Failure Happens - Astrophotography Adventure
Sometimes things don't always go the way you plan, and sometimes that works out but other times it doesn't. No matter how much you plan, some things just don't go as planned.
Astrophotography is entirely different from other forms of photography, and it requires a lot of planning. I've known for a while now that this spot I knew would be an amazing location for a night sky shot with the Milky Way looming over this gorgeous dark river. After thinking about it for over a year, I finally decided to make it happen. I reached out to an amazingly talented astrophotographer (check him out on Instagram @skeletonsofsteel) and asked how I could make this image happen. We checked out the location on www.darksitefinder.com to be sure it would be dark enough, picked a night with a New Moon to go out and shoot so that the moon wouldn't be lighting up the sky, and we figured out that the Milky Way would rise in the Southeast and set in the Southwest which was perfect for the angle of my location. Everything was going to be perfect for this shot and I was so excited! On the night of the New Moon, after a 30 minute drive to the location, we realized there may be an issue.
Clouds
It was pitch black, so they could barely be seen. I decided to make my way up the mountain anyway, refusing to accept a pointless trip. After facing a herd of 5 or 6 cows and bulls, a few spooked skunks, and a dealing with a dying flashlight, I made it to the top, set up my tripod and lined up my shot... and I was devastated. The clouds entirely blocked my perfectly planned view of the Milky Way and I ended up with this photo to the right. I do like the stars peeking above the clouds, but it isn't what I was going for.
After realizing this wasn't going to work, I turned completely around and ran out in front of the camera with my dying flashlight to capture the images at the top of this post. They may not have the Milky Way in them, but I do really like them and I'm glad that I didn't give up and leave empty handed. Not everything can be planned for, and I will have to try the original shot I had in mind another day, but I will enjoy the memories and photos from this night forever.