Fw: Stars from Paul Calkins
Copyright 2005 Paul Calkins Star Fish 90 F stop 3.5 Exposure time 1/6 sec ISO 400 Focal length 22 mm Ken, Hope all is well with you. It looks to be another busy week. You take care and drive safe! PC Photographic Thoughts Volume II
May 20, 2013
Stars By Paul Calkins © 2013 Bellaartandphoto.com
When you think of stars, and you live in California, images of movie sets, and Hollywood spring to mind. If you happen to be in San Diego County on Palomar Mountain, you would think of the 200 inch Hale Telescope, Caltech, and one of their famous visiting scientists Albert Einstein. I have been to Palomar twice, and each time it evoked peaceful and amazing thoughts. The telescope mirror was made of what in its time was a new glass material, Pyrex. The new glass was found to be the best material for such a large telescope mirror because it was not prone to distortion caused by heat and cold. I remember with much fondness star gazing on cold nights on the old family farm in Southwest Washington. It provided the wide open spaces free of surrounding forests to look up at the Milky Way. The farm was far away from the small city of Longview, so light pollution was not a concern, and when there was clear unclouded night, you could see into the eternity of space and time. The foothills of the Central Valley also provide ideal viewing of the night sky. The vantage point does have a drawback, the cities that dot the Valley floor. The valley lights are beautiful distant views, that are wonderful to photograph, but alas can distract from the overhead panorama. I have heard recently that the lights from the metropolitan areas of San Diego County are starting to do encroach on the spectacular night views from Palomar. The idea of stars, leads me to other wonderful visions. Newport, Oregon has brought the idea of starry visions in another venue. This small town on the Oregon, coast has among one of its attraction a world class aquarium. It has many wonderful displays, mostly outdoors. One of the tanks is mostly devoted to Asteroidea, or the common star fish. The aquarium and this particular display are one of my favorite stops on the Pacific Coast. Thanks for listening |
posted by kenreport @ 4:44 PM
<< Home