Highlights the beauties of the night sky, but it also highlights the challenges posed by humanity's efforts Light pollution never looked so good: The World at Night's annual photography contest to light up the night.
This year's winners reveal how artificial lighting can add another dimension to the natural wonders of the stars and planets — or spoil the view forever. Hundreds of pictures were sent in from about 50 countries, including exotic locales such as the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, the national parks of Reunion Island and the savannas of South Africa, said Babak Tafreshi, the founder and leader of The World at Night. "We received a lot of submissions from Asian countries this year, especially China, India, Iran and Indonesia," the Iranian-born astrophotographer said in an email exchange
He said the message of The World at Night is definitely getting out: "In general, it looks as if TWAN's aim of reclaiming the natural beauty of the night sky and promoting nightscape photography is reaching a growing audience worldwide, while the activities by amateur and professional astronomers and environmentalists to increase awareness on the light pollution issue is truly getting a lot of public attention."
This year's contest is limited to images taken since the beginning of 2011, but that leaves a lot to choose from — including pictures of Comet Lovejoy, the spectacular "Christmas Comet" that wowed skywatchers in the southern hemisphere, as well as the stunning auroral images that have cropped up over the past few months. Both those phenomena are represented in today's top-10 roundup from TWAN.
Tafreshi drew attention to two potential perils facing astrophotographers nowadays: light pollution and photo fakery. He noted that the increasing glare of city lights was "not just an astronomer's problem," but also "a major waste of energy, and like any other form of pollution, it disrupts ecosystems and has adverse health effects."
"Today, most city skies are virtually empty of stars," he said in his email. "About two-thirds of the human population today lives under light-polluted skies, not dark enough to see the Milky Way. Seeing a real dark sky is a must-see experience in the life of each of us, moments that you will not forget in your entire life."
Tafreshi also said there's a fast-rising concern about images that may not be telling the truth about the earth and sky.
"Unfortunately, a majority of photographers who are interested in nightscape photography are less familiar with astronomy, and the natural look and color of the night sky," he said. "So many landscape astrophotos today are intensely saturated, unnaturally contrasted, and sometimes with totally wrong colors of the sky. We had stunning compositions and amazing landscapes at night, some made by famous photographers, which were ruled out of the contest simply because they were 'overcooked' in processing."
Evergreen Adventures did a great job overall. We were delayed leaving by about an hour at the airport due to rain, but they made up this time at the end of the tour. Also to note - they offer the tour only when they have the desired number of passengers (8 for our tour). So you may have to have several possible dates in mind when you book, and be flexible in order to go. You can put your name on a waitlist and be called if cancellations occur or for last minute bookings. We booked several weeks in advance and did go on the day we wanted to.
In summary...Wow...is really all I can say...So amazing to witness such incredible natural beauty in the middle of a pristine tropical rainforest
You can rely on TWAN's prize-winning pictures to show the true glories of the night sky, along with the glow of the world below. Check out our slideshow, and read more of Tafreshi's observations in the comment space below. The largest reef system on earth can be described as follows.
Officially the largest reef system on earth, the Great Barrier Reef has almost 3,000 reefs encompassed within the 2,600 kilometre area of land that it covers.
Although the Great Barrier Reef is clearly visible from space, it is when looking at it from underneath water when it truly appears to be beautiful and somewhat magical. Over 1,500 types of fish call the huge Barrier Reef home and in excess of 400 types of coral can be viewed in the area, meaning if you get chance to visit the area, you should make sure that you take along an underwater camera.
Nepal,a sovereign independent kingdom, lies between 80.4' and 88.12' east longitude and 26.22' and 30.27' north latitude. It is bounded on the north by Tibet autonomous region of the people's Republic of China; on the east by Sikkim and West Bengal of the Indian Union, on the south by Indian States of Bihar and Uttar Pardesh and on the West by Uttar pradesh of the Indian union. The length of the kingdom is 885 kilometers east and west and its breads varies from 145 to 241 kilometers north- south. Climatically, it lies in the temperate Zone with the added advantage of altitude. Except for some exceptation, there are seldom less than 1220 meters above the sea-level.
Nepal is a country of amazing extremes. There are the world's highest mountains including sagarmatha(Mt.Everest 8848 m). It is a country of high Himalayan mountains, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife and diverse cultures. It is the land where Lord Buddha was born over 2,500 years ago. Nepal is primarily an agricultural country. Tourism, Carpets and Garments are the major industries. Enhancement is everywhere, be it on the shoulders of high mountains, on terraced farmlands meticulously craved like stairways out of hill ridges, on cascading mountain rivulets and rushing rivers, or in forests full of wildlife, flowers and bird song. Nepal provides something for everybody tourist, trekker, river runner, wildlife enthusiast, poet, artist, or the weary in search of a personal shangrila.
