Photography : Astronomy : The Blanco
When I first arrive at a telescope, I am usually quite excited and want to walk around and take lots of pictures. This shot captures the feel of being on Cerro Tololo, with the reddish igneous rocks, the dry grass, and the shiny telescopes. Cerro Tololo is in the Atacama desert, the driest place in the world. Dry is desirable by astronomers, since water vapor in the atmosphere can distort the light coming through. The dryness also means you can build up a decent static charge just by walking, so I got used to grounding out by frequently tapping my arm against doorframes.
