“When I’m reminded of my insignificance, I discover joy.”
Astro
CELESTIAL PINES – Thumb Butte is the signature geological feature in Prescott, Arizona. I wanted to capture The Milky Way towering vertically above the mountain as if it were a volcanic eruption of stars. Thumb Butte was illuminated by the city lights only a few miles away, and the Lodgepole pines added a perfect framing for the image.
BLUEWATER MILKY WAY – The sky is fully booked with no vacancy of stars.
NIGHT CLIMBER IN THE DELLS (Published in Alpinist Magazine Issue 87) – Erin Connery climbs The High Rappel Wall under The Milky Way in Prescott, Arizona. I positioned myself with a tripod on a narrow ledge on the opposite side of the canyon. Erin and I communicated via walkie-talkie and I instructed him when to flick his headlamp on and off and so as to not over-expose him while I took the long-exposure. He also had to remain as still as possible to not be blurred in the image.
LOST ARROW – The original Twin Arrows Trading Post Ruins on Route 66 had two arrows but has now been reduced to one. I wanted to preserve this landmark in a photograph under the stars before the last one disappears. The Big Dipper aligned perfectly over the northern horizon as I shot this late one summer evening.
STAR CRUISER - A 1977 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 shines under the Milky Way.
BETTER HALF - Neither waning or waxing, a perfect half moon hangs suspended in the Colorado night.
BLUEWATER MOTEL – (International Photography Awards Winner) Remnants of an iconic motel along Route 66 just outside Grants, New Mexico.
MIDNIGHT PEGASUS – A neon mythological creatures rides beneath the Big Dipper and above Ghost Town Terlingua, Texas.
COMET 103P/HARTLEY 2 - While photographing stars along Route 66 in New Mexico, I noticed what appeared to be a star or planet radiating light in an unusually bright pattern. After a quick review of my Night Sky app, I discovered that it was a passing comet.
HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN – The Milky Way streaks above the old Bluewater Motel sign on Route 66 outside of Grants, New Mexico.
ENGULFED SHORES – Backlight storm clouds throw suspicion and reflections on the Alabama gulf coast.
HUNTER'S MOON - A spectacular lunar phenomena illuminates the a dark-as-sin sky.
MOUNT TESLAS – A 2024 Tesla Cybertruck adds another summit to the Arizona desert skyline.
INVISIBLE PASSERBY – The lights of a passing caboose paint a streak of red above the railroad bed.
THE MOON AND THE METEOR – It wasn't until after photographing the beautiful moonset over the eastern horizon of Valley of the Gods and reviewing my images that I realized I'd also captured meteorite burning through earth's atmosphere. What a magical moment and surprise.