Starry-Eyed Fireflies

Time lapse video of this image being created

When I think about how I have learned and grown as a photographer over the years, it’s usually with regard to fundamentals like aperture, focal length, shutter speed, or compositional elements like how to use light and shadow to create a compelling image. For this picture, as grand as it may appear, my learning process compared to last week’s image was actually extraordinarily mundane: I simply repositioned my camera. This is the second in a series of two similar star trails images, and a clear example of how I strive to always find ways to expand my knowledge and skills when it comes to image-creation.

The first image, which I shared last week, was kind of a shot in the dark (har!) and I didn’t really know what I was doing, where to point the GoPro, or what the end result would look like at all. I didn’t even plan on capturing the stars circumscribing Polaris–that was quite an accident, albeit a pleasant one. So when I saw the results of the three-hour capture the next morning I figured I could take another, better, image with just a couple of minor changes involving the position of my camera. During broad daylight I walked down the slope behind our cabin to find a spot where I could capture more of the night sky between the trees, and also hopefully get the north star in the picture too. It was hot, weedy, and buggy but I found a spot that, I thought, would give me what I was looking for so I noted it in my mind, found a few visual markers to help me place my tripod later that day, and went back to find my wife and kids hanging out with the rest of our extended family.

That night after the sun had set I went back to the spot with my brother Phil, who also had his camera and tripod to capture a star trails image of his own. I managed to locate the spot I found earlier in the day, set up my tripod and GoPro, adjusted the angle of the ball head so the camera was more or less pointed in the direction I wanted, and Phil and I quickly went back inside the cabin while swatting at gnats and bugs along the way.

The shot I got overnight vastly exceeded my expectations. I was shocked at what my diminutive little GoPro camera was able to capture. I figured I would get a couple of star trails, not the hundreds you see here so easily visible in the night sky. I thought I might get the trees, but not their leaves brilliantly illuminated by the moon above and behind the camera. And I had no idea that my camera would capture the brilliant dance of hundreds of fireflies flitting about late into the night, visible as giddy green streaks all throughout the lower portion of the shot.

I don’t think I will have the opportunity to take another star trail shot like this for a while (though possibly in a few weeks, depending on the location and the weather, but I’m not counting on it) so I want to enjoy and appreciate this image for what it is and what it represents to me: the idea that shots like this are not out of reach and, in fact, quite achievable with a little practice. And a GoPro doesn’t hurt either ;)