070: Ethereal

Decided, on a bit of a whim, to see the shuttle launch from the coast tonight (really, this morning), and, boy, I'm glad I did. Due to the low cloud cover, the launch was apparently not visible from the city, which is surprising, considering that normal night launches light up the entire Central Florida sky. However, up close, the launch was visible for a few, stunning, seconds.

(I considered cropping this, but was actually intrigued by the vast amount of empty night sky on the upper half. Kind of telling of the actual launch scene.)

If you care to see the actual launch, my co-worker caught it on my camera and another co-worker got it on camera from the press site.

Featured in Explore for 11 March 2008! Thanks everyone.

This has hit Digg and reddit now, as well. Wow, thanks again.

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Comments

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(137 comments)

Jamee C says:

Cool!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Prof. Michael Stoll says:

william, you are right! you would have cropped the actual shuttle!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Steve313 says:

Stunning. Must have been very cool to witness.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

lenissekomatsu says:

That's great!! I want to see a launch one day... :
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

brianwickman says:

when i saw this in my contact stream, i was like "wtf? mushroom cloud?"
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

william couch says:

Haha, that's what I thought it looked like, too, when I first reviewed it on the camera's LCD.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Francesco Acquisto [deleted] says:

Great. I do like the light and the water reflex
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

rebecca anne says:

awesome shot Bill!!!! You're so BA
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Charity D says:

Amazing Shot!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

alexrudloff says:

Great shot Couch! Wish I could have been there
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

digimag says:

Considering the energy being expended by the launch vehicle, it's a very serene shot. Excellent picture!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

C.S. Drake says:

Breath Taking Shot!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mrpansing says:

Great capture. I agree, I like the empty space.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

CJM Photo says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Foreground Junkies, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Simply a stunning shot. So many awesome elements in this shot. Dig it!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

msummerchick(Deja-Vu photography) says:

incredible
www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/2008/03/11 /page3/
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

tatyveli says:

Gorgeous capture with magic and spectaculair view - love it :)
You're so lucky to have witnessed it...
And Congrats on Explore with it too :)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Denis Collette...!!! says:

Congratulations! Félicitation! Felicitazione! Felicidades! Felicitats! Glückwunsch! تهنئة 恭喜 Felicitação! Čestitke! Blahopřání! Gratulation! Felicitatie! Õnnitlus! Onnittelu! Συγχαρητήρια! כל הכבוד! Gratulálok! مبارکPowinszowanie! Felicitação! Честитке! Lyckönskningar! Поздравляю! Tebrikler! Поздравления! تبریک おめでとう Til lukku or til hamingju! GEFELICITEERD! Parabéns!

Art Attack...!!!
#21 on Explore my dear friend...!!!
Champagne... peanuts...chocolate... ice cream... !!! :)))

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

monkeyleader says:

Just wonderful !
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mfriesen says:

Dude! Awesome.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

lucky e says:

way, way, magically cool shot.
saw in Explore
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

*Lynne says:

Amazing--glad you decided not to crop, the negative space
just adds to the drama!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Igor Alecsander says:

wonderful!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ecstaticist says:

That is a truly amazing photo.

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

darkenergy777 says:

Fantastic work, great capture.!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Michelle Miramontes says:

this is wordless.. so amazing
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

clement :: tang says:

This is absolutely interesting. I really like the reflection. Very impressive work.

Seen in a darckr view of your pictures (mine, ?).
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

sonyacita says:

WOW! Really wow!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ruib99 says:

Fascinating.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

omalingue says:

fabulous shot
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mbasile says:

Very Cool!

--
Seen on Explore
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

avpjack says:

WOW.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

avidaesiusC says:

crap, dude. wow.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

pjvenda says:

I'm speechless. Stunning great capture you got, Congratulations.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

yeoldeblackhippie says:

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Mike Carretta says:

Amazing surreal miminalist photograph. The lighting and reflection is beautiful.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Daniel Cormier says:

Very, very cool. Eventually I'll see a shuttle launch from there. I almost got to see STS-115 go up, but the lightning strike set it back...

Night launches are the best.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

beachwalker2008 says:

Please add this fine image to Mega Shot; Post 1 - Nominate 4 Mega Shots

Seen in a darckr gallery of your photos (mine, ?).
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

bookish in north park says:

Fantastic!

Seen in Explore.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Dayetriper says:

Gorgeous!!! Well done!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Keith Kamicar says:

Excellent capture!
faved ! :)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

7 (Miguel Angel) says:

You shouldnt crop, Its perfect like this. Well done : )

--
Seen on flickriver.com (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

LucaPicciau says:

Wow!!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Mr. Theklan says:

!!!!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Kirpernicus says:

Glad you didn't crop it, very effective and interesting composition with the dark top. Cool shot.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Eye Candy!, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

tuvagard says:

Wow!

--
[discovered in the Project 365+1- Jan 1st 2008 photophlow room] (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Paco Lyptic says:

Beyond cool - this image takes a massive, complex, powerful event, and renders it beautifully and simply, like a plant reflected in a pool of water.

Artistically, yeah, probably better if you crop the top so it has a more balanced composition.

As a piece of photojournalism, conveying the reality of launching under poor conditions, definitely leave it as-is.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

blakelipthratt says:

That is EXCELLENT! Wow...I really like the black emptiness above the shot too.

