White Mountains, California
Capturing the night sky is no easy task. I wanted to incorporate one of the oldest living things on earth – ancient bristlecone trees that are over 5,000 years old – and the heavens above. These pines grow in isolated groves at‑ very high altitude, around 12,000 feet! The vibe on the mountaintop was amazing, like being on the moon, with nothing except a handful of those amazing trees. This evening, the air was thin, and a hint of new moon light was the key to the shot. Timing was critical, as I wanted to capture the twilight glow on the horizon, the starry sky and just enough ambient light from the moon to gently illuminate the scene. I chose a 30-second exposure at ISO 2000, which was the ideal exposure to capture this beautiful scene in a single frame. The silence at the top of the mountain, high up in the skies, was something I’ll never forget. Shooting straight up at a 5,000-year-old tree, with the stars above, was a special moment. After I took this image, I touched the tree. Its dense bark just takes you back through time. Imagine what this proud tree has seen over the last 5,000 years! Amazing. It’s a beautiful world we live in, and capturing it is the feeling I live for.
45 Artist Proof / 950 Limited Edition
