The Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Calhan is one of my favorite spots in the Pikes Peak Region to photograph. The rock formations offer stunning color displays and the seclusion of the park on the Eastern Plains makes it an attractive destination to get away from the crowds. One night, my younger sister asked if we could go stargazing, and I took her out here and let her run around the rocks as long as she helped me capture a few photos. I love this image because the color of the rock pops against the radiant night sky. My sister held a light from a few feet outside the shot to illuminate the rock formation while I captured a long exposure shot of the stars. Astrophotography is a unique skill among photographers and it requires a good amount of patience and discipline to get it right. This isn’t may favorite nighttime shot I’ve ever taken, nor is it my best, but it is a memory of a fun night under the stars on the Eastern Plains.