BBC Radio Scotland – The Culture Scene, Shorts, Photography saved me from PTSD

[ad_1]

Simon Riddell took up wet plate collodion photography after a major traumatic event, and he says , ‘it pretty much saved my life.’
Using himself as subject, in his first project, ‘Mental Collodion,’ Simon explored his own mental health and his relationship with anti- depressants in a series of self portraits.
Simon’s photography soon became more than just a hobby, and this year, he used his Spirit of the Highlands commission to capture fellow First Responders at work in East Sutherland.
The Culture Scene joins Simon out and about on the Isle of Skye, where he balances saving lives with capturing the wild beauty of the island in his photographs.

[ad_2]

The July new moon offers dark skies to see 5 visible planets tonight

[ad_1]

July 17, 2023 at 18:32 GMT - A New Moon hangs in a dark sky above the sun

July 17, 2023 at 18:32 GMT – A New Moon hangs in a dark sky above the sun

The new moon arrives on July 17, at 2:32 p.m. Eastern Time (1832 UTC), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, two days before the waxing moon makes a close pass to Mercury.

New moons occur when the moon is directly between the sun and Earth. Technically, the sun and moon are in conjunction, on the same north-south line that passes through the celestial pole, near the star Polaris. Lunar phases’ timing depends on the moon’s location relative to the Earth, so they occur at the same time all over the world, with the hour changing according to one’s time zone: for Chicagoans the new moon is at 1:32 p.m. local time, while in Paris it is at 8:32 p.m., and in Tokyo it is at 3:32 a.m. July 18, and in Melbourne, Australia it is at 4:32 a.m. July 18.

New moons are not visible unless there is an eclipse; eclipses don’t happen every new moon because the orbit of the moon is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to the plane of the Earth’s orbit, and the point where the orbits intersect, called a node, moves relative to the Earth’s surface. That means the moon’s shadow “misses” the Earth most of the time. (The next solar eclipse is October 14, 2023).

Related: New moon calendar 2023: When is the next new moon?

If you are hoping to catch a closer look at the moon or anything else in the night sky, our guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars are a great place to start.

And if you want to try your hand at photographing the moon and/or the night sky in general, check out our guide on how to photograph the moon, as well as our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.

Close passes to planets

TOP TELESCOPE PICK:

A Celestron telescope on a white background

A Celestron telescope on a white background

Looking for a telescope to see visible planets in the night sky? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner’s telescope guide.

On July 19, the moon will pass by Mercury as it emerges from the solar glare and becomes a thin crescent; the conjunction with the innermost planet will occur at 0857 UTC, or 4:37 a.m. in New York City. Neither the moon nor Mercury rises until after that, however – both rise at about 7:10 a.m. in New York according to In-the-Sky.org.

The moon will still be in close proximity to the sun; while it is possible, if challenging, to observe It during the day, that can be a dangerous thing to attempt – looking for objects near the sun with even modest optical aids can result in permanent eye damage and even blindness. It is far better to wait until sunset, which is at 8:23 p.m. local time in New York. At that point, the moon will be to the left of Mercury and above it; one can use the thin crescent, whose “horns” will be pointed away from the sun, to orient towards Mercury.

July 19, 2023 at 845 pm - Crescent Moon above Venus and Mercury, depicted in a hazy red sky

July 19, 2023 at 845 pm – Crescent Moon above Venus and Mercury, depicted in a hazy red sky

One will also see a bright planet to the left of the moon; that will be Venus, which is usually one of the very first objects to be visible in the sky as it gets darker. Mercury will still be hard to see; at sunset it is only about 9 degrees above the western horizon and the Sun is still likely to wash it out; the planet will only be about 4 degrees high by 9 p.m. local time when it should be just visible, but you will need a horizon that is relatively flat with no obstructions.

