Space Dust
Press L & F11 for best Lightbox View
Caption: The Racetrack playa and its moving rocks phenomenon draws travelers and photographers from all over the world. On a clear, moonless night, the mily way aligns with one of the trails left behind by the strange and unusual moving rocks.
About the image: While driving up to the Racetrack in Death Valley, a 27 mile gravel road with washboards a-plenty and many recent wash outs, I had the audacity to ask myself "is it worth it?". I had been there before, but the road was a fair bit worse this time through. When I arrived, there were half a dozen rental jeeps with a horde of about 20 photographers. From a distance, I could see that some of the playa's moving rocks, the main reason for subjecting myself and my vehicle to the drive, each had several people / tripods hovering around them.
I almost turned around and left.
I waited in my truck. And to my surprise, they all started leaving before sunset. I hurried out and photographed sunset. And by nightfall, I had the playa to myself. Under a moonless sky, the silence was deafening. Love it!
Nikon D800E
Nikkor 14-24mm @ 14mm
1 exposure at twilight: f16, ISO 400, 4 minutes
1 exposure for milky way: f2.8, ISO 6400, 25 seconds
(dinner back at my truck in between)
Space Dust
Press L & F11 for best Lightbox View
Caption: The Racetrack playa and its moving rocks phenomenon draws travelers and photographers from all over the world. On a clear, moonless night, the mily way aligns with one of the trails left behind by the strange and unusual moving rocks.
About the image: While driving up to the Racetrack in Death Valley, a 27 mile gravel road with washboards a-plenty and many recent wash outs, I had the audacity to ask myself "is it worth it?". I had been there before, but the road was a fair bit worse this time through. When I arrived, there were half a dozen rental jeeps with a horde of about 20 photographers. From a distance, I could see that some of the playa's moving rocks, the main reason for subjecting myself and my vehicle to the drive, each had several people / tripods hovering around them.
I almost turned around and left.
I waited in my truck. And to my surprise, they all started leaving before sunset. I hurried out and photographed sunset. And by nightfall, I had the playa to myself. Under a moonless sky, the silence was deafening. Love it!
Nikon D800E
Nikkor 14-24mm @ 14mm
1 exposure at twilight: f16, ISO 400, 4 minutes
1 exposure for milky way: f2.8, ISO 6400, 25 seconds
(dinner back at my truck in between)