Climatic conditions with in Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with the geographical features. In the north, summers are cool and winters severe, while in the south summers are sub-tropical and winters mild. The monsoon that brings rain from June through September affects most of the country except those that lie in the rain-shadow areas like Mustang which is within Nepal but a part of the Tibetan plateau. Large tracts of forested land have been preserved as national parks and wildlife reserves where endangered species like the Royal Bengal tiger and the Greater one-horned rhinoceros roam freely along with an amazing variety of mammals and reptiles that include bear, leopards, hyenas, wild boar, wild elephants, monitor lizards, crocodiles, pythons, turtles and various species of insects and birds.
The lake is included in the Triglav National Park is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia. Bohinj lake stretching as far as 4.2 kilometers with a maximum width of up to 1 kilometer. It is a glacial lake dammed by the moraine. Besides its natural beauty, the lake is also surrounded by legend Goldhorn (Zlatorog), a white chamois with golden horns. In connection with this legend, a statue of a creature resembling a small deer could be found standing at the edge of the lake.
Kras, also known as karst or karst terrain, is a limestone plateau border in the southwestern region of Slovenia which extends to the northeast of Italy. Kras is more precisely located in the Valley Vipava with low hills surrounding the valley, the western hills of Brkini, northern Istria and the Gulf of Trieste. Western edge of this plateau also marks the traditional ethnic border between Italy and Slovenia. From one side of the cliff, you'll see an amazing sight. As far as the eye could see, you'll see green bushes combined with white limestone at altitude, while underneath a beautiful expanse of blue sea stretches.
"Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself."
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There is beauty in the variety of flowers, birds, animals and plants, many of which are vividly colorful. There is beauty in mountains, valleys and hills, and in the skies. Thus, beauty can be found in all the creations of God. Then hunter who scans the forests for his quarry is often fascinated by the beauty that he finds in objects, which conceal beautiful flowers from human sight, suddenly reveal their secrets to him when he stumbles over them. The fisherman who turns to the sea for his livelihood is fascinated by the beauty of the multitudinous creatures that swarm in the seas. Many of these creatures are found even on the shore. But the oceans often conceal the beauty that lies below their surface, and to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the world below the sea, hundreds of divers everywhere explore the bottoms of the oceans, even at the risk of losing their lives in the unknown regions of the world below.
The beauty in nature is also appreciated by others. Almost every one delights to see the rushing streams and the numerous birds and animals that may be found in every part of the earth, for these are part of the ornaments of nature. Even the tiniest of creatures has beauty of its own. In search of this beauty in nature, men in all parts of the world are traveling great distances and spending a great deal of money, even in some cases, even their life savings. It is this appreciation of natural beauty that impels men to visit distant lands which have a beauty of their own. Men have also visited the islands that are spread throughout the world in search of the natural beauty. Many have seen visited the cold deserts in the Artics as well as the hot deserts where few plants grow, in search of the beauty that may be found in these regions, despite the lack of vegetation and animals life. The deserts are indeed the home of many beautiful plants and animals which find sufficient refuge in these parts, and many of the birds too, here are remarkable for their beauty.
But the person who is most appreciative of natural beauty is the poet who finds music and beauty even in the movement of the clouds and winds. His deep appreciation of the beauty that he finds around him impels him to give utterance to it in the most expressive language, which is itself often of imperishable beauty.
If you happen to find yourself in Guyana it is well worth the journey to Kaieteur Falls. You can take an overland journey of 5 days if you have the time and inclination or an easy day trip.
We booked a day trip with Evergreen Adventures for $250 US. The trip included pick up at our residence in a bus, lunch, snacks, bottled water and a flight to Bagwanara resort in the Esquibo river for swimming and lunch first. ( A very nice secluded island resort in the middle of the river) and then a flight on to Kaieteur National Park, a guided walk to three viewpoints at the falls and then a return flight and bus trip home. I felt this was very good value for the money considering the incredible remoteness of the location
Our day started out wet and rainy but thankfully as we headed towards the falls, the sun came out.
The pilot ensured everyone got the opportunity to see and photograph the falls from an ariel perspective as he flew over the falls in both directions. From the air the sheer size and scope of the falls is amazing as you can see it from miles away in the sea of green almost broccoli looking tropical forest.
The trails around the park are easy to walk and there are three view points tgo see the falls.
1 Boyscout view - you are looking across the chasm to see the falls
2 Rainbow view - you are across from the falls but much nearer on a high cliff, this view point did indeed offer spectacular rainbows in the mist and great photo opsv
3. The top of the falls - at this view point you can actually walk right into the river at the top of the falls, and watch the water cascade over the top. It is a stark contrast between the slow river and the speed with which the falls tumble.