Spotting Mercury is somewhat easier as one moves to lower latitudes. As one moves closer to the equator (either from the north or south pole) the ecliptic – the plane of the Earth’s orbit projected on the sky – makes a steeper angle with the horizon. That means planets, which all move within a few degrees of the ecliptic, tend to reach higher altitudes. From Miami, for example, the conjunction occurs at the same hour (4:37 a.m.) as in New York City, but the sun sets slightly earlier, at 8:13 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on July 19 and at that point Mercury is about 14 degrees high in the west, with the moon appearing about 5 degrees almost directly above it. About a half hour after sunset Mercury is about 7 degrees high and thus easier to spot than in New York.

From San Juan, Puerto Rico, the sun sets at 7:03 p.m. local time, when Mercury is 16 degrees high; Mercury is still 10 degrees above the western horizon by 7:30 p.m., with the moon directly above it and Venus to the left of both.

Southern Hemisphere observers will be able to see the pair earlier in the evening, as the days are shorter there (it being winter). From Buenos Aires, where the conjunction occurs at 5:57 a.m. local time, the sun sets at 6:03 p.m. on July 19, the moon will be 16 degrees high in the northwest, with Mercury a degree lower and to the left of the moon; Mercury will still be at 10 degrees by 6:30 p.m., before it sets at 7:33 p.m. local time.

Visible planets

While the two-day-old moon will pass Mercury, on the night of the new moon (July 17) with some luck and a flat horizon one can catch all five naked-eye planets over the course of the night. Mercury, for example, will be just visible in mid-northern latitudes after sunset, though without the moon to orient one might find it harder to see. For example, sunset in New York is at 8:24 p.m. and by the start of Nautical Twilight (when the sun reaches 6 degrees below the horizon) at 8:56 p.m. Mercury is only about 5 degrees above the horizon in the west.

Venus will be to the left, but it is much easier to see as it is about 4 degrees higher and some 45 times brighter than Mercury. Venus sets at 9:27 p.m. in New York; times will be similar in cities like Chicago, Columbus, Boulder, Colo., and Sacramento. Mars, meanwhile, will appear to the left of and above Venus; at sunset the planet is about 19 degrees high and sets at about 10:22 p.m. in New York. By about 9 p.m. local time one should be able to see Venus and Mars as a pair low in the west.

Saturn rises at 10:23 p.m., followed by Jupiter at 12:58 a.m. July 18. Both Saturn and Jupiter are in faint constellations; Saturn is in Aquarius and Jupiter in Aries, which means both will stand out – from most city locations (where the light pollution makes the sky background brighter) the two planets will be the easiest objects to see in their respective regions. Saturn reaches its maximum altitude at 3:52 a.m. and is about 39 degrees above the southern horizon; Jupiter doesn’t reach its maximum until after sunrise, but by 4:30 a.m. it will be about 39 degrees high in the east.

saturn, its rings and three moons stand out against the blackness of space in this james webb space telescope photo

saturn, its rings and three moons stand out against the blackness of space in this james webb space telescope photo

For the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-latitudes, the “evening stars” Mercury, Venus and Mars will be “flipped” with Venus almost directly above Mercury and slightly to the right, with Mars above Venus and to the right. For example from Melbourne, Australia, the new moon occurs July 18, and the sun sets at 5:21 p.m. local time. Mercury is 13 degrees above the northwestern horizon; by the end of civil twilight at 5:49 p.m. it is still about 9 degrees high.

Venus will still be 23 degrees above the horizon – the planet sets at 8:07 p.m. local time. Mars sets at 8:34 p.m. and is some 4 degrees above Venus. As Mars sets, Saturn rises, at 8:35 p.m., and Jupiter rises t 1:58 a.m. July 19. Both planets will be much higher in the sky than in the Northern Hemisphere; when Jupiter rises Saturn will b a full 62 degrees high above the northern horizon, reaching 63 degrees at 3:10 a.m. local time. Jupiter reaches an altitude of 37 degrees just before sunrise at 7:14 a.m. (the sun rises at 7:31 a.m. July 19).

