The Southern Nevada Photographers Meetup Group

Rhyolite Night Shoot (Star Trails & Light Painting)

Mar 13 Sat 4:30 PM

Location: This location is shown only to members

Estimated attendance: 5 people attended.

Who organized?
Jan W

Let's hope for clear skies at the upcoming Ryolite Night Shoot! However, this time, let's plan on going to Ryolite (Saturday, March 13) even if the forecast is for clouds. If weather permits, we'll shoot star trails. If it's cloudy, then we'll experiment with light painting or other forms of Night Photography.

We'll meet at the Cook Bank ruins at 4:30p, so that we can set up early (please print & review the star trails "how to" that I posted under Files). Look for a white, mini-RV w/SNP signs in the window.

Please bring a dish to share for a potluck dinner. I'll provide the paper plates and tableware, as well as beverages and light refreshments for Sunday morning, for those who stay the night.

There are a few motels in nearby Beatty. I'll be camping in a mini-RV at Ryolite (The BLM says Ryolite is "day use only," but the Goldwell Open Air Museum at Ryolite is open 24/7).

Carpooling is strongly encouraged. If you are willing to take passengers, please post a notice in the comments section below. (Passengers, please chip in for gas.)

Please don't forget:
* Warm clothing and/or a sleeping bag in which to snuggle
* Camp chair
* Flashlight and/or headlamp (it will be very dark that night)
* Water (and whatever else you might want to drink that night)
* Snacks
* Contribution for potluck dinner
* Tripod, Camera(s), Backup batteries & cards
* Bright flashlights and/or props for light painting

I want to put together an OPTIONAL daytime Death Valley shoot. (Randy, want to lead a wildflowers shoot on 3/13?) I'll keep you posted about that.

Photos of this Meetup

See all photos

Talk about this Meetup

Posted Mar 12, 2010 7:00 AM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

RHYOLITE & DEATH VALLEY UPDATE (FRI): Van is almost ready. Turkey chili is packed! Will try to locate wifi to post a wildflower report from DV later today. See y'all out there tomorrow.
Posted Mar 9, 2010 3:12 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

UPDATE: Talked w/BLM today. Yes, Rhyolite is day use only, because the structures are unstable and dangerous. But, we can be there at night IF WE REMAIN ON THE PAVED COUNTY ROAD, which goes through the center of Rhyolite. As well, there are "SST" toilets in Rhyolite (i.e., "sweet-smelling toilets"), which are along the county road. Finally, there is an official BLM camping site next to The Red Barn (i.e., within walking distance of the ruins). We will camp there.
Posted Feb 23, 2010 6:06 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

UPDATE: OPTIONAL DEATH VALLEY SHOOTS (3/13) Meet for briefing at 10a at DV's Borax Museum parking lot (Furnace Creek Ranch). Look for white RV w/Meetup signs. I'll have info for 3 different shoots: (1) Borax Museum ("...a myriad of relics") (2) Wildflowers ("...transform DV's barren browns into carpet of color") (3) Mosaic Canyon ("...polished narrows...intimate sedimentary styling") FYI, entrance fee to DV is $20/car (good for 1 wk). (We get $80 annual National Parks pass.)
Posted Feb 23, 2010 5:42 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

UPDATE: Rhyolite-Area Motels & Campgrounds. I just uploaded a two-page doc to FILES. It's from the website for the Goldwell Open Air Museum (7 acreas at Rhyolite; open 24/7), where we plan to park our mini-RV overnight. No restrooms at Rhyolite, but we can use the toilet in our RV for emergencies.
Posted Feb 19, 2010 9:41 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

Thanos: I'll check on nearby campsites and restrooms.
Posted Feb 19, 2010 7:35 PM

Thanos

Any info on campsite with water and port-a-potties?
Posted Jan 18, 2010 9:14 AM

Steam1

Make sure you turn off any vibration reduction software in your camera when shooting star trails. The movement of the stars will cash the VR to activate and give you bumping trails.
Posted Jan 16, 2010 12:21 PM

Derek

Just a thought for you guys Rhyolite sound cool and all but if we drive a feww more hours we can go into Bryce Canyon almost 0 light polutions :)
Posted Jan 16, 2010 6:53 AM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

Unfortunately, it seems that it will be cloudy all over Nevada this weekend. We're rescheduling the Rhyolite star-trails shoot to Saturday, March 13.
Posted Jan 13, 2010 2:04 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

Weather Update: it seems that there is some chance of cloud cover Saturday night. I'll watch that closely and keep you posted. If we must cancel (and reschedule) the event, I'll post that announcement by 11p Friday.
Posted Jan 12, 2010 10:53 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

Sorry! I couldn't open it either, but I fixed it (title was too long). Please let me know if you have any problems opening it.
Posted Jan 12, 2010 6:59 PM

Harry

Jan, thanks for creating the notes. I get an error message when I try to access the file. Anyone been succesful in downloading the instructions ? any tips ?
Posted Jan 12, 2010 1:57 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

Great idea Derek!!! We can take two people in our van. We plan to leave Henderson by 10a Saturday, and will be staying in Rhyolite until Sunday morning. If that schedule works for anyone, we're happy to share our very comfy road-yacht (please write to me offline).
Posted Jan 12, 2010 1:22 PM

Derek

anyone up to carpool??
Posted Jan 12, 2010 1:01 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

Although the BLM site says that Rhyolite is "day use only," I've seen tons of night shots from there (i.e., seems to not be an issue). We're planning on staying until Sunday morning (and will provide a continental breakfast). If an "all night photography session" becomes an issue for some reason, we can always move down to the Goldwell Open Air Museum (adjacent to Rhyolite), which is open to the public 24/7. Check out my light-painting resources. This is going to be a blast!
Posted Jan 12, 2010 12:56 AM

derek law

are you guy going to camping over there?
Posted Jan 10, 2010 5:31 PM

Jan W

Assistant Organizer

So many places to chose from. Let's try Rhyolite (ghost town 4 miles west of Beatty...about 1.5 hours from LV) this time. On Sunday, scouted Death Valley, and closer locations, but Rhyolite offers interesting foregrounds. (I'm w/you Sam, let's try other locations in the future.) There's an Open Studio at the Goldwell Open Air Museum that night. Should be interesting, and should not conflict w/our lighting needs. Potluck dinner on Saturday? All the details to follow tomorrow.
Posted Jan 9, 2010 3:00 PM

Mark Swink

Assistant Organizer

Do we have a location picked out yet?
Posted Jan 5, 2010 5:54 PM

Randy Hammer

Assistant Organizer

Some ideas for possible locations. Nelsons landing, cottonwood valley, Rhyolite?
Posted Jan 2, 2010 12:13 AM

sam garcia

Two places that I personally want to try are "the wave" near Kanab, UT and The Pinnacles of Trona near Trona, CA

Who attended?

5 attendees
- Jan W (+2 guests)
  
  “ Nice group of people...a great exchange of information. However, it was very windy...difficult to shoot, and too uncomfortable to do light painting. In my opinion, Rhyolite is no longer a great night-shoot location (i.e., flood lights on the grounds, buildings fenced in, and it is now "day use only," so it's hard to use the ruins in a composition). ”
- derek law (+3 guests)