These photographs were taken on July 22, 2009 with a
digital camera Fuji Finepix S 7000, 12 mega pixels super. The longest eclipse
of the century commenced before dawn in
[Paulette 1]
In Tamil Nadu the eclipse was partial as only the lower
part of the sun was obfuscated. In the morning the sky around the Matrimandir
was cloudy and I took Picture-1 at 6:15 am, before the sun pierced through the
clouds.
[Paulette 2]
During the peak phase of the eclipse the sun partially
emerged through the clouds, while the shadow cast by the moon could be seen
through the clouds, as in Picture-2, taken at 6:40 am.
[Paulette 3]
In Picture-3, taken at 6:55 am, featuring the
silhouette of the banyan and other trees, the moment of the eclipse was over;
the night effect in the picture is due to the extreme contrast between the
objects in the picture and the sun, which was by then freely shining in the
sky. This is the last of a series of pictures I have taken on the Matrimandir
and its surroundings. By focusing the camera straight towards the sun,
everything else turns into darkness. This should normally not be done, either
with the naked eye or by looking through the camera, because of the danger of
blindness. The effect, however, is a
powerful symbol of the nature of the world of matter vis-à-vis the sun…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgtdk9Fq0AQ&NR=1&feature=fvwp