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Archive 2017 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

This is an image I first had the vision for about 2 years ago. I have not been able to find this on the web anywhere...and I have looked.

This night was my third attempt to get this shot. The first was last year, a friend and I spent most of the night out in Cades Cove, us, the coyotes and the deer, and who knows what else that was watching us all night. The clouds rolled in on that trip and shut me out. The rest of the summer months last year I didn't have a chance to get up to the park at the right times. My second attempt was earlier this year, in May. Dad and I had gone up to the park and planned to spend the night shooting in Cades Cove again...but clouds and rain spoiled that trip. Determined, I made plans for the July New Moon, and that was this past weekend.

The weather forecast the whole week leading up to the trip was in flux, good, bad, not so bad, had potential, then bad. We made the trip anyway. With a forecast for clouds and rain, on the drive up I was hopeful but not optimistic. We drove through heavy rain on the way up. But we carried on. We checked into the hotel, got some food and then made the drive to Cades Cove. We endured the slow crawl through the loop road out to my favorite tree in the park for sunset and were rewarded with a great light show. After that was over we made our way back out of Cades Cove and parked at the now closed front gate. I have hiked into Cades Cove many times now...but this time, as I looked to the sky...I saw stars, and lots of them. It was just before 10PM and I started to get a feeling that I might finally get my shot...As we walked in we stopped along one of the horse fields and there it was...rising in the sky...that thing I have been chasing...the Milky Way...

The first images were shot at just after 11 PM on Sparks Lane and the last one was right at midnight. I don't remember ever feeling as giddy and excited about an image as I did this shot. Essentially two years of planning and chasing went into this image. Its kinda hard to believe I finally got it...and then, the edit wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be.

This is a two image blend, shot one right before the other, 2 minutes for the foreground and 20 seconds for the sky.

So...that is my story about this Intergalactic Sparks Lane...I hope you enjoyed it.

Intergalactic Sparks Lane

Jul 24, 2017 at 05:40 AM

ramkumar999
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

I really like the composition and overall balance of light in this shot. I have been trying for a nice balanced image of milky way and foreground for a while. My only suggestion would be just to confirm that if the image plane is straightened or not because to me looking at the fence, something seems off but it could also be the distortion from the 18mm.

Jul 24, 2017 at 09:24 AM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

ramkumar999 wrote:
I really like the composition and overall balance of light in this shot. I have been trying for a nice balanced image of milky way and foreground for a while. My only suggestion would be just to confirm that if the image plane is straightened or not because to me looking at the fence, something seems off but it could also be the distortion from the 18mm.

Thanks for taking the time to look at the image and comment, I appreciate the feedback. It can be tough to find a good foreground subject.

As for level, the fence posts can't really be used for figuring any kind of level, they are a loose wire fence, rough hewn posts that are anything but straight or level. Everything in the area slopes to the right side of the frame, the river flows in that direction, and with mountains in the back that are not level, I had to rely on the in camera level of the A7R2.

Jul 24, 2017 at 10:01 AM

DeweyB1
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

I love Cades Cove. Fantastic shot!!!!!

Jul 24, 2017 at 04:34 PM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

DeweyB1 wrote:
I love Cades Cove. Fantastic shot!!!!!

Thanks, Cades Cove is one of my favorite places...I spend a lot of time there!

Jul 24, 2017 at 08:10 PM

MikeMancil
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Beautiful shot with the iconic (and heavily photographed) tree. For your next adventure go backcountry camping to Camp #13 and walk the 1/2 or so mile up to Gregory Bald at night. No light pollution and a 180d view of the sky. I was on a multi-night trip and didn't have my camera gear but I can still see it... Mike

Jul 25, 2017 at 09:23 AM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

MikeMancil wrote:
Beautiful shot with the iconic (and heavily photographed) tree. For your next adventure go backcountry camping to Camp #13 and walk the 1/2 or so mile up to Gregory Bald at night. No light pollution and a 180d view of the sky. I was on a multi-night trip and didn't have my camera gear but I can still see it... Mike
Thanks. Yes, I have shot these trees and this lane a lot...but wanted something different...took nearly two years to get it.

