Joshua Tree Astropotography and Nightscapes
My love for the night sky developed when I was very young. The vast universe makes you realize just how small we are in this universe. I started photographing the night sky back in 2015 and haven’t stopped since. I really didn’t know anything about astrophotography and didn’t have much to go on in the way of camera settings. I just knew that I wanted to photograph a Joshua Tree with a backdrop of the night sky! Crop sensor DSLR, no tri-pod, non premium telephoto lens…
Over the years my gear has changed. I now use a star tracker, full frame mirrorless cameras, and premium lenses. And to be honest, some of my favorite shots were from that first night back in 2015 with a Canon EOS 60D and Tamron lens. 😁
All photos are single shot images taken at long exposures.
2015 - Jumbo Rock Campgrounds // Shot with a Canon 60D // Tamron 18-200mm @ 18mm f/3.5 ISO 3200 - 15s using a flashlight to hold the camera up. This shot is straight of the camera with no edits. This was only the beginning...
2021 - Skull Rock entryway sign. The moon was very bright this night. Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 32mm f/2.8 ISO 400 - 15s. Tripod mounted.
2021 - Skull Rock // Joshua Tree. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 28mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 15s. Tripod mounted.
2021 - Skull Rock Wider View. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 28mm f/2.8 ISO 800 - 20s. Tripod mounted.
2021 - Jumbo Rocks @ Night. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 27mm f/2.8 ISO 400 - 20s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - We found a nice parking lot location in the middle of the park. I always look for the perfect tree. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 4000 - 10s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - The only problem with being in a parking lot is the headlights from vehicles, but at times it did provide a good effect mixed into many bad shots. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 4000 - 8s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - Vehicle taillights provided a better red light effect. The Milky Way was more pronounced. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 8000 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - No vehicle light interference. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 8000 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - Closer to what we saw with our eye. I only reduced the haze in Lightroom to bring out the definition a bit. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 35mm f/2.8 ISO 5000 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - That bright light is a planet, my best guess is that it was Mars. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 17mm f/2.8 ISO 3200 - 10s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Pulled into an area marked no entry off the side of the road near Hidden Valley. It was very dark by 9pm and has been the best night. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 10s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Headlamps. My kids decided to light the way on their search for critters. It was a hot night as well. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 25s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Trying to find the perfect combination of Rock, Tree, and Sky. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 25s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Lights off the highway adding some detail. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 25s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - I obtained a Leica on a trade and forget I had took some decent shots with it. I didn't care for the aesthetics of the camera (no grip without an accessory), but that Summilux fixed lens was fantastic! If it was a Medium Format, I might have kept it. Shot with a Leica Q (Typ 116) // Fixed Summilux 28mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Dark Mode. Shot with a Leica Q (Typ 116) // Fixed Summilux 28mm @ 35mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - I took 3 trips to Joshua Tree in 2024. We found this nice campground called Hidden Valley. Would love to capture a shot of the Milky Way over this rock formation. Shot with a Sony a7c II // FE 12-24mm G @ 24mm f/4 ISO 400 - 20s. Tripod mounted.
2025 - The Running Tree. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 100 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2025 - The Big Leap! I have this one on my wall. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 100 - 15s. Tripod mounted.
2025 - Moon above the valley. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 100 - 20s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - The Golden Hour. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // EF 24mm f/1.4 ISO 400 - 10s. EF to RF adapter. Tripod mounted.
2021 - I love light trails... Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 100 - 20s. Tripod mounted.
2022 - The nightglow. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 28mm f/2.8 ISO 2000 - 15s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Milky Way between Rock and Joshua Tree. This is why I keep going back. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 25s. Tripod mounted.
2024 - Blue and Amber Sky. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 25s. Tripod mounted.
2025 - Following the Light. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 24-70mm @ 43mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 5s. Tripod mounted.
2020 - Pandemic Road Trip! I had the R6 prior to the R5 and absolutely loved that camera, however, at only 20mpx it fell a little short. But I was able to get a few handheld shots at 5s exposures that were crazy cool. This is the best one. Shot with a Canon EOS R6 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 4000 - 5s. HANDHELD.
2020 - Joshua Trees in the Wind. Shot with a Canon EOS R6 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 4000 - 5s. HANDHELD.
2025 - If These Rocks Could Talk. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 1000 - 10s. Tripod mounted.
2025 - This is my favorite shot on this trip back in February. The moon did make it very bright out but using a tripod is key. There was a group out exploring with their lights creating a spotlight. They interfered quite a bit, but this shot was worth the annoyance. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 24-70mm @ 24mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 20s. Tripod mounted.
June 2026 // The Monument... I have visited "Hidden Valley" picnic grounds several times in recent years. It can get crowded but finally I got a glimpse of the Milky Way. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Blue Horizon. This picnic site which has 3 grills and tables always seems to be empty when we visit. Next visit I plan on going deeper into the grounds away from the street to avoid the headlight interference from vehicles. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Lightspeed. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 50s. Tripod mounted.
2026 - Misty Blue. This way to Skull Rock... Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Milky Way above the Skull... There is a larger rock mass located in front of Skull Rock, so from the street level, you can't get the full view. You can if you situate yourself across the street on from on top of another rock mass. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Black Metallic. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 20mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - A Figure Emerges... One of my greatest grievances as a landscape photographer is when people move into frame. BUT, sometimes it works. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Catching People Catching Stars... Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Illuminated by the Lights. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - The Signpost. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Lit Up by Headlights. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Red Skull. As you move around from the main street the skull comes into view. During the day there are typically about a hundred people around taking phone pix... So I come around at night. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 27mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - They Were All Yellow... Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 35mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - I Wouldn't Stop For Red Lights. ultradave's shadow amongst the red tail lights of a vehicle leaving as I'm taking a long exposure... Sometimes the annoyance produces a great shot. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - The Tail Light Effect. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 15mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - The Interference is Gone. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 19mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 10s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Fade Into You. Don't touch that shadow slider! Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 19mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Wide-Angle Skull. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 19mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Skull Rock. A very unique rock formation near the Jumbo Rocks campground. It's been years since I've camped out overnight but I should soon. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 35mm f/2.8 ISO 1600 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.
2026 - Secretly Stargazing. Shot with a Canon EOS R5 // RF 15-35mm L @ 26mm f/2.8 ISO 1250 - 30s. Tripod mounted with a Nomad Star Tracker.