Starry Starry Cypress
Galactic core of the Milky Way above the cypress trees of Lake Mattamuskeet. This is the largest natural lake in North Carolina, and is a very rural area located near the coast.
Behind the scene: As I captured this image, sounds of a large pack of coyotes could be heard in the distance...and earlier that day I saw a wild black bear and a wild alligator nearby. A very hot/humid night with swarms of mosquitos, I spent the majority of an hour in my car while shooting a timelapse. Timelapse ends and I go to start my car...battery is dead. After years of trying to avoid this situation, it finally happened. Usually I have a separate battery to jump myself, but it was sitting at home this night. Another two hours go by before AAA says someone from ‘far away’ can come and jump me. No AC and even more waiting. Eventually a car comes down the road (almost 4 AM), and a very nice local gives me the needed jump while telling me more about the other nice locals. I finally pumped the AC in my car and cleared my mind... one more hour remained to shoot the Milky Way, and so I decided to continue on to my next planned location. Not the way I intended the night to go but didn’t stop me from appreciating the beauty and the wilderness!