Since I started this adventure and discovered a temple in Chisago, I’ve been wanting to capture some Milky Way photos with it. In the beginning, there was no way. I was clueless. Since then, I’ve learned a lot. I now know that stacking will help eliminate light pollution. Composites also make a difference. Stacking is the greatest though. If I can take 20-30 photos and stack them, I can bring out the colors of the Milky Way and with post processing, mellow out the light pollution, as long as the Milky Way is above the light polllution. (Stay tuned, this time next year I’ll also be using a star tracker so I can have longer exposures which will also help with the Milky Way colors.. but obviously not with the light pollution…)
It was tough waiting. There are so few “perfect” times to get photos and with the moon, clouds and smoke and everything that prevents those “perfect” opportunities for the planned photo that it sucks waiting. Thanks to PlanitPro, I can line up a lot of photos and date / time stamp them and I have a bunch of the temple plans set up.
The moon was going to be a problem, not only was the light of the cities an issue, but the moon rise was still fairly early. I had hoped to take some photos from a different location around the temple but there was overgrowth and even trees and powerlines. Not what I was hoping.
I went ahead and took some test shots, parking right on the road. (Fortunately the road wasn’t traveled much although a really big semi did pass by.. that was scary.. I’m like, where does this road GO??? Is he LOST? Maybe he just lives down here.. anyway)
Nope, not a good spot, plus electrical lines. Maybe if I set up in the back of a pickup… hmmmmm
I drove forward and parked in the little dirt park spot that also leads up to the temple. This is where I want to get the photos but the timing and the moon were not right for this night. Test shots were good idea though because I discovered just how much light the temple gives off. I will need to take a blue hour / golden hour photo and make a composite for it to truly work.
On impulse, I turned around before leaving and snapped the north. WOAH!! The northern lights were out!! WOW!! I couldn’t believe my luck!
Prior to parking, I drove around the temple and found a small parking area around front. I was like, hmm… lets do this. BUT, it wasn’t lined up right.
I decided to drive into the driveway and park. Yes, some random driveway, I backed in, pulled out my tripod and camera and set up to take some photos of the temple with the auroras behind it.
Again, the lights from inside the temple was problematic but overall, it turned out pretty good! Still considering going back for some blue / golden hour photos to make composite but who knows.
All-oin-all, my random two-fer night was so much fun and informational adventure.