I was out testing my summer Milky Way techniques. In June, this means getting up at 1:30AM. Every year, my approach to photographing the night sky evolves a little, and this trip was no exception. I had originally settled on a composition near the Lake Sabrina dam and spent a couple of hours working the scene. Once your eyes fully adjust to the darkness, the night begins to reveal things you couldn't see before.
Just when I thought I was done, I noticed another location farther out on the dam. Looking more closely, I realized it had everything I was hoping for Mount Haeckel, and the surrounding Kings Canyon peaks framed beneath the Milky Way, with calm water reflecting the entire scene. To balance the light between the landscape and the sky, I blended two exposures, and I was pleasantly surprised by the result. Sometimes the images you don't plan for end up becoming your favorites.
The best part? This spot is there for anyone willing to make the trip and stay out for a long enough time for the mountains and stars to reveal themselves.
