- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Night photography locations in Arizona, Update with photo in last post
Posted on 6/8/18 at 12:44 pm
Posted on 6/8/18 at 12:44 pm
I'm going to Phoenix for a few days for continuing education in 2 weeks. I really want to get out of town the first night to get some photos of the Milky Way and whatever else. This is a link to a map with the level of darkness in the areas.
LINK
What is a scenic location within a couple hours of Phoenix? I'll be driving there at night, so I would really be shooting from close to a road without hiking very far in. It would have to have public access late at night too. I looked at something like Walnut Canyon, but it isn't accessible at night.
Of course, I'll post pics when I return if they're not total crap.
LINK
What is a scenic location within a couple hours of Phoenix? I'll be driving there at night, so I would really be shooting from close to a road without hiking very far in. It would have to have public access late at night too. I looked at something like Walnut Canyon, but it isn't accessible at night.
Of course, I'll post pics when I return if they're not total crap.
This post was edited on 6/21/18 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 6/9/18 at 7:40 am to LSU Tigershark
I guess I should have put Italy in the title to get a response
Posted on 6/9/18 at 8:28 am to LSU Tigershark
I hope you find a good spot.
I did a quick weekend driving up to Sedona from Phoenix in February. I would think you'd be able to find a good spot.
I found the road signs to Sedona humorous. Pretty much any disaster was signed.
Fire
Falling rocks
Animals
Truck may tip
Ice
And I don't think I listed them all.
This post was edited on 6/9/18 at 8:29 am
Posted on 6/9/18 at 8:37 am to LSU Tigershark
I haven’t taken any night pics around Phoenix so I can’t help you with locations, but when I went to Budapest, etc. I got a few location ideas from locationscout.com. The Photographer’s Ephemeris photoephemeris.com will give you the location/path of sunrise, sunset and moon. I believe I used google earth to determine time and location of Milky Way. When I have been in dark areas, I didn’t have any trouble seeing Milky Way with my naked eyes. I used the above to plan a Milky Way shot rising over the sea stacks in Olympic National Park, but it was too cloudy. Lonelyspeck.com is a good site for more info. Hope this helps.
Posted on 6/9/18 at 9:36 am to LSU Tigershark
No brainer: go to Saguaro National Park
other options:
Sonoran Desert
Organ Pipe Cactus NM
other options:
Sonoran Desert
Organ Pipe Cactus NM
This post was edited on 6/9/18 at 9:39 am
Posted on 6/9/18 at 5:36 pm to LSU Tigershark
PNW's rec, Saguaro NP, is probably the 2nd most iconic AZ location after the Grand Canyon. Can't go wrong there, it is about 2 hours from Phoenix, give or take depending on your location. I don't now how dark the skies are there (pretty close to Tucson) but the sunsets are outstanding.
Going off of your link the closest blue spots are:
1. Sonoran Desert NM. A little over an hour drive SSW depending on your location. Easy access, you can just pull over on the side of I-8 wherever looks good. Not a ton of traffic, unless a Friday. This location is going to give you similar landscape to Saguaro NP but darker skies. (Keep an eye out for illegals, they move at night)
2. Saddle Mountain. About 90 minutes west of Phoenix, depending on location and traffic. I have only been within 10 miles of this location so I don't know how easy it is to access, they have BLM camping so it probably does not close. There is also an observatory according to the dark skies website. This location will offer a mountain backdrop with a few scattered saguaros and lots of scrub. The skies are DARK as frick out here though.
Green location:
3. Picacho Peak, about 75 minutes south of Phoenix heading towards Tucson. I-10 and access road are right next to the park so even if it has a gate you should be able to get close. I have never been here at night but the dark skies website gives it high ratings and this picture looks dope:
Depending on how much you want to drive and how late you want to be out, you could hit up one of these, spend an hour or two, then hit up another. Picacho Peak and Sonoran NM are fairly close, and Sonoran NM and Saddle Mountain are fairly close heading the other direction.
This dude has some awesome pics of AZ. Not really night shots but maybe they give you some ideas. LINK
Going off of your link the closest blue spots are:
1. Sonoran Desert NM. A little over an hour drive SSW depending on your location. Easy access, you can just pull over on the side of I-8 wherever looks good. Not a ton of traffic, unless a Friday. This location is going to give you similar landscape to Saguaro NP but darker skies. (Keep an eye out for illegals, they move at night)
2. Saddle Mountain. About 90 minutes west of Phoenix, depending on location and traffic. I have only been within 10 miles of this location so I don't know how easy it is to access, they have BLM camping so it probably does not close. There is also an observatory according to the dark skies website. This location will offer a mountain backdrop with a few scattered saguaros and lots of scrub. The skies are DARK as frick out here though.
