After Dark
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When I star gaze, I find myself drawn to some of the darker parts of the night sky. Whether I am using binoculars or the naked eye, I can see faint fuzzy areas that draw me in and make me want to look deeper. This is where it can get really fun with a camera because with long exposures, I'm able to bring out lots and lots of stars that we can't always see. The inspiration for this picture came from learning that there are three star clusters in the Auriga constellation. Making a pentagon shape, five stars can be spotted as the outline. Within the pentagon are three star clusters known as M35, M37, and M38. And as a bonus, I captured M35 in the upper left section of the photo. I love knowing that even in the darkest parts of the sky, millions and millions of stars are there waiting for me to discover.
Sitting on the beach at Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I watch the sky intently and wait for the forecasted Northern Lights to appear. I have never seen them before so this is a big moment for me. I also don't know what to expect and what they look like. Suddenly as the sky gets darker with each hour of the sunset and the Milky Way begins to illuminate, I see a glow in the distance that seems to radiate and pulse with the color green. I can't believe my eyes! I realize that watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky is one of the most calming and beautiful moments.
Marathon, Texas boasts some of the darkest skies in the country plus some of the most vibrant sunsets. I spent every evening watching the sunset and star gazing so I had an idea to capture my two favorite things about Marathon and blend them together into one picture. Deep orange covers the sky with the mountains as a perfect silhouette. A lone windmill works hard in the distance. And the night sky travels up into deep space where millions of stars twinkle. The zodiacal light can be seen in the middle of the dark sky which is light reflecting off dust particles in the Solar System known as cosmic dust. This picture shows exactly why I love Marathon so much.
Every night in Marathon, Texas at Marathon Motel & RV Park, this beautiful courtyard is the gathering place of travelers from near and far. Lifelong friendships, great memories, and laughter all start right here. What makes it even more special are the Class 1 Dark Skies which means all of these special moments take place under twinkling stars and the Milky Way. I've experienced the magic of this courtyard along with this beautiful fountain for many nights so I wanted to recreate my love for this special place. I took two photos and layered them together for this final image.
Deep in the backcountry of Big Bend National Park, I watched the center of the Milky Way rise over the Chisos Mountains. The beautiful details of the Carina-Sagittarius Arm can be seen as it reaches high into the sky. Jupiter and Saturn sit just above the mountains. Some details of the Milky Way make their appearance like the Lagoon Nebula. Back on earth, miles of black desert stretched around me. I felt like a tiny spec with my camera so far away. In order to recreate what I was seeing and feeling, I took two photos and layered them together for this final image.
In far West Texas in the middle of the desert lies a town called Marathon. Even though Marathon is extremely isloated, the daily trains that run through the town bring a sense of connection. From afar, the train horns can be heard singing different tunes depending on the engineer. Some trains stretch for miles and can be seen snaking through the desert valley in the distance. On this beautifully clear night under Class 1 Dark Skies, a friend and I hopped onto the tracks to do some star gazing and take photos. I'll never forget how small I felt standing on man-made train tracks under such a grand, never-ending sky.
With over 40% of the park water, Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota has hundreds of islands that dot the area. Pictured here is Bittersweet Island on Kabetogama Lake just off the shore from my camping spot. Through the dense forest, I was able to find a small beach to enjoy the night sky. Stars were shining bright and the Milky Way was splashed across the sky. With the area being so heavily forested, I could hear wolves in the distance howling. Just a few hours earlier, I had a long conversation with a park ranger about wolves, so the sound of howling brought everything into perspective. Truly a unique area and even more unique park, this National Park is one for the books.
Marathon, Texas has some of the darkest skies in the country. Known for its Class 1 Dark Sky, the town turns into magic every night as the stars and the Milky Way light up the sky. These old boots sitting on a fence have always grabbed my attention the few times I've visited Marathon. Located on the perimeter of Marathon Motel & RV Park, I captured the details of the boots and fence against the twinkling stars and Milky Way. When I view this picture, I can smell the fresh desert air, hear the silence, and feel the extraordinary energy of Marathon, Texas.
Ever since I was a little girl, gazing upon the Big Dipper in the night sky has always been magical. Part of the Ursa Major constellation, these are some of the first stars I look for when star gazing. It brings a sense of comfort and familiarity to me. These good memories inspired me to take this photo and recreate what I see and feel. I enhanced the seven bright stars that make up the Big Dipper in order to bring the magic to life. Happy star gazing!