Aeolian-Buttes, Sierra Nevada, California, October 9th, 2015

Behind the scenes of this photo

Taken at Aeolian Buttes, Sierra Nevada, California, October 9th, 2015

Previously I’d scouted these amazing, huge boulders south of Mono Lake and realized that in early October the Milky Way would be visible exactly between them.

On a Friday in early October, 2015 the forecast called for clear skies so my friends and I rumbled down the forest service roads to these rocks and laid out our shots. This image is a composite of two photos: one taken at dusk at 14mm, f/16, ISO100, 15 seconds for the boulders, sage, and mountains, and a second exposure taken from the exact same spot about 90 minutes later at f/2.8, ISO3200, 30 seconds.

View more Sierra Nevada photos

Thanks for your order. Please wait a moment while we process your payment.