Summer stars

For Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, July is the time for summer constellations. By 10 p.m. the Summer Triangle is high in the eastern sky; the “top” star is Vega, the brightest star in Lyra the Lyre, and it is almost at the zenith (about 68 degrees above the horizon). The other two stars in the Summer triangle are Deneb and Altair. Deneb is the brightest among a cross-shaped group of stars known as the Northern Cross; this is the backbone and wings of Cygnus, the Swan. Deneb marks the Swan’s tail – the very name means “tail” in Arabic (the word appears in similar names or other stars, such as Denebola, which is the tail of Leo the Lion). At about 10 p.m. Deneb will be to the left of and below Vega. Altair is the brightest star in Aquila, the Eagle, and is sometimes called its eye, with two fainter stars on either side of it marking the bird’s head. Altair will be to the right of Vega and below (south) of it; it’s the southernmost star in the Triangle and the last to rise. Deneb, Altair and Vega make a rough right triangle with Altair at the southern end.

July 22, 2023 at 9:30 pm - The Summer Triangle, Vega, Altair and Deneb, form a triangle in the starry night sky, surrounded by outlined constellations

July 22, 2023 at 9:30 pm – The Summer Triangle, Vega, Altair and Deneb, form a triangle in the starry night sky, surrounded by outlined constellations

Looking north (again at about 10 p.m. from mid-northern latitudes) one will see the Big Dipper to the left (west) of Polaris, the pole star. Following the “pointers” (the two stars in the front of the bowl of the Dipper, called Dubhe and Merak) to Polaris and continuing straight across you encounter Cepheus, the king, and just below Cepheus is the “W” shape of Cassiopeia; if one imagines the sky as a giant clock face, the Big Dipper is at 9 o’clock, Cepheus at about 3 o’clock and Cassiopeia at about the 4 o’clock position.

In the other direction, one can follow the handle of the big dipper and “arc to Arcturus” the brightest star in Boötes, the Herdsman, and continuing downward you hit Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, which will be in the southwest. Turning south (left), one sees the bright red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Antares is relatively low in the sky; it won’t get more than 22 degrees high at the latitude of New York City.

That said, with a horizon free of obstructions one can see a curved string of stars extending from Antares down and to the left; this is the scorpion’s body and tail. In darker sky locations looking above (north) from Scorpio one can see a tall, thin, trapezoid of stars, which is the body of Ophiuchus, the Healer. To the left of Scorpius is a “teapot” shape of stars, this is Sagittarius the Archer (often rendered as a Centaur with a bow). Sagittarius is one of the southernmost constellations of the zodiac; from London (about 50 degrees north) it barely clears the horizon; from Stockholm only a few stars can be seen at all.

Moving back to Boötes, if one looks just above Arcturus, one can spot a rough pentagon of stars that is the Herdsman’s body or head (this depends a bit on the visualization one chooses). Just to the left of that is a medium bright star that is a medium-bright star called Alphecca; and it is part of a semicircle of stars that is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.

In the mid-southern latitudes, the sun sets earlier (it being austral winter) and by 7 p.m. the sky is dark and the Southern Cross is in the southwest – a full 61 degrees high. If one is facing south, to the left of the Cross (eastward) is Alpha Centauri, our nearest stellar neighbor, right next to Hadar (which is to the right, between Alpha Centauri and the Cross). Turning one’s gaze towards the horizon in the southwest, just about 13 degrees high is Canopus, one of the brightest stars in the sky. Canopus is also known as Alpha Carinae, as it is the alpha star of Carina, the Ship’s Keel. Looking just upwards is the large oval of stars that makes up Vela, the Sail – if one draws a line between Canopus and the Cross Vela is on the right side of the line.

RELATED STORIES:

— Why Do We Call It the ‘Summer’ Triangle?

