Spirit Mound

I've been planning for YEARS to do a star trail image at night of Spirit Mound. I have tried once or twice previously with my film camera. Those results weren't quite what I'd hoped for. Still, season after season goes by and I didn't get out there. In the summer when it's warmer the sun may set at 9:30, but the stars won't come out well enough until 11. Plus, the mosquitos are miserable out there. In the winter it gets dark early, but it's also really really cold. AND, it's kinda spooky out there at night by oneself. So, a person can see how it's easy to put off a project, no matter how appealing it may be.

I've been more resolved to do projects like these this year. It helps that I participate in the Vermillion Camera Club and I want to have images worthy of showing to the group.

Yesterday we were treated to gorgeous weather. Instead of going for a walk in town, I headed for home via Hwy 19 and stopped off to hike up Spirit Mound.

Clear skies were forecasted for the evening, so I wanted to try my idea again. Fortunately my husband was able to finish up with the work that he really needed to accomplish and could join me. Our dog also decided that she would 'tolerate' the car ride so that she could go on the adventure too. I wish that I had a decent picture of her from last night.

It takes so long for the stars to rise in the northern sky. So, I tried a couple photographs with some still standing stalks from the previous year's vegetation.



Finally we could see stars right above Spirit Mound. I wish that we could see them a little lower in the sky. The area is quite rural and the stars are bright, but we still have problems with light pollution. I did two exposures. Here's the first one that I did, I prefer the amount of lighting in this one. The image was made in the camera. I tweaked it abit to adjust the color balance and a little bit of the brightness/contrast.



You may visit my Scenic Photo Album, there is a link in the column on the right.