u/WonderfulVoid

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I began formulating this idea over a year ago and in March I finally hiked out into the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park and took the photos. Now, after two months of figuring out how to edit these massive tracked, stacked, HaRGB panoramas it's ready.

March is the only time of year you can capture a double arch like this. I find it's a wonderful representation of the changing of the seasons. In addition to the double arch I've captured Orion settingegan formulating this idea over a year ago and in as winter ends and Cygnus rising as spring begins.

I'll be sharing each one in more detail soon so stay tuned!

I tend to ascribe a lot of meaning to my photos but social media isn't the best place for my long rambling explanations. This one is no different drawing influence from multiple places in what it means to me. I'll leave you with one, Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Acquisition details:

Spring's Beginning - 2 panels - 03/18/2026

Sky RGB: 65mm - 60s x 10 - f/2 - iso1250

Sky Ha: 65mm - 60s x 5 - f/2.8 - iso 2500

Ground: 65mm - 1/250s - f/9 - iso250

^ The ground was taken approximately an hour prior to twilight. I messed up the twlight foreground for this one and chose to use these from earlier while scouting the spot instead.

Ouroboros - 03/19/2026

Skies: 5 panels for both sides

RGB: 14mm - 60s x 5 - f/2.8 - iso1250

Ha: 14mm - 60s x 3 - f/2.8 - iso 3200

Ground: 12 panels x 2 rows

14mm - 1/3s - f/8 - iso 400

Winter's End - 2 panels - 03/20/2026

Sky RGB: 65mm - 30s x 12 - f/2 - iso1250

Sky Ha: 65mm - 60s x 10 - f/2.8 - iso 2500

Ground: 65mm - 1/60s - f/4 - iso 200

Equipment:

Nikon z7ii astromod

Voigtlander 65mm f/2

Rokinon 14mm f/2.8

iOptron Skyguider Pro

Astronomik 12nm Ha clip in filter

Welcome again to throwback Thursday. This image was taken overnight between August 22nd and 23rd in 2025. The quick story is I booked a campsite in Pine Creek Gorge with the intention of capturing the vertical Milky Way through the gap above the river. However when nothing went as planned I made the decision to abandon my camp, run back to the car, and get higher just in time to capture the Milky Way from above the gorge and waited till before dawn to capture this new foreground.

I've included a bit showing the processing technique I've come up with over on IG. I'm always trying to learn more. There's a lot of art in the science of astrophotography and because we can't see this with our own eyes what's "right" and "wrong" becomes somewhat subjective.

One lesson I've learned over the last year is to try to let the data speak for itself. I've often found myself going too heavy handed trying to force a shot to look a certain way. Every night is different and every place will have it's unique atmospheric conditions and light pollution. I do my best to work with what I've captured instead of against it.

This shot was untracked, the camera was an unmodified DSLR, and I didn't use any special filters. Just a lens, a camera, a tripod, and a dream right here at home in Pennsylvania.

Nikon D750

Nikkor 14-24mm 2.8G

Sky: 14mm - 13s x 30 - f/2.8 - iso 4000

Forground: 14mm - 4s - f/11 - iso 100

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"Goosenecks"

This little state park in Utah is really quite spectacular. You can drive right up and for a small fee camp with these amazing views 1000ft above the river.

Taken 03-15-2026

"Goosenecks"

This little state park in Utah is really quite spectacular. You can drive right up and for a small fee camp with these amazing views 1000ft above the river.

Taken 03-15-2026

Re-upload with corrected spelling and hopefully better quality.

"Golden Prelude"

No photo can do justice to standing amonst these sandstone spires in the Needles District. Like most of the American Southwest the rock formations here are larger and so much more complex than they appear once you see them with your own eyes.

A theme I tried to carry through my trip was appreciating waiting. These were all taken while checking alignments and planning timing for the astro shots that would form my coming Milky Way triptych. You'll see some familiar formations when it's ready. As I said of my time near Blanca Peak in Colorado, you can stay in one place and see a thousand different views. Just because I came for a purpose I didn't want to miss out on experiencing where I was.

The sunsets here were always breathtaking. The shadows of the spires grew long and golden light kissed the sandstone. The heat dissipated and day faded away. The prelude to night.

Taken 03/17-19/2026