PHOTOG's annual Milky Way shoot is scheduled for the evening of July 27th at the Tallgrass Prairie. Come and join you fellow PHOTOG's under the stars for an evening of camaraderie, star gazing and astrophotography.
We will initially meet at Grill 125 on Main Street in Pawhuska for dinner at 6:00 p.m. After dinner, (approximately 7:00 p.m.), we will caravan out to the Tallgrass Prairie Visitor Center, where we will set up for our evening under the star. We should arrive at the Visitor Center in plenty of time to catch a few beautiful sunset pictures across the prairie.
The evening sky will be fully dark and the Milky Way will be visible by 10:15 p.m., which will be your best time to start photographing the Milky Way. There is not an official end time for this event, so you can stay and shoot the Milky Way and stars as long as you desire.
For the beginning Milky Way photographer, you will need the following equipment.
A sturdy tripod, a fast wide angle lens (typically in the range of 15-35mm focal length), and a remote shutter release if you have one. The remote shutter release is not a necessity, but certainly aids in preventing camera shake. There will be several experienced PHOTOG's at the event to assist you with camera settings and gear setup.
Because this event could extend late into the evening, bring a lawn chair for you comfort and to relieve your tiring feet. Also, the evening temperature at the end of July could be rather warm, so bring plenty of water or beverage of your choice to stay hydrated. One last item that is highly recommended for you comfort at the event and in following days.......BUG SPRAY.
A word about etiquette for night time photography and star gazing. No bright white lights in the vicinity of cameras or photographers. Good night vision is a must to see the beauty of the Milky Way and other star formations. A bright light in one's eyes can affect your night vision for up to 30 minutes. It can take that long for your eyes to re-adjust to full darkness. If you have a red LED flashlight or headlight, they are acceptable and generally do not adversely affect night vision. If you do not have a red LED light, you can tape a red film, red balloon or paper over a regular flashlight and that will work.
Although this event doesn't start until 6:00 p.m., you may want to arrive in Pawhuska earlier in the day. Pawhuska has many photogenic opportunities that you may be interested in photographing. The new Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum, the swinging bridge over Bird Creek, the Osage Tribal Museum, and the Pioneer Woman Mercantile are just a few interesting attractions.