As many of you might have observed, these last couple of nights have been very dark because of the new moon. The new moon is an astronomical term that describes one of the phases in the moons monthly orbit. It occurs when the moon lies between the Earth and the Sun and is in conjunction with the sun. So from earth or Reagan, Tx. the earth does not show at all in the sky. The reason I am telling you all this, is because I have had a quest to obtain a photo that would be placed on the cover of the ’09 Aggieland Yearbook. This was a huge honor that Alyssa (editor in chief and friend) gave me when we decided to use a photo for a portion of the cover.
Well I have been driving out to Reagan, Tx. from College Station these last couple of nights. The first trip with Stephen Fogg and Jonny Green and then again with Spencer Selvidge and Gabe Chmielewski. I tried to tackle this photo idea two ways. The first was to take a long exposure which I did. And the second way was to use the a high ISO, to capture a huge number/cluster of stars.
So my first technique was to keep the camera shutter open for a while. I set up my camera to stay open for thirty minutes so that my sensor would catch the drag of the lights from the stars and the earths movement.It turned out pretty well except I would have liked the lines in the future to be a lot longer. So expect more of these to come after I do more research.
So my second technique was using a high ISO to capture as many stars as I could inside the exposure. So how I did that was I cranked up my ISO to about 3200-4000. Side Note: The 5d Mark ii (which is the camera I use) have incredible capabilities and I really got to test them in this shot. Using a high ISO is like using really really fast film back in the day. I set the exposure to about thirty seconds with a low aperture and I can distinctly remember looking at the photo right after I took the first shot and literally my jaw dropping. I hadn’t even seen it in the sky but above the barn was the Milky Way. Those moments were so incredible! I started photographing more and more.
While I was out there in this field in Reagan, Tx I couldn’t help but be still and recognize God. I laid down on my back for a good twenty minutes and looked back at this year and how he has been using me to bring Glory to Him. How I have had the opportunity to meet random people, travel to the middle east(Qatar), sit in a field and wonder at his creation. As I sit staring at the countless number of starts I couldn’t help but be filled with Christ’s presence. Christ is indescribable.
So after all of this I have been blessed with the opportunity to create what I would call my best photograph yet.
{Photography. Witness. Passion} 