NaikonPixels

Thrilled to share my latest article, 'Lost in Glare' that deep dives into the beauty of night sky and the need to preserve it. Check it out here

“Twilight dawns. The sun fades into the depths of the horizon, and soon the sky unveils a dark curtain littered with thousands of stars. The Milky Way rises along the southeastern horizon, with all its stars and nebulae shimmering in a glorious display of celestial glamour. Triangle stars appear: they are called that because we perceive the brightest stars in different constellations as vertices of an imaginary triangle. From this phenomenon, we marvel at the summer-triangle stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega dominating the northern sky to winter-triangle stars Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Procyon, along with peaking meteor showers, the wonders of the night sky amaze stargazers all year round. We can witness natural skyglow from these stars, moonlight, and zodiacal light in its pristine form.

Unfortunately, most people today rarely take the time to gaze at the night sky. When they do, depending on their proximity to a city, it can be difficult to witness or even discern any celestial beauty. If you were to step outside your home tonight and study the sky, what would you be able to see? Perhaps the blaze of the city lights would obscure your vision, or perhaps you would need to venture quite far to a dark sky site.

You would not be alone.”

— Prashant Naik, “Lost in the Glare”

🔗 Read “Lost in the Glare” in full here: https://humansandnature.org/lost-in-the-glare

Prashant Naik (NaikonPixels) is a photographer and writer. He specializes in environmental and technical writing in the field of information technology. As a photographer, Prashant combines his skills in creating compelling stories: “While photographs capture the essence of the scene, I use words to tell the untold stories. My photo art leans toward Mother Nature and the beauty of the night.”

Pictured: Milky Way from Brasstown Bald Observatory, Georgia. Bortle Class 4 site © Prashant Naik

Image description in comments.

McKenzie River - Oregon

A dance of fireflies under the Milky Way!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts synchronous firefly viewing at Elkmont Nature Trail. Access is through a lottery system to limit the crowd at the site. I’ve never been lucky enough to win a lottery, despite applying several years. This or any other kind of lottery. So, I chose to view the fireflies from a different location. Spent two nights backpacking in the wilderness and ended up in desolation. On the last night, I took a stroll on the Cades cove loop road just so I can capture the Milky Way. Guess what. Fireflies! They were here the whole time and I searched the whole forest.

Although the fireflies weren't synchronous, they were large in numbers. While the concentration of synchronous fireflies is higher near Elkmont, the view from Cades Cove was still spectacular, as I could capture the fireflies with the Milky Way glimmering above. I was a happy camper!

Lady Mallard in Flight - Wheeler, NWR

The Great Blue Heron - Wheeler NWR, Alabama.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Wheeler NWR, Alabama.

The dancing lights!

On the night of May 10th the sun erupted a very bright solar flare creating the most intense geomagnetic storm in over two decades. The Night sky was lit up with magnificent auroral displays which appeared in northern hemisphere as far south as Georgia.

The images and Timelapse were shot from Brasstown bald Observatory tower in Georgia. It was a great opportunity to catch up with my good friends after a long time.

The Northern Lights has definitely wowed millions of people and to photographers it was a moment of unbridled exuberance. For many it was a first time viewing the northern lights. Count me among them—I was absolutely ecstatic. The aurora reached its peak intensity well past midnight, and for a brief moment, it graced the sky directly overhead, akin to what you typically see in the arctic regions. This was unusual for Georgia. The colors vary with altitude, painting the sky in shades of red and pink during the peak.

To the eyes, it appeared as vibrant streak of lights but one could see subtle hints of red and pink in the night sky. It was incredible to watch the dance of the Earth - Sun romance.

