Years and years ago I read writing by either Edwin Way Teale or Hal Borland (think Teale). He and his wife went for a winter night hike to see the trees filled with stars. Naturally, I had to check the woods in the ravine at my rural property. Davis (my youngest son) and I dressed warmly, got our flashlights and headed down.
It has to be a moonless sky and no clouds.
We first entered the woods and sat on “my rock” at the top of a small bluff. Stars FILLED the trees. We sat there. Geese flew over, honking. Our next stop was a downed tree near the dry creek. Davis had a small flashlight and sat investigating the bark on a small tree. He found a tiny hole with lichens around it and a teeny mushroom in it.
After going back across the creek, we laid under a tree I called the Grandmother Tree with our heads near the trunk. The limbs made it look like a giant spider standing over us.
We walked out of the woods. I wondered if stars filled the little bluestem grass too. The tall grass stalks made the barrens look like a prairie. We laid in the grass, his head on my shoulder and mine on his. Stars filled the grass too. An owl hooted. Another answered.
That was 23 years ago when Davis was 9. The hike is still a vivid memory for both of us.
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I took this picture on a cloudy day and then darkened it considerably in Photoshop and added the stars.
Posted by caleephotography on January 2, 2013 at 10:18 am
WOW, awesome shot!!
Posted by naturesnippets on January 2, 2013 at 11:25 am
Thanks. Actually I took tree pictures on a real cloudy day and then used Photoshop to darken this one a lotand then used paint brush (in Photoshop) to make the stars.
Posted by caleephotography on January 2, 2013 at 11:28 am
Aha!
Well, it looks great anyway! And nice to make something to keep your memory alive!
Posted by naturesnippets on January 2, 2013 at 11:29 am
It was one of those very special times!! That’s why I wanted to share it so others can create such memories
Posted by petspeopleandlife on January 2, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Such a lovely story and the photo is truly beautiful. Wonder how the photo would look enlarged and framed. You might have a treasure to hang on your wall.
Posted by naturesnippets on January 2, 2013 at 1:33 pm
The picture was taken on a cloudy day and then worked on in Photoshop.
Posted by my secret love for you on January 2, 2013 at 1:09 pm
very nice!!
Posted by naturesnippets on January 2, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Posted by my secret love for you on January 2, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Posted by Therese on January 2, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Wonderful idea to make a great memory. Stunning, absolutely stunning picture!!!!
Posted by naturesnippets on January 2, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Thanks. I can see you and Emma doing such a hike. And as for the picture, I took it on a cloudy day and then enhanced in Photoshop.
Posted by New Hampshire Garden Solutions on January 2, 2013 at 5:54 pm
I’ve wanted badly to shoot a picture just like that and wondered how you did it. There must be a way to get that shot for real without leaving the shutter open long enough to create star trails.
Posted by Tricia Booker Photography on January 5, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Beautiful story and image!
Posted by naturesnippets on January 5, 2013 at 9:19 pm
Thanks. It was a wonderful experience. You feel a tad silly laying on the ground in the middle of winter at night. We had some good laughs.
Posted by Scott on January 8, 2013 at 8:55 am
Magic.
Posted by naturesnippets on January 8, 2013 at 12:06 pm
It sure was!