Stonehenge, this time the original Last week post of Stonehenge replica from Washington, USA brought back memories of my visit to the original Stonehenge located at Wiltshire, UK. This shot is from couple of years back, wish I had been shooting RAW then ! As much as I liked the replica here at Washington and the ability to walk around and inside the Stonehenge, you really can’t even get close to the experience of the original. Expected to be constructed some where between 3000 BC to 2000 BC, the true meaning of this ancient, awe-inspiring creation has been lost in the mists of time. Was it a temple for sun worship, a healing center, a burial site or perhaps a huge calendar ? How did they manage to carry the mighty stones, with only the most primitive of tools. Surrounded by all the mystery, Stonehenge never cases to impress.
Stonehenge – Right here at Oregon I came across Maryhill State Park in Washington when I was trying to finalize (light pollution free) places to shoot Geminids meteor shower. This park has a full-size, astronomically-aligned replica of Stonehenge and was commissioned by Samuel Hill and dedicated on July 4, 1918 as a memorial to those that died in World War I. The memorial was completed in 1929. The peak of Geminids is actually tonight (Dec 13, 2013), but given the overcast weather here at the northwest, it is not very promising. Hence, when there was a break in the weather yesterday, decided to take my chances. It was a nice experience, braving the December cold and watching the meteor shower in person. I was able to witness close to ~5 in a span of 15 minutes, as I was scouting / setting up at the location. But subsequently the skies were clear only for a few minutes - here and there. So much for the forecast and almost clear skies. It was not a great night for capturing the meteors, but given the new moon and having the entire place to play with some lighting, it turned out to a pretty good night for some star photography. I used a small headlamp to light up the inside of the Stonehenge. The light from a near by settlement was reflecting on the clouds creating the yellow. The (distracting series of) tower lights, harmonized with the fog, resulting in the nice red hue over the horizon. Incidentally, the passing by Union Pacific train decided to play along and lit up the outside of the Stonehenge. Wish there had been a meteor on this particular shot, oh well … I just love it when a plan comes together, or not :)
Mt Rainer with a touch of wild flowers It was one of those clear days at Paradise section of Mt Rainier. When I first started reading about the national park prior to visiting, it took a while to grasp that any places would be named “The Paradise”. After visiting, I should completely concur - words fall short of the experience. This area – Paradise – have paved nature trails – short , family friendly and suitable just for everyone. These pathways lead through colorful meadows and offer spectacular mountain vistas. Several classic views of Mt Rainer is nestled out here. One with Myrtle Falls in the foreground, as it tumbles 70 to 80 feet thru the George, is pretty impressive. A few meters from here, just before the wooden bridge is another of my favorite view - The Majestic Mt Rainier adorned with the Edith Creek. May be someday will get there for some lovely twilight :)
