I have always been a bit bothered by the "artificial" look of most night photography. I began to look at the maps of Sequoia-Kings Canyon Parks, and at my trusty star-finder, and I trusted those "inner feelings" that always guide all of us. I realized that the New Moon in July when the sky is darkest would be the best time for the Milky Way over the crest of the Sierra, but I needed the moon to light up the image. How much moonlight was needed? I really was not sure. I made plans to return to a pre-selected spot in the North Fork of the Palisades. I walked hard to arrive on time, about 8 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing. But as soon as I arrived I KNEW there was potential for a great capture. About 10:30, I glanced at my idea. Even after all these years, I was astonished by the light. The image shown here has almost no post-processing. It goes to show, that our ideas do sometimes succeed in making a dream come true.