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

bioclastic says:

Amazing shot. Thank you for sharing it how you saw it!

--
[discovered in bioclastic's photophlow room] (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

boeke says:

Beautiful!
Congratulations! You made it to reddit:

reddit.com/info/6bt4l/comments/
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

btgoss says:

Thank you for sharing. This brings back my memory of seeing a night launch years ago.
Thank you again for sharing this with us.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

wenzday01 says:

cool!

--
Seen on beta.flickrleech.net (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Taylor Hain says:

Incredibly beautiful.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

pendens proditor says:

I'm so glad you didn't crop this.

I have to see this someday.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

1BigVillage says:

Brilliant, I love the blackness at the top of the frame.

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

orlandoburtons says:

So surreal, creepy cool! Like nothing I've ever seen from a shuttle launch before, you gotta show Red!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

hawkeye_flickr says:

Stunning capture!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Rut Kara says:

Wow
It is too bad it is not so good for our environment!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

zappt38 says:

Unbelivable, so much power thru a lens.you are a wizard thank you
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

torres21 says:

wow is not enough.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Hilyin says:

Well done.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

alex_kasin says:

beautiful!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Brett Bretterson says:

This is phenomenal.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Kevitivity says:

Wow, 55mm focal, and 400iso?
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

deartistzwei says:

I waited for three hours at NASA TV online to watch it live, watching them prep the astronauts. Then saw the launch via the external onboard cameras. So neat! I love this picture, keep up the great work!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

sunsurfr says:

Great shot!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

CoCreatr says:

Right place, right view, right time, well done.
Seen on Explore # 32,712 views.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

mkhalili says:

Awesome. I thought 'tornado' at first...
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

<wikd> says:

Very neat shot. Congrats on explore and digg!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Pete_Robinson says:

Colour me impressed, completely fantastic shot
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael_Chavarria says:

Very cool shot, I am glad you were in the right place at the right time.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

phil dokas says:

32,000 views! More than half of all my photos' views collected. Wild.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Semper Fidelis Tyrannosaurus says:

Awesome shot!

It broke my heart that I couldn't see it from Orlando. I was set up and ready to go and only saw the shuttle for a total of 1 and a half seconds.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

tobias.munich says:

infuckincredible
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

knightboat82 says:

agreed with the guy above me. awesome.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

John Rav says:

awesome, thanks for sharing.

I love all the camera flash's going off in the video. meh and duh!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

marklar says:

thats.... WOW
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Jason_Hawkins says:

Way to get on Digg, Couch. Geez.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

filippo rome says:

What a wonderful moment captured here. Great!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Zovc. says:

wow
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Lord-Lance says:

Fantastic shot! Congratulation ...

Greetings
Lance
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

MOVED TO PIXELENS FOLLOW ME THERE! says:

Excellent host! Love it.... nice capture.

--
Seen in your Mission STS-123: The Launch of Shuttle Endeavour set. (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

im_alex says:

wow amazing shot man
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Flickr Hype says:

Wow awesome capture, looks fascinating!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Dysanovic says:

Lovely shot. Youre lucky to have seen it!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

shutterlover says:

i couldn't find words to describe this image! most unlike me to be challenged on my verbosity!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

♫ღ Ameer Macro ♫ღ says:

You are invited to add this image to
www.flickr.com/groups/very_flickr_

Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

007 Photo Guy says:

You made the right decision not to crop it. Terrific!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

LongInt57 says:

Marvelous shot; excellent reflection.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

D.I. Collin says:

Looks abstract. I love the reflection!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Erion C says:

awesome shot
(seen in my contacts)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

( °,,°) Lky_a reforestar! says:

Increíble foto. Espectacular!

Hola, soy el administrador de un grupo llamado Fotos etereas / Ethereal photos y nos encantaría agregar tu foto al grupo.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

YOVY_CUSQUEÑITA says:

Parece una imagen de pelicula de ficción. Muy buena fotografía. Saludos.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Kayla Selans says:

Wow, you are FAMOUS NOW.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

shenxy says:

never had a chance to see this before. nice shot.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Alexandrehuang says:

Uow !
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Chris, says:

That's really cool.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Pockafwye says:

Beeeautiful!

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

nparker13 says:

absolutely awesome!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

حسام بشار الخضر Hussam Al Khoder says:

Seen in
FLICKR Stars group,
post 1 invite 1 award 5
and tag "Flickr Estrellas" on your picture

Excellent shot.
A 2 Z Member Choice !

I have seen it on All From A To Z .

This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)

Excellent photographer!

Seen in FRIENDS group.

This brilliant photo is like a shooting star,
totally inspiring!

SHINING☆STAR - Post 1- Invite 1- Give 5 Stars
Thanks for brightening my day, shine on!

Vivid

Totaly inspired
What a Great Take

I have seen it on
Close To Reality .

This Image Is Music To My Eyes!
Music To My Eyes (post 1 - give an award to 5)

Flickr Stars (post 1 - give 5 stars)

Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group

Flickr Sun (Post 1 - Give 5 Sun)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken in Titusville, Florida (map)
Taken with a Canon EOS 20D.
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Taken on March 11, 2008
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