— The moon: Everything you need to know about Earth’s companion

— Night sky, July 2023: What you can see tonight [maps]

If one turns eastwards from Alpha Centauri and Hadar one runs into Antares; from the southern skies the Scorpion is “upside down” but the constellation itself is much higher in the sky than from the Northern Hemisphere – Antares is about 61 degrees up from the latitude of Melbourne, Australia.  If one follows the “hook” that is formed by the Scorpion’s body (this will trace a path roughly southeast) one encounters Sagittarius, which is about halfway to the horizon.

Next to Sagittarius on the right (west) is a fainter semicircle of stars that is Corona Australis, the Southern Crown. Further east the constellations are fainter – in a city location it is just possible to see Pavo, the Peacock, and to the right Octans, the Octant, which is near the Southern Celestial Pole; unlike the Northern Hemisphere there is no “pole star.” However, one can find the southern pole by using the Southern Cross; the long part of the Cross always points towards the pole, if not exactly, roughly five “cross lengths” away.

[ad_2]

Scenery of Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in NW China’s Xinjiang-Xinhua

[ad_1]

This photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows valleys in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on June 30, 2023 shows a wetland in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 5, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This photo taken on July 8, 2023 shows a night view in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A vulture flies over snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 8, 2023.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows drought-resistant plants in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This photo taken on July 9, 2023 shows an area of Danxia landform in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on June 30, 2023 shows a desert in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This photo taken on July 1, 2023 shows a wetland in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This photo taken on July 9, 2023 shows snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This photo taken on July 1, 2023 shows a wetland in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This aerial photo taken on July 5, 2023 shows hills in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This photo taken on July 9, 2023 shows an area of Danxia landform in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial panorama taken on June 30, 2023 shows a view in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows a landform shaped by wind erosion in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows a landform shaped by wind erosion in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 8, 2023 shows snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Wild yaks graze at a grassland in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 1, 2023.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows valleys and an area of Danxia landform in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows a landform shaped by wind erosion in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows valleys in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows a landform shaped by wind erosion in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a rainbow in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows a sunset view in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 8, 2023 shows snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows a landform shaped by wind erosion in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows a lake in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows valleys in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 11, 2023 shows a landform shaped by wind erosion in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows snow mountains and valleys in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 8, 2023 shows snow mountains in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows valleys in the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With an average altitude of 4,580 meters, the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve covers a total area of 45,000 square kilometers and is a representative of plateau desert ecosystem in China. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

[ad_2]

Google Pixel 7 review: A great pocket astrophotography camera

[ad_1]

The Google Pixel 7 takes over from the Pixel 6 as Google’s second iteration of smartphones to house their home-made Google Tensor chip but this time in the form of the newly developed G2 chip which it rates as faster, more efficient and more secure.

We don’t typically cover phones here on Live Science, but we do love our astrophotography cameras and the Google Pixel 7 is positioned as a great alternative to a dedicated astro camera, so we had to check it out.

Google Pixel 7 specs:

Dimensions: 6.1 x 2.9  x 0.3 inches (155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm)
Weight: 6.9 oz (197 g)
Display size: 6.3-in (160.5-mm), 20:9 aspect ratio
Display resolution: FHD+ (1080 x 2400) OLED at 416 PPI
Camera: Rear 50MP f/1.85, Ultra-wide 12MP f/2.2, Front 10.8MP f/2.2
RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5 
Internal memory: 8 GB LPDDR5
OS: Android
CPU: Google Tensor G2
Battery capacity: Minimum 4270 mAh, Typical 4355 mAh

[ad_2]

Photography competition launched: ‘Guyana Through Your Eyes’

[ad_1]

The EMC Foundation and GTT today launched the ‘Guyana through Your Eyes’ photography competition at the GTT Head Office.

The competition aims to showcase Guyana’s rich biodiversity, celebrate the country’s cultural heritage, and provide a platform to raise awareness of environmental issues.

It also seeks to encourage a better understanding of the complexity of the natural environment, encourage people to build a personal connection with nature and advocate for its protection.

