This museum grade fine art photograph is available in a fine art limited edition of 200, signed and numbered with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance.
Forest Whispers - Milky Way over Fir Trees at the Edge of a Meadow in the Mount Hood National Forest
Bennett Pass Ridge, Mount Hood, Oregon
The Milky Way, Jupiter, and Saturn over Fir Trees at the Edge of a Meadow in the Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
The Milky Way rises high into the night sky above the Fir trees at the edge of a meadow near a ridge in the Mount Hood National Forest as Saturn and Jupiter shine brightly between the tree branches.
Bennett Pass Ridge | Mount Hood National Forest | Cascade Range | Oregon
There's something about the Milky Way rising over a forest of trees at night that is captivating. It's two beautiful things in nature coming together: the forest and the night sky. In the silence of night, you can almost hear the forest whispering to the night sky "hello old friend."
This photo was taken at the edge of the forest, where meadows and the open spaces lead back into the wonderful world of trees. Jupiter and Saturn shine brightly from between the tops of the trees as the Milky Way rises above it all, covering the forest in a blanket of stars. A glacial erratic stands guard at the edge of the forest, greeting all those who comes to bask in its wonder as new seedlings spring up all around. It's a peaceful, beautiful and serene scene as you stand there, listening to the Forest Whispers at night while taking in all the wonders it had to offer.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II USM
- Settings: 24mm | f/2.8 | 25 Seconds | ISO 6400
- Process: Single Exposure | Low Level Lighting (LLL) in Foreground | In-Camera Long Exposure (The Mead Method) | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve astronomical detail)
Historical Note - The 2020 Great Conjunction Alignment
The position of Jupiter and Saturn right near Sagittarius and the Milky Way core was something that hadn't occurred since 1226 and 1285, and it's something that won't even remotely occur again until 2080 (they will be further away from the Milky Way and Sagittarius and to the left of both by then). After that, they won't be as close to the Milky Way core as they were during the Great Conjunction of 2020 until well after 2400 (some calculations suggest after 2600). Seeing and photographing Jupiter and Saturn near the Milky Way and Sagittarius, heading to conjunction was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
While Great Conjunctions occur every 20 years, it takes approximately 800 years for Jupiter and Saturn to return to this specific longitudinal neighborhood in the night sky. The 2020 Great Conjunction event and the lead up to it was the grand finale of a centuries long visit to the Sagittarius neighborhood in the night sky. Future conjunctions that are close together, such as the one in 2417, will occur in the opposite part of the sky near Cancer (the Crab) constellation, far from the beautiful glow of the Milky Way galactic core. Documenting the progression through photography heading into the final conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Technical Note - Low Level Lighting Integration
Foreground illumination of the forest and meadow edge achieved using precise LLL (Low Level Lighting) techniques, which achieves a balance between the details of the Milky Way, the night sky and the evergreen canopy of the forest allowing for a pure single exposure workflow without the need for artificial composites.
Note on Provenance
This image is a certified Single Exposure. Captured using the "Mead Method" developed over 15 years of nightscape experience. No trackers, no sky-swaps, and no generative AI. Just a single moment in time, preserved.
Photo © copyright by James Mead.
Chromaluxe® Metal Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Vibrant. Modern. Impactful.
My Chromaluxe® Metal Fine Art Prints offer a sleek, modern presentation that’s both bold and beautiful. Using a high-heat dye sublimation process, each image is infused directly into a specially coated aluminum panel resulting in vibrant colors, ultra-sharp detail, and a striking glossy finish. The dye sublimation process infuses the image directly into the metal, creating a scratch resistant surface while helping provide permanent protection.
These prints feature:
• Vivid, color-rich surfaces ideal for modern spaces
• High contrast and incredible sharpness: perfect for clean compositions and bold landscapes
• Durable and lightweight aluminum construction
• Float mount backing for a frameless, floating display. Ready to hang out of the box
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
These metal prints are ideal for collectors seeking a contemporary look with museum-quality output. Resistant to scratch, moisture and UV fading, they work beautifully in both home and office settings.
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Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Museum-Grade Brilliance. Gallery-Worthy Depth.
Bring home the brilliance of nature with the industry’s finest print medium. My Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints are crafted using a state-of-the-art process that infuses archival pigments into a transparency layer, backed by a clear acrylic backer and mounted under crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic. This creates a luminous, almost 3D effect. Colors appear to glow from within.
These gallery-grade prints feature:
• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
• Exceptional color fidelity with deep saturation and smooth tonal gradations
• Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant museum grade 1/8” TruLife® acrylic offering unmatched viewing clarity under all lighting
• UV Resistant: TruLife® acrylic blocks up to 99% of UV rays
• 1/8" clear acrylic backer mounted using an archival adhesive layer
• 1.25” Roma wooden rear float mount frame inset 2” from the edge for a clean, frameless display that is ready to hang
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether you're designing a luxury interior or curating a personal gallery, these prints are built to impress and designed to last a lifetime.
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Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Museum-Quality Ready to Hang
Timeless elegance. Unrivaled depth. A true centerpiece.
My Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints represent the pinnacle of archival display. These statement pieces combine the award-winning brilliance of Lumachrome HD with the craftsmanship of custom Roma wood mouldings, transforming your chosen image into an heirloom-worthy work of art.
Each piece is handcrafted by master printmakers and framers in the USA using museum-grade materials. The print itself is infused with archival pigments into a transparency layer, mounted to an archival acrylic backer and face-mounted and sealed under a 1/8" layer of crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic: a premium optically-coated surface that eliminates reflections and enhances depth, vibrance, and clarity.
Surrounding this luminous presentation is your choice of genuine Roma Moulding, hand-built with a choice of 3.5" or 4" Italian made wooden Roma frame with a 3" black linen liner for a refined, framed, museum grade appearance. This adds approximately 13 to 14 inches to both the height and width of the final piece. This level of finish is rarely seen outside of luxury interiors and gallery exhibitions.
After placing your order, I’ll reach out personally to confirm your ideal frame and liner pairing from my curated Roma collection. If you’d prefer to finalize your framing choice in advance, feel free to reach out any time for a custom recommendation.
These museum grade works of art feature:
• Gallery-grade presentation with luminous depth and 3D effect
• TruLife® acrylic: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and blocks 99% of UV
• Archival quality construction with pH-neutral adhesive and backer
• Available in your choice of 3.5" or 4" Roma wood mouldings with a black linen liner for a framed, museum-grade appearance
• Museum-grade 3" black linen liner for added depth and visual separation
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 4-5 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether displayed in a luxury residence, corporate lobby, or fine art collection, these framed prints command attention and offer a sense of permanence few art mediums can match.
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These are investment-grade art pieces designed to last generations. If you have any questions, need any mock-ups or if you need anything else before purchase, please reach out and I will be in contact shortly.