I have heard of Gregory Bald, one of the more difficult hikes with 3ooo feet of elevation gain. Looking at maps, not even sure how you get out to Camp 13! It is WAY our there.

Jul 25, 2017 at 09:36 AM

01Ryan10
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Great shot!

If this was shot was taken this past Saturday night, then we were shooting the Milky Way the exact same time, only I was in Joshua Tree.

Jul 25, 2017 at 09:47 AM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

01Ryan10 wrote:
Great shot!

If this was shot was taken this past Saturday night, then we were shooting the Milky Way the exact same time, only I was in Joshua Tree.

Thanks!

This was Friday night this past weekend, so one night earlier...and MW and Joshua Tree are on my bucket list! I think your spot wins!

Jul 25, 2017 at 10:08 AM

MikeMancil
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Travis Rhoads wrote:
[I have heard of Gregory Bald, one of the more difficult hikes with 3ooo feet of elevation gain. Looking at maps, not even sure how you get out to Camp 13! It is WAY our there.

It's definitely an overnighter for anyone that's not a speed hiker. There are trailheads out of Cades Cove that offer 4.1 or 6.2 mile access with the 4.1 trailhead closed a lot because the road access is washed out (Forge Creek Road). Of course you can hike down the AT from Clingmans Dome like we did last time, it takes about 3 days

. Spence Field is another open bald that may be a little easier to get to but you still have to overnight for night pictures and the stay there is in an AT shelter. Note reservations are required at both #13 and all AT shelters... Mike

Jul 25, 2017 at 12:46 PM

lighthound
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Beautiful shot Travis! Your efforts were well worth it and your perseverance paid off.

I shot a MW up there last year but I didn't make it in that far and settle on one of the horse fields.

Jul 26, 2017 at 06:02 PM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

lighthound wrote:
Beautiful shot Travis! Your efforts were well worth it and your perseverance paid off.

I shot a MW up there last year but I didn't make it in that far and settle on one of the horse fields.

Sparks makes for a much better shot. Hiking in there alone knowing what's lurking around you kinda puts the hebejebes in ya.
And hearing the stomping of a group of horses go running past you and not being able to see them in the darkness doesn't help any.

Dave
Thanks Dave! It certainly tested my patience...

Yeah, being in the Cove at night is an odd feeling, I have done it quite a few times now...never alone. I don't think that would be a good idea...last time out there a coyote took a lot of interest in us...I suspect he could smell my beef jerky and wanted to see if he liked it! This trip, we could hear coyotes chatting it up with each other when we were back near Hyatt Lane for sunset...never had any issues with the horses, they always seem to be stabled when I am there at night.

Jul 26, 2017 at 06:08 PM

NCAndy
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Really nice Travis. Well conceived shot and very worth the effort to take it.

Jul 26, 2017 at 09:05 PM

kmunroe
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

very nice image Travis

Jul 27, 2017 at 02:23 AM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

NCAndy wrote:
Really nice Travis. Well conceived shot and very worth the effort to take it.
Thanks Andy. I am already thinking of ways I want to do it differently...
---------------------------------------------

kmunroe wrote:
very nice image Travis

Thank you very much.

Jul 27, 2017 at 06:01 AM

NCAndy
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Milky Way over Sparks Lane

Travis Rhoads wrote:
Thanks. Yes, I have shot these trees and this lane a lot...but wanted something different...took nearly two years to get it.

I have heard of Gregory Bald, one of the more difficult hikes with 3ooo feet of elevation gain. Looking at maps, not even sure how you get out to Camp 13! It is WAY our there.

I've stayed at 13 a few times. Each time I hiked up from Twentymile Ck on the NC side. It's about 8 miles and a lot of climbing. One time my wife and I stayed two nights up there before coming down and completing the loop. It's also done as a day hike, about 15 miles though that doesn't allow for the best light and time of day on Gregory Bald. June is one of the better times when the flame azalea are in bloom, Fall being the other IMO.

Jul 27, 2017 at 09:59 AM


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