Half of a Volcano (Milky Way Over Half Dome)

From the moment I saw that the Milky Way would be rising over Half Dome on a recent trip, I knew I had to photograph it. My girlfriend and I hiked through the dark, braving our fears of bears and tripping, to the edge of the northern cliffs hemming in Yosemite Valley. We hiked along a ridge until we reached the end, and this view lay before us. I knew I needed the Milky Way over the mountain; what I didn't know was that we'd also be treated to Yosemite Valley and what I now know to be Mount Starr King spread before us. On the way back, I just hoped that I hadn't bumped my tripod (I had) and that I could figure out how to edit it (I did). In the end I feel very happy with the result. This photo challenged me physically, emotionally, and technically, and I couldn't be prouder of it.

Sony a6600, Sigma 16mm f/1.4
Composite of two exposures:
- First exposure for sky, 8sec ISO 2000
- Second exposure for foreground, 30sec ISO 1000

Exposures noise-enhanced in Lightroom, blended in Photoshop, and further edited in Lightroom.