According to EMC Program Manager Stella Madete, “The EMC Foundation is happy to partner with GTT to showcase Guyana’s cultural and natural heritage through the universal language of photography. Pictures bring nature to life in ways many are unable to witness or experience. For most people, seeing is believing, and photos can help them connect with the world and nature and encourage them to care about its preservation”.

The competition will run until July 31, 2023, and is open to persons of all ages. Professional and amateur photographers across Guyana are invited to submit their aspirational, vibrant, and captivating photography.

Jasmin Harris, the GTT Senior Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, added that “GTT is proud to partner with the EMC Foundation to shine a spotlight on environmental stories through the eyes of talented photographers. This competition is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of Guyana’s environment and the importance of contributing to its protection.”

The competition features four categories: Landscape, Flora and Fauna, Guyanese Cultural Heritage, and Climate Adaptation. A panel of judges comprising a stellar line-up of Guyanese photographers and artists will review the submissions and select the winning photos.

The top 20 images will be displayed at an EMC Foundation-hosted exhibition and awards ceremony at the Castellani House in Georgetown on August 19, 2023, World Photography Day.

To learn more and enter the competition, visit https://shorturl.at/yCFZ4

[ad_2]

The icy patience of an Arctic photographer

[ad_1]

Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.

The polar bear was just a faraway speck in a frozen white expanse. A film crew began to follow at a distance, gradually getting closer. Suddenly the bear picked up a scent and changed direction – the crew followed, hoping it would lead to footage of a kill. The bear came to a rest at a seal hole in the ice and started to wait. So did the crew.

For 12 hours they sat, waiting for the bear to make a move. For 12 hours the bear lay half asleep, half awake at the edge of the hole. It was too long; the crew had been awake working for 22 hours straight on the sea ice and needed to get back to camp. Cold and exhausted, they admitted defeat. Hours of waiting for little reward is not uncommon. “It’s the price we pay to get unique images,” recounts award-winning French photographer and filmmaker Florian Ledoux.

This is the reality of wildlife photography – it is always on nature’s terms. But that’s the challenge and attraction of it, too. “Every shot we get in the Arctic is a battle,” he says. “We push our limits; we feel alive by doing it.”

Ledoux uses a drone to capture a new perspective. Here, a young polar bear pulls itself onto the ice. - Florian Ledoux

Ledoux uses a drone to capture a new perspective. Here, a young polar bear pulls itself onto the ice. – Florian Ledoux

Ledoux is speaking to CNN over a video call from his home in Tromsø, northern Norway. He’s wearing a red and white knitted turtleneck and, at just 2pm local time, the sky through the window behind him is a rich indigo in December’s polar night.

He has spent the last two winters on the Arctic sea ice, filming iconic scenes for the BBC’s nature documentary series “Frozen Planet” and the Disney film “Polar Bear” among others. Driven by a passion to preserve nature, his extraordinary aerial photography has earned him awards such as the 2018 Siena International Photo Awards drone photographer of the year and Nature TTL’s photographer of the year in 2020. Now he’s planning for his 2023 winter expedition, which will see him setting off from Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement, to spend days and nights on the sea ice.

“If we start at the end of February, we have a bit of light. The sun passes above the horizon around 11am or 12pm and then it’s dark at 2pm or 3pm,” he explains. From then on, the hours of light rapidly increase. “At the beginning of April, you can’t see the stars anymore, and by mid-April you have the midnight sun,” he adds.

Ledoux is attracted by the immense and endless Arctic landscape. Here, he and a colleague are pictured on snowmobiles on the east coast of Svalbard during winter. - Florian Ledoux

Ledoux is attracted by the immense and endless Arctic landscape. Here, he and a colleague are pictured on snowmobiles on the east coast of Svalbard during winter. – Florian Ledoux

The months when the sun just starts to poke through create the perfect palette for a photographer, Ledoux says. Every pastel shade of blue shines through and as the sun disappears, a pink belt shimmers on the horizon.

