scenic stopovers

Bani Ray - Odissi - Mangalacharan

Gowtham — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:50:16 -0500

The occasion was the annual Asian Pacific Islanders for Professional and Community Advancement (APCA) National Awards Banquet and I would not have known about it except for timely information from dear friends Chris B & Atul M. As is tradition, the event/evening got off with a salutation to the higher powers. Ms. Bani Ray kept the audience glued to their seats during Mangalacharan [An invocational piece. After paying homage to Lord Jagganath a hymn in praise of some God or Goddess is sung, the meaning of which is brought out through dance. Mangalacharan also includes the bhumi pranam (begging forgiveness of mother earth for stamping on her) and the trikhandi pranam (threefold salutation - above the head to the Gods, in front of the face to the gurus and in front of the chest to the audience)] as well as subsequently performed Pallavi [a pure dance item in which a raga is elaborated through eye movements, body postures & intricate footwork].

Odissi is the classical dance form of Orissa in north-east India. The classic treatise of Indian dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as Odra-Magadhi. First century BCE bas-reliefs in the hills of Udaygiri (near Bhuvaneshwar) testify to its antiquity. It is distinguished from other classical Indian dance forms by the importance it places upon the tribhangi (literally: three parts break), the independent movement of head, chest and pelvis, and upon the basic square stance known as chauka.

An exponent of this traditional art form, Ms. Ray has been training under some highly respected teachers: Hari Krishna Behera, (1970-75), Shrinath Raut (1975-87) and Durga Charan Ranbir (1990-present) and currently serves as director, choreographer, instructor and performer at several institutes (Trinayan Collective in New York, NY; Nehru Institute of Odissi Research and Training in New Delhi, India; Lotus Music & Dance, New York, NY).

Fords, NJ.

Hemlock Falls

Gowtham — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:09:03 -0500

The South Mountain Reservation covers about 2000 in central Essex County - between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains. The reservation has changed only slightly through the years. Woodlands abound in a variety of hardwood trees, and tall hemlocks tower above streams, creeks and ponds. The west branch of the Rahway River flows through the valley. Not too far from one of the designated parking lots is this Hemlock Falls - a 25 feet drop of a stream that seems to be primarily rain-fed.

South Mountain Reservation, NJ.

Buttermilk Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:16:04 -0500

Shawnee on Delaware, PA.

Resica Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:22:13 -0500

Resica Falls Scout Reservation, PA.

Shohola Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:02:43 -0500

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Shohola, PA.

Dingmans Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:40:49 -0500

After several disappointing and failed attempts owing to Road Closed sign, it was finally my lucky day - as I not only got to see the Dingmans Falls (which just like the Douglas Houghton Falls in Upper Michigan, had become a final frontier during this Summer) and this Silver Thread Falls, but also got to interact with three very knowledgeable National Park Service Rangers in Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. Friendly and cordial, they helped me get to more waterfalls in the area than I had planned and helped categorize many a pictures from this area better.

Dingmans Creek, which feeds Factory Falls, Fulmer Falls and Deer Leap Falls in George Childs Recreational Site, takes another 100 feet plunge in two stages to make it very very impressive waterfalls - even with lower volumes of water. It can only look prettier in Spring (with snow melt) and amidst Fall colors.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA.

Silver Thread Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:31:33 -0500

After several disappointing and failed attempts owing to Road Closed sign, it was finally my lucky day - as I not only got to see the Dingmans Falls (which just like the Douglas Houghton Falls in Upper Michigan, had become a final frontier during this Summer) and this Silver Thread Falls, but also got to interact with three very knowledgeable National Park Service Rangers in Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. Friendly and cordial, they helped me get to more waterfalls in the area than I had planned and helped categorize many a pictures from this area better.

Located within few steps from the Visitor Center along a board walk, Silver Thread Creek plunges about 100 feet, in two stages, as a narrow stream and creates a silver thread-like appearance.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Dingmans Ferry, PA.

Foggyville

Gowtham — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:08:43 -0500

Following weather predictions (sunny beyond 9am) and starting early (around 5:30am), I was in the Dingmans Ferry, PA, around 7:30am - only to be disappointed by the Road Closed greeting me at the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center. While wandering along the fog covered backroads, this particular stretch was too mystical/magical to pass up.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area, PA.

Huskies Safety

Gowtham — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:44:59 -0500

Michigan Tech Huskies opened the 2008-09 GLIAC season with a home game against the Hillsdale Chargers (a team that had blanked Huskies in previous meeting). As exciting as it was to watch the Huskies offense pile on points - in pouring rain - to be leading 39-16 with under 8 minutes left in regulation, it was equally painful (and almost heart-breaking) to see the Chargers score 20 unanswered points. A botched up field goal attempt by the visitors with just over a minute left on the clock ensured a Husky win at the end of the day.

