In Bartlett Starlight the Sonoran Desert comes to life under the shimmering Milky Way and the faint light of the rising sun. The Milky Way’s magnificent arch crowns Bartlett Lake in March, its core shimmering with pink nebulae while the desert lake mirrors the cosmic song of starlight. This multi-panel panoramic image was expertly shot with a star tracker and astro-modified camera by Carla Meeske. It captures a beautiful intersection of the night sky reflecting in water, in the lush Sonoran Desert landscape.

Artist’s Story

In March, the Milky Way arches over the horizon right before dawn, her core shimmering with pink from nebulae and star nurseries. Bartlett Lake mirrors her light back, like a gentle song. This was one of my first detailed panoramas of the night sky. It took months to create, as I reshot the scene several times, and learned new software in order to accomplish the mission of blending the 30 plus images together. I still love it! This year I went back a month earlier to capture the scene of the Milky Way beginning to show her beauty at dawn, in Milky Way Rising. Which one is your favorite?

Print and Edition Information

Available in ChromaLuxe Semi Gloss Metal, Matte P99 Acrylic or Fine Art Paper. Digitally signed with Certificate of Authenticity.
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Edition

Open Edition