I’ve had this desire to take good photos of the Milky Way. A couple of years ago I purchased the camera that would do the job, and studied up on what I needed to do in order to get this on film (Memory). You would think it wouldn’t be hard. I mean, it is floating above our heads in the Heavens every night. However, living in a populated area on the Eastern Seaboard means there is always a good amount of light pollution, and what we think of a black sky isn’t always the case. I did catch it one time down at the coast a year ago, but I wanted more. (Human nature, I guess).
As some of you know, I make quarterly trips to Great Falls Montana for work. I’ve always thought this would be the perfect place to catch the Milky Way. However, like an elusive lover, something is always in the way. The warmer months, well frankly it doesn’t get dark till Midnight. Not a good mix because I must sleep some and light on the horizon is just not good to see the stars. There have been clouds, fog, rain and it always seems like there is something, given the fact I am up there so infrequently.
The other night, while up in Montana,I took my ritual drive down Bootlegger Road out of Great Falls. This starts off as a winding road that slowly climbs its way up and out of town. Once you are 5 miles out, the road literally goes straight for 10 miles. It takes you out of the county, and, like most roads out of Great Falls, unless it is a highway, it will become a dirt road sooner than later.
I followed Bootlegger till the gas gauge started talkin’! 🙂 I was on gravel, and when I pulled over I was struck immediately by the fact… I AM ALONE. Have you ever heard no noise? Yea, odd question, huh? My ears literally strained to find something, and when there was nothing to find, I realized I was truly ‘out there’.
I closed my eyes as I shut down the vehicle to start the process of getting my eyes adjusted. 5 minutes later I stepped out, and what a sight…
It was literally like God had taken a bucket full of stars and sprinkled them across the inky black velvet sky. To my north was the full scope of the Big Dipper. It was low on the horizon and made me think of how cold it was and how good a hot bowl of soup would be right now. (Using a dipper to get the soup)… Get it? Anyway…
I set up my camera, tripod, camera settings, and settled in for some night photos. It was so dark I could barely see my hands. I pointed the camera up and was just engulfed, pulled, swallowed up, by the massive black sky glittering with millions of blue, red, green, and yellow stars. It was breathtaking and awe inspiring.
It was also a little nerve racking because I was TOTALLY alone, miles and miles from anyone and anything… I thought. To some this might sound normal, but again, living on the Eastern Seaboard, it isn’t something we experience a lot.
I am not sure what night flyer it is that soars in silence, maybe a owl, however, I never heard the approach, nor saw ANYTHING. The only notice I had of this visitor was that the stars ‘disappeared’ as the 5 foot wingspan blocked them out in its flight, not 6 feet away from me. I literally JUMPED when I saw the silhouette zoom silently past me, checking out the situation.
I think I hollered, like a fool, because it scared me and I thought it might scare away this predator from above. (Brave man for sure) 🙂
However, after that, I settled down to watch the show. There were falling stars and literally, so many stars in the sky, I didn’t know where to start and finish. One of the art forms I respect is taking long shots and close up shots with a camera. So much of what is going on is missed on the scale we live at. With Tripod, camera and remote, I set about getting the speeds, ISO, and time right for my shots.
One of the things I love about digital photography is the ability to see the results of my work right away and make adjustments on the fly. I was out in the dark for about 30 minutes when the temperature changed for the colder. Fog literally rose out of the ground like a spectre chasing after my soul. I was surrounded before I knew it, and the only visibility I had was straight up. The wind picked up and soon the fog moved on, dragging over the ground, dripping and disappointed that it wasn’t taking a lost soul with it.
During the time when the fog was around me, I saw the north star again and it made me think about this time of the year. It was another star, during another season, that holds meaning for me. It marked the beginning of something new, a beginning of grace and forgiveness that had not been known to mankind, and it literally changed the course of our history for the better. I hope this star stays forefront in our lives and we live the true meaning of it through out our lives.
I pray this year has been a good year and I pray the stars in your life shine bright for 2015.
Blessings to you and yours, Safe Travels.
