Momotombo - close up

Submitted by NicaNix on 2 May, 2006 - 19:24.
Momotombo - close up

Sunday morning, I had the awesome opportunity to do some interesting flying. I went with a guy that studies the migratory habits of ducks passing through Nicaragua. We flew around the perimeter of Lake Xolotlán at about 400 ft. above the water's edge, sometimes dropping down to 100 ft. above surface for a better look. When we got to Momotombo, I headed northward, behind the line of volcanos up to the Estero Real, Puerto Morazán area for more observation.

Actually, the smoke there from burning off fields was so pervasive, all the ducks had already taken a hike!

On the way back, I climbed up to 3,500 ft., and was able to snap some close shots of Momotombo like this one. This is a view of the eastern face, snapped just 700 ft. down from the peak, which clocks in at around 4,200 ft.

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Great shot!

Submitted by VidaVerde on 3 May, 2006 - 01:13.

Nix, is that active crater smoke in the top, or clouds condensing? I love the shot either way!

-Carl

Hey ...

Submitted by NicaNix on 3 May, 2006 - 05:58.

It's a little of both, I think. In one of the other shots I took, you can see more clouds, but in this one, mostly what you see is gas.

Where is Phoenix, Oregon? I lived in Pendleton for 4 years!

Phoenix

Submitted by VidaVerde on 3 May, 2006 - 13:10.

Thanks, Nix,

Yes, I saw your other photos after I made my comment. AWESOME STUFF! How'd you keep your camera so still with the long telephoto shots balanced on the wheel of your plane?

Phoenix is way down south in Oregon, next to Ashland and the Cal border on I-5. We get much less rain here, but it still sucks from November thru April. Way way too cold for me, and I have been saying that for 25 years.

-Carl

Confession

Submitted by NicaNix on 3 May, 2006 - 14:52.

OK, I'll fess up. Usually, I trim the plane and then release the controls a couple of seconds to snap a picture out my window. However, since I was flying southbound, and the volcano was off the rightside window, and since I was relatively close, I opted to have my passenger snap the picture with my camera out of his window!

I concentrated on holding the plane as smoothly as possible while he zoomed in a bit for the shot! Another thing that helps is that this Canon S1 has the image stabilizer built in, and that makes it easier to get a clear shot if the photographer moves (as long as the subject isn't in motion --- and fortunately for all, Momotombo wasn't in movement!)

As for Phoenix, OR ... that's like another world compared to the dry brown of eastern Oregon where we lived in Pendleton! I still have inlaws there.

Aha!

Submitted by VidaVerde on 3 May, 2006 - 17:57.

The jig is up!

Yes, it is pretty nice here. Almost too nice from May thru October. But the other six months, fuggitaboudit!

flying

Submitted by Huehuete Bob on 2 May, 2006 - 19:36.

OK, nikanix whats it take to take a flight sometime?