ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

BIXBY BRIDGE BENEATH THE MILKY WAY | BIG SUR - CALIFORNIA

MOBIUS ARCH - ALABAMA HILLS

If you've seen the first Iron Man or any number of westerns you have seen the Alabama Hills. This location is so popular with filmmakers that one of the roads through the area is called "Movie Road". The area is a wonderful place to photograph because of the unique rock formations that make up the landscape. One of the most famous formations is called Mobius Rock because of the resemblance to the mathematical Mobius Strip. One of super neat features of this location is the natural frame it provides for the mountains in the background. There is a common misconception that the highest mountain you can see is Mt. Whitney, however that is not the case. In this photo I believe the tallest peak is Lone Pine Peak because it is closer to the scene. Mt. Whitney is the smaller peak to the right.

MOBIUS ARCH UNDER THE MILKY WAY | ALABAMA HILLS⁠

⁠Astrophotography is such a neat way to broaden your photography experience. It involves some planning, to be sure, but getting to spend nights under the stars is a fantastic way to spend your time.⁠ ⁠ On a trip to the Alabama Hills, I had planned to spend the night light painting some of the unique features. To my surprise, the Milky Way shone faintly through the light of the nearly full moon. Leaving my light on to highlight the arch, I moved to a different position to snag a shot of the Galactic Center. ⁠

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BELIZE-STARRY-NIGHT

MONO LAKE NIGHT

This photograph of Mono Lake, California will be special to me for a long time because it is the first photo I sold as a professional landscape photographer. In April 2018 I traveled down the Eastern Sierra for the first time. I've long been a fan of Galen Rowell's work in the area so I wanted to see some of the landscape for myself. I arrived at the lake an hour before sunset then started setting up for some shots. The people disappeared as soon as the sun did which allowed me the freedom to experiment all night.

CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD STARRY NIGHT

As a kid raised in rural Missouri, I spent many nights staring up at the stars. I would dream of being in space exploring distant galaxies. My imagination would be firing through ideas of what life would be like on different planets, the experience of weightlessness, and trying to grasp the vastness of infinity.⁣ ⁣ At the same time, the number of stars would make me feel small. The vastness of the universe helped me put things in perspective. Not everything that happens to me on a daily basis is as important as I can make it out to be. ⁣ ⁣ When I have a chance to escape the lights of the city I now call home and find myself in a truly dark place, those childhood thoughts come flooding back. I'm reminded of the joy and wonder of earlier times and reconnect with my inner dreamer. I encourage you to find a place or a moment that helps you do the same.⁣ ⁣ If you find yourself in New Zealand, seek out Lake Tekapo. It's designated as a Dark Sky Park, which means you will have a chance to see the night sky come alive without being blotted out by city lights. There is a small church on the shore of Lake Tekapo called the Chruch of the Good Shephard that has become a famous landmark. Unlike during the day when buses crowd the parking lots near this little church, if you are willing to wake to that alarm in the middle of the night you can have the place to yourself. On the night I captured this image of the Church of the Good Shephard under the beautiful night sky I felt blessed. 181106_MAC_1923.tif

BIG SUR CAMPFIRE MILK WAY CAMPFIRE - ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

On a summer night in Big Sur, California I was teaching some friends about astrophotography when a stranger lit a campfire. The unexpected light source illuminated the rocks in such an interesting way that I couldn't help but capture a couple of frames. The California coastline is an amazing stretch of land. Big Sur has been one of the areas I've spent the most time exploring, but there are so many more miles to go.

BONSAI ROCK LIGHT PAINTING LAKE TAHOE

Late nights spent swimming around Bonsai Rock in Lake Tahoe make for lasting memories. I've been fascinated with light painting for several years. To create this photograph I enlisted a great friend who was willing to don a wetsuit and swim around the cold waters of Lake Tahoe carrying a flashlight. The advances in camera technology make it possible to create images at night like never before.

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CHARCOAL KILNS OF DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

In an area of Death Valley that is usually away from the crowds are the remnants of a bygone era. The structures that look like bee hives were once used as charcoal kilns for the borax industry. Constructed in the 19th Century, these kilns are still in remarkably good shape. I had the opportunity to spend hours under the stars working with my light rigs to achieve my vision.

BIG SUR MILKY WAY - ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Moving to California has provided so many wonderful opportunities to see new landscapes. Days and nights spent with friends exploring Big Sur beaches and parks and watching the Milky Way made for a memorable trip. Once the sun set and the crowds dissipated my friends and I were treated to an amazing star filled sky in Big Sur, California.

MT LASSEN MILKY WAY - LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

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BONSAI ROCK MILKY WAY LAKE TAHOE - ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Having a friend who is willing to swim in the cold waters of Lake Tahoe all night is a good friend indeed. A brother from another mother donned a wetsuit and fins to swim around Bonsai Rock per my directions. His job was to shine a flashlight under the surface of Lake Tahoe as I captured several photographs of the moment. We continued light paint the waters around Bonsai Rock until the Milky Way rose to the planned position behind the boulder.