Went 4 nights straight with no good astro photos in Joshua Tree

Drove out there last Monday thinking the new moon would be perfect. Got set up around midnight and then the wind kicked up so bad my tripod was shaking even with sandbags. Night two was partly cloudy but I waited 3 hours for a break that never came. Night three I actually got some shots but when I got home and looked at them on my computer every single one had star trails because I forgot to check my shutter speed. Fourth night I just sat in my car eating gas station nachos and watching the clouds roll in. Has anyone else had a whole trip just feel cursed like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

fox.jesse1mo ago

Man, I used to be the guy who'd say "just plan better and you'll get the shot" but this story totally changed my mind. Sometimes the universe just decides you're eating gas station nachos and that's your night. I think you earned some good karma for sticking it out that long.

fiona3321mo ago

Four nights sounds like a brutal stretch, I used to tell people bad luck is just bad planning but your story with the wind and the nachos really changed my mind. @fox.jesse nailed it about the universe deciding for you sometimes, especially when you did everything right and still got shut down night after night. Is there a spot you usually go to that treats you better when the conditions go south?