A little background on why this happened - The occurrence was triggered by the sun reaching the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, when the sun’s magnetic field is most active and highest number of sunspots are likely to appear. This happens during the Solar Maximum phase. During this time, the sun's corona becomes supercharged, leading to significant plasma outbursts known as 'prominences'. You may have seen this in my last solar eclipse post. These prominences erupt and travel outward. When this event is accompanied by the burst of charged particles called a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) they can trigger solar flares.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation that can erupt from the sun surface. If the flare is accompanied by a CME, a geomagnetic storm can hit Earth a few days later. They interfere with Earth’s magnetosphere causing the spectacular display of northern lights.

Now that you understand the cause behind those pink/green sky images in your feeds. I present my own photographs of my first encounter with aurora borealis. With this I become a life long chaser of northern lights!

Brasstown Bald

Osprey leaving her nest at West Point Lake, Georgia.

Sandhill Crane - Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Wanderer of the Winds

Roots above, Branches below

In Bhagvad Gita there is a mention of an inverted tree which has it's roots upwards and branches down. I happened to remember this verse when I was editing this image but I never really understood what it meant.

The Blessed Lord said: They speak of an eternal aśhvatth tree with its roots above and branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns, and one who knows the secret of this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

The deeper meaning conveyed here is that the material world, represented by the tree, is transient and constantly changing. Understanding the secrets of this tree, or the essence of existence, leads one to become knowledgeable about the Vedas and the spiritual truths they contain. Essentially, it suggests that by understanding the eternal nature of the universe and its underlying principles, one gains profound wisdom about life and its ultimate purpose.

Hope you enjoy the image! It might seem like pencil sketches, but it was actually taken on a very foggy day.

Dance of the Cranes!

Sandhill cranes are one of the oldest known bird species in the world. They are known for their most elegant courtship dances, which involve jumping, head bobbing, and wing displays. Sometimes they also throw sticks or some plants into the air. These cranes are in it for the long haul! They typically mate for life and stay together year-round. How cool!

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge National Audubon Society

Sandhill Cranes of Wheeler NWR

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a sanctuary for sandhill cranes, where these birds find refuge and sustenance during their migrations. It’s a stopover points for them to rest and feed, as they journey along the Mississippi Flyway. In the winter, especially between Nov and Feb, people who visit Wheeler NWR get to see and hear these amazing cranes. You can’t miss their unique bugle-like calls echoing out across the land. It’s even more pleasant in the morning hours.

My first visit to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was incredible. Seeing thousands of sandhill cranes was truly awe-inspiring.

National Audubon Society

Starry trails, as Face Rock sails!

Star trails over Face Rock in Brandon, Oregon, made from an hour long Timelapse sequence. The long exposure shots when stitched together reveals star trails due to Earth rotation. The foreground is bit bright due to light pollution but the stars here are amazing. There is something magical about just being there to experience the ocean waves crashing on the rocks under the canopy of the stars.

Gray Jay of Pacific Northwest.

I spotted them at Trillium lake in Oregon and found them to be most captivating species. Mt Hood was obscured by clouds, so I instead hiked around the lake following these birds. They are known as camp robbers because they sneak into campsites and steal foods :-)

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year!

Thank you for all your support in 2023. I hope your new year 2024 is the best ever!

If you have travel plans this year, checkout some of the suggestions from adventure photographers around the world on Amex essentials!

Travel In Focus: Our 2024 Destination Hotlist We asked 23 travel photographers from across the globe to share their absolute must-visit destination for 2024 – with some surprising results

Spirit Falls - Umpqua National Forest

Thor's Drinking Horn!

One of the most enigmatic geological marvel, resembling a seemingly endless sinkhole that appears as though it’s draining the ocean of its water. When the waves roll in, water spurts out from the well, floods the rock and then flows back into the well. This is most spectacular to watch at high tide. At low tide, water is extremely calm and as it returns to the well, it leaves an interesting pattern around the well. I was fascinated by the rhythmic dance of the ocean waves and spent hours capturing the natural wonder at sunrise.

Sentinels of Oregon!

