scottsmallie
FollowBig Bend National Park
Coyotes wailed just yards away
Bats darted overhead
Stars twinkled brightly
The moon shined on the dirt road...
Read more
Big Bend National Park
Coyotes wailed just yards away
Bats darted overhead
Stars twinkled brightly
The moon shined on the dirt road.
Read less
Coyotes wailed just yards away
Bats darted overhead
Stars twinkled brightly
The moon shined on the dirt road.
Read less
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Night Time Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Enchanted Nights Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Night Sky And The Stars Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
The night was air was cool as the bats fluttered overhead in Big Bend National Park. Within earshot, a coyote mother fed her yelping pups. Old Maverick Road is fourteen miles of unimproved road through the desert.Time
In February, the days are short. This image was captured a few hours after sunset near 10 pm at night.Lighting
The moon was shining bright providing the illumination for the dirt road.Equipment
The tripod held steady while I released the shutter with a wireless remote.Inspiration
Visiting remote wilderness and bring back just a little bit of the beauty to share with friends and family is great fun. Seeing the stars in Big Bend NPS where light pollution does not exist is very special. We were very lucky for this crystal clear sky.Editing
Post-processing was minimal. I boosted clarity and contrast to give the image a sharp clean feel.In my camera bag
My bag changes frequently. My Canon 5D is always present, but flashes, lens, and light modifiers change out frequently. I have collected many tools over the years, and I like to use them all.Feedback
This was my very first attempt at star photography. The thing I did not know when I set out to capture the stars, is that the Milky Way rises and sets like the sun and moon. Knowing when the stars will be most densely packed in the sky is very helpful if you are trying to catch them in the sky. However, even without the Milky Way in your frame, you can capture images with depth and emotion.