This is a 2 image vertical panorama. Each photo was shot 15x, stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker for noise reduction. The 2 images from the stacks were merged in photoshop. All post-processing was done using the curves tool. The sky, land and water were all processed independently.

Teewinot, The Grand Teton and Mount Owen reflected in String Lake

Watching the sunlight dissipate the twilight deepened into blue sky two meteors flashed over the summit of Teewinot. We didn’t have the camera out but the subtle green flashes were recorded into memories.

I returned at 2:30am hoping our galaxy’s center would align with the three mountains of the Cathedral group. With sunlight hidden behind the earth’s curvature starlight was the sole illumination. The center and tallest mountain, The Grand Teton, also birthed a continuous cloud system which streamed from it's summit.

The sun’s brightness hits the earth at angles with directionality, loudly carving brightness and shadows into our vision. Conversely, starlight’s photons rain upon the land in an even mist, light from the entire sky. The dark 360 degree dome is the source of the mountains’ and lake’s luminosity. Some of those photons began their journey 25,000 years ago in our eyes, instantaneous for a photon.

Delicate shadows can be seen from the star clusters of the milky way’s core but the effect is subtle. Starlight is virtually contrast-less. It’s smooth and quiet, almost impressionistic. With patience and calmness our eyes can open enough to catch faint glimpses of this archaic light.