun-sets-behind-houseboats
alleppey-man-in-house-along-water
sunset-of-the-curved-palms

kerala-chitra-in-boat-in-canal
town-boats-in-the-gray-distance
alleppey-houseboat-recedes-into-the-mist
chitra-in-car-middle

dam-power-side
munnar-the-lake
munnar-chitra-sits-on-wall-near-lake
munnar-mike-and-chitra-pose-in-front-of-the-lake

munnar-cars-and-tall-straight-trees-near-the-lake
munnar-view-from-paddleboat
munnar-view-of-lake
munnar-stopping-for-photos-in-front-of-tea-field

munnar-trees-tea-and-mountains
mike-and-chitra-in-india
mike-and-chitra-in-india-no-hat-or-glasses
landscape-on-path-to-munnar

munnar-windermere-cloud-passes-over-roadside-mountain
munnar-monkeys
lizard-in-india
munnar-rainy-cars-in-town

munnar-rainy-street-in-town
munnar-windermere-flowered-entranceway
munnar-windermere-main-building
munnar-windermere-bridge-and-hills-beyond-main-building

chitra-on-path-at-windermere
munnar-windermere-our-room
munnar-windermere-goats-eat-near-the-tree
munnar-windermere-super-sunny-rolling-hill

munnar-cardamom
munnar-lightning-behind-jackfruit-tree
munnar-windermere-foggy-mountain-behind-rock-and-foliage
munnar-rolling-hills-on-a-cloudy-day

munnar-car-parked-near-cloudy-tea-plants
munnar-dipping-tea-field-in-cloud
munnar-picking-some-tea
munnar-cloudy-path

munnar-stairs-into-clouds
munnar-foggy-trees-on-a-tea-hill

PersonalPhotographyTravel

The Top 16 Things I Brought Back from India

Mike Specian January 21, 2014 Leave a Comment 5238 Views

The day after the first inauguration of President Obama, I flew halfway around the world to India armed with little more than my old Nikon D40 camera and a kit lens.  I travelled onto lakes with active fishermen,

 and onto mile-high tea plantations,

I explored tropical lakes, cloud forests, narrow channels and even a dam.  I have uploaded what I feel are my top 16 photos on the page below.  I encourage you to exercise your sense of adventure, click this link or view what follows on this page.  In a couple of days I will unveil my full gallery of images.

 

[Show as slideshow]
alleppey-fisherman-up-close
munnar-rolling-hills-on-a-cloudy-day
kerala-small-boats-view-in-the-canal
alleppey-boat-swtda17
chitra-and-fugan-on-the-beach-in-chennai
chitra-on-path-at-windermere
alleppey-houseboat-under-tree
dam-power-side
kerala-lone-paddleboat-in-tropical-bog
alleppey-sun-sets-behind-houseboats
munnar-lightning-behind-jackfruit-tree
munnar-foggy-trees-on-a-tea-hill
mike-and-chitra-in-india-no-hat-or-glasses
alleppey-fishermen-and-paddler
landscape-on-path-to-munnar
sunset-of-the-curved-palms

 

AstrophysicsPhotography

Welcome to Everest on Mars

Mike Specian December 11, 2013 Leave a Comment 2584 Views

Click on the image below to be transported once again to the beautiful red rock in the sky, Mars!

Our specific destination is the pinnacle of Mars’s Husband Hill, which lies adjacent to Gusev Crater.  Because of the elevation at which these photos were taken, the image below has been dubbed the “Everest panorama” in honor of Earth’s highest mountain.  This view into Gusev Crater showcases rocks and rusting sand stretching out over vast plains.  Further in the distance other peaks lie beyond sand drifts.  If you look closely, you can even see a couple of faintly colored dust devils in red and blue.

The images, which are credited to the Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Cornell, JPL and NASA, were taken over the course of three days by the  robotic Spirit rover in 2005.  Spirit, which ceased operation in 2009, took the images to match what a human being with 20/20 eyesight would have seen standing in the same location.

 

 

Photography

Milky Way over Santa Barbara

Mike Specian August 27, 2013 Leave a Comment 5209 Views

My latest photograph was shot from atop California’s Santa Ynez Mountains on August 13, 2013.  The band of the Milky Way galaxy is visible over a field of antennas while the full moon reflects off the Pacific Ocean.  The halo of light in the center near the horizon is the city of Santa Barbara.  To the left of the city, a red light from the top of a nearby mountain glows.  The dots of light near the moon’s reflection are from oil rigs.  If you look carefully, you’ll see a handful of streaks (i.e. planes, meteors, satellites) as well.

This view was stitched together from 16 separate 30-second exposures.  About 180 degrees is subtended between the left and right while the top center was the sky’s zenith.  As such, this image captures about one quarter of the entire sky.  I was using a Nikon D7000 with a 11.0- 16.0 mm f/2.8 Tokina lens at a focal length of 11.0 mm.  f/3.5;  ISO 400;  Gitzo tripod with Really Right Stuff ball head.

PhotographyTravel

St. Peter’s Square Panorama from Vatican City

Mike Specian August 2, 2013 Leave a Comment 2571 Views

I’ve completed work on an interactive Flash panorama that puts you right in the middle of St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Click the image below or this link to check it out. To see the full Rome photography gallery, click here.

pano-button-st-peters-square

 

This is where the panorama was taken:

 

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