Encore - Lake Irene's Milky Way Mirror

January 11, 2020

Colorado milky way NO SIG

Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.

Photographer
: Mike Berenson
Summary Author: Mike Berenson

April 2014 Viewer's Choice Far on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, Lake Irene turned out to be the highlight of my Night Photography Workshop this past summer. With super dark skies, the view of the Milky Way was nothing less than spectacular. My students could feel the excitement not long after sunset as the lingering light was quickly vanquished and stars popped into view. This image is from but a single exposure that combines the ideal settings for the starry skies together with subtle light painting Lake Irene and its surrounding landscape. Note that the long exposure time allows the light of the brightest stars and the brightest (densest) portion of the Milky Way to be reflected in the lake's still waters. Photo taken on August 3, 2013.

Photo Details: Nikon D800 Digital SLR Camera; Rokinon 24mm f/2.8 lens; ISO 6400; f/3.2; 30 seconds exposure.

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