Green location:
3. Picacho Peak, about 75 minutes south of Phoenix heading towards Tucson. I-10 and access road are right next to the park so even if it has a gate you should be able to get close. I have never been here at night but the dark skies website gives it high ratings and this picture looks dope:
Depending on how much you want to drive and how late you want to be out, you could hit up one of these, spend an hour or two, then hit up another. Picacho Peak and Sonoran NM are fairly close, and Sonoran NM and Saddle Mountain are fairly close heading the other direction.
This dude has some awesome pics of AZ. Not really night shots but maybe they give you some ideas. LINK
This post was edited on 6/9/18 at 6:08 pm
Posted on 6/9/18 at 5:52 pm to LSU Tigershark
Another green location is Picketpost Mountain in Superior, about 70 minutes east of Phoenix depending on location and traffic.
Superior is an old mining town and not much there, but Picketpost is a 3rd tier AZ icon and the gateway to a great section of the Arizona Trail, Superstitions to the north and Gila River canyons to the south.
Easy access, just follow directions to the AZT trail head. Dirt road for half mile and watch out for cows. You can set up in the parking lot or hike towards the mountain or south on the AZT for a bit.
None of the place I have mentioned are "Top 10" daylight locations in AZ, but they all are perfect for night photography and dark skies.
Superior is an old mining town and not much there, but Picketpost is a 3rd tier AZ icon and the gateway to a great section of the Arizona Trail, Superstitions to the north and Gila River canyons to the south.
Easy access, just follow directions to the AZT trail head. Dirt road for half mile and watch out for cows. You can set up in the parking lot or hike towards the mountain or south on the AZT for a bit.
None of the place I have mentioned are "Top 10" daylight locations in AZ, but they all are perfect for night photography and dark skies.
This post was edited on 6/9/18 at 5:53 pm
Posted on 6/9/18 at 11:59 pm to IllegalPete
you know everywhere ive lived people always preach that their sunsets and night skies are the most beautiful ever
judging by the pics they are full of shite..arizona beats them all
judging by the pics they are full of shite..arizona beats them all
Posted on 6/10/18 at 8:30 am to tiggah1981
Thanks for the responses everyone. I was busy shooting a fireworks show in Orange Beach last night, so I'm just getting around to seeing them.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the night skies of AZ. It will be my first time there.
quote:
judging by the pics they are full of shite..arizona beats them all
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the night skies of AZ. It will be my first time there.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 1:39 pm to LSU Tigershark
I ended up driving about an hour and a half west to Saddle Mountain and got this shot last night. Arizona definitely has the darkest, clearest skies. As soon as I stepped out of the jeep, I could see the milky way clearly from South to North with the naked eye. It was difficult to pick out constellations because all the stars were so bright.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 2:50 pm to LSU Tigershark
Is that before or after lightroom?
Posted on 6/21/18 at 6:42 pm to wickowick
You have a problem with lightroom or something?
Posted on 6/21/18 at 7:13 pm to tiggah1981
Arizona is 1a, New Mexico is 1b (for sunsets)
This post was edited on 6/21/18 at 7:15 pm
Posted on 6/21/18 at 7:27 pm to LSU Tigershark
No problem, my screen was in the sunlight and I could not tell if it had been edited or not
Posted on 6/23/18 at 3:59 pm to LSU Tigershark
I know nothing about photography but did you do that with some long exposure or let in some crazy light? Or was it just like you pointed and clicked and that is what you saw with your eyes? If you actually saw that please let me know and I am driving out tonight.
Posted on 6/24/18 at 12:57 am to lsu480
What I saw was closer to the 2nd pic. I just enhanced it with lightroom. You have to go out after the moon sets. We also saw 5 shooting stars.
Posted on 6/24/18 at 8:27 am to LSU Tigershark
What gear and settings did you use for that shot?
Posted on 6/24/18 at 9:26 am to Creamer
Canon 80D, Rokinon 16mm f/2,tripod
20s,f/2.8, ISO 2500
I flashed my phone flashlight for about half a second during the exposure from about 45* angle
Lightroom on the phone for post
The key is planning for when the moon is not up. I watched the calendar and the first night I was here, it set at 12:40AM. Tonight it sets at 3:00AM.
20s,f/2.8, ISO 2500
I flashed my phone flashlight for about half a second during the exposure from about 45* angle
Lightroom on the phone for post
The key is planning for when the moon is not up. I watched the calendar and the first night I was here, it set at 12:40AM. Tonight it sets at 3:00AM.
This post was edited on 6/24/18 at 9:31 am
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News