Night Light of the North Coast: Happy Endings at Vista Point

With the grand Milky Way soaring overhead, streaking car lights in the southbound lanes of US 101, paralleling the Eel River valley, converge with the brighter streaks of a car leaving the Vista Point south of Stafford, Humboldt County, CA. June 9, 2021.

After paying a second nocturnal visit to this Vista Point in two years, I can safely say that a dull nocturnal moment rarely passes at this viewpoint looking up the Eel River valley. I had come to the spot precisely two years before to make some nighttime photographs, and on both occasions the comings and goings of travelers tossed an interesting spice into the night.

When my friend Ryan and I arrived (in separate cars due to COVID), there was a vehicle already parked where I needed to put the camera for the angles I wanted. Pulling in behind them, we turned off our cars and headlights to await their departure. It was a short wait, for apparently, we had unintentionally crowded them sufficiently to cause them to scoot down the way a little. 

Excellent! We fired up our cars and hastened to fill the spot they had just vacated… which was evidently again too close for them, for they soon left with what I believe was a cry of exasperation sounding from within their vehicle. Many apologies to you, good people — just trying to get the shot!

This time of year, the Milky Way is the star of the heavens, but a dark cloud hung obstinately in the nighttime sky and perfectly obscured it. While other clouds blew by, this one remained in front of the Milky Way. Is that even possible? Almost anything is possible when trying to get a nighttime photograph. We waited, hoping it would blow away, and used the time to make a few experimental exposures to test the evening’s lighting. 

As we waited, another car pulled up not far behind us, bathing us in the glare of its headlights. Standing in their twin spotlights, it occurred to me that when I pull up in the dark of night when there are people about, my first impulse is to turn my headlights off as soon as possible. But the thought apparently never occurred to the occupants of the vehicle, as their headlights remained trained on us, casting extended shadows down the road and along the hillside behind us. 

We couldn’t photograph while standing in their spotlight. I considered walking over to ask them if they would turn their lights off for us, but as we waited, sounds of merriment began to issue from their car, and it was soon evident that their attentions were entirely engaged within. After several cries and moans, I thought I knew what occupied their thoughts.

“Ryan,” I said, “I think they’re having sex in there.”

He indicated the hillside. “Yeah, look at the shadows on the hill.” 

The long shadows cast by the vehicle’s headlights bumped and moved rhythmically on the hillside to the sounds of frolic coming from within.

Okay…

Cast accidentally in their direction, the incautious eye might discern motion in the other car that would seem to corroborate our speculation. Occasional flashing displays of their hazard lights offered additional indication of their preoccupation. Their headlights were still trained directly on us. We waited.

Crescendos raised my hopes for their early withdrawal, but the couple remained determined even as the sky finally cleared and the Milky Way was revealed. But in the blaze of their headlights we still could not photograph it.

At last, the activity died down, and soon their headlights moved off down the road. The sideshow as over, and we were once again in darkness. The Milky Way was still visible between passing clouds. Finally we could take some photographs. It was a happy ending for all concerned.

To any new little lives who might have been conceived that night at that Vista Point, I dedicate these photographs.

*Find Ryan Freitas’ photos on Instagram at @rjf_photo.

The Eel River valley stretches into the distance beneath the living night sky in this view across the southbound lanes of US 101 from the Vista Point south of Stafford, Humboldt County, CA. The three-minute long exposure of the image allowed the stars to form streaks along their paths across the sky. June 9, 2021.

To keep abreast of David Wilson’s most current photography or purchase a print, visit or contact him at his website mindscapefx.com or follow him on Instagram at @david_wilson_mfx and on Twitter @davidwilson_mfx . David teaches Art 35 Digital Photography at College of the Redwoods.

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cu2morrow
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cu2morrow
2 years ago

aww yes, vista point quickies.

Barbara
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Barbara
2 years ago

Beautiful and funny at the same time…

Seamus
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Seamus
2 years ago

With the abundance of photoshop composites, it is somewhat rare to see this type of photo composed and captured in a single exposure in the camera. Non-photographers might not realize the skill involved in capturing these amazing shots.