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Desert Rose

Socotra

Camera :Sony A7Rv

Lens : Sony 12-24 F2.8 GM

Tripod : Really Right Stuff TVC 33

Head : Arca Swiss D4

Sky : 30secs F2.8 Iso 200 300 frames

Foreground : 480secs F2.8 Iso 800 LENR LoLevLi

Bottle tree over Detwah BTS

Just off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia, lies an island in the Indian Ocean, where time stands still. Over the centuries travellers returning from these Indian Ocean isles, would regale one with stories of trees bleeding with dragon's blood, forests of frankincense, bottle shaped trees and peaks towering in the mist. Socotra today is a UNESCO world heritage site and is home to many endemic species of trees and animals unique to the isle. Population is low and there is only one major city on the island which otherwise is totally devoid of light or air pollution, making it an excellent destination for nightscape photography…. To the west of the island lies Detwah Lagoon surrounded by tall mountains. Bottle trees (Adenium socotranum) or (Socotra Desert Rose) abound in the higher reaches of these mountains and a stiff hike takes one to the top. If timed just right one can catch the bottle trees, unique to Socotra, in full bloom. Framed against Detwah Lagoon and its glowing blue, bio-luminescence plankton, and with the night sky trailing above, it sure makes for a unique perspective with which to showcase the unique beauty of Socotra….

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