This image showcases a captivating interplay of two distinct light sources. The first, emanating from the stars, manifests as radiant trails across the night sky. The second, an unseen moon positioned off-frame to the left, casts a dramatic shadow over the rocks, unveiling their intricate textures and details.
To capture this celestial ballet, I meticulously composed 250 individual frames over a span of one hour, each with a 15-second exposure. Mounted on a tripod, the primary challenge lay in aligning Polaris, the North Star, with the lens while ensuring the rock formation was in focus and did not obscure Polaris.
The post-processing journey involved a meticulous approach. I divided the images into groups of 50 and stacked them into layers, carefully removing any unwanted elements like passing airplanes from each layer. Once all the stacks were meticulously refined, they were merged into a single file. A "lighten" filter was then applied to enhance the brilliance of the stars. Further adjustments included fine-tuning the exposure for the rocks and a subtle color correction to achieve a harmonious balance. The vibrant colors of the stars are a testament to their natural beauty, captured organically and untouched by artificial enhancement.
This image represents my third attempt at capturing a northward-facing star trail composition, and I am immensely pleased with the outcome.