Star Trails - Ancient Bristlecone Forest

Excellent.

f-in fantastic. exposure time??

~ 8 hours

 

remember that a full circle is 24 hours. so take any star in time lapse picture and figure out the arc. in this case, it's around 110-120 degrees (let's use 120 deg) so:

 

(120 deg) / (360 deg/circle) * (24 hr/circle) = 8 hours

Often in star trail photographs, the photographer forgets or neglects to include a worthwhile foreground, something on earth to anchor the image. Not so in this case. Must be beautiful in a large print.

Brilliant photo, but can you tell me why the star trails are oval and not round?

the star tracks look oval in shape because i used a wide angle 90mm lens (4x5 format). that doesn't bother me because for this particular image, i am more interested in what it says from a spiritual, emotional, or symbolic perspective. here we have the stars overhead that are going to be here for a very long time, the bristlecone pines have been there for 3000-4000 years, and then i walked right through the picture twice (once to go back to my truck & sleep and again to trip the shutter off) and don't even show up. that sort of symbolizes the element of time for me, personally, in a certain fashion. we (humans) are here for a very short stay and yet, collectively speaking, we seem to think we are somehow superior in the way we claim dominion over the world in which we depend upon for life itself. it's a powerful photograph when thought of in this fashion:

 

 

we are nothing

 

we are everything...

 

 

everything in the sense that we're made from the same stardust that the trees are made from; nothing in the sense that within the timeframe and scale of what seems to be eternity, we're truly insignificant... but as individuals, we're everything of significance because we do relate to our environment and have made a huge impact. everything is interrelated... from us to the trees to the stars.

 

 

okay, okay... just my opinion here & i'll step off my pedestal now.

 

:)

 

I see you've put a lot of thought into this. And I must say I agree with your sentiments. You've got a wonderful image here, and a wonderful sense of self expression.

 

Thanks for sharing your insights with us

7\7 for this great shot!!!

This is a good example of this style of photo. I agree with the other comment about your selection of a nice foreground to anchor the shot. The only nit I see is the largest trees seem to be leaning into the spiral, but I don't think it detract from the image much. Very well done.

A great star trail example. J.

awesome

I feel that your composition is absolutely beautiful!!! I immediatley identified with the spiritual feel of the scene. I think its wonderful that your subjects are the timeless stars in combination with the bristlecone pines which are the oldest living creature on Earth. Ever since I watched a documentry on the "Meathusa Tree", photographing the bristlecone pines have been a dream of mine. You have done an absolute wonderful job here!!! Thanks for sharing.

I like the fact that the tree leans toward the star circles, it adds to the spirituality of the scene. Beautiful photo.

Yes indeed, 5000 year old trees merit some serious photography. I saw the program on PBS about these:

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/

 

I too would like to get some photos of them, perhaps this summer. Thanks for sharing.

This is great. I'm sure the small online scan doesn't look as good as a print. All of your black and white work is excellent, but I think this captures my attention the most. Amazing.

I love your photograph. You have inspired me. I have a question though. Why did you shoot it on 400? Ok, one more question. To create this star trail effect, you point the camera in the direction or the star Polaris? If not, please fill me in. Nice work.

Thank you for sharing your art.

Excellent photo! I especially like the way the tree in the foreground points towards the concentric circles. It gives the photo a more "grand" and profound feel.

 

By the way, your presentation is excellent too, thanks for sharing with us.

This is absolutely outstanding and I fully agree with your philosophy. Only that I cannot yet put it into a photo...

I Love this Shot!

Superb image and explanation. This should easily be the size of a billboard.

I fully agree with your philosophy, we occupy just few seconds in the scale of times...it's a pity that SOME people don't even consider that. A boring technical question: the ground, trees details, did they come out only for the long exposure? I imagine it was really dark...When I was in the australian desert, I tried a similar exposure, but only for a couple of hours. Apart the light of my caravan, everything was black...and the sky and the stars absolutely magnific.

Simply... wow!!!

 

When I started taking star trail photos I did it like an experiment, and I must confes... I never payed much atention to the foreground. Now looking at your picture I realize it makes a difference.

 

After looking at your picture I feel like going out to take some :P

These hollydays were frustrating about that.,... Whenever I was in a dark place, the sky was all covered (and sometimes even raining) and when it was clear, I was in a really "lighty" place.

 

Here in Buenos Aires you have to go far to be away from all the city light.

Looks great, but I miss a splash of color in it.

This photo is simply one of the best photos I've ever seen in my life, excellent work!!