My art shared on Social Media
Sometimes it’s necessary to seek permission or ask questions when looking to photograph a location at night.
Sharing the images I make with the people who help me achieve them is one of my favorite ways to thank them.
Sometimes those wonderful people share them back with their communities and followers.
Seeing my work in the real world so to speak is always exciting.
Click the images to link to some of the social media posts they have shared of my work.
Image Name: Indian Mound Reserve Milky Way Falls. "Life is like a waterfall. It is always moving and there is always an uneven flow to it." Just as the stars (earth) are always moving and showing up in different places throughout the year. I planned this photo in April, when the trees were bare. I learned that in August the Milky Way would line up perfectly with the top of Indian Mound Reserve waterfall. It will be an amazing picture I promised myself- looking down over a waterfall with the Milky Way flowing straight up into space at the top, slightly to the right so it will be framed through the trees! August is a time of bountiful trees with many bushy leaves, fresh branches, and no view through them. So I got my pictures anyway and put them together, without the trees. I captured the waterfall foreground just before the sun came up. Walked into the park during dark, and back out in the early morning light ready to help my kid welcome a new school year. The sky is an example of summer air and light pollution shielding the stars from our view... wildfire smoke, dust and particles, and humidity all hang in the air like a night sky sheer curtain, even on clear nights. Greene County Parks and Trails is a system of great parks for getting outside to explore. Hiking with my dog is my favorite way to take advantage of all the parks around Greene County, Ohio. They are also super friendly about using the parks at night to photograph the stars and surrounding beauty.
Image Name: Oakes Quarry cliff edge Milky Way. Oakes Quarry Park is a beautiful place with a landscape not common in Ohio. It was once a working rock quarry, now it is a fabulous park for hiking, fishing, drone/kite flying, family fun. Rock cliffs and piles of boulders are surrounded by flat rocky ground and wetland ponds, all surrounded by forest trees. It is also one of the places with the darkest skies in my local area. The conditions have to be right, there is still a lot of light pollution, but with patience and photo stacking software I am able to get the nightscape photographs of my dreams. The park closes at dusk, but the city government is so nice, always helpful and encouraging of my work. I get permission every time I want to visit at night, and I love sharing the results with them afterwards.
Image Name: JGAP sign Milky Way. John Glenn Astronomy Park is in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio. It is always open, and has the most easily accessible darkest skies anywhere near me. JGAP is my "home" dark sky location. The place I go to test new gear, or if I just miss the stars. You are free to come here any time day or night, weather you are an astronomer, photographer, stargazer, or just happen to be in the area. I love that I know it's always there, waiting in the dark. It has a great observation plaza that is just as neat in daylight as it is under the stars. They have weekend programs to teach/share the cosmos with the community, and they regularly post happenings, status, and fun facts on their website and social media sites. I took this photo testing a new camera one night, while listening to some young adult star gazers chat and strum a guitar. It was nice to have a soundtrack to go along with my star therapy.
Social Media glues our society together and gives us connection.
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