Big Dipper

I've spent a lot of time perfecting the process for getting shots like this, you have to because every attempt takes several hours. I begin by using a compass to estimate where the sun will be going down and which direction North is. Near sunset, I organize my equipment and compose my image with the camera on a tripod. Using an accurate light meter, I monitor the ambient light and when it gets to a level I'm fairly sure is appropriate, I start my exposure with the shutter set on B and a cable release to keep it open. Once the light of the evening drops off a bit, I'll go inside the tent with a flashlight for about 5 min., shining into various parts of the fabric. For this shot, I also have a candle lantern suspended inside. After about an hour and a half, I close the shutter and pack up the gear. Occasionally, that happens earlier because an evening mist sometimes sets in and clouds over the lens.

The streaks visible in the sky above the tent are produced by the Big Dipper as the earth rotates around the North Star during the long exposure.

Leica R4, 28 mm lens, Kodachrome 64.