Out in Michigan, we can see the stars. On our dark street, cars seldom pass, leaving us free to stand out in the middle, craning our necks, slowly revolving, in awe of the starry skies we can see through the trees.
Last night, I took my camera, feeling I was foolish but knowing it does well in low-light conditions. Here are some of my pictures in their original states, and after adjusting for tone, color, and contrast in Photoshop.
The wonder of color so unleashed made me marvel all the more at what Van Gogh, with his artist’s eye, could see directly. He understood the wonders of color and light, apprehending their magical dance in a black-and-white sky.
Starry night, with Orion (original)
Starry night, with Orion (state 1)
The blue of night (state 1)
The blue of night (state 2)
The blue of night (state 3)
Reach for them
Inky
Night velvet
Cradle of color (original)
Cradle of color (state 1)
Cradle of color (state 2)
Cradle of color (state 3)
The circle (original)
The circle (state 1)
The circle (state 2)
A plane
Harley says
Very nice photos, and I bet they were indeed hard to take. The photoshopping made some them look very Van Gogh-like indeed, soft but strong as well.
Celia says
The next day, I stumbled on the website of the Chicago Astronomical Society, where I found many stunning photos of the heavens. It made me want to take up a certain hobby. . .