This image shows the constellation Orion floating above Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States, framed by the iconic Möbius Arch. It took over fours years from conception to curating.
The key to this image’s success lies in several concurrent requirements, starting with the eastern escarpment of California’s Sierra Nevada being perfectly oriented to catch the first light of the new day. At sunset, its entire eastern face is in deep shadow and this image doesn’t work.
Next, as we face to the west, we have the juxtaposition of Orion with the eastern Sierra crest, including Mt. Whitney, in the precise moments when there is sufficient light from the imminently rising sun behind our back to illuminate the mountains. Second, the stage of twilight is such that there aren’t an overwhelming number of stars visible; Orion clearly stands out. These dual requirements limit the window of possible shooting times to literally just a few minutes!
Third, the altitude of Orion through the portal of Möbius Arch must such that it creates a pleasing composition while not blocking any of the key image constituents. This latter requirement, coupled with the timing within twilight, results in its availability for only a few weeks of the year!
Finally, we have chosen the correct focal length lens, foreground subject distance and depth of field to ensure a pleasing framing by an in-focus Möbius Arch.
Join us! In our new Nightscape Photography class you will learn how to reliably create shots like this one by understanding the key points of both astronomy and photography!
– BPSOP Instructor: Mike Shaw
Mike Teaches: Star Trails & Night Photography
