Starry, starry night over Mt. Fuji

Time exposure of Mt. Fuji in Japan, from the south.  via @SciencePorn  Photo by Prasit Chansareekorn

[Photographer and National Geographic protested use of the photo by “Science Porn;” to see the photo, check it at the National Geographic site, it’s well worth the click.]

As best I’ve determined, the photographer is Prasit Chansareekorn, of Thailand.  Obviously an amazing photographer.  We might also presume the star over the summit is Polaris.

Thai photographer Prasit Chansareekorn

Fujiyama is the single most-visited tourist spot in Japan. (“Fujiyama” translates to “Mt. Fuji.”)  It’s the tallest mountain in Japan, at 3,776 meters (12,380 feet).  In Japanese, there is a special word for a sunrise viewed from the mountain:  Goraiko.  About 200,000 people climb the mountain every year.

It’s an active volcano, though its last eruption was 1707.  Vulcanologists discuss the possibility the mountain is overdue for an eruption.

Who would be in the best spot to get a photo of such an eruption?  What would van Gogh have made of this view?

Gilding lilies with PhotoShop – Mount Fuji and cloud version

Take a photo of amazing stuff:

Lenticular cloud over Mt. Fuji, 2003 (?)

Then mess it up with PhotoShop:

Photoshopped version of a 2003 photo of Mt. Fuji

Why?  It’s the old question of why do we need fairies in the garden — isn’t the garden itself enough?

Phil Plait at Bad Astronomy called attention to other fantastic lenticular clouds near Mt. Fuji — are those fantastic formations not enough?

Did the PhotoShopper add anything of value to the picture?  Of what use is a gilded lily?

(Please help — the original photo is identified as an award winner in 2003 — do you know the original photographer?  We should give credit appropriately; I’ve not found the person’s name, yet.)

More:

• Mount Fuji (vivalavisa1.wordpress.com)
• PhotoShop Disasters
• Altocumulus clouds near Albuquerque, New Mexico, “Albuquerque’s Winter Cloud,” from NOAA’s Albuquerque office
• Real lenticulars over Mt. Ranier, Washington (something about volcanoes?), from KOMO News (viewing these, you’ll understand why I prefer the real ones)
• Series of lenticular cloud shots, from Living Moon (each natural shot better than the Fuji PhotoShop)
• Discussion of clouds over Mt. Shasta, California (yes, another volcano), at Siskayous.edu (great wave clouds, and a spectacular rainbow by Jane English)
• 20 most incredible lenticular cloud photos, from Environmental Grafitti

Final slide to Phil’s presentation at the JREF’s TAM6 The Amazing Meeting convention. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)