I’ve been waiting for a clear night with no moon and Saturday night/Sunday morning was it. It’s early Milky Way season and it would be visible for a couple hours before sunrise.
I just had to find a dark place to wait.
I got up at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, got to Shiawasee Nature Preserve, about an hour north of me, by 3:30. I thought I was prepared. I knew which direction to look. I had the Skyview app loaded in my phone. I had a compass. I’d been there during the daytime and had scoped out a spot to stand that was very near where my car would be parked.
So it was with high hopes I got out of the car in 32 degree weather (but no wind!) wearing a winter coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. I walked the few feet to my chosen spot, set up the tripod and pointed it to the SE. And saw….nothing. A few stars. Nothing much was visible because the light from Flint, 28 miles away, was overwhelming.
I began to doubt myself. Maybe it wasn’t really in the SE. Maybe it was more South by now. After all it was last week I had the training that said Southeast…maybe it moves faster than I imagined. I couldn’t remember the name of the constelations I was supposed to use to find the Milky Way. I couldn’t figure out how to put Antaras (a star) into the Skyview app on my phone to find it.
I was reduced to randomly pointing the camera at the sky in any location I thought it might be and shooting. I saw a few bright stars I thought might be the ‘teapot’ and concentrated on that section of the sky. But that was due South, and I knew that wasn’t right. Still, looking to the Southeast was just too bright.
As I played with my settings I couldn’t check to see if my images were getting better or worse because the back of my camera went black. Apparently I had touched some random button that disabled the live view. Sigh.
I tried the proven trick of upping my iso to the highest it could go, just so I could see what was there, and it was totally blown out white. I tried lowering it some, still white. My fingers were getting cold. My toes were numb. I’d been out there for an hour getting nothing.
In fact, this is my favorite shot from Sunday morning.
When I got home I found this image, as the best of the bunch. The Milky Way is in there, if you squint hard and use your imagination. I’ve tried editing it to bring it out more…but I can’t figure that out either on this one. Trying to bring the Milky Way lights up while dimming the Flint dome light is just so hard.
So I reluctantly posted my image on our group’s Facebook page, explaining my issues (well, the issues revolving photography anyway!) and look below at what someone did for me! They edited it so that you can actually see the Milky Way.
I’m not so discouraged now. I DID get the Milky Way in the image! I even got stars reflected in the strip of water! I won’t go out to this location for another attempt, there’s just way too much light. But I’ll keep going to dark sky places and I know that eventually I’ll capture the sky the way I see it in my head.
April 9, 2024 at 4:42 am
Persistence! I like it. I have done a few nights of astrophotography but my frustration with my results generally discourages me. I’m happy you were able to get the Milky Way (although not the one in the pictures in your mind). I can’t wait to see the next one… 🙂
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April 11, 2024 at 10:21 am
I can’t wait to get back out there!
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April 9, 2024 at 5:43 am
Pure Magic! SO pretty.
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April 11, 2024 at 10:21 am
Being out at night (without wind), under the skies definitely IS magic!
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April 9, 2024 at 7:34 am
Good morning Dawn! The last photo was worth the wait! Hopefully the person who edited your photo can share the steps that brought out the MW. Thank you for sharing! 😊
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April 11, 2024 at 10:23 am
I will figure it out. I think I have one more similar image that I can play with. I don’t know her, she’s in our photo group. I’m sure if I were to ask she’d tell me. But I think I can figure it out.
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April 9, 2024 at 9:04 am
Wow! What did she do? And your photos are absolutely lovely (I, too, like the ooops one!)
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April 11, 2024 at 10:23 am
The big question is how to bring out the stars but not the light dome from Flint. I will figure it out!
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April 11, 2024 at 10:24 am
You will. Of that I have utmost faith!
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April 9, 2024 at 11:12 am
What a great edit! And you DID capture the Milky Way! That’s exciting.
Isn’t that weird when we do something to our camera and we don’t know? For the longest time, I could not delete a photo from my camera. It said the photo was ‘protected.’ Come to find out I had accidentally hit a button that kept the photo. It has now been unprotected–and deleted.
