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Trip Report: Desert Star Trails - January 2023
Trip Report: Desert Star Trails - January 2023
by Grant Ordelheide
It is an interesting thought experiment to think about the different types of compositional tools that we artists have at our disposal. There are the obvious ones that come to mind such as line, color, texture, shape, juxtaposition, etc. These are the building blocks of any good composition and the elements that artists have been using for generations. With the advent of photography, a new compositional element was brought into the fold. The ability to capture time.
Time is something that we may take for granted, but it is in play every time we pick up a camera. Our ability to show motion or freeze the action is a crucial part of the technical and creative aspects of photography. From a technical perspective, time helps us gather enough light and achieve sharp photos. From a creative standpoint, time can alter reality. It can show the world in a way that is not visible to the naked eye and can tell a story that goes beyond our natural perception. This is what is really fascinating to me.
Using long exposures, we can create a shot that complies with time and the effect of movement in a way that we are unable to see with our eyes. Whether it is a silky smooth waterfall, or the motion blur of a sprinting cheetah, using time as a creative tool is a really effective way to create a compelling photograph.
Perhaps one of the more interesting ways we can utilize this effect is by photographing the rotation of the earth. Through really long exposures we can record the earth’s rotation and the blur of the stars above.
Perhaps one of the more interesting ways we can utilize this effect is by photographing the rotation of the earth. Through really long exposures we can record the earth’s rotation and the blur of the stars above.
Since star trails are not visible to the naked eye, they need to be carefully planned and executed. Understanding the effects our cameras create and predicting the “movement” of the stars is tricky. But like any difficult-to-take photo, it is so rewarding when you are able to pull it off. This is just what our groups set out to do on our Desert Star Trails trip located in California’s Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree is a great spot for astrophotography in general. I have always felt that the best astrophotography needs to have a really strong and interesting foreground element here on earth. That is something that Joshua Tree provides in droves. This landscape, dotted with Joshua trees and giant rock gardens, is almost otherworldly, making it the perfect subject to juxtapose against the night sky.
On this trip, our home base of 29 Palms provided the perfect jumping-off point into Joshua Tree. We stayed at a unique hotel compound where the brightly colored cabins fit perfectly into the Palm Springs desert vibe.
Our groups got right to work the first night after orientation and dinner. Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans. The first group arrived under a blanket of clouds and the second a windstorm so strong it made long exposure photography a futile exercise. We made the most of it, and thankfully these nights would turn out to be an aberration as we settled into a week of clear skies and productive photography.
We spent afternoons chasing the light across the park (we couldn’t possibly only visit this place in the dark!), and evenings gazing at the countless stars above. We visited all the major locations and a few lesser-known spots as well. Overall, we were able to photograph the best aspects of the park during ideal lighting and weather conditions
Our groups got right to work the first night after orientation and dinner. Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans. The first group arrived under a blanket of clouds and the second a windstorm so strong it made long exposure photography a futile exercise. We made the most of it, and thankfully these nights would turn out to be an aberration as we settled into a week of clear skies and productive photography.
We spent afternoons chasing the light across the park (we couldn’t possibly only visit this place in the dark!), and evenings gazing at the countless stars above. We visited all the major locations and a few lesser-known spots as well. Overall, we were able to photograph the best aspects of the park during ideal lighting and weather conditions
The aim of these trips was to not only photograph stars but to take it a step further and capture star trails. Photographing star trails is a challenging proposition. There are a lot of things that can mess up an image over the course of an hour-long exposure. Stray headlamps, car lights, a bumped tripod leg, and a finicky intervalometer are all things that can quickly derail an otherwise promising shot.
That is not even to mention all the challenges that arrive when you get the photos downloaded into Lightroom and realize you need to clone out 500 airplanes that flew through your image.
I don’t mention all this to scare anyone off of the idea of star trails, but rather to give kudos to the groups and what they were able to accomplish during our trips. It was so cool to see the rapid progression that these photographers went through in only a few short days.
That is not even to mention all the challenges that arrive when you get the photos downloaded into Lightroom and realize you need to clone out 500 airplanes that flew through your image.