But capturing this Arctic twilight comes at a cost. Ledoux describes how the obliterating winter conditions take their physical toll – overwhelming darkness and low vitamin D levels affect your mood, the lack of routine messes up your body clock, and you are forever fighting the bitter cold, with temperatures on some days plummeting to minus 40 degrees Celsius. On those days, everything you touch with bare hands sticks to your skin and every time you exhale the moisture freezes on your face, he says. Despite wearing several layers of clothes, huge down mittens and a neoprene face mask and ski goggles, the cold bites through.

Yet these are the days Ledoux lives for. There was a time last winter, when the air was crisp, the sun was low, and an intense silence enveloped the sea ice. He spotted steam rising from behind an iceberg and, following it with his drone, discovered a large male polar bear asleep on the ice: “His body was warm and as he was breathing, smoke came out of his mouth like a dragon.”

Ledoux bundles up to face the elements. - Florian Ledoux

Ledoux bundles up to face the elements. – Florian Ledoux

Starring roles

Despite being out in the wilderness beyond most human contact, Ledoux is often at the mercy of a producer’s shot list. Disney, Netflix or the likes will request a specific shot of a polar bear, such as a successful hunt or a mating scene. Ticking these off can take days or months, but the key is not to rush it.

After finding a bear, the crew will position itself ahead of the bear and wait for it to gradually come closer. “We want to make sure the bear likes us,” says Ledoux, adding that to capture candid and unique behavior the bear needs to feel comfortable in their presence. If a bear is skittish or reacts badly to them being there, they will stop pursuing it. “That’s just the way it is – if it doesn’t want to be the star, you can’t force it.”

A polar bear is photographed after feeding in Svalbard. - Florian Ledoux

A polar bear is photographed after feeding in Svalbard. – Florian Ledoux

Over time, Ledoux believes you begin to recognize individual bears. Some look different, with the shape of their face or physical markings giving them away. Others have distinct characters; some are shy and some are curious and playful.

One of his blockbuster shots, which took pride of place in Disney’s “Polar Bear”, shows two bears joyfully ice skating together. Ledoux had never witnessed two bears having such fun: “It was pure magic. We were so high after that we forgot to eat all day or night.”

The feeling of being close to a polar bear is addictive, he says. The first time he saw one he had goosebumps, and despite hundreds of encounters since, that reaction hasn’t died down. “They are so majestic and beautiful … It brings (up) a lot of emotions,” he adds. His goal is to convey these emotions through his images.

For hours Ledoux watched these two polar bears playing together. - Florian Ledoux

For hours Ledoux watched these two polar bears playing together. – Florian Ledoux

Melting ice

One of Ledoux’s photos, which landed the cover of Oceanographic Magazine and Wildlife Photographic, shows a polar bear leaping precariously between broken bits of ice. It sends a message of fragility and reflects the threat of shrinking ice sheets. The Arctic is heating up nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet, causing ice to melt and threatening the whole ecosystem that depends on it.

Even in the few years Ledoux has explored the Arctic, he has witnessed these changes. It has rained for days in the winter months and the terrain they can work on is diminishing as sea ice becomes less stable.

Aerial view of the Austfonna ice cap melting during the summer 2020, soon after the Svalbard archipelago recorded its highest temperature since records began. - Florian Ledoux

Aerial view of the Austfonna ice cap melting during the summer 2020, soon after the Svalbard archipelago recorded its highest temperature since records began. – Florian Ledoux

“It’s important to document,” he says, comparing his role to that of a war photographer, albeit at a slower pace and less imminently dangerous. There is an urgency, and he feels a duty to record what is happening.

“Would I fly the drone just for flying the drone? No,” he says. “The drone is a tool that allows me to capture some unique beauty and perspective of nature, to give a voice to the one that cannot speak.”

