Lassen With the Stars
Lassen National Park as seen from Lake Almanor, California
Chasing the Night Sky:
When I had the vision of what I wanted for this image there were 3 requirements. There had to be an amazing sunset. I wanted the stars portion to be looking out of our galaxy rather than towards the core. The final image needed to be long and vertical. For my entry into this type of photography I wanted the print to be distinctive!
Photographing the night sky, and the galaxy in particular, can be very rewarding. It also has its challenges. Let’s just say there are limited days when this photography will work, and you must be able to go on those days. It took me almost 2 years from when I first captured these images until I finally was happy with it. Initially, I jumped on it and got it 80% of the way. It was enough to know I was close, but there were a lot of little things I wanted to think about. This is part of my process, but usually over weeks not years.
I wanted the transition from dusk sunset into the black of night to be seamless. It was my desire to create an image where you can enjoy several moments in time all at once. I have been known to list off all the things I love about an image. In this case, the image just draws me in and I can’t stop looking at it! This print is captivating, dynamic, and addictive.
While this is my first image incorporating the night sky, it is definitely not my last. Seeing it completed is exhilarating! More to come in the future…..