Reflections of stars, the Milky Way, and bright green airglow — Grand Teton National Park, Colter Bay, Wyoming.
Photographed September 25, 2014.
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| Grand Teton Milky Way Astrophotography Lake Reflection Canon 60Da |
Camera: Canon 60Da Lens: EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM Exposure: 16 sec Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 4000
The night sky at Grand Teton National Park is astonishing. In this photograph, you can see the reflection of bright stars — and even the reflection of the Milky Way itself — on the perfectly calm water of Colter Bay.
The Milky Way appears extremely bright here because Grand Teton is one of the darkest national parks in the United States, with minimal light pollution and exceptionally clear mountain air.
A band of green airglow is visible near the horizon — a natural atmospheric emission that appears only in very dark, transparent skies. Even more remarkable, the airglow itself is reflected on the lake, creating a double band of soft green light.
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| Milky Way Grand Teton |
Camera: Canon 60Da Lens: EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM Exposure: 16 sec Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 4000
The “Fifth Element” — A Philosophical Composition
The first image has a more philosophical meaning for me. I sometimes call it The Fifth Element.
The classical Greek world spoke of four elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Aristotle later introduced a fifth element — aether — the substance of the heavens, where stars and celestial bodies reside.
This photograph contains all five elements together in a single horizontal composition:
- Earth — the dark silhouette of the Tetons
- Water — the calm reflective lake
- Air — the clear mountain atmosphere
- Fire — the warm glow of a small campfire at Colter Bay and its reflection on the water
- Aether — the Milky Way glowing overhead
For me, this image is not only a nightscape — it is a symbolic meeting point of nature, philosophy, and the cosmos.
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