Watch out for light pollution at the Grand Canyon star party

I went to the annual Grand Canyon star party last month and nearly ruined all my shots. A group of hikers showed up with headlamps and kept flashing them right where we had our cameras set up. I lost about 20 minutes of exposure time on a really nice Milky Way shot because I had to stop and ask them to turn it off. They didn't even realize they were being a problem. Now I always bring a red filter for my own flashlight and pack a little sign to post near my tripod. Has anyone else had to deal with clueless people at a dark sky event?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan_hill21d agoProlific Poster

Thought I was being careful enough with my own gear until someone's phone screen ruined a 30 minute star trail I was shooting.

hannahcraig21d ago

Remote trigger locked on by any chance?

-1

wade_kelly7721d ago

Happened to me last year with a lightning shot setup I had running. Was out in a field at 2am, camera on a tripod taking a 45 minute exposure of a storm rolling in. Some guy walking his dog just casually walks by and his headlamp beam sweeps right across my lens. Had to start all over but the storm was already dying down by then. Phone screens are the worst though, especially when people don't realize how bright those things are in the dark.