NGPC
- mentorship
- image challenges
- workshops
- all skill levels welcome
NGPC Events
- This event has passed.
Milky Way Shoot at Dodd Creek Vista
August 7, 2021 @ 9:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Open to all NGPC Facebook followers as well as club members, on Saturday night, July 10th, please join us to shoot the Milky Way from Dodd Creek Vista!
Let’s plan to meet around 8:30pm, allowing some time to set up while the sky continues to darken. Please see the checklist below for items you’re going to want handy, especially if you’ve not attempted this type of photography before. And rest assured, there will be folks around who can help with technical questions to ensure you get a nice image to take home. Of course, if it’s cloudy (or worse), this won’t work. In that case we’ll post a cancellation notice on FB by 3pm that day.
What should you bring, besides a camera?
- Bug spray
- Spare batteries – even DSLR shooters, because you’ll probably use your live-view mode a lot.
- A red flashlight so you can adjust things without ruining your night vision (they’re cheap – you can get one for $10 on Amazon)
- A wide angle lens or two
- Suggestion: calculate in advance the maximum shutter time you can use without stars streaking. Use this formula: 500/effective focal length = max # of seconds. (A 10mm lens on a 1.5x crop sensor camera makes my effective focal length 15mm – divide that into 500 and you can go about 33 secs max)
- A remote shutter button (or be sure you know how to use your camera’s built-in shutter timer)
- A folding chair
- Snacks, beverages
If your vehicle has built-in GPS, you can punch in these Google-provided lat/long coordinates: 34.726178,-83.828128.
(You can also punch that into Google on your phone, but your signal might get lost in the mountains. If you must use a phone, I suggest downloading the directions from Google.)
Old school directions:
From Cleveland, take 75 north toward Helen. Take a left on Asbestos Road. Take a right on 75a. Then left on route 348, aka the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway (Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway). Dodd Creek Vista is a large pull-off about 6 miles ahead on your left side.
From Cleveland, take 75 north toward Helen. Take a left on Asbestos Road. Take a right on 75a. Then left on route 348, aka the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway (Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway). Dodd Creek Vista is a large pull-off about 6 miles ahead on your left side.
From Blairsville: start with 19 south, left on 180, right on 348, then almost 8 miles Dodd Creek Vista will be on your right side.
We’ll probably shoot for 2-3 hours, maybe longer if we’re having too much fun. GOOD TIMES!
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Cookie Policy