Evergreen Adventures did a great job overall. We were delayed leaving by about an hour at the airport due to rain, but they made up this time at the end of the tour. Also to note - they offer the tour only when they have the desired number of passengers (8 for our tour). So you may have to have several possible dates in mind when you book, and be flexible in order to go. You can put your name on a waitlist and be called if cancellations occur or for last minute bookings. We booked several weeks in advance and did go on the day we wanted to.
In summary...Wow...is really all I can say...So amazing to witness such incredible natural beauty in the middle of a pristine tropical rainforest
This year's winners reveal how artificial lighting can add another dimension to the natural wonders of the stars and planets — or spoil the view forever. Hundreds of pictures were sent in from about 50 countries, including exotic locales such as the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, the national parks of Reunion Island and the savannas of South Africa, said Babak Tafreshi, the founder and leader of The World at Night. "We received a lot of submissions from Asian countries this year, especially China, India, Iran and Indonesia," the Iranian-born astrophotographer said in an email exchange
 | |
| Beautful road |
This year's contest is limited to images taken since the beginning of 2011, but that leaves a lot to choose from — including pictures of Comet Lovejoy, the spectacular "Christmas Comet" that wowed skywatchers in the southern hemisphere, as well as the stunning auroral images that have cropped up over the past few months. Both those phenomena are represented in today's top-10 roundup from TWAN.
Tafreshi drew attention to two potential perils facing astrophotographers nowadays: light pollution and photo fakery. He noted that the increasing glare of city lights was "not just an astronomer's problem," but also "a major waste of energy, and like any other form of pollution, it disrupts ecosystems and has adverse health effects."
"Today, most city skies are virtually empty of stars," he said in his email. "About two-thirds of the human population today lives under light-polluted skies, not dark enough to see the Milky Way. Seeing a real dark sky is a must-see experience in the life of each of us, moments that you will not forget in your entire life."
Tafreshi also said there's a fast-rising concern about images that may not be telling the truth about the earth and sky.
"Unfortunately, a majority of photographers who are interested in nightscape photography are less familiar with astronomy, and the natural look and color of the night sky," he said. "So many landscape astrophotos today are intensely saturated, unnaturally contrasted, and sometimes with totally wrong colors of the sky. We had stunning compositions and amazing landscapes at night, some made by famous photographers, which were ruled out of the contest simply because they were 'overcooked' in processing."
Evergreen Adventures did a great job overall. We were delayed leaving by about an hour at the airport due to rain, but they made up this time at the end of the tour. Also to note - they offer the tour only when they have the desired number of passengers (8 for our tour). So you may have to have several possible dates in mind when you book, and be flexible in order to go. You can put your name on a waitlist and be called if cancellations occur or for last minute bookings. We booked several weeks in advance and did go on the day we wanted to.
In summary...Wow...is really all I can say...So amazing to witness such incredible natural beauty in the middle of a pristine tropical rainforest
You can rely on TWAN's prize-winning pictures to show the true glories of the night sky, along with the glow of the world below. Check out our slideshow, and read more of Tafreshi's observations in the comment space below. The largest reef system on earth can be described as follows.
Officially the largest reef system on earth, the Great Barrier Reef has almost 3,000 reefs encompassed within the 2,600 kilometre area of land that it covers.
Although the Great Barrier Reef is clearly visible from space, it is when looking at it from underneath water when it truly appears to be beautiful and somewhat magical. Over 1,500 types of fish call the huge Barrier Reef home and in excess of 400 types of coral can be viewed in the area, meaning if you get chance to visit the area, you should make sure that you take along an underwater camera.
Nepal,a sovereign independent kingdom, lies between 80.4' and 88.12' east longitude and 26.22' and 30.27' north latitude. It is bounded on the north by Tibet autonomous region of the people's Republic of China; on the east by Sikkim and West Bengal of the Indian Union, on the south by Indian States of Bihar and Uttar Pardesh and on the West by Uttar pradesh of the Indian union. The length of the kingdom is 885 kilometers east and west and its breads varies from 145 to 241 kilometers north- south. Climatically, it lies in the temperate Zone with the added advantage of altitude. Except for some exceptation, there are seldom less than 1220 meters above the sea-level.
Nepal is a country of amazing extremes. There are the world's highest mountains including sagarmatha(Mt.Everest 8848 m). It is a country of high Himalayan mountains, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife and diverse cultures. It is the land where Lord Buddha was born over 2,500 years ago. Nepal is primarily an agricultural country. Tourism, Carpets and Garments are the major industries. Enhancement is everywhere, be it on the shoulders of high mountains, on terraced farmlands meticulously craved like stairways out of hill ridges, on cascading mountain rivulets and rushing rivers, or in forests full of wildlife, flowers and bird song. Nepal provides something for everybody tourist, trekker, river runner, wildlife enthusiast, poet, artist, or the weary in search of a personal shangrila.
