Nocturnal

Imagery of the night skies, from Milky Way to aurora. The light and colors that the camera picks up, which the human eye can barely detect, never cease to amaze me.

Star Trails over Tufa Formations, Mono Lake

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Star Trails over Tufa Formations, Mono Lake

A composite star trail image of the other-wordly tufa formations in Mono Lake during the new moon using approximately 40 images at 4 minute intervals, ISO 800, f/4.0 stitched together in Photoshop. Lightpainting of the tufas was done after the star trail sequence was completed. Composing star trails can be a boring, and at the same time, exciting night time event for a landscape photographer, as you are sitting there for a couple of hours, hoping you get it right, and when you do: SWEET!  Next time, a camp chair and a hot spiked beverage in a thermos are in order. Maybe some "Cards Against Humanity" to pass the time.   http://www.optimalfocusphotography.com

Astrophotography California Eastern Sierra Landscape Light Painting Long Exposure Mono Lake Nature Night Night Photography Northern California Sierra Nevada Stars Tufas USA star trails