Wonder What This Is?

Wow, didnt know what to expect from the thumbnail image. This looks great, still not sure what i'm looking at is that a lake or an overlook over a city?

Thanks Todd. Glad you like it even if you can't tell what it is!
I should have realized that this picture is so dark, I would have to describe what's out there in the black void! (Reminds me of a relative who had to explain "Here's a picture of Uncle Leo -- the flash bulb didn't work so good, but that white spot is the shine on his glasses.) So here's the answer to your question.

WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT (if there were any light):
The guy in the picture said I perfectly captured the scene and mood, but I guess you had to be there. That's him sitting on a floating dock on an island in an Adirondack lake that is 60 miles from the nearest city. He is admiring the stars on a moonless night. My yellow canoe is tied to the dock, and that's a white pine tree standing up on the right side. The long exposure apparently captures some lingering atmospheric light. I know that because the gas station at Blue Mt. Lake (the only business with outside lights in the village eight miles away) closes at 9PM, and it did not catch fire; it was still there two days later on the way home. There weren't even any other campfires in that direction. (We were the first campers of the year on that lake; not exactly one of those places where you have to wait in line to get a spot for your tripod, but we like it.)

Now I know why other people make night pictures so bright; it avoids writing a description of what's there in the dark!

Very cook photo Wayne! Your "campfire" lighting looks just right to me. It is dark and hard to tell what we are looking at so thanks for the explanation.

I think you captured the scene perfectly, Wayne. It definitely feels peaceful. Well done.

Wayne, I like this image a lot! This really makes me feel like I'm there. What a great mood! I stay on a nice lake in northern WI quite often and this looks and feels like it could be right there. Add the sound of a loons call and it doesn't get any better. Nice work Wayne.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Im with you to a point on your 'night skies should be dark' remark, Wayne. Ive dabbled with enough with night shots to know that it's a super tough thing to accomplish the way you want to. I love your subject here, but i have to say the presentation needs work (most night shots do...which is why 99.9% of mine end up in the trash...) The main problem is the tree on rhs--there is a very noticeable black halo surrounding it, and the tree is sapped of contrast. Hard to offer suggestions without actually playing with the files, but i would say if you are going for a dark natural look, the tree should be mostly near-black here, with only hints of light as highlights to give it form. That would solve the contrast issue--not sure how the halo got there. Another suggestion is that i think you would have been better off shooting 30s at ISO 1600--it would reduce a lot of the noise here, and that trumps the insignificant motion trail youd get at 30s.

I like it a lot. I've dostargazed while camping up in the Dacks quite a few times myself and this captures the mood well. A few technical nits as Stan pointed out, but I like your attempt at a more natural look.

Since there's a boat next to the wharf I'll assume it's a lake.
I like what you've done here Wayne, if only for your bravery in doing it. However, I think it would have helped to have some dusk detail in the FG, which wouldn't have been difficult with a blend from an earlier shot. I agree with your comment on starfields: bright stars in during what seems to be a shot taken during the day looks alien and ridiculous, in this particular forum anyway.