This story has been updated to clarify Florian Ledoux’s filming process.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

[ad_2]

Kedarnath Temple News: Use of mobile phones, photography and videography banned in Kedarnath temple; violators to face legal action | Dehradun News

[ad_1]

NEW DELHI: Days after a video of a woman blogger proposing to her boyfriend in front of the temple went viral, Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee has banned photography and videography inside Kedarnath temple.
Boards have been placed at various places on the temple premises prohibiting photography and videography.
“Do not enter the temple premises with mobile phones; any kind of photography and videography is strictly prohibited inside the temple and you are under the surveillance of CCTV cameras,” reads boards on temple premises.

Kedarnath temple notice board.

Photo: ANI video grab.

The committee has also warned that if anyone is caught taking photos or making videos, legal action will be taken against them.
The temple has also asked the people to wear “decent clothes” and desist from setting up tents or camps in the temple precincts.
“In the past, some pilgrims were making videos and reels inside the temple in an indecent manner as well as clicking pictures…It will be implemented strictly, that is why warning boards have also been installed at Kedarnath,” reported news agency ANI quoting Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee president Ajendra Ajay.
He said although no complaints have been received from the Badrinath Dham yet, such boards will also be installed there.



[ad_2]

Remembering award-winning photographer who passed away in Coimbatore

[ad_1]

Eurasian golden oriole photographed by Jayaram

Eurasian golden oriole photographed by Jayaram
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“This morning, I was woken up by a dozen calls from my friends appreciating your article on me and most agreed that it was well-written and well-laid out. I agree with them and consider it the best work of writing on me so far. Very well done, keep it up. The colour images have come out very well. I was worried about the scorpion picture but it has turned out better than expected…”

K Jayaram

K Jayaram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

This feedback email dated April 20, 2011 from award-winning Nature photographer K Jayaram on a MetroPlus feature is indeed a priceless possession. The scorpion picture he is talking about is a black-and-white image of a scorpion relaxing with moulting young ones on her back that won him the silver at an international exhibition of photography at Los Angeles. Jayaram passed away on July 2. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in March this year and was under treatment.

Following Jayaram and his works over the years has been great a learning experience. He is well-known in the world of entomology and taxonomy, so much so that a species of a jumping spider has been named after him, Myrmarachne jayaramani. I have met him several times; once he recalled how he shot the award-winning image of a pentatomid bug laying eggs at Siruvani that won him the gold medal at Los Angeles County Fair and London Salon. At another occasion, he spoke about photographing the majestic Asiatic lions after a trip to the Gir in Gujarat. He would often say, “In the jungle, animals are not waiting to pose for you. Determination, stamina and observation matter. One should know the right moment to click. There has to be a willingness to work under harsh weather conditions and to go without food, water, and sleep.”

Jayaram’s black-and-white image of a scorpion relaxing with moulting young ones on her back won him the silver at an international exhibition of photography at Los Angeles

Jayaram’s black-and-white image of a scorpion relaxing with moulting young ones on her back won him the silver at an international exhibition of photography at Los Angeles
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Not many know that he was an avid art collector and had an extraordinary collection of country music, Hindustani and Carnatic (vocal and instrumental). He spoke softly, always with a glint in his eye, and a deep knowledge of photography. At his home, which was always spotlessly clean, photographs taken by his ‘heroes’ such as TNA Perumal, BNS Deo and MY Ghorpade, occupied pride of place. Over the course of many interactions, he once advised, “Start using a voice recorder/dictaphone so that you can concentrate on the interview/conversation and playing it back will give you accurate information and will also enable you to think and write better.” He was meticulous in his approach, sent festive wishes over email and also shared music DVDs from his enviable collection.

“He knew light for over half a century,” states his lifetime friend S Anand of Konangal Film Society. “With a Asahi Pentax SLR camera fixed with reversed lens and dioptre attached he captured macro images that won him international acclaim. I was always there with him holding slave unit flashes to light the subject.”