Just like the week before, I was again fortunate enough to be at the right places at the right time to witness (and capture) some things that had previously been very elusive. Few more TDs, acrobatic & gravity defying grabs and a sack in the end-zone for a safety - were just some of the highlights, not to mention the 39 (12 sincere; rest fake) push-up attempts I got to do along with our ROTC cadets.

Houghton, MI.

Chargers Grab

Gowtham — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:14:04 -0500

Huskies Touch Down

Gowtham — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:54:45 -0500

Michigan Tech Huskies opened the 2008-09 season with a home game against the Winona State Warriors (ranked #25 amongst DII in the country). The brand new turf, clearly visible logos and hash marks, beautiful sunny day and the best crowd I have seen so far - only way things could get any better was a W at the end of the day. In spite of missing a FG attempt, 2 PATs and defense surrendering scores on back to back drives to trail 13-14 at half time, all units played very well to secure the win & start off the season in a positive manner.

I was fortunate enough to be at the right places at the right time to witness (and capture) some things that had previously been very elusive. A goal line stand by Tech defense gave me chills and so did this grab by Bobby Slowik (#20) for a touch down, that put the Huskies ahead of Warriors.

Houghton, MI.

Hemlock Falls

Gowtham — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:30:47 -0500

Northern Cardinal

Gowtham — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:41:51 -0500

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), also known as the Cardinal or as the Redbird or as the Virginia nightingale, is a North American bird in the Cardinal family. It is found from southern Canada through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico to northern Guatemala and Belize. It is found in woodlands, gardens, shrub lands, and swamps.

The Northern Cardinal is a territorial song bird. The male sings in a loud, clear whistle from the top of a tree or another high location to defend his territory. He will chase off other males entering his territory. The Northern Cardinal learns its songs, and as a result the songs vary regionally. It is able to easily distinguish the sex of another singing Northern Cardinal by its song alone. Mated pairs often travel together.

Not only did this bird miss my numerous previous photographic attempts, but its very name was missing from my memory until recently. While roaming around in Willowwood Arboretum - part of Morris County Parks - with dear friend Doug Schmidt, I just could not believe my luck as not only this bird showed up but just kept hopping towards me. Pleasantly surprising event left me with little time to change camera settings and/or set the camera up on a tripod and as such, I ended up shooting with relatively higher ISO setting for a Sunny afternoon.

Two brothers in 1908 - Henry and Robert Tubbs - spent weekends traveling from New York City by train to look for a country place. On an excursion to Gladstone (NJ), they discovered the vacant Kenneday family homestead (dated around 1790) and was known locally as the Paradise Farm. The two brothers purchased it with a small legacy they had inherited, and renamed the property Willowwood Farm for the large willows growing along the stream. Many of the gardens, created initially by Henry Tubbs and subsequently by Benjamin Blackburn who resided at Willowwood after World War II, have strong cultural themes.

Far Hills, NJ

Charleston RiverDogs - Swing

Gowtham — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:40:31 -0500

Lakewood BlueClaws - Safe

Gowtham — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:02:57 -0500

Lakewood BlueClaws - Souvenier

Gowtham — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:46:26 -0500

Charleston RiverDogs (Class A affiliates of New York Yankees) came to play Lakewood BlueClaws (Class A affiliates of Philadelphia Phillies). Home team dug themselves into a deep 0-9 hole with three 3 run innings and late game heroics - scoring 5 in the bottom of 9th innings - wasn't sufficient.

Seen here is a happy fan (her face turned a lot more happier moments later) with a baseball waiting to get more autographs - one of the pleasant sights I get to see at these games. Young kids come out with pictures, cards, gloves, balls, ..., to have them autographed by the players and most players are usually kind enough to oblige and send these kids home with good souvenier :)

Lakewood, NJ.

The Washington Monument

Gowtham — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:11:09 -0500

Designed by Robert Mills, the Washington Monument is a large, tall, sand-colored obelisk near the west end of the National Mall. It is a U S Presidential Memorial constructed to commemorate George Washington. The monument is the world's tallest stone structure, and is the world's tallest obelisk, standing a little over 555 feet in height and made of marble, granite, and sandstone. The actual construction of the monument began in 1848 but was not completed until 1884, almost 30 years after the architect's death. This hiatus in construction was because of lack of funds and the intervention of the American Civil War. A difference in shading of the marble clearly delineates the initial construction from its resumption in 1876.

Its cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884, and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title it inherited from the Cologne Cathedral and held until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was finished in Paris, France.

Washington, D.C.

Brown Pigeon

Gowtham — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:24:31 -0500

Washington, D.C.

