Proof that the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas.

I took this shot on a very cold night in the wee hours of April 21, 2021 on private property in Ellis County, Texas. I only had a narrow window of about 2 hours to try my hand at some night shots over the bluebonnets. It was cold. I was wearing 2 of everything: 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts, 2 jackets, plus gloves, ear warmers and some instant hand warmers in my pockets too. By the time sunrise arrived and I started packing up my gear from my shooting, there was a thin layer of ice on my camera gear, and my shoes. The flowers were glistening like diamonds with the frost in the early morning light.

Ellis County may be rural countryside, but it’s still very close to major population areas. That dawn like glow on the horizon was caused from light pollution from communities to the south, and refracting off some very thin wispy clouds near the horizon line.

I’m thrilled to announce that the image was featured on the local (Dallas, Texas) ABC affiliate station WFAA’s News 8 Daybreak morning program on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.