Moody landscape captured by Jayaram

Moody landscape captured by Jayaram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Anand who joined Jayaram on many of his unforgettable wildlife trips in the Western Ghats says Jayaram also shot stunning landscape images during the later years that were displayed in a one man show called Moody Landscapes at Coimbatore’s Contemplate art gallery. Press photographer M Sathyamoorthy recalls his outings with Jayaram at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris. He says, “His photos have an innate quality that make you fall in love with Nature and eventually turn a conservationist. The photographs are scientifically accurate and have an artistic appeal.” Over the last 40 years his pictures and writings have been published in international journals, magazines, books, encyclopaedias and TV talks on taxonomy, botany, entomology and natural history. The book, Some South Indian Butterflies (Krab Media and Marketing), which he co-authored, was a forerunner to wildlife field guides. When I spoke to Jayaram recently for an interaction, he promised to call back after his final round of chemo. That was never meant to be.

[ad_2]

Uttarakhand: Photography banned inside Kedarnath Dham Temple, violators to face legal consequences

[ad_1]

Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee on Monday announced a complete prohibition of photography and videography inside Kedarnath Temple premises. Read further on Dynamite News:

Rudraprayag: Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee on Monday announced a complete prohibition of photography and videography inside Kedarnath Temple premises.

The temple committee has also posted warning signs throughout the Kedarnath Temple premises, advising visitors that if they are seen taking pictures or recordings, legal action will be taken against them.

Boards are put up in several places of the temple premises which read, ‘Do not enter the temple premises with mobile phones; any kind of photography and videography is strictly prohibited inside the temple and you are under the surveillance of CCTV cameras’.

Speaking to ANI, President of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee Ajay Ajendra said that the pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath Dham have also been urged to dress modestly, and said that these guidelines have been released in light of certain obscene behaviour reported in the past.

“Pilgrims to Kedarnath have been urged to dress modestly. In the past, some pilgrims had been caught filming and taking photos indecently inside the temple,” Ajay Ajendra told ANI.

The temple committee imposed this ban after a wrong message was sent due to the purported indecent behaviour of certain pilgrims. Warning boards have also been installed at Kedarnath to implement the guidelines strictly, said the Temple Committee President.

Earlier this month, following the viral video in which a girl was seen proposing to her boyfriend near Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand, Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) wrote to Kedarnath Dham Police seeking a ban on making videos around the temple area. 

In the letter, BKTC asked Kedarnath Dham Police to keep strictly monitor the area around the Temple and take action against those making YouTube shorts/videos/Instagram reels to ensure any such incident is not repeated.

This comes after a girl proposed her boyfriend near Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand. During this, a friend of the girl made a video that went viral on social media.After the video went viral, a debate broke out among internet users. After knowing about this matter, the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee has taken a tough stand in this matter.

The temple committee says that making such videos or reels on the premises has a negative impact on the religious sanctity of the place. The temple committee has asked the police to take action against the people making such videos. (ANI)



[ad_2]

Photography exhibit shows dark side of nature – Butler Eagle

[ad_1]

The Butler Area Public Library is hosting an art exhibit throughout July and August that showcases a local photographer’s take on brooding nature.

“Lindsey Gifford Photography: Dark Naturalism” will be available free for public viewing during regular library hours in the second floor showcases and gallery at the library on North McKean Street.

Gifford is a Butler County photographer whose interest in the art form was piqued in 2020 while taking pictures of her daughter, Palmer.

The mother and daughter have explored many themes in shooting scenes across the region, including fairy, witch and pop culture topics.

“We have the best time coming up with ideas,” Gifford said, “and Palmer has always been my favorite model to shoot.”

Nature photography became her passion as she hiked during a vacation in Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio.

Gifford uses editing to create dark naturalism and moody imagery in her work, which “captures the elemental magic and stark beauty of the natural world,” according to a news release from the library.

Gifford’s photography has been featured in art shows and recognized at local events and competitions.

Her work is available for purchase at lindseygiffordphotography.com and through Double Image Styling Salon in Butler.













[ad_2]