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April 11, 2024 at 10:24 am
Yea…it’s frustrating. Sometimes cameras (and a lot of other stuff) are too smart for me!
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April 9, 2024 at 1:19 pm
You are so much more adventurous than I am – I love photos of the dark skies lit only by the stars, but getting up at 2:00 a.m. and venturing out into the cold night – no, I think I’ll pass. Not to mention my only camera these days is the one if my phone. So thank you for your photos!
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April 11, 2024 at 10:25 am
It’s kind of scary exciting all at the same time. In this case I was with a couple steps of the car and that always makes me feel better. Having someone else with me also helps, though I didn’t this time.
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April 9, 2024 at 3:22 pm
What would we do without friends?! An excellent photo, Dawn — and to think, that Milky Way was there all along, just waiting for Geralynn to bring it out!! (You’re a robust soul for standing out in the dark in the cold, trying to take a photo!)
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April 11, 2024 at 10:26 am
I should have stayed with the facts as I knew them. I knew where it was, I just couldn’t see it and I’m not used to that as I usually shoot in darker skies where you can, after your eyes adjust, see the Milky Way so you know you have it in your frame. When I couldn’t see it where it was supposed to be I started double thinking which was a mistake. Lesson learned. If I do all the prep I should feel some confidence that I’m doing most of it right!
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April 9, 2024 at 9:27 pm
Gorgeous!!!
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April 11, 2024 at 10:28 am
Thank you!
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April 9, 2024 at 9:57 pm
The third picture is awesome. Thanks to the enhancement of Geralynn, but even the second pic was good.
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April 11, 2024 at 10:29 am
Thank you!
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April 9, 2024 at 11:40 pm
I’m never up late enough to see the stars in a dark sky. I love your photos!
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April 11, 2024 at 10:30 am
At this time of year the Milky Way is up for a couple hours just prior to sunrise…so if you’re an early riser you could get a glimpse of it before it gets too light out to see it.
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April 10, 2024 at 7:59 am
Success after all. I admire your persistence.
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April 11, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Thank you. It’s just so fascinating, and each time I go out I’m hoping for the ability to do what I’ve studied. So far no trip has been perfect, and most likely never will be, but it’s sure fun to try.
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April 10, 2024 at 2:07 pm
I admire you for trying. Thank goodness for FB friends.
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April 11, 2024 at 12:38 pm
It’s so much fun to try…but it can be disappointing too. I was discouraged that early cold morning…but I feel hopeful again now.
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April 11, 2024 at 10:58 am
Wow, Dawn, these were worth the wait. Nicely done!
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April 11, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Thank you!
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April 12, 2024 at 3:26 am
Well done for persevering, Dawn. That edited photo is truly beautiful. I don’t have those kind of skills either, but I’m sure it was wonderful being out there with the night sky.
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April 12, 2024 at 10:31 pm
It definitely was wonderful. Even though it was stinking cold! :) I would like to find somewhere darker though, without the dome light from a city. I have a few ideas but they are all 4+ hours from here, so it takes a bit more planning.
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April 13, 2024 at 9:00 am
This sort of shoot is most definitely on my photography “bucket list” so thank you for sharing all that you went through. And how wonderful of the person who did that editing for you!
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April 17, 2024 at 11:59 am
Yes, I don’t even know this person, she’s a member of the online class I’m taking. I really appreciate her! I am hoping, this summer, to get out more and keep on trying to find that perfect dark spot!
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April 17, 2024 at 1:47 am
Oh wow, that’s a fantastic capture, Dawn! And were you alone? That’s a pretty brave thing to do if you were!
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April 17, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Yes, many times when I’m out at night I’m alone. Not so many people want to follow along and just hang out while I’m busy doing stuff. And..of course I try to hurry if someone else is there, because I feel bad they’re waiting on me. But on the other hand, if I get to go out with other night photographers it’s good because we all understand.
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April 18, 2024 at 2:17 am
I know of many night photographers in Australia who chase the Southern Lights. It must be a wonderful experience, but probably more fun with like-minded company. 🙂
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April 21, 2024 at 9:01 pm
I love your night photos. What patience you have- but it paid off!
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