Stars

Story Behind the Image 6: Medicine Bow Milky Way

March 30, 2023 in Story Behind the Image

This story is one for the books, truly, as I’ll also be adding this image to my book when I can finally get it complete. Taken within the Snowy Mountain Range in Eastern Wyoming, Medicine Bow peak stands tall at 12,018ft. The goal was to capture this stunning “wave-structured” peak in the Wyoming wilderness with the Milky Way galaxy shooting out of the top whilst showcasing the many alpine lakes below.

It took me two attempts to get the shot I had in mind. First attempt was quite wild while the second was more relaxed and much comfortable. The total hike was 4mi round trip with about 1,000ft of elevation gain. And of course this shot had to be done at night to get the milky way in prime viewing.

The first attempt (Image 1): After some research to get to the trail I had to get onto and the amount I’d be hiking, I arrived around 11pm and made my way to the trail. After adventuring on the trail for about .25mi my flashlights died. Yes, both my flashlights were useless surrounding in miles of wilderness that I was most likely alone in to only try and avoid the Mountain Lions, Moose, Elk, Cows and Bears! So after contemplating about moving forward for a few minutes, as I still had 1.5mi left of my hike to the get to the view, I decided to go ahead and use my phone flashlight as the only light which garnered me about 10ft of view distance. Using my ears and keeping my head on a swivel for stalking Mountain Lions and plenty of switchbacks. I made it to the spot, and although beautiful, there was one problem. I was late, the Milky Way had already made its way behind Medicine Bow and was tilting out of frame, and if you have noticed in my photography, I love symmetry and balance. So after taking a few photos I decided it was no longer worth it and trekked back down the 2mi and thankfully got back to my car without encountering any wildlife, that I know of. So that takes me to attempt two.

Attempt 2 (2nd and 3rd images): Two nights passed of clouds and I decided it was time to try again and see if I could accomplish the shot I wanted. This time I left a little earlier. At around 9pm I made it to the trailhead and started the 2mi hike. With new batteries in the flashlights and carrying my good ole 40lbs photography bag I made my way up the 1,000ft climb. This time it was a little darker out as the Moon hadn’t risen above the horizon yet. So after taking time to navigate and understand where I was I set up shop. After a little bit of trial and error with focus, I got what I had gone there for. The Milky Way, standing up tall, over Medicine Bow, with the alpine lakes below. This shot was super rewarding not only because of failing the first night but because my plan was exact. I was able to have plenty of time to get different views and different compositions below the stars. Definitely my favorite Milky Way shot from 2022 and I can’t wait to see what I can capture this coming year.

Attempt 1: The Milky Way can be seen behind Medicine Bow Peak with some crazy hues in the sky as well. And the ridgeline of mountains that reach out to the peak as well.

Attempt 2 Image 1: The Milky Way exactly where I had envisioned and even created a stunning reflection in the water of the lakes below. The long exposure brought out just enough detail in the mountains for this compelling shot.

Attempt 2 Image 2: A little rotation in the Milky Way but that’s better than it being straight up for this image. It had some balance to the alright right heavy frame and balanced nicely along the Alpine Lakes.

If you enjoy these photographs as much I do the vertical frame is on my print shop linked here.

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Thank you for reading and plenty more blogs to come!

California Trip - February

August 03, 2020

In February I went to California to road-trip and explore the National Parks as I enjoy them a lot. Their unique beauty brings something different every time I photograph them. I also wanted to go and have a chance at photographing the “Firefalls” in Yosemite, but Yosemite ended up being too dry. So upon finding out Yosemite was dry and had no snow I decided to leave the next day and go down to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks 7 hours away. Before that though I decided to photograph stars the night before and then sunrise in Upon arriving to those parks as I needed to adjust my plan I quickly found locations to shoot while getting lunch on the way down. I then improvised and was able to photograph these locations in the light conditions I hoped for with the weather that was given. Of course I woke up for sunrise, in these locations and stars every night that the weather allowed. After visiting Death Valley and Joshua Tree I decided to drive back up north along the Pacific Coastal Highway. I stayed in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and photographed stars before I continued the drive in the morning to return to San Francisco. When getting to San Francisco I touched on Daly City where I had always wanted to photograph for the repetitive and intriguing architecture and then some locations in San Francisco I had touched just yet. The West Coast is one of my favorite places I’ve had the opportunity to visit and explore and I can’t wait until I’m there again.

