After Dark Photo
Full Moon Dust Storm Palm Springs
If you've ever been to Palm Springs, or anywhere really windy for that matter, windmill farms are most likely a sight on the horizon.
On my recent trip to the Palm Desert I wanted to shoot a series of windmill shots under the full moon in the worst way. I had a definite vision of what I wanted to achieve but like all great plans and nature, you get what is given, not what you hoped for.
I got some directions to a dirt road, unmarked with trespassing signs, and no locked or closed gates. I believed I had a good night of shooting ahead.
It was super windy. I believe the news said gusts up to 50-60 mph this night. I couldn't verify that but I can tell you it was hard to open the car door and it blew it shut on me twice trying to get my gear out.
Well, with wind and a desert comes dust. Looking to the west towards Ontario there was nothing in the sky for a interesting backdrop but dust. The stars were totally blotted out. To the north, for a polaris shot, the sky was dusted out and highway traffic was creating a weird refelcted glow on the dust cloud.
So I opted for a silhouette towards the southeast. Still some dust but a short exposure (relatively speaking) so the stars aren't trailing much if at all.
This is the shot as it appeard save for a slight crop on the right. The white balance was adjusted from Tungsten to auto. This is actually how it looked to the naked eye. The golden horizon must be from the lights of Palm Springs city reflecting off the dust and couds.
Either way, I had a very short night of shooting. Aside from the very eerie location, not a soul around, and the digital alarm or chirp of the windmills, the wind was hamemring me and my tripod and camera. A security truck pulled up and the guy was real nice but chased me off. He said it was private land but it wasn't posted. I told him I had not seen any signs and didn't want to cause any trouble. As I said this a rattlesnake made its way across the road. He said, "You aren't a problem. But that guy is a concern. You didn't break any laws but we don't like people out here."
And I understood where he was coming from. People have been stealing copper wire out of these windmills all over the state and taking it to scrap yards for cash. Pathetic.....
He let me stick around and take two more shots...so I was in bed early...
BTW.....this is at the base of the canyon leading up the 10 Highway. The horizon here is straight....its just a sloped area leading uphill to the right of the frame.
Full Moon Dust Storm Palm Springs
If you've ever been to Palm Springs, or anywhere really windy for that matter, windmill farms are most likely a sight on the horizon.
On my recent trip to the Palm Desert I wanted to shoot a series of windmill shots under the full moon in the worst way. I had a definite vision of what I wanted to achieve but like all great plans and nature, you get what is given, not what you hoped for.
I got some directions to a dirt road, unmarked with trespassing signs, and no locked or closed gates. I believed I had a good night of shooting ahead.
It was super windy. I believe the news said gusts up to 50-60 mph this night. I couldn't verify that but I can tell you it was hard to open the car door and it blew it shut on me twice trying to get my gear out.
Well, with wind and a desert comes dust. Looking to the west towards Ontario there was nothing in the sky for a interesting backdrop but dust. The stars were totally blotted out. To the north, for a polaris shot, the sky was dusted out and highway traffic was creating a weird refelcted glow on the dust cloud.
So I opted for a silhouette towards the southeast. Still some dust but a short exposure (relatively speaking) so the stars aren't trailing much if at all.
This is the shot as it appeard save for a slight crop on the right. The white balance was adjusted from Tungsten to auto. This is actually how it looked to the naked eye. The golden horizon must be from the lights of Palm Springs city reflecting off the dust and couds.
Either way, I had a very short night of shooting. Aside from the very eerie location, not a soul around, and the digital alarm or chirp of the windmills, the wind was hamemring me and my tripod and camera. A security truck pulled up and the guy was real nice but chased me off. He said it was private land but it wasn't posted. I told him I had not seen any signs and didn't want to cause any trouble. As I said this a rattlesnake made its way across the road. He said, "You aren't a problem. But that guy is a concern. You didn't break any laws but we don't like people out here."
And I understood where he was coming from. People have been stealing copper wire out of these windmills all over the state and taking it to scrap yards for cash. Pathetic.....
He let me stick around and take two more shots...so I was in bed early...
BTW.....this is at the base of the canyon leading up the 10 Highway. The horizon here is straight....its just a sloped area leading uphill to the right of the frame.