Nightscapes

The Long Way Home

This is a time exposure of Zion Canyon from Observation Point. This may have been the clearest night for the stars that I've ever seen. I love my southern Utah home!

The Old Tales

Self portrait under Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah. USA. Earth. This photo captures best how I feel about the night sky and God's creations.

Delicate

Another shot of the Delicate Arch beneath a June Milky Way.

Aspirations

Orion is my favorite constellation. It feels so near at hand to me, and I love how it reaches for the distant moon in this shot.

Earth, above and beneath

Rusted Gates

At the end of an all-nighter, I snapped this shot of Metate Arch as my friend walked through, positioning a light. Considering it was one of the least planned shots of the outing, I think it turned out as one of my best.

Three Witnesses

These three stones witness some of the darkest skies our country has to offer - usually without a person there to appreciate them.

Sunset Arch by Milky Way

I love dark skies! I worry that scenes like this won't be available for my children.

School's Out

I live near the ghost town of Grafton, Utah, but I recently realized that I've never photographed it, so I decided to fix that. This schoolhouse was built in 1886. I placed an LED light in the window sill on the side of the building opposite my camera and shined it on the floor to give the appearance of the building being lit from within by candle light.

One Eternal Round

The night sky in June is a constant muse and a bit of a tormentor for me. I love to see it, but I sure lose a lot of sleep. I'm concerned that night skies like this one are a vanishing phenomenon.

Reaching

I see the parallels between what people create on earth, and our creator placed in the heavens. We reflect what we see as we strive to become part of the eternity that surrounds us.

Milky Cactus

So small a form before the infinite expanse of our galaxy.

The Old Way

Natural Bridges National Monument is the only Bortle Class 2 night sky that has been measured in the United States. Here, the October Milky Way rises over Owachomo Bridge as it has done since before the bridge was even formed. I hope we'll be able to see night skies like this in future decades, but that's not looking likely.

Eye of Zion

Southern Utahn's enjoy some of the darkest skies in the continental U.S. I snapped this photo during the 2013 Government shutdown of the National Parks; partly in defiance of the arrogance manifest by the powers that be in keeping people from the beautiful views God himself created, and partly in search of a fresh view on, what for me, is a familiar sight. This image is comprised of 86 thirty-second exposures taken over the course of 51 minutes.

The Snack Shop at the End of the Universe

I spent five hours hiking up switchbacks to get above the sheer face of Yosemite's Sentinel, finally summiting at Glacier Point to photograph this view. Upon arrival, however, my brother pointed to an odd structure in the starlight and blurted out: "Holy crap, is that a drinking fountain?" As we turned to take in the vista, we noticed the snack shop and the parking lot giving easy access to comfortable tourists. I guess we missed out on that particular detail. Nevertheless, I consider this a hard-won photograph.

Zion Hoodoo with Milky Way

I finally managed to get the photo that I wanted of this hoodoo. It involved standing on a steep shoulder of rock and using a 14mm lens so I didn't have to hover 20 feet in the air farther back from my position. I love the way the diminutive pine tree clings, twisted, to the side of this hoodoo - living and succeeding where it should probably have failed.

Good Timber

Every time I see this tree, I'm reminded of Douglas Malloch's Poem. This isn't the shot I intended, but the park was closed by the government shutdown during the new moon, so instead I got the moon to back-light this unique Zion National Park hoodoo to see if I could still get some stars to bleed through. I wish I could claim that this is some secret photo spot of mine, but it's right next to the main road. Nevertheless, is still a favorite.

Yosemite Star Fall

My brother and I got a late start heading up the Glacier Point trail (essentially 4.6 miles straight up). Our campsite, legally, had to be about 5 miles beyond the summit. At about 9pm, however, still not to the top, and under the cover of darkness, we realized we weren't going to make it to the campsite, and we started to look for a place to bed down. I suggested we go a little further. About 300 feet up the trail, we hit the summit. "Is that a drinking fountain?" my brother asked. Sure enough. Just beyond that, was a snack shop (closed for the night), and a parking lot full of happy, well-rested tourists in high heels who had come to see the view. After collapsing onto the pavement and making sweat angels for a few minutes, I got back up and shot these star trails as the moon started to illuminate the horizon (which is why the clouds are so visible). Despite our error, I consider this to be a hard-earned photograph.

Pathway

Infinite Mist

After two days of pounding rain atop Utah's Boulder Mountain, I awoke at 2:30 in the morning to see clear skies above me and the milky way glowing in the west. Mist was curling across the surface of the lake, and there was frost on the tips of the grass. Truly a magical time to be awake.

Broken Branches

This little pine has seen more and endured more than we'll ever know. I admire its tenacity, and covet the beauty that it witnesses.

The Shadow of Death

I really wanted to try out the Sony A7s for nightscapes, but due to the superbloom, the mesquite dunes were overrun with kids playing night games with flashlights. I tried opening my shutter several times in the hopes of catching a nice illuminated dune, rather than an overpowering flash of light, and finally snagged this just before the clouds rolled in to obscure the milky way. Sony A7s, 30 seconds, ISO 10,000, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 @ f/8.

The Universe

The Milky Way over Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane, Utah.

The Universe Part II

A self portrait looking at the Milky Way over Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane, Utah.

Court of the Patriarchs at night

In order to get the faces of Zion National Park's famous "Patriarchs" lit up, I took a "time exposure" where the foreground was exposed during the day, and the sky was exposed at night. This is one of Zion's most famous features.

Quail Creek Swell

The state park where this reservoir is located is in the process of getting a dark sky designation. Go Quail Creek!

Toquerville shows the way

My hometown. You can see the difference between a small town with a dark sky ordinance and its neighbors who don't have them. You can also see the difference between warm temperature lights and new, cooler lights with their increased light scattering effects.

Changing of the guard

I always miss the Sagittarius end of the Milky Way as it leaves our skies for the fall and winter seasons. This panorama, taken from Zion National Park's famous tunnel switchbacks, shows both ends as the light of day begins to intrude in the east, and the light of a nearby city almost overpowers it in the west.

Cosmic Wink

A fortuitous Iridium Flare gave this shot a uniquely friendly-looking set of star trails.

Winter Stars over Moki steps

I don't know who carved the steps that allow access over this waterfall, but it was well before my time. I like the juxtaposition of the ever-constant stars over the carved stone and the flowing river.

Moqui Stairway to Heaven

A place near my home. . .

Jonah's got a torch

Loved this split rock formation beneath the March night sky.

Three Witnesses Revisited

Space Pika

A fanciful formation in the Devil's Garden, Utah.

Borderline

Utah in front. Arizona in the back. Eternity beyond. Sometimes the views we can see at night in the desert southwest make political boundaries seem pretty silly.

Just like back home

The fight between the light pollution of a city, and the pristine beauty of the Milky Way galaxy create a beautiful clash in this image.

Joshua Tree by Milky Way and Brush Fire Light

Milky Way by Froglight

I enjoyed a hearty chorus of creepy-sounding frogs while taking this photo.

Let me see

Kolob Canyon, Utah, USA, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way

It took me three tries to get this shot, but it was worth the freezing toes!