Last night I was in Joshua Tree National Park again. This time it was not a backpacking / photography expedition. However, as I am compelled to do, I brought my camera gear along. At one point I realized that I might be able to take some photos of our camp. I also realized that our huge camp fire was lighting up the surrounding rock walls. So, I set the camera on my tripod and let it go to work. I was blown away when I saw the results!
![Firelight and the half moon Firelight and the half moon](http://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1488-Edit.jpg)
Firelight and the half moon
“Wow!” is what I thought when I viewed this on the tiny LCD monitor. Blown away, I did a second exposure with far less desirable results. Despite the identical exposure, the fire died down significantly and there just wasn’t enough light. So, I decided to try something else. I set the camera up again, knowing that the moon was soon to disappear behind the rocks. This time after I clicked the shutter I beefed up the fire with the help of a fellow camper and spent the next 12 minutes painting the rocks with the fire as I constantly added bits of bright burning cardboard and additional wood.
The result? The starburst effect of the moon shot with a small aperture (f/16) just as it dipped behind the rocks.
![Moonburst and firelight Moonburst and firelight](http://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1491.jpg)
Moonburst and firelight
After this I gave up on this composition and tried a few others near the fire. These shots combine some moon light (as the moon was still visible from the other side of the campground) with the fire light.
![Red rocks and star trails I Red rocks and star trails I](http://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1492-Edit.jpg)
Red rocks and star trails I
![Red rocks and star trails II Red rocks and star trails II](https://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/themes/prophoto4/images/blank.gif)
Red rocks and star trails II
Shortly after this last one I the last bit of moonlight faded from the foreground rocks. I elected to head for my sleeping bag, but discovered there was enough light (and I had just enough energy) to try one more purely moonlit shot from a few hundred feet away from camp.
![Moonlit star trails at Joshua Tree Moonlit star trails at Joshua Tree](https://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/themes/prophoto4/images/blank.gif)
Moonlit star trails at Joshua Tree
And finally, here are the two best shots of camp that led to all other night shots from the trip.
![10 Seconds at camp 10 Seconds at camp](https://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/themes/prophoto4/images/blank.gif)
10 Seconds at camp
![8 Minutes at camp 8 Minutes at camp](https://blog.kurtlawson.com/wp-content/themes/prophoto4/images/blank.gif)
8 Minutes at camp
Yours truly can be seen in the second one, semi blurred, somewhere in there.
by Kurt
Nancy - Kurt…I’ve never seen photography quite like this. Your pictures are truly amazing!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your talent with us. What a gift.
admin - Thank you!
Nancy Lehrer - These images are great. Your blog was forwarded to me by Suzanne Tanaka.
Brittany - Kurt I love the pictures you’ve posted- thank you for sharing not just your pics, but your experience while shooting them as well!