Beneath the Stars in Badwater Basin: Capturing the Milky Way in Extreme Conditions

Badwater Basin, famously known as the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, offers a stark and dramatic landscape. But for astrophotographers, it presents a unique challenge, especially when nature decides to throw some serious wind into the mix. On this particular night, I found myself in one of the windiest places I've ever attempted to shoot from.

The gusts were relentless, threatening to topple my gear and blur every potential shot. However, with a bit of ingenuity and persistence, I managed to capture what I consider one of my favorite Milky Way images to date. The key was to stay low, shield my tripod from the wind as much as possible, and crucially, take a significantly higher number of exposures than usual. This allowed me to meticulously sort through the data in post-processing and select only the sharpest frames.

The Technical Details:

Capturing this shot required careful planning and execution. Here's a breakdown of the settings:

• Sky:
  • 50 x 15s exposures @ f/2.0, ISO 1600
• Ha (Hydrogen Alpha) Channel:
  • 50 x 15s exposures @ f/2.0, ISO 3200
• Foreground:
  • 5 x 15s exposures @ f/2.0, ISO 1600

My Gear:

• Camera: Sony A7iii (astro-modded)
• Lens: Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM
• Tracker: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer

Overcoming the Wind:

The question I often get is how I managed to shield my setup, especially with a wide field of view. The simple, and perhaps slightly comical, answer is: with my body! It's a direct and immediate way to block the wind's impact on the camera and tripod, especially during those crucial long exposures.

The effort was certainly worth it. The resulting image showcases incredible sharpness and clarity in the Milky Way, a testament to the power of patience and adapting to challenging conditions. For more of my astrophotography adventures, check out my Instagram:

It's a reminder that even in the most formidable environments, the universe offers incredible beauty, waiting to be captured by those willing to brave the elements.