Mark Guinn and Terry Heggy
The SaddleBrooke Photography Club went on an overnight Milky Way field trip to the ghost town of Gleeson, Ariz. Why Gleeson? There is a very dark sky there and some fascinating old run-down buildings that serve as great foregrounds that contrast with the arching Milky Way overhead. These visually captivating buildings include a school with no roof, a big house (or saloon?), and a jail. The jail is now a museum, but the other buildings were abandoned decades ago.
Gleeson, 16 miles east of Tombstone, began as a turquoise mining camp and later became a copper mine settlement. John Gleeson staked his claim for the Copper Belle mine, which was active for 30 years or so until the 1920s. So, with no city lights, no moon, and clear skies in the forecast, Photo Club members Michael Reale, Bob Shea, Bob Garner, Mark Guinn, Rodger Bivens and Oz Saunders drove to the location in the early evening anticipating a great night for a gorgeous sky.
The Milky Way was rising in the Eastern sky around 2:30 a.m. so everyone took a nap first. Then, by headlamps and with tripods and cameras attached, the group bravely and carefully walked the short distance around some cacti to set up to capture the stars above and the ruins below. These photos are just a sample of the work these folks brought home to share with other photography enthusiasts.
Our pre-trip meeting discussed how slow shutter speeds, wide apertures, and high ISO settings help capture enough light for a good image. Because autofocus needs adequate light, you may have to focus manually, and slow shutter speeds require the steadiness of a tripod or other support. Compositions are key, so pre-scout locations during the day and plan how you’ll navigate safely in the dark. Lights in the city, stars above landscapes, or moonlit scenes are all concepts you can try.
Whether you think this sounds like a fun adventure or are interested in learning how to take better night photos yourself, please consider joining the Photo Club. SaddleBrooke residents are welcome to attend one of our meetings to learn more about our club. Our meeting on April 24, 9 a.m. in the Topaz Room, will feature a slideshow of night photos from multiple Club members. Even if you’re not yet a night photography expert, you’ll enjoy seeing these beautiful images captured by your creative neighbors. For more details, visit photosb.org or email photosb.org@gmail.com.