A shooting star over climbers on El Capitan with Half Dome looking in the background with more stars peaking through the cloudy sky.

Some deer within just outside of the Yosemite Valley

The Red sunrise light smacking the side of the Panamint Range

Amazing light spilling through coastline trees.

Daly Cities repetitive buildings and architecture.

The white architecture of San Francisco joining together for this calming shot.

Drone shot of streets coming together in San Francisco.

El Capitan being frame between pine trees on the Valley Floor with the Merced River running through.

Sand dunes during Golden Hour in Death Valley National Park

Sunrise with salt flats and the Panamint Range in the background.

Crazy cactus in Joshua Tree National Park

Milky way over a waterfall along Big Sur’s highway.

The lines of housing within the Bay Area / Daly City.

Neighborhood of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge overlooking it.

Transamerica Pyramid overlooking light trails.

Thank you for reading and looking at my photographs from my trip to California in February.

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Upstate New York

December 27, 2018

At the end of the summer I decided to sleep and travel through central New York to North Western New York. Some of the most beautiful locations on the east coast are contained in this area. The locations I went to are Letchworth State Park, Chimney Bluffs State Park, and had a little fun of exploring in Rochester. While on this trip I wanted to sleep in my car so I found places to sleep each of the nights I was traveling. Many hours of driving and hard-work here are some of the images!

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The Trip

December 01, 2016

"The Trip" happened in late June early July of this past summer (2016). This trip was a trip around the state parks of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. My friends, Jared, Luke, and JC embarked on this trip late June early July.

Day 1

"The Trip" started in Pittsburgh and our first stop was the Allegheny National Forest. 76.6mi - 1hr 50min

The next stop was Elk State Forest, which we saw a few Elk.. Of course! 45.5mi - 1hr 12min

After Elk State Forest, we moved on Sproul State Forest. 32.1mi - 57min

First time experimenting with Steel Wool.

Day 2

After waking up in Sproul State Forest; we moved onto Tioga State Forest. 9.6mi - 18min

Ansonio Park was our next stop. Which we didn't find much so then we moved onto Worlds End State Park. Which led us to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. 61.3 mi - 1hr 39min / 91.5mi - 2hr

Played with Steel Wool again. Got chased out of the woods by Coyotes.

Also able to see the Milky Way for the first time around 1am.

Day 3

We then we traveled onto Hickory Run State Park. Which turned into us going a little further and traveling to Ricketts Glen State Park. 101.4mi - 1hr 55min

Day 4

We then visited a Wolf Sanctuary. 2.1mi - 4min. Then Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. 100.8mi - 1hr 53min

After the Wildlife Management Area. We then traveled to Patapsco Valley State Park. 175mi - 2hr 52min

Then we traveled to the Humpback Rocks outside of Shenandoah National Park. Which gave us a great view, and a up close with Turkey Vultures. 162mi - 3hr 7min

Day 5/6

New River Gorge is there our next stop which we arrived at sunset which seemed to help us out! We were there for 2 days. 91.8mi - 1hr 28min

Day 7

After getting to see almost every square inch of New River Gorge we made way to Cucumber Falls. 95.6mi - 1hr 33min

We traveled to Quemahoning Reservoir and then back up to Pittsburgh. 47.3mi - 58min / 68.3mi - 1hr 30min.

Total travel: 1422 Miles / Total Time: 7 Days (30 Hours Driving)

"Travel - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." - Ibn Battuta

Thanks to Jared, Luke, and JC for the awesome memories and stories.

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Short Trip

November 14, 2016

On Saturday November 12, 2016 my roommates and I traveled to a few spots around the Poconos Mountains in North Eastern Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was to get out of the apartment and go explore a little bit of the places north of Philadelphia. The spots we touched were "Hickory Run Lake", "Boulder Field", and a part of the Appalachian Trail upon the "Delaware Water Gap". We ended the night watching the stars appear at the "Delaware Water Gap" and then slowly made it down the trail.

Hickory Run Lake in Hickory Run State Park during the time of the sun slowly dropping below the tree line.

A sunlight area below the Hickory Run Lake.

A tree growing out of the abundance of rocks in "Boulder Field" in Hickory Run State Park. Sun flare striking through the branches of the tree.

On top of the Appalachian Trail in the "Delaware Water Gap".

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