Venus Transit in Progress
In await..... To witness the early morning Sun with Venus Silhouette..............
To photograph the transit my primary need is to have a filter, I don't have the filter sized for my 58mm aperture of Sigma Zoom 300mm Lens. Break Through Science Society, published their contact for Event assistance, called up Mr. George, to have filter I was guided to T.Nagar, near Madley subway, it is actually disappointing with my camera in mind, and filter in my Hand - small er than expected, I quickly pocketed few and exploring for larger filters, called up TN astronomy President Mr. VijayaKumar, who promised for 58mm Filter, named it baader filter, I still can't trust my condition so I wanted an X-ray sheet as back-up plan, Found 'Balaji Lab' at Perungudi, I was lucky to have few X-ray sheets free with choice to choose what best suits my work, No good, but better in worst situation for this event.
I have got to be in Elliot's Beach at 5:30am, to have the filter, Packed up my - DSLR 550D with Vivitar Tripod, Remote wired Trigger, X-ray sheet was cut to exactly fit the Sigma Lens Hood, Tape with Blade, few fruits and the Sun Filters procured, with alarm set to 4:00am.
On Road by 4:20am in wait at Voodai Bus Stop, wavered my hand for LIFT.Lift..lift... I finally got an Auto to Sholinganallur, in 5 min of wait 19T arrived from Kelambakkam at 4:45am, took me to Adyar by 05:10am, got an auto upto Beach for 20/- so I am in time at 5:25am, surprised to see more people than my expectation, busy aligning the Telescopes of various types - the Newtonian, Cassegrain, and refractor models and almost all on German Mounts/Celestron Auto GoTo.
To photograph the transit my primary need is to have a filter, I don't have the filter sized for my 58mm aperture of Sigma Zoom 300mm Lens. Break Through Science Society, published their contact for Event assistance, called up Mr. George, to have filter I was guided to T.Nagar, near Madley subway, it is actually disappointing with my camera in mind, and filter in my Hand - small er than expected, I quickly pocketed few and exploring for larger filters, called up TN astronomy President Mr. VijayaKumar, who promised for 58mm Filter, named it baader filter, I still can't trust my condition so I wanted an X-ray sheet as back-up plan, Found 'Balaji Lab' at Perungudi, I was lucky to have few X-ray sheets free with choice to choose what best suits my work, No good, but better in worst situation for this event.
I have got to be in Elliot's Beach at 5:30am, to have the filter, Packed up my - DSLR 550D with Vivitar Tripod, Remote wired Trigger, X-ray sheet was cut to exactly fit the Sigma Lens Hood, Tape with Blade, few fruits and the Sun Filters procured, with alarm set to 4:00am.
On Road by 4:20am in wait at Voodai Bus Stop, wavered my hand for LIFT.Lift..lift... I finally got an Auto to Sholinganallur, in 5 min of wait 19T arrived from Kelambakkam at 4:45am, took me to Adyar by 05:10am, got an auto upto Beach for 20/- so I am in time at 5:25am, surprised to see more people than my expectation, busy aligning the Telescopes of various types - the Newtonian, Cassegrain, and refractor models and almost all on German Mounts/Celestron Auto GoTo.
Elliot's Shore line
Finding a gap among telescopes I had my Camera setup on tripod with Mirror Lock Up enabled - its my Only powerful Telescope with 18MP sensor : Sigma 300mm in place, sample shoots with beautiful twilight blue in shades of gradiance with partial orange hued sky, distant ships with Lights ON, site was stunning - its Elliot Beach, Chennai in the Morning !!! people are turning louder as the Sun brimmimg faint ring started to Climb the skies behind the weaved translucent clouds, I have spotted the dark faint blob - Planet Venus as the Sun peeped through those clouds.
