NightScapes

I imagined this image a couple of years ago, and ever since I’ve been waiting for the right conditions. Of course the milky way had to be in the right position on a moonless night, but I also needed calm, clear weather in order to get good star reflections in the lake.

Everything finally came together earlier this week and I got the shot. On the horizon there looks to be a large fire burning which probably accounts for the orange air glow.

-Mirror Lake, Spearfish, South Dakota

I was having problems sleeping one night, so I got up to read a bit and was notified on my aurora app that there was strong aurora activity in my area. Glancing out our picture window I could clearly see the tell tale red, orange and yellow colors streaking the northern sky, so I thought - why not. Wondering all the while if the light show would be over by the time I got there, I threw on some sweat clothes and slipped on my muck boots and headed to a location where I always wanted to capture a bright aurora. It turned out I wasn’t too late, but just in time.

-Owl Creek, Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Our own milky way galaxy is seen rising above an old abandoned barn in this image captured on a warm summer night.

-Bear Butte State Park, Sturgis, South Dakota.