... in terms of photography, it was the primary reason we had taken this trip ... it's why i "moved up" to the fuji x-t1 ... it's why i purchased a 12mm f/2 rokinon manual focus/aperture lens ... and, this evening, it's why we hiked almost two miles to stand upon the headlands of one of the most marvelous places on earth ... as we walked towards the lighthouse behind us the sun slowly set ...
... around 10pm night approached, late at this latitude ... at the time i didn't notice it in my viewfinder, but i captured john admiring the glow of the setting sun ... (okay, he might've been off near the trees for another reason, but i'm sticking with the admiring-the-scenic-beauty story) ...
... soon, the wonder of the milky arched above the lighthouse ...
... hundreds of millions of stars, where, i'm convinced, are others who also look up in awe and wonder ...
... before we left, i told john i'd like to chance a stroll down the dark trail descending along the east side of the ridge, thinking i might get another nice shot of the milky way framing the lighthouse ... i couldn't find the perspective i wanted, but then i became intrigued by a shadow hovering over me ...
... as we walked back to the car, careful to avoid the many porcupines who also seemed to be enjoying the night, we stopped to snap a few more frames of the heavens contrasting with the porch lights of the homes across the bay ...
Ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven,
If in your bright leaves we would read the fate
Of men and empires,--'tis to be forgiven,
That in our aspirations to be great,
Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state,
And claim a kindred with you; for ye are
A beauty and a mystery, and create
In us such love and reverence from afar,
That fortune, fame, power, life, have named themselves a star.
GEORGE GORDON BYRON