I don’t mention all this to scare anyone off of the idea of star trails, but rather to give kudos to the groups and what they were able to accomplish during our trips. It was so cool to see the rapid progression that these photographers went through in only a few short days.
While photography is generally a solo activity, the nature of long-exposure star photography meant that we would need to work together in a coordinated effort to take these photos. Everyone needed to be set up and ready to go together so that we didn’t have anyone still turning on a headlamp during someone else’s exposure. I was very proud of how well everyone worked together to accomplish this feat.
Of course, the photos themselves were different based on the composition and length of exposure, but there certainly was a sense of team accomplishment amongst the groups.
Of course, the photos themselves were different based on the composition and length of exposure, but there certainly was a sense of team accomplishment amongst the groups.
We took some time during the day in a classroom to work on how to piece together and process these images. We always have a vision of what we want and hope the photo to look like, but since we cannot see it in real time it is hard to know exactly how it will turn out. It is always so exciting to see it come together and have your vision realized.
Shooting star trails is kind of a unique brand of photography since there is a lot of downtime while the camera does its thing. Sure, it is a labor-intensive process to get set up to the point where you can start the shooting sequence, but once it is off and running there isn’t much else to do but wait.
These turned out to be some of the best times with the groups. It was so fun to be out there gazing up at a star-filled sky, something a lot of us near cities don’t get to see often. There were stories and jokes told, but eventually, we settled into silence. Nothing but a symphony of shutters making noise as we stared into the universe.
I like to think that these are the moments when we feel the deepest connection to nature. Not when we are actively working behind the camera, but when we have a chance to just sit, look, and listen to the environment around us. That is when landscape photography is at its best and I was happy to be able to share it with others.
These turned out to be some of the best times with the groups. It was so fun to be out there gazing up at a star-filled sky, something a lot of us near cities don’t get to see often. There were stories and jokes told, but eventually, we settled into silence. Nothing but a symphony of shutters making noise as we stared into the universe.
I like to think that these are the moments when we feel the deepest connection to nature. Not when we are actively working behind the camera, but when we have a chance to just sit, look, and listen to the environment around us. That is when landscape photography is at its best and I was happy to be able to share it with others.
Learn more about our Desert Star Trails photography tour!
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Grant Ordelheide is a Montana-based outdoor and adventure photographer. Growing up in the Colorado Rockies, in a family that explored and played in the outdoors at every opportunity, instilled in him a profound reverence for the landscape. Grant’s love of nature and wild places preceded his love of photography, which emerged as a natural extension and by-product of his adventures in the mountains as an avid backpacker, climber, and snowboarder.
Following his passion, Grant earned a Bachelor’s degree in photography with an emphasis in business from Pacific Union College in California’s Napa Valley. In 2016, Grant was a recipient of the Art Wolfe Next Generation Photographer Grant organized by Luminous Landscape. His work has won numerous awards, including one of the top honors in the U.S. Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. His photos have been published in National Geographic Traveler, Backpacker, Outside, Climbing, The New York Times, The Yosemite Journal, and many other print and online publications. Grant’s fine art prints hang in gallery, corporate, and private collections across the country.
For several years, Grant has shared his eye, expertise, and contagious passion for photographing the outdoors, teaching photography workshops throughout the country. Grant currently resides in Columbia Falls, Montana with his wife Alexis. His work can be viewed at grantordelheide.com
Following his passion, Grant earned a Bachelor’s degree in photography with an emphasis in business from Pacific Union College in California’s Napa Valley. In 2016, Grant was a recipient of the Art Wolfe Next Generation Photographer Grant organized by Luminous Landscape. His work has won numerous awards, including one of the top honors in the U.S. Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. His photos have been published in National Geographic Traveler, Backpacker, Outside, Climbing, The New York Times, The Yosemite Journal, and many other print and online publications. Grant’s fine art prints hang in gallery, corporate, and private collections across the country.
For several years, Grant has shared his eye, expertise, and contagious passion for photographing the outdoors, teaching photography workshops throughout the country. Grant currently resides in Columbia Falls, Montana with his wife Alexis. His work can be viewed at grantordelheide.com
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BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
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All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2024
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.