18 Vertical images stitched together in Lightroom and processed in Photoshop.

Astro Fest

The Perseids are considered to be one of the best meteor showers of the year. 90 meteors per hour is a celestial heaven under the dark sky on a moonless night. This year, the display of Perseid meteor shower at Joshua Tree National Park proved to be truly awe-inspiring. The sheer number of people that gathered to watch the event is a testament to growing trend of astro tourism.

I usually seek out secluded spots and never had the slightest idea that Joshua Tree national park attracts significant number of nocturnal tourists. As the darkness engulfed the night sky and Milky Way took the center stage, I could hear screams of “wow” echoing through the air whenever the shooting stars streaked across the sky. And there was also occasional cry of “No lights please” from those determined to get a perfect shot.

I was upset in the beginning by the prospect of not getting any clear shots but then I realized it’s probably a good thing that a lot of people are embracing the night sky. I begin to think of our place in nature and how the definition of nature itself has changed in modern times and what it means to different people. There were people who just wanted to be under the stars and appreciate the beauty of the celestial brilliance and there were others with purpose of getting a shot. In essence, nature has a place for everyone’s inclinations and aspirations.