"Perspective," Jackson Hole Valley and the Gros Ventre Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Green from a strong, vivid Aurora Borealis display fills the night sky as the Milky Way rises over Jackson Hole Valley in Grand Teton National Park and the Gros Ventre Range in the distance. Photography is all a matter of perspective. Growing up, I wanted to explore the stars and the Universe. As I grew older, I realize exploring earth would have to do. Even though earth seems so vast and large, it's all a matter of perspective really. I wanted to photograph something which captured this and put our place in the galaxy in perspective. So, during a strong solar storm, I decided to shoot across Jackson Hole Valley towards the Gros Ventre Range. The tallest peaks of this range top out at 11,700 feet but the distance and vast expanse of the night sky would render these tall mountains just a small blip below the Milky Way core and the clouds above. To me, this really puts our place in the Universe in perspective. The Rocky mountains are filled with some of the tallest peaks in the lower 48, but they pale in comparison to the vast expanse of the Universe.

"Cosmic Wave," The Milky Way over Jackson Hole Valley, Grand Teton National Park

The Milky Way arch spreads across the night sky in Jackson Hole Valley and Grand Teton National Park as the green glow from the Aurora Borealis to the North is seen between the arch and the horizon.

"Midnight Backroad," The Milky Way Arch over the Crazy Mountains, Wilsall Montana

The Milky Way arch rises high ove Wilsall and into the night sky as the green airglow of the Aurora Borealis lights the sky above the Crazy Mountains

"Sierra Winter Arch," Winter Milky Way Arch over the Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Owens Valley, Sierras Nevada Mountains, Lone Pine, California

The Winter Milky Way Arch rises from above the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, crossing high above the Alabama Hills before rejoining the horizon over Owens Valley and Lone Pine, California. The Andromeda Galaxy is visable to the left of the Milky Way Arch near the top of the night sky

"Abandoned Starlight," the Milky Way over an Abandoned One Room Schoolhouse, Oregon, United States

The Milky Way rises over an Abandoned Schoolhouse in Oregon, a glimmer into a past of open landscapes free of light pollution

"Welcome to the Past," the Milky Way over an Abandoned Church, Oregon, United States

The Milky Way Galaxy, billions of years old, rises over a church abandoned over 100 years ago, a reminder of an era long since gone.

"Dreams of Yesterday," the Milky Way over and Abandoned One Room Schoolhouse, Oregon, United States

The Milky Way rises over an Abandoned Schoolhouse in Oregon, a glimmer into a past of open landscapes free of light pollution

"Night at the Races," The Milky Way over Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, California

The winter Milky Way over Racetrack Playa high in the mountains of Death Valley National Park. Comet PANSTARRS is visable in the lower left corner just above the mountains

"Starblast," Winter Milky Way over Devil's Golf Course, Death Valley National Park

The Winter Milky Way rises over Devil's Golf Course in Death Valley National Park

"Sierra Slope," Winter Milky Way over the Sierras Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California

The Winter Milky Way rises over the slopes of the High Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The Andromeda Galaxy is visable near the top of the night sky just above the Milky Way

"Galaxy Through the Pines," Winter Milky Way over Jeffery Pine trees in the High Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, California

The Winter Milky Way rises high into the sky above a small grove of Jeffrey Pine trees growing through the granite cracks in the High Sierras and Yosemite High Country of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada Mountains California. The Andromeda Galaxy is visable near the top of the night sky just above the Milky Way.

"Sierra Nights," Winter Milky Way over the Sierras Nevada Mountains and Alabama Hills, Inyo National Forest, California

The Winter Milky Way rises from behind the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Alambama Hills high into the night sky. The Andromeda Galaxy is visable near the middle of the night sky

"Owen's Valley Nightlight," Winter Milky Way from the Sierras Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California

From high in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Winter Milky Way rises over Owens Valley and Lone Pine California far below. The Andromeda Galaxy is visable at the top of the night sky

"Rocky Spotlight," Winter Milky Way over the Sierras Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California

The Winter Milky Way rises over the slopes of the High Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The Andromeda Galaxy is visable just above the Milky Way

"Skyward Paradise," Winter Milky Way over Dogwood Trees and El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

The Winter Milky Way rises high into the skies above Dogwood Trees and El Capitan in Yosemite Valley as green airglow illuminates the night skies above Yosemite National Park

"Heaven's Nightlight," Airglow and the winter Milky Way over Yosemite Valley and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California

Merced River flows through the meadows of Yosemite Valley as the Winter Milky Way rises up from between the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks

"Silent Reflection," Winter Milky Way Reflections Over Half Dome and the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

The Milky Way rises into the skies above Yosemite Valley and Yosemite National Park as Half Dome and the stars in the sky reflect off the still waters of the Merced River below.

"Sinking Starlight," Winter Milky Way over The Wreck of the Peter Iredale, Oregon Coast

The Winter Milky Way rises over The Wreck of the Peter Iredale on the Oregon Coast

"Shipwrecked Moonlight," Wreck of the Peter Iredale under Moonlight, Oregon Coast

A Waxing Gibbous moon illuminates the Pacific Ocean coastline and the Wreck of the Peter Iredale

"Perpetual Beauty," Milky Way Sunrise over Palouse Falls, Palouse Falls State Park, Washington

The Milky Way begins to fade as the Sun rises in the Northeast and the Moon rises in the Southeast while the sky transitions from night to day

"Heavenly Enchantment," The Milky Way over Palouse Falls, Palouse Falls State Park, Washington

The Milky Way shines high in the sky over Palouse Falls

"Grandma's Garden," Milky Way over Grandma's Garden on the Farm, Harrison, Idaho

The Milky Way rises over Grandma's Garden on the farm near Harrison, Idaho

"Starry Pastures," the Milky Way over a Farm in Harrison, Idaho

The Milky Way rises over a farm near Harrison, Idaho

"Night Light Battle," The Milky Way over the Farm, Harrison Idaho

Light Pollution from Coeur D'Alene and Saint Maries at night obscures the Milky Way as it rises out of the light Pollution