I scouted this location of an old barn for close to three years until the timing was just right.
I live in an area prone to large forest fires and thick smoke throughout most summers. This past summer was relatively smoke and fire free!

I diligently check my various apps for the moon phases, clear skies predictions and the Milky Way position throughout the year in an attempt to prepare for a shoot. This particular week offered relatively dark, clear skies with the Milky Way perfectly aligned behind the old barn."

Canon EOS 5dii with a 20mm f 2.8 lens
f2.8 @ 15 seconds, ISO 4000.
Image stack of five exposures.

I used a flashlight to paint the barn and the fences. It was so dark that I actually drove by the location twice and didn't see the barn! The only other obstacle was the jumping cactus that I had to pull from my legs with pliers! The sky was so clear that I could actually see the Milky Way with my naked eye..