Royce Bair
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Rabbitbrush Highway to the Stars
🕑 Added 2025-09-24 16:46:06 +0000 UTCOn Monday, I went into the Nevada desert to photograph the autumn Milky Way. Sept 22 was the 1st day of fall. This is one of the darkest regions in the country: Highway 93. Love that straight up autumn Milky Way!
I also went to photograph the native Rabbitbrush that often establishes itself along the shoulders of highways in the arid regions of the western USA. I've always been intrigued by this native plant that blooms bright yellow in September (my major in college was botany).
The full name of this plant is Rubber Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) — it actually contains a natural latex that the Native American used as chewing gum! In fact, it is a source for hypoallergenic rubber for use in products designed for people with latex allergies.
TECHNIQUE & EXIF: This is a focal length blend and a composite image. I shot the car on the highway, with the Rabbitbrush, during the blue hour with a 200mm lens. I then moved 3/4 of a mile away from the road to shoot the tracked Milky Way with a 24mm Rokinon f/1.4 (3 min @ f/4, ISO 1250), using an MSM Nomad star tracker — to get away from vehicle headlight glare and to keep from being run over by the many big trucks that travel this highway!
I LOVE the PERPENDICULAR Milky Way we get in the early autumn, even though the core disappears below the horizon by late autumn.
What's your favorite season of the year to photograph the Milky Way? Take the poll here.
Comments
Royce Bair
Wow! That rarely happens (5 perfect nights in a row)! Glad you had a successful workshop with Christine :)
Andrea Boyle
I was just on that road last week, coming home to Oregon from a workshop with Christine Kenyon. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain on 93, so night sky photography was out of the question! I got other great shots of the Milky Way over iconic sites in New Mexico, though, and I'm looking forward to processing them for posting. What a treat to have perfect skies for 5 days of Milky Way photography!
Royce Bair
Spring and early summer are some of my favorite times of the year—especially in the southwestern deserts. That archway near Wells sounds very interesting. I'll have to go to your post on the Nightscaper FB group!
Wesley Aaron
Great capture, Royce! The time of year I do most Milky Way shots are late spring and early summer. I would like to do more fall shots as time permits. I'm familiar with Hwy 93. There's a ghost town near Wells, NV with an old archway from a schoolhouse still standing. I shot the Milky Way core through the arch in May. I posted it on the Nightscaper FB page.
