Top 5 Places for Dark Sky Photography
Artificial light has revolutionized the way we live and work outdoors, but it does come with a price. 80% of the global population suffers from light pollution, which not only affects wildlife and human health, but it also blocks the view of our universe. For all those who suffer the plights of light pollution and seek a dark sky destination, let White Pine County be your refuge. Experts agree that White Pine County and surrounding areas are some of the darkest in the nation; luckily, there are plenty of ways for people to take advantage. A form of photography that has boomed in recent years because of the effects of outdoor lighting is night sky photography. There is no shortage of opportunity here, but to get you started, listed below is our Top 5 Places for Dark Sky Photography, any of which provide a fantastic dark sky experience.
1. Ward Charcoal Ovens: A well-known and beloved spot throughout White Pine is the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park. Perched in the Egan Mountain Range, the Ward Charcoal Ovens is a scenic, forested retreat. The park features six beehive shaped charcoal ovens that were used from 1876 through 1879 to help process rich silver ore that was discovered in the area. Once mining ended, the ovens were used to shelter travelers and even had a reputation as a hideout for stagecoach bandits. The ovens remain today and are open for touring. Visitors can also enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing while surrounded by a diversity of wildlife within the park, including mule deer, grouse and elk. This is hands-down, a prime location for dark sky photography.
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2. Great Basin National Park: In the spring of 2016, the International Dark Sky Association officially instated Great Basin as an International Dark Sky Park. The IDA recognized the Park’s significance in providing dark nights and their dedication to protecting the pristine nighttime environment for scientific, recreational, and cultural values. On the best of nights, thousands of stars, numerous planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way can all be seen with the naked eye. Annually in September, the Park hosts their Astronomy Festival. The Festival includes guest speakers, photo workshops, tours of the Great Basin Observatory, and many other programs for all to enjoy the night sky in their own way. Learn more about this year’s Astronomy Festival here: Great Basin Astronomy Festival
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3. Hamilton Ghost Town: White Pine County is home to several ghost towns. As is the story with most of Nevada, these towns faced an immense boom with their mines: copper, gold, and, of course, the precious metal of the late 19th century that gave Nevada its namesake, “The Silver State.” This couldn’t be any truer for Hamilton. Silver was discovered near there in 1867. The size of this silver vein was unheard of for the times (a whopping forty feet wide, seventy feet long) and within the first year of its discovery, 5,000 people flocked to the area. The payout for this single vein ended up peaking at a little over $1 million dollars in 1869. By the 1870s, Hamilton was one of the largest towns in Nevada and was declared White Pine County’s Seat. With a population growth of over 10,000 people, and a rough total of 24,000 in the entire area surrounding the silver mine, Hamilton became filled with churches, schools, hotels, 29 attorneys with “two saloons for every lawyer”, a bowling alley, and an ice rink. The mines officially brought in $20 million dollars, but by 1895, they had all closed and dried up. If silver production was able to hold out one more year (and if a devastating fire had not taken place) then we might have been able to see a functioning semblance of Hamilton today. In lieu of what could have been, you can see the remains of that fruitful time when visiting in the summer. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended and be sure not to forget a camera with your best lens.
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4. Cave Lake State Park: Along with the park’s nearly 15 miles of singletrack for mountain biking, there’s an entire list of ways to enjoy Cave Lake. The Lake itself is currently drained due to repair work being done for the dam, but there are still ways to take advantage of this beautiful location, even if fishing and swimming is currently at a halt. Camping is still available near Cave Lake at the Elk Flat campground with 16 spots available. You can also bring along your ATV’s and utilize the park’s many dirt trails. A great addition to the list is stargazing. There are many trails to hike that circle the park, providing amazing foreground to the spectacular backdrop that is our universe. Success Loop is also connected to Cave Lake. Aspen trees, rugged rocks, and stunning stars is not only something you’ll want to capture, but it’s also a memory worth boasting to those you know.
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5. Anywhere and Everywhere With Tip & Tricks: At the end of the day (quite literally) the best spot to find dark skies is… anywhere and everywhere in White Pine County! Travel roughly 30 minutes in any direction from your Ely basecamp and you’ll feel you’re at the center the cosmos. Locating perfect night skies is not difficult; however, getting just the right shot can be. Here are just a few tips and tricks, whether you’re a beginner or a pro, that we hope will help with your astrophotography.
Prepare for what you’ll see. For example, if you want to capture the Milky Way, it’s vertical and most visible from June to September.
Shoot for the moon, meaning know what phase the moon is in and what direction it rises. Not having the moon visible means the darkest of skies. Now, if you want the moon in your shot, dusk is the ideal time to capture its glow.
The best photos you find from night skies come from cameras that have high ISO capabilities and a fast wide-angle lens. Always best to keep it on manual so your shutter remains open for as long as the shutter button is pressed. Also, maximize exposure and used the widest aperture, or lowest f-stop.