Last year I really got into photographing fireflies up on the mountain. I started in the front yard of the cottage and then branched out to several other locations. Usually I would set up two or three cameras in order to maximize my time. Most evenings there is about a 40 minute window when the fireflies are most active and it is dark enough for them to really show up. There was a lot of trial and error, but the process is really enjoyable.
The Cottage – the setting is really cool with all of the pine trees, but the bright lights from next door cast an ugly glow over everything. I’m not sure how to correct that on the computer. Still a very fun spot to photograph, especially when time is a little tight.
Campus Forest – on the back side of campus past the goats and horses lies a few thousand acres of forest. One main road bisects the area and dozens of trails branch off it. I loved going out there to photograph because it was so peaceful. There were usually lots of fireflies out, and the compositional opportunities were interesting.
Natural Bridge – This arch looks pretty cool on it’s own, and I’ve had a difficult time capturing it with fireflies. I will try to get back this year and attempt some better images.
Campus Lakes – The first shot is on the dirt road to Jackson Lake, I believe. In the other two the fireflies compete with star trails for attention.