Rock Pigeon

Gowtham — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:15:15 -0500

The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), or Rock Dove, is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the pigeon. The species includes the domestic pigeon, and escaped domestic pigeons have given rise to the feral pigeon.

Habitats include various open and semi-open environments, including agricultural and urban areas. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originally found wild in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, feral Rock Pigeons have become established in cities around the world. The species is abundant.

Washington, D.C.

Lakewood BlueClaws - The Swing

Gowtham — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:54:57 -0500

West Virginia Power (Class A affiliates of Miluwakee Brewers) came to play Lakewood BlueClaws (Class A affiliates of Philadelphia Phillies) and a kind PR personnel gave me the media pass, letting me shoot from the home team dug out through out the game. The lead switched sides and there were good as well as sloppy plays from either teams. BlueClaws played just well enough in front of a good crowd under lights to clinch the win.

Lakewood, NJ.

Lakewood BlueClaws - The Pitch

Gowtham — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:13:53 -0500

West Virginia Power (Class Aaffiliates of Miluwakee Brewers) came to play Lakewood BlueClaws (Class A affiliates of Philadelphia Phillies) and a kind PR personnel gave me the media pass, letting me shoot from the home team dug out through out the game. The lead switched sides and there were good as well as sloppy plays from either teams. BlueClaws played just well enough in front of a good crowd under lights to clinch the win.

Lakewood, NJ.

Osprey

Gowtham — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:34:50 -0500

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also known colloquially as seahawk, fish hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor with a 6 ft wingspan. It is brown on the upper parts and predominantly whitish on the head and underparts, with a brownish eye patch and wings.

Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant. As its other common names suggest, the Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It has evolved specialized physical characteristics and exhibits some unique behaviors to assist in hunting and catching prey. Despite its propensity to nest near water, the Osprey is not a sea-eagle.

Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreational Area, NJ.

Divinity

Gowtham — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:18:09 -0500

A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. A rock, by comparison, is an aggregate of minerals and need not have a specific chemical composition. Minerals range in composition from pure elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms.

Fluorescence is a luminescence that is mostly found as an optical phenomenon in cold bodies, in which the molecular absorption of a photon triggers the emission of another photon with a longer wavelength. The energy difference between the absorbed and emitted photons ends up as molecular vibrations or heat. Usually the absorbed photon is in the ultraviolet range, and the emitted light is in the visible range, but this depends on the absorbance curve and Stokes Shift of the particular fluorophore. Fluorescence was coined by George Gabriel Stokes in his 1852 paper, the name was given as a description of the essence of the mineral fluorite, composed of calcium fluoride, which gave a visible emission when illuminated with UV radiation.

Calcite (Red/Orange), Willemite (Green), Zincite and Franklinite are some of the minerals contained in the above specimen on display, in Franklin Mineral Museum. With about 380 different minerals (out of the nearly 3800 known to mankind) - many of them adorning the showcases of Sterling Hill Mining Museum and Franklin Mineral Museum - this region is aptly known as the Fluorescence Capital of the World.

Franklin, NJ.

Smoke

Gowtham — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:06:31 -0500

Having seen many such smoky pictures (more prettier ones with intricate formations), I had been planning to attempt one myself for a while. I had little information about technicalities of photographing smoke for the first several attempts; for the next few, I didn't necessarily have off-camera lighting accessories. Even with some knowledge and some accessories, I did fail on numerous disappointing occasions but finally coming up with a decent result.

The smoke was generated using Mysore Sandal Incense Sticks, manufactured by the same folks who make the popular Mysore Sandal Soap, the Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited. The result, after inverting colors with Adobe Photoshop CS3, would have been much better had I used a pure black background (with smoother texture) and reflected the light from primary source back towards the smoke ... may be next time.

Red Bank, NJ.

Fireworks On The Navesink

Gowtham — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:33:22 -0500

Fireworks on the Navesink takes place along the banks of the Navesink River the eve of 4th of July. The epicenter of the event revolves around two Red Bank parks -- Marine Park, at the base of Wharf Avenue, and Riverside Gardens Park on Front Street. More than a dozen food vendors set-up to provide food and drink to the over 50,000 people who pour into downtown Red Bank for the event. Launched from two barge locations, Garden State Fireworks of Millington shoots over 10,000 shells, all choreographed to an eclectic mix of popular and patriotic songs.

This being my first time in this part of the universe, I didn't know what to expect from the event - my only measures of comparison being the ones from Lake Linden and Copper Harbor. Seeing the fireworks choreographed to songs, amidst the usual oohs and aahs, was a unique experience while meeting, hard-to-find, cool people felt good as well.

Red Bank, NJ.