The rock formations dotting the Pacific Coast in Oregon are the most breathtaking scenes in the world. The shapes and contours of these geological structures that graces the Oregon Shores is simply phenomenal.

This image was taken at Face Rock in Bandon, South Oregon. They appear as sentinels of Earth guarding the shoreline.

National Geographic

Elegance!

Trahlyta Falls, Georgia.

Misty Mountains and Starry Skies – Cowee Mountain Overlook

Some of nature’s best spectacles are observed from the edge of the mountain; Cowee mountain is one of those places. The vibrant hues of orange and pink are reminiscent of the setting sun that bathe the landscape with an ethereal glow.

As the darkness deepens, the mists weave through the forest, masking everything in their path. The mountains stand tall and touch the sky. The Milky Way emerges as a celestial river of light, arching gracefully across the night sky. One could only stand in awe of the natural wonders watching the transition from sunset to the rise of the Milky Way.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Early colors of fall at North Georgia.

Clingmans Dome - A grand seat to the universe.

As sun dipped below the horizon, it cast a golden glow through the clouds and the rugged peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I stood at the summit of Clingmans dome eagerly waiting for the rise of the Milky Way. The sky transitioned from vibrant orange to crystalline blue. As the darkness fell over the Gatlinburg, a small town that stands as a gateway to Smoky Mountains, the night sky unveiled a cosmic paradise adorned with exploding stars. Clingmans Dome sits at an elevation of 6,643 ft. At this elevation the Galactic disc of the Milky Way is visible high above the horizon at around 15 degrees during summer month. This makes it a good vantage point for observing the universe and and the stars.

Heavenly Heights!

This vertical panorama is made up of 7 layers of stacked images in landscape orientation. Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona is just incredible and some of the best sought out locations for hiking and adventures. However, when the night falls it transforms into a cosmic heaven. I miss the dark skies here!

Around September the milky way reaches its zenith shortly after sunset. The Galactic core aligns with the sandstone butte perfectly and the arch stretches gracefully across the night sky. The andromeda galaxy, Earth’s closest neighbor galaxy, is shining brightly on the left side of the faint band of the Milky Way.

The image reminds me of the extent we have reached in space exploration. Some argue that we cannot see what lies beyond beyond cosmic horizon. Not even with James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Nevertheless, we keep reaching new heights through technological advancement.

Belted Kingfisher

Georgia Audubon

Nature's Sculptures

At the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, these giant boulders among the Joshua Trees represents some of the most iconic structures of desert southwest. A 30 foot tall arch shaped natural granite, heart shaped and skull shaped rocks and all sorts of nature’s artistry transforms this arid landscape into magical and otherworldly place. While the place is undoubtedly a photographer’s dream, It’s fascinating to think that you are standing amidst a geological masterpiece sculpted over a period of 100 million years.

Celestial Garden!

Sam K**b trail is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at elevation of 6000ft. Along the trail, the grassy landscape extends far into the distance with views of Devil’s courthouse and Black Balsam k**b. I have hiked the summit in early spring and imagined how wonderful it would be to photograph the Milky Way from the meadow when the wildflowers bloom. I returned back in August and witnessed one of the most scenic wildflower filled grassy meadow in North Carolina. I was lucky to have the whole trail to myself and photograph heartfully while standing in the middle of the field with nothing but big grass and stars around me.

The Milky Way arch was already at its highest inclination. The air was tinged with invigorating scent of balsam fir. As I walked through the grassy meadow, I realized that this is one such place where the natural beauty, solitude and celestial wonders all blend in together. I call it celestial garden!

We are here. A humbling view of Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy.

This image beautifully contrasts the effects of light pollution on one side with the untouched, dark sky on the other. On the left, the glow of artificial light obscures the natural brilliance of the night sky depicting the effects of artificial light in our modern world. On the right, an untouched canvas of darkness reveals the Milky Way arch in all it's glory. This striking juxtaposition serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and the preservation of night sky.

DarkSky International National Geographic