Eileen Mandell, Nov 1-4, 2018, Night Sky & Stampede Photography

Night Sky Photography and Stampede Action

We held our meeting under the stars

Eileen Mandell joined us again for her 4th night sky photography workshop at the ranch. The sun was setting as we drove south, and cameras caught the blazing colors bathing the inland valley.

We spent Friday exploring the wine country, Valle Guadalupe, heading to the quiet streets of San Antonio de las Minas, a former gold mining area in the valley. After shooting the old adobes in El Porvenir, we visited Vena Cava and L.A. Cetto wineries.

Friday evening Eileen held a meeting under the stars to help the photo students set up their tripods, measure the light, and make sure they had the proper settings ready for the brilliant night sky.

Saturday was spent at the ranch and the photographers passed the morning capturing the soft light in the canyon, the horses, cattle, chickens, sheep and dogs, the vintage tack, and the traditional architecture of the ranch buildings and cabins.

That afternoon, we offered the photographers a flatbed truck for safety, as the horses were stampeded within feet of them many times. Cameras were blazing and the results were stunning live action shots. Eileen later showed one of these photos in the annual Equine show in Del Mar, CA.

Eileen schedules her workshops on moonless weekends. Friday and Saturday nights the photographers brought out their big lenses to capture star trails and star clusters invisible to the naked eye. We miss so much from our city-based and light-filled perspectives.

it’s hard to pick a favorite moment; but for me, it was seeing the photograph Eileen took of the Milky Way. Thanks, Eileen for capturing the moment.