The Planet Called Earth

Just developed a roll of 120mm film I took at White Sands NM (and other spots). Slept on the dunes that evening with my Mamiya 645 camera on its tripod, open on B.

Really didn't think this one would come out because of a mistake I had made - I had left the lens on M setting to see the DOF on a previous shot, and should have set it back to A (automatic). If you leave it on M it is effectively at f22, so I thought it would be too dark .. nope, just about right.

Comments? Don't think this is super due to the lack of a foreground subject, but this photograph looks like an alien planet to me. Some wonderfully different sky scenes out in the desert where there's no light.....

http://www.gregbulla.com/Photography...NoICE_1200.jpg

Everytime I see images like this it inspires me to try something similar. The problem is that I live in the city and the ambient light pollution just makes it impossible. You are fortunate to live within striking distance of a desert. And, yes, it does look somewhat alien!

Cheers
Mike

Tom, I think you can find a spot that may work. Not really knowing southern England, it's hard to guesstimate how far you may have to go, but pick a spot midway between major cities on a cloudless night (tough in Britain, I know) with no moon or at least a small one that doesn't cross the area you're photographing. You can get that info online for a particular lat-lon.

As for me, I have an awesome place in mind near Yuma Arizona. The place is very odd and has a small church up on an apparently man-made hill. I want to use that as the foreground subject, perhaps quickly illuminating it to get that properly exposed with the camera on B setting, then leave it open the rest of the night. Trouble is, it's 3 hours from my house and is on semi-private property where people live (and may have dogs). I think I could contact them and tell them what I want to do, and they may allow it. Check out this strange little place:

HISTORYINGRANITE.ORG

You tell me what this is .. ???

wow, that's a long exposure !! longer than 1 hr ?

the history museum , maybe thay will charge you , looks like an interesting place

I love these types of shots. I don't think you need to open the shutter that long. Try shorter maybe 1 minute exposures and look up a technique called photo stacking. I haven't done it yet, but I've been reading up on it, just in case I end up in a place dark enough to do this. I think they have apps now that will take maybe 20 or 30 of these shorter shots and stack them in a way to give this type of effect but a lot more lines.

I think this is terrific and the item in the foreground whatever it is is ideal. I think it would look great as a large print.

I love the subdued hues.

Roger R.