Climatic conditions with in Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with the geographical features. In the north, summers are cool and winters severe, while in the south summers are sub-tropical and winters mild. The monsoon that brings rain from June through September affects most of the country except those that lie in the rain-shadow areas like Mustang which is within Nepal but a part of the Tibetan plateau. Large tracts of forested land have been preserved as national parks and wildlife reserves where endangered species like the Royal Bengal tiger and the Greater one-horned rhinoceros roam freely along with an amazing variety of mammals and reptiles that include bear, leopards, hyenas, wild boar, wild elephants, monitor lizards, crocodiles, pythons, turtles and various species of insects and birds.
The lake is included in the Triglav National Park is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia. Bohinj lake stretching as far as 4.2 kilometers with a maximum width of up to 1 kilometer. It is a glacial lake dammed by the moraine. Besides its natural beauty, the lake is also surrounded by legend Goldhorn (Zlatorog), a white chamois with golden horns. In connection with this legend, a statue of a creature resembling a small deer could be found standing at the edge of the lake.
Kras, also known as karst or karst terrain, is a limestone plateau border in the southwestern region of Slovenia which extends to the northeast of Italy. Kras is more precisely located in the Valley Vipava with low hills surrounding the valley, the western hills of Brkini, northern Istria and the Gulf of Trieste. Western edge of this plateau also marks the traditional ethnic border between Italy and Slovenia. From one side of the cliff, you'll see an amazing sight. As far as the eye could see, you'll see green bushes combined with white limestone at altitude, while underneath a beautiful expanse of blue sea stretches.
"Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself."
-
 |
| Beautuful |
The beauty in nature is also appreciated by others. Almost every one delights to see the rushing streams and the numerous birds and animals that may be found in every part of the earth, for these are part of the ornaments of nature. Even the tiniest of creatures has beauty of its own. In search of this beauty in nature, men in all parts of the world are traveling great distances and spending a great deal of money, even in some cases, even their life savings. It is this appreciation of natural beauty that impels men to visit distant lands which have a beauty of their own. Men have also visited the islands that are spread throughout the world in search of the natural beauty. Many have seen visited the cold deserts in the Artics as well as the hot deserts where few plants grow, in search of the beauty that may be found in these regions, despite the lack of vegetation and animals life. The deserts are indeed the home of many beautiful plants and animals which find sufficient refuge in these parts, and many of the birds too, here are remarkable for their beauty.
But the person who is most appreciative of natural beauty is the poet who finds music and beauty even in the movement of the clouds and winds. His deep appreciation of the beauty that he finds around him impels him to give utterance to it in the most expressive language, which is itself often of imperishable beauty.
If you happen to find yourself in Guyana it is well worth the journey to Kaieteur Falls. You can take an overland journey of 5 days if you have the time and inclination or an easy day trip.
We booked a day trip with Evergreen Adventures for $250 US. The trip included pick up at our residence in a bus, lunch, snacks, bottled water and a flight to Bagwanara resort in the Esquibo river for swimming and lunch first. ( A very nice secluded island resort in the middle of the river) and then a flight on to Kaieteur National Park, a guided walk to three viewpoints at the falls and then a return flight and bus trip home. I felt this was very good value for the money considering the incredible remoteness of the location
Our day started out wet and rainy but thankfully as we headed towards the falls, the sun came out.
The pilot ensured everyone got the opportunity to see and photograph the falls from an ariel perspective as he flew over the falls in both directions. From the air the sheer size and scope of the falls is amazing as you can see it from miles away in the sea of green almost broccoli looking tropical forest.
 |
| Sea |
1 Boyscout view - you are looking across the chasm to see the falls
2 Rainbow view - you are across from the falls but much nearer on a high cliff, this view point did indeed offer spectacular rainbows in the mist and great photo opsv
3. The top of the falls - at this view point you can actually walk right into the river at the top of the falls, and watch the water cascade over the top. It is a stark contrast between the slow river and the speed with which the falls tumble.
Evergreen Adventures did a great job overall. We were delayed leaving by about an hour at the airport due to rain, but they made up this time at the end of the tour. Also to note - they offer the tour only when they have the desired number of passengers (8 for our tour). So you may have to have several possible dates in mind when you book, and be flexible in order to go. You can put your name on a waitlist and be called if cancellations occur or for last minute bookings. We booked several weeks in advance and did go on the day we wanted to.
In summary...Wow...is really all I can say...So amazing to witness such incredible natural beauty in the middle of a pristine tropical rainforest
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