skypointer2000
Stargazing Elephant
Disclaimer: Better do not look at this image, as it was shot while trespassing the Valley of Fire after sunset!
I was warned by David Swindler that Valley of Fire SP was closed during nighttime, but while self-paying my entrance fee at the entrance gate, I couldn’t find any notice of this. The only sign I saw, stating that access to the valley was forbidden at night, was at the beginning of the dead-end road leading into the valley. I therefore decided that it was OK if I stayed along the Valley of Fire Highway, where the Elephant Rock is located.
So I setup my lights and cameras. Just as I was ready to start shooting, a car appeared and a ranger started shouting at me from below that I was trespassing the park.
Of course I knew that my work was over before it had really started. What a shame! I needed at least a few exposures! I quickly pushed the shutters of my cameras and, stalling for time, shouted back to the ranger.
“Why should it be illegal to stay here?”
“People get lost in the hills at night!”
“100ft from the highway? Are you kidding me???”
Of course, the ranger was not happy with that answer.
“You are trespassing, as written at the entrance! I am ordering you to leave immediately!”
“No sir, nothing like this is written at the entrance! I carefully read all the information there!”
“The sign is ¼ mile before the gate!”
“Really? Great idea! I normally keep my eyes on the street while driving – especially at night! Why don't you write it at the information board?”
Now the guy was really upset! “I am ordering you to leave! Immediately!!!”
OK, it was time to back off… “I am sorry sir! I really did not see that sign and of course I will leave. Just give me a few minutes to pack my gear. I don’t want to spoil the beautiful landscape with trash I left behind…”
“Pack your stuff and leave! I will be back in 20 minutes. If I find any sign of you, you will be fined.” After that he drove off without any good night.
20 minutes? Great! That gave me another 10 minutes shooting before I had to leave…
The described time pressure and a broken LCD screen on my camera, forcing me to focus blindly, left me with only 4 usable images from my Canon 6D. Temperatures above 100°F did not help the quality of the RAW images either. Considering these facts, I am quite happy with the outcome.
Astro Modified Canon EOS 6D
Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8
4 x 20s @ ISO 6400
Thanks for all your faves and comments. They are highly appreciated.
Stargazing Elephant
Disclaimer: Better do not look at this image, as it was shot while trespassing the Valley of Fire after sunset!
I was warned by David Swindler that Valley of Fire SP was closed during nighttime, but while self-paying my entrance fee at the entrance gate, I couldn’t find any notice of this. The only sign I saw, stating that access to the valley was forbidden at night, was at the beginning of the dead-end road leading into the valley. I therefore decided that it was OK if I stayed along the Valley of Fire Highway, where the Elephant Rock is located.
So I setup my lights and cameras. Just as I was ready to start shooting, a car appeared and a ranger started shouting at me from below that I was trespassing the park.
Of course I knew that my work was over before it had really started. What a shame! I needed at least a few exposures! I quickly pushed the shutters of my cameras and, stalling for time, shouted back to the ranger.
“Why should it be illegal to stay here?”
“People get lost in the hills at night!”
“100ft from the highway? Are you kidding me???”
Of course, the ranger was not happy with that answer.
“You are trespassing, as written at the entrance! I am ordering you to leave immediately!”
“No sir, nothing like this is written at the entrance! I carefully read all the information there!”
“The sign is ¼ mile before the gate!”
“Really? Great idea! I normally keep my eyes on the street while driving – especially at night! Why don't you write it at the information board?”
Now the guy was really upset! “I am ordering you to leave! Immediately!!!”
OK, it was time to back off… “I am sorry sir! I really did not see that sign and of course I will leave. Just give me a few minutes to pack my gear. I don’t want to spoil the beautiful landscape with trash I left behind…”
“Pack your stuff and leave! I will be back in 20 minutes. If I find any sign of you, you will be fined.” After that he drove off without any good night.
20 minutes? Great! That gave me another 10 minutes shooting before I had to leave…
The described time pressure and a broken LCD screen on my camera, forcing me to focus blindly, left me with only 4 usable images from my Canon 6D. Temperatures above 100°F did not help the quality of the RAW images either. Considering these facts, I am quite happy with the outcome.
Astro Modified Canon EOS 6D
Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8
4 x 20s @ ISO 6400
Thanks for all your faves and comments. They are highly appreciated.