Neal Hatch Photography

Tag: mountains

  • Stars Aligned: Photographing a Solar Storm and the Milky Way in Montana

    Milky Way meets emerald aurora—a spectacular August night near Hamilton, MT in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Captured with Canon R5, RF15-35mm lens at 16mm | 13.0s | f/2.8 | ISO 6400

    A Bitterroot Night to Remember

    On a cool summer night just outside Hamilton, Montana, near the Goat Mountain trailhead, I set up my Canon R5 and L-series 15–35mm lens to try and capture something I’d only hoped for — a clear Milky Way over the Bitterroot Valley. What I didn’t expect was the ghostly green aurora dancing on the horizon, a rare treat in this part of the country, made possible by a powerful solar storm.

    This image was taken at 16mm, f/2.8, ISO 6400, with a 13-second exposure. At that exposure length, you’ll notice subtle star trails — a reminder of Earth’s rotation during longer captures. The longer exposure allow me to bring more of the green solar storm hue into the image as it was fairly faint against the hazy sky.

    The green hue you see is not an artifact — it’s an enhanced but real aurora caused by multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during this period. NOAA had issued a G2 geomagnetic storm watch for July 31st into August 1st, 2024. We were lucky — wildfires in Canada and Idaho had threatened to obscure the skies, but for one night, the winds were favorable!

    The Bitterroot Valley: A Place of Deep Roots and Open Skies

    In modern times, the valley has become a sanctuary for those seeking unspoiled views of the night sky. Its relative remoteness and low light pollution offer rare opportunities for stargazing and astrophotography. I hope to explore more foreground options on my 2025 visit.

    Planning the Shot: Luck + Intention

    Photography, especially of the night sky, is a mix of being in the right place at the right time — and knowing how to plan for that moment. I’ve recently been learning to use the PhotoPills app, which helps forecast the Milky Way’s position, moon phases, and potential visibility based on time and location. That planning paid off, as August is when the galactic core of the Milky Way arcs prominently across Montana’s summer sky, tilted almost vertically just after nightfall. For next year’s trip, I will be well prepared to improve the foreground element positioning, lets just hope we get another solar storm!

    But nothing’s guaranteed. Fires, weather, and solar activity are all variables beyond our control. Still, you can increase your odds with research, timing, and a healthy dose of patience.

    Looking Ahead: Sharper Stars with MSM Nomad

    I’ve recently added the MSM Nomad star tracker , an affordable simple to use tracker, to my toolkit. The lightweight device counteracts Earth’s rotation, allowing for longer exposures with pinpoint stars. It does require some user fine tuning and alignment with polaris, the north star, all of which I am still learning! The tracker will allow me to extend exposure time to several minutes improving signal to noise on the sensor. On future outings, I plan to use this tracker to reduce motion blur and pull in even more detail from the galactic core, while also blending exposures to retain natural foreground elements.

  • Reflections and Rays: Capturing the Tetons’ Afternoon Serenity

    schwabacher landing mirror reflection of grand Tetons in afternoon with sun beaming through cloud cover
    Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park. Shot with Canon R5 | RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L lens at 16 mm | 1/500 sec | f/8.0 | ISO 100 .

    There are moments in nature where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, and you find yourself compelled to capture it. This photograph, taken on a tranquil afternoon July 2024 at Schwabacher Landing, was more than just another stop on our journey—it was the perfect farewell to the Grand Tetons and the culmination of an awe-inspiring adventure.

    The afternoon sun, veiled by gentle clouds, cast its rays down like a divine spotlight, illuminating the Tetons in a way that felt almost otherworldly. The sky, rich with depth and texture, mirrored itself in the calm waters below, creating a perfect symmetry that was both humbling and awe-inspiring.

    For this shot, I used a Canon R5 paired with an RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L lens. Shooting wide at 16 mm at 1/500 sec, f/8.0, and ISO 100 allowed me to balance the dynamic range of the scene while maintaining sharpness and detail throughout. The wide-angle lens perfectly framed the scene, capturing the vast expanse of the landscape and the interplay of light and shadow.

    This stop at Schwabacher Landing wasn’t just a photographic opportunity—it was a moment of reflection. As the Tetons stood tall in the distance, mirrored flawlessly in the water, I found myself pausing to take it all in. The serene beauty of this place felt like nature’s way of saying goodbye, offering one last breathtaking view before we left the park.

    Schwabacher Landing gave me more than a reflection of the Tetons—it gave me closure to a journey filled with wonder, inspiration, and the kind of beauty that stays with you long after the trip ends.

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