June 30, 2021
Last time I was in Borrego Springs in February of 2020, it was the trial of my then-new camera base. Since then I have discovered that the settings were way off when I did my night shoot, resulting in disappointing shots. This time, much more exciting and dynamic shots near Read more…
I want to share how lovely my stay at La Casa de Zorro in Borrego Springs was. Well-needed and fantastic in every way, especially after roughing it, I tried to capture all its fun in pictures. It’s a great place to settle in before and after area star-gazing. They even Read more…
June 28, 2021
I first visited Joshua Tree National Park in 2017 (see here). This time I’d camp in the park despite the excessive heat warning to see its dark skies, my 17th dark sky park. Things to know: The moon rises like the sun, just as powerful in my camera’s lens. Read more…
June 13, 2021
An astrophotographer who lives on the East Coast is a glutton for disappointment. With the entirety of it lit up like a Christmas tree, nary a dark sky in sight, photographic astro missions are often unsuccessful in spite of all my efforts. So when I decided to tack on a Read more…
December 20, 2020
The holidays are an excuse for light-hearted foolishness, an alibi for a few weeks of colorful magic and wonder. Before it ushers in the wave of New Years’ productivity, some revelry. Hot chocolate with jumbo Dandies marshmallows for a quick walk to the fabulously tacky Dyker Heights Christmas Lights. I Read more…
October 18, 2020
Camp Hero State Park. This might just be my favorite place for a star shoot. Abandoned / Dark sky / Conspiracy theory / By the Ocean. I mean, c’mon. Though the horizon is always filled with light, the site makes for some gorgeous shots. And because I wasn’t alone and, Read more…
Ah, going through a fence is always the sign of a worthy adventure. Though this abandoned site in Camp Hero State Park is a hazardous place, indicative by the big pieces of the radar that now lay on the grass. And the structure seems to breathe and drip like a Read more…
Despite the light of the campsites, the stars were plentiful and bright. And the Milky Way and shooting stars also showed up for the party. Here are a few of my favorite shots before heading to Camp Hero to shoot next to the radar tower. I enjoyed the campsite much Read more…
September 6, 2020
An astroshoot in New York City? Sure, let’s do it. There were a few stars and a very bright Jupiter and Mars, though the billions of other celestial bodies were shy of the bright lights in the big city. Still very worth the while… The 9/11 Tribute lights were on. Read more…
August 23, 2020
Though Tonopah, Nevada is not dark sky certified by the IDA, it was rated as the #1 stargazing destination in the United States by USA Today at one point. And it has an official stargazing park, The Clair Blackburn Memorial Stargazing Park that has concrete picnic tables set for you Read more…
August 22, 2020
I kind of dropped the ball with this night shoot. Though exhaustion and the heat during the day played a part in my not finding the right spot for my shoot, there was also construction, lots of traffic and nonstop visitor action… and my shooting with way too sensitive ISO Read more…
August 19, 2020
As thee first IDA-certified park ever, I was really looking forward to visiting Natural Bridges National Monument. One of the darkest skies of the National Park system, my daytime exploration would provide me with an evening plan. I wanted to talk with a Ranger and I wanted to secure a Read more…
August 18, 2020
I re-entered Arches National Park when the sky grew dark and found it to be just as busy as it was in the daytime. Perhaps it seemed more so as every passing vehicle would impact my every shot. I decided I’d go to the area called Wall Street for several Read more…
August 17, 2020
Even though true night would start hours later and because of dangerous cliffs and the prospect of losing my footing in the dark, I began shooting at the start of the Milky Way rise… 9:10 to be exact. Look how visible it is despite the sky still being very light-filled. Read more…
August 16, 2020
Another extraordinary sky fell upon this extraordinary landscape. And I had some big photo plans. First, I’d need the Milky Way. And boom, there it is. Next, I’d need a good spot. Yes, this would be perfect. Then–become a Galaxy Fighter! Yes, a weird idea I had on my couch Read more…
August 15, 2020
The Great Starry Way continues with my dark sky park number 10, Bryce Canyon National Park. Much like Cedar Breaks the previous night, this park also boasts a high altitude and pure deep, unadulterated darkness. Though I was skeptical that a sky could come close to last night’s, Bryce Canyon Read more…
August 14, 2020
The first of 9 IDA-certified Dark Sky parks I plan to shoot within on this journey, Cedar Breaks National Monument’s altitude sets it apart from any place I have shot in the dark. I’d be 10,000 feet closer to them. I know I say this a lot, but this night Read more…
August 11, 2020
After a long day of exploring Long Island’s largest decaying state asylum, we headed to the Island’s end with hopes to catch some kind of meteor shower activity. The night was an exploration of light–first from the beautiful Montauk Lighthouse. But a haze of cloud cover thwarted our plans initially… Read more…
July 24, 2020
My trip to Virginia’s dark sky parks was a good effort, but cloud cover was a big issue. In the brief sliver of time when the clouds opened up at James River State Park, I did mange some shots. Then the rain came again, bringing me back to my tent Read more…
July 21, 2020
If the weather cooperates in the evening, I will shoot at all of Virginia’s dark sky parks by the end of my trip. But that’s a big “if.” The mountains are tempestuous, already thwarting my first evening of camping. Though I am not proud of being in this motel room Read more…
February 19, 2020
I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight on a bed of California stars… I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight on a bed of California stars 🎶 I’d love to feel your hand touching mine and tell me why I must keep working on. Yes I’d give my Read more…
December 25, 2019
Gift Spoiler alert! 🎁 Don’t read if you’re a special person in my life! This holiday season I am giving what I am most proud of–the evolution of my skills in astrophotography! Spending hours pouring over my photographs from this past year, I kind of got choked up. I saw Read more…
September 22, 2019
In finally looking through all the Milky Way shots from my summer vacation, I am bummed I live in such a light-polluted area. Though plenty of the shots have creeping invasive light sources, they’re nothing compared to New York City’s bright lights. And now I am hooked on capturing the Read more…
August 27, 2019
Animals, Asian Cuisines & Fusions, Beautiful Places Far Away, Eating Out, Nature, Photography, Wanderlust
The day would start in a place far from where it would end, in West Palm Beach’s budding downtown–within its brightly colored murals and instagram opportunities, its hip eateries. In the span of just a few hours I was within Florida’s “Prairie”–its cowboy apparel stores, fields of grazing cows who Read more…
August 24, 2019
Just one look, as the song goes. A glance up at the sky in the secluded Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon, Florida and I knew it’d be another fruitful night shoot. Above me, the most clear, dark skies to my memory. When I saw the Milky Way again, the Read more…
August 19, 2019
Animals, Arts & Crafts, Beautiful Places Far Away, Bucket List, Eating Out, Nature, Photography, Wanderlust
Real quick: I photographed the gosh darned Milky Way 🌌 last night. I needed to say that first as it would not have happened if the earlier parts of the day played out differently. So the 2-hour traffic delay on the I-75, the extended shelling expedition at Bowman’s Beach, losing track Read more…