For several years now I've been pursuing an interest in Dark Sky Photography. Joshua Tree National Park, a nearby dark sky island, is a favorite location for shooting the Milky Way. The austerity of the high desert, it's character, elevation and clarity of light make it an exceptional place for photographers. This is especially true for those capturing night sky images, who need the absence of light pollution.
As a local hiker in the park and a guide there for several years, I find the changes from day to night and season to season add to my appreciation of the landscape, no matter when I'm there.These images are from favorite locations in both the high and low desert portions of the Park.
Please scroll down for information about each image, or click for full-screen:
Starlight Over Sheep Pass
Joshua Tree National Park
June, 2018
Blood Moon Tableau
Joshua Tree National Park
November, 2021
Starlight Over Desert Queen Ranch
CVDCC 2018 Image of the Year Award, Pictorial Color
S4C End of Year Gold Award, Pictorial Individual Color, 2018-19
S4C Excellence Award, Pictorial, 2019
Details: 120 degree panorama, 16 images in 2 rows, knitted together in Photoshop:
Canon 6D, 50mm, f2.8, 10sec each, ISO 3200. Each shot taken in portrait format, 15 degrees apart.
Nightscape, Wonderland Ranch
Joshua Tree National Park
June, 2017
Nightscape, Desert Queen Ranch
May, 2017
Cholla Fields by Moonlight
Joshua Tree National Park
October 29th, 2020
Midnight, Stars, '37 Hudson Terraplane
Joshua Tree National Park
May, 2017
Stardust Over Cap Rock
Joshua Tree National Park
May, 2019
"Cap Rock by Starlight"
May, 2019
"The Cholla Gardens at Midnight"
June, 2019
"Midnight, Desert Queen Ranch"
May, 2018
