Jupiter Rising

I no longer remember why, but my trip to New Zealand was one day shorter than the rest of the group. And it would mean, that after nearly two weeks of stormy weather and bland skies, everyone else would get to see a stunning sunrise. I did, too—from the airport. Not the same, but still lovely. But I wasn't robbed entirely. On that last night, we experienced a beautiful sunset over Lake Wakatipu, and a stunning starry night highlighted by Jupiter rising.

Provenance: Phase One XF | IQ4.150 | Schneider-Kreuznach 35mm

Jupiter clears the crest of the Remarkables range above Lake Wakatipu, its reflection burning a straight line across water so still it reads as a second sky. The Remarkables — a range that earns its name — form a ragged silhouette against the last of the deep blue hour, and the planet rises with the unhurried confidence of something that has been doing this for four billion years. Made on medium format, this image required patience: watching the ephemeris, arriving well before the rise, and waiting for the lake to settle after the evening winds died. The star detail and tonal depth in the deep blue hour are what justify a large print of this image.