So the treasure is fast turning bright the 'shutter speed' is for racing higher speeds on every click, Sun turned clearer, I have hit the Max supported Shutter speed of 1/4000s with ISO 100, at f/11 sweet spot for my lens, only go for now, is increase F numbers made it to f/22. Back to Mr. VijayaKumar, looking for a Filter, I could have it on sharing basis with Dinakar, Well something is better than nothing, they were kind enough to have it share up until the "Black drop Effect", in fact the Filter offered sharper pictures as against the X-ray sheet, gathered information on how to order the Filter sheet - that was imported and it needs time, the best way would be go join the astronomy club/society and have a slice of it.
I wished and planned to shoot "Transit" in intervals of 15 minutes, and managed up until 9:30am, Meanwhile, I watched Transit through various models of installed Telescopes, joined and participated in Astronomy Quiz commenced, happy to answer a number of Questions right, that was joy, testing times a gap of 5 years lost self built fluency, its revival and enthusiastic, I was rewarded with a couple of Sun filters (naked eye viewing). Am never a member of astronomy clubs, that failed me getting the support, what often the members do get in collaborative work, so its good joining the Astronomical society in Chennai/ similar to the one active unit - Bangalore Astronomical Society.
Sun is high and feel of thirst - drove me to coast round and have 2 tender coconuts. Sun of summer - Heating up my Lens in Black, Heat/sand started up a mess, its Auto Focus system is in trouble, I force twisted the blocked focus system and managed to have Focus on my Subject - Venus, however X ray is in aid now, the moments are up for Venus "Black Drop effect " 10:00am - 10:25am, though I could not register what I wish, with an X-ray film - the images are not sharp enough.
Altogether, it was a nice experience, activity and performance of the Organization /Groups is beyond my expectations.
Got introduced to a Telugu member Mr. Muralidhar of astronomy club, and a Bird Photographer Hobbist - Rajan, it ended up in Photo sessions for the End - "Transit of Venus".
So the treasure is fast turning bright the 'shutter speed' is for racing higher speeds on every click, Sun turned clearer, I have hit the Max supported Shutter speed of 1/4000s with ISO 100, at f/11 sweet spot for my lens, only go for now, is increase F numbers made it to f/22. Back to Mr. VijayaKumar, looking for a Filter, I could have it on sharing basis with Dinakar, Well something is better than nothing, they were kind enough to have it share up until the "Black drop Effect", in fact the Filter offered sharper pictures as against the X-ray sheet, gathered information on how to order the Filter sheet - that was imported and it needs time, the best way would be go join the astronomy club/society and have a slice of it.
I wished and planned to shoot "Transit" in intervals of 15 minutes, and managed up until 9:30am, Meanwhile, I watched Transit through various models of installed Telescopes, joined and participated in Astronomy Quiz commenced, happy to answer a number of Questions right, that was joy, testing times a gap of 5 years lost self built fluency, its revival and enthusiastic, I was rewarded with a couple of Sun filters (naked eye viewing). Am never a member of astronomy clubs, that failed me getting the support, what often the members do get in collaborative work, so its good joining the Astronomical society in Chennai/ similar to the one active unit - Bangalore Astronomical Society.
Sun is high and feel of thirst - drove me to coast round and have 2 tender coconuts. Sun of summer - Heating up my Lens in Black, Heat/sand started up a mess, its Auto Focus system is in trouble, I force twisted the blocked focus system and managed to have Focus on my Subject - Venus, however X ray is in aid now, the moments are up for Venus "Black Drop effect " 10:00am - 10:25am, though I could not register what I wish, with an X-ray film - the images are not sharp enough.
Altogether, it was a nice experience, activity and performance of the Organization /Groups is beyond my expectations.
Got introduced to a Telugu member Mr. Muralidhar of astronomy club, and a Bird Photographer Hobbist - Rajan, it ended up in Photo sessions for the End - "Transit of Venus".
Oh..! Little Venus - You so Far ! All way to eclipse the Mighty summer Sun, Rare you come between Mighty and Me , You made it twice, I haven't missed you to see either. Be my Morning star and my Evening star, all while as ever before, Bid you adieu, for those great rare Transits - For all this Life to remember. |