Orion- the Hunter in the Quarry

Orion means Winter is coming.

With some of the brightest stars in the night sky, Orion is easy to spot.

Orion, the hunter, has an hourglass shape; 2 shoulders, 2 feet, and a 3 star belt in the middle. Hanging from his belt is Orion’s sword; 3 more stars, with the Orion Nebula in the middle.

The entire constellation also consists of his head, club, and shield. Orion is chasing the 7 sisters- the Pleiades, and fighting the Bull- Taurus.

Being on the celestial equator, Orion is a Winter constellation in the Northern Hemisphere. When you start to notice him in the sky, just know that cleaner night skies are coming- if weather permits.

There is something about Winter that is refreshing.

The sky is actually more clear. There are less particles in the air filling our vision with hazy views.

There are still clouds, which is where the dreamy effect on the stars comes from in this image of Orion in a local quarry park.

However, when the skies are clear, they are REALLY clear, and the temperature is usually also REALLY cold. More cold on clear nights than snowy nights. There is nothing in the atmosphere for particles to hold on to, no insulation to warm it up, so particles don’t hang out like in Summer. This is why it seems like you can see more stars in Winter. It’s not only because the stars have shifted, but because you actually can see them better.

Be sure to bundle up when you go out to enjoy those clear star-filled Winter skies. If you like to document your star therapy through photograph, be sure to also bundle up your gear- a lens warmer is a necessity.

Cold Cori

In the cold dark, I face the elements so you don’t have to. Being out in the dark of night is nerve-racking because our brains try to keep us safe and warm. Taking in the calm of the Universe is the thing that keeps me going out and creating art. Sharing it with you is the extra bit of joy from my continued practice.
The scene is set.

I like to share my process to show the reality of how I create my work. I’m just a person with a vision and some equipment.
Blue Hour Foreground

I also like to show why editing is important. The images I create are not point and shoot clicks, and should not be treated as such. Editing the photos brings out the full potential of what is actually there. Composite and Photoshop are not dirty words, they are important tools at my disposal. I use them together with my skills and knowledge to create art.
Orion sky stack

I often photograph the sky separately using a star tracker. This gets more signal to the image, and helps eliminate noise. It also helps show the stars through the light pollution that is taking over our planet. A star tracker follows the rotation of Earth to keep the stars in focus, which means any foreground will be blurred.
Orion in the Trees

Blending the foreground with the sky image is another aspect of the editing it takes to create my work. The sky isn’t done after it is stacked, it then requires further editing, namely color balance and contrast to help the stars pop.
The Hunter in the Quarry

I swung my camera from the North to the East to get the Orion images after taking this foreground of the quarry rock pile. This camera relocation makes my final image a composite. In this case it’s a “same location, same night, different tripod position” composite. But “composite” can mean anything If you are curious, ask the artist- we love connecting with you through discussion about our work.

This was my first outing of 2026.

It was cold, and more cloudy than I wanted, but getting out to dust off my photographic skills is important. Practice is important, and we don’t control the weather.

This photoshoot was rife with problems- I mean opportunities to prove my in-field troubleshooting abilities.

I didn’t test the infinity focus point of my new lens in daylight- rookie mistake, it took longer to find than ideal in the cold, but I persisted and found focus for the stars.
The lens warmer broke midsession- thankfully I brought hot hands, and used the lend warmer to hold them to the lens.
The clouds hid the Big Dipper all night, which was my other sky target, for the rock pile foreground- I used my second foreground for the Orion sky, and ended up liking it better than the trees that were actually under Orion that night. Happy accident.

When photographing the night, the stars and weather are in charge. We have to be willing to be out despite the time, temperature, or tiredness.

The night sky changes throughout the year, often we have limited chances to create the image we want. If the circumstances allow, we have to seize the opportunity, or risk having to wait an entire year to see our vision to reality.

Night photography moves slowly. Which is why it is so relaxing for the mind and so good for finding balance and calm in your life.

Orion is one of my favorite constellations, a regular subject of my star therapy.

Orion the Winter Soldier

The myths of Orion explain so much of what is happening with the stars we see. The stories go that Orion and his 2 dogs are fighting Taurus while in pursuit of the 7 Sisters while at the same time being hunted himself by Scorpius. This is why when Scorpius comes, leading the Milky Way, Orion sets for Summer and the 2 never meet in the night sky.
Orion and the Winter Milky Way

The Milky Way doesn’t disappear in the Winter, the core is just set. Milky Way season is considered to be when the core rises, and is visible during the night. The Winter Milky Way is our view of the galaxy’s outer spiral arms. This river of stars is dimmer than the core, and runs right through Orion.
Dancing in the Clouds

Orion goes by many names. The winter soldier, the winter giant, and the hunter to name a few. The large bright star to the left is Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky, and part of one of Orion’s 2 dogs.
Orion and the Frozen Pond

Orion’s Belt is actually 3 star systems with the bright luminosity coming from blue supergiants. Nicknames consist of the girdle, 3 kings, 3 sisters, 3 brothers, 3 Marys, and string of pearls.
The Winter Giant and the Geminids

Meteor Showers are amazing spectacles that benefit from really dark skies. I look forward to seeing a meteor shower from a truly dark place in the future. I’m lucky to have caught 2 Geminid meteors flying right past Orion on this cold December night.
Reflecting with Orion

Winter is a time to slow down. Hunker down and get cozy. While watching Orion reflect perfectly in the pond on this windless night, it was also the perfect time to consider what the new year would bring. I am not a resolution type of person, but I am a reflect on the last year to make goals for the next type of person.