Patterns in the Void by Christian Klepp

Monday, 5th January 2009

Patterns in the Void

by Christian Klepp

The Rocky Mountains in Waterton Glacier reflect in the calm waters of a nighttime glacial lake. The starry sky at new moon sparkles like diamonds in total darkness revealing detailed insight into our galaxies central structure of dense star fields and light absorbing nebular dust. The Milky Way’s galactic center with its assumed black hole position is located just over the horizon, deeply hidden by dark clouds of interstellar dust. Thus our view on the Milky Way in the Sagittarius constellation shows a bifurcated appearance. The small but bright reddish object above is the Lagoon Nebula, M8, a star-forming region in a distance of 5200 light years. The brightest object left of the Milky Way is Jupiter. The star tracks remain visible in the lake due to the mirroring effect of tracking in the opposite direction.

Equipment: Canon 20D, Canon 10-22mm, f/3.5, static and dynamic exposure of 6 min, ISO 1600, tripod, AstroTrac TT320 digital astronomical mount

Christian Klepp

Raised in Hamburg, Germany, I very early discovered my love for pristine nature. One day my dream may come true to entirely link my photographic passion with my profession. Climate research and landscape photography is much closer linked than one might think of. Passionate photography of natures beauty opens up the heart and demands for the need to protect it. A deeper understanding for natures cause and effect and the ability of admiration leads to the urgent will to preserve the last sanctuaries on Earth. We should leave only footprints, so that the ones coming after us can still see how beautiful nature is.

www.lichtjahre.eu

32 Comments

Rastello Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Best picture of the day Ive seen yet…
jim Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 2:09 am
Mr Klepp - Wow! I love your picture. Nature indeed is worth attention by us all. Your work will help lead the way. Thank you.
ziggy Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Dear Mr Klepp, thanks for showing us the Milky Way through your eyes, and sharing your passion for nature. Here’s hoping the coming year brings us all closer to the natural and our place within it.
Katherine Lee Strassburg Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 3:13 am
WOW! This really shows how insignificant mankind is. I’ve seen the sky like this a handful of times, once high on a mountain, and once in the Mojave Desert. Thanks for reminding me of my place in the universe. Magnificent potd!
Chamika Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Great picture, wonderful capture! Thanks for sharing.
James and Kelly Stone Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 5:30 am
WOW! This is one beautiful photo. Amazing!!!! Congratulations. This is one of the MOST deserving POTD’s I’ve seen in a while!!!
Ariel Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Amazing photo.

I’m confused by its creation though. The sky is sharp while the reflection stars trail. Perhaps the reflection wasn’t aligned with the movement of the mount, but if the camera was moving, how is it that the silhouetted mountains are still sharp?
ollie Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 6:19 am
by far one of the most amazing and brilliant photos ive ever seen. amateur or not; incredible. i would love for you to shaer where you bought (maybe you could say how much it cost) the equipment needed to take a picture such as this. and i also have the same thoughts as Ariel.
Chiranjib Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 6:31 am
The Best picture in EarthShots so far - Being an astronomer myself, I am amazed with the beauty you have captured. Bravo ! Taking a picture of this kind is exciting like doing science with these heavenly objects. Congratulations !!
Anurag Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 7:16 am
A heavenly vista of the Heavens.
Breathtaking image!!

I feel that, because the stars and their shadows are moving in the opposite direction (as already alluded to), we are seeing this anomaly of only seeing the trails in the lake. Because theoretically the reflection is changing at twice the speed of the mountains,relative to the camera, it is exhibiting the maximum trails and the mountains, little or none. But, I would very much like Christian’s comments / explaination on the matter.

One never ceases to learn and to be amazed!
Su Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Fantastic night sky shot well done on potd.
Malta Photography Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Really great shot indeed and astronomically speaking its wonderful. Very interesting equipment used.
Bruce Emery Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Nice shot;
First impression was a giant bat leaving it’s cave on it’s nightly ritual for food.
Pauline Jones Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 10:51 am
There have been some fantastic images on Earth Shots but this must be one of the best ever. Technically it is very good despite being a difficult shot and I really appreciate the explanation; thanks so much for sharing.
Pierre-Emmanuel Bourgouin Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Wonderful ! It’s really awsome to see that so nice ! Thank you for this view.
planet lover Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Best of the best! This is a magnificent view or our home planet’s tiny place in the universe. It is awe inspiring. Thank you!
Mimsha Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Just perfect, nothing to say !
Marie Dunphy Harding Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Fantastic piece of work! One of the best Earth Shots I have seen.
Congratulations!
Kirk Jordan Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
If you are using a device an astronomical device that tracks with the stars, why are the mountains not blurred. Is this the product of two exposures? Incredible. I just don’t understand the process.
Renee Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Very impressive! Well done
Dennis Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I agree with the comments on the superb photograph as well as the questions asking how it was done - sharp stars and silhouette vs star tracks in the lake. Great shot!
Gerry Pacher Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Fantastic work - love it!

Regards, Gerry
varanasi Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
As my google screen was opening and your POTD was unfolding a WOW escaped from my lips. I usually don’t say that until after I click on the larger size image for viewing. It left me speechless. Another place to put on the bucket list! ~ Thanks
omar franco Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
easily on the top 5 of POTD of all times, by far.
Nick Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Great idea combining astrophotograghy with a landscape scene. I have only seen a few shots like this before but your one is technically excellent.
Stephen Oachs Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Wow, there are a lot of great things going on in this image. That’s one to be proud of, congrats!
Casey Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Stunning! I love it. Thanks for sharing.
janet Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
magnificent!
breathtaking!
brilliant!
dynamic!
everlasting!

WOW
Matt Says:
January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
What a Triumph !
Sue Gagnon Says:
January 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I am simply taken aback by the gorgeous photography and composition here. I ADORE this photograph. I further love the idea of combining the cosmos with this Earth’s silohettetted backdrop, despite my lack of spelling ability, and I am encouraged with EarthShots, as well!
Mandy Kilpatrick Says:
January 15th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
This photo is brilliant and fantastic!! I also appreciate the photographers explanation linking the beauty of nature and saving it. I do love this picture, and your website looks great as well!! Thank you and Congratulations!!
Ellie Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 5:06 am
WOW-WOW-WOW!