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SHAUN C TARPLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Milky Way Galaxy
The galactic center as photographed from Davis Mountains State Park

McDonald Observatory
Star trails behind the Harlan J Smith 10m Telescope

Big Bend - Chisos Basin Morning
The early morning sunrise slowly creeps into the Chisos Basin of Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Milky Way Galaxy
The galactic center as photographed from Davis Mountains State Park
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McDonald Observatory 6 – Flora and Fauna Finale
For those who wander with observant eyes, the desert is teeming with life just waiting to be found.

Shaun C Tarpley
Aug 11, 20226 min read
63 views
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McDonald Observatory 5 – Starlight Serenade
From the summit of Skyline Drive in Davis Mountain State Park, the sun finally set and the Milky Way inherited the sky.

Shaun C Tarpley
Mar 24, 202210 min read
124 views
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McDonald Observatory 4 – Davis Mountains State Park
Davis Mountains State Park is the perfect location for desert views, dark sky astrophotography, and camping in West Texas.

Shaun C Tarpley
Feb 17, 20226 min read
125 views
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McDonald Observatory 3 – Terrestrial Observations
Scouting locations around the McDonald Observatory in preparation for another night of astrophotography.

Shaun C Tarpley
Jan 12, 20229 min read
55 views
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McDonald Observatory 2 – Starry Night Reprieve
With the sun and moon finally below the horizon, the Milky Way ascended into the dark West Texas sky for a fantastic night of photography.

Shaun C Tarpley
Dec 14, 202110 min read
285 views
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McDonald Observatory 1 – West Texas Heat Wave
In the midst of a heat wave, the mountains of West Texas called, and I had to go to the broad open skies of the McDonald Observatory.

Shaun C Tarpley
Nov 16, 202114 min read
64 views
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Armand Bayou Nature Center - Houston
When life makes traveling infeasible, it can be similarly rewarding to seek out the hidden gems at home.

Shaun C Tarpley
May 27, 20204 min read
77 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 19 - Sunrise Finale
All good things must come to an end, even in Big Bend where time's great influence seems to falter.

Shaun C Tarpley
Apr 22, 20205 min read
12 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 18 - Goodnight SuperMoon
The brilliant SuperMoon lifted ever higher into the sky and cast a cool and eerie light down onto the quiet desert of Big Bend. I waited...

Shaun C Tarpley
Mar 25, 20196 min read
29 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 17 - SuperMoon Rising
As the luminous SuperMoon crested the long, gradual curve of the mountain range along the Eastern horizon of Big Bend National Park,...

Shaun C Tarpley
Mar 11, 20197 min read
31 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 16 - Grapevine Hills Sunset
The Grapevine Hills Campsites are spartan, solemn, and quiet, but they aren't lonely. We shared our barren little corner of the park with...

Shaun C Tarpley
Feb 25, 20193 min read
8 views
0 comments


Big Bend '17: No. 15 - Rio Grande Village
The Chisos Mountain Range is the most commanding feature in Big Bend, but there is a lot to be found in the rest of the massive park that...

Shaun C Tarpley
Feb 11, 20196 min read
9 views
0 comments


Big Bend '17: No. 14 - Balanced Rock
The Chisos Basin is a fantastic place to camp, but it's not the only thing that Big Bend has to offer. In order to expand our experience...

Shaun C Tarpley
Feb 4, 20194 min read
13 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 13 - Chisos Basin Epilogue
The drive back to the Chisos Basin from Santa Elena Canyon involved a daring drive down a dark, worn, and rocky path known as Maverick...

Shaun C Tarpley
Jan 28, 20194 min read
12 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 11 - Laguna Meadows
Before we knew it, three days and two nights in the backcountry of Big Bend National park were already over, and it was time to leave the...

Shaun C Tarpley
Jan 15, 20194 min read
21 views
0 comments


Big Bend '17: No. 10 - South Rim Sunrise
I love a good sunrise no matter where I am, but in a place as expansive and beautiful as the South Rim of Big Bend National Park, the...

Shaun C Tarpley
Jan 7, 20193 min read
15 views
0 comments


Big Bend '17: No. 9 - Moonset to Twilight
During the transition to a full moon, the moon loses pace with the sun until one rises and the other sets at about the same time. This...

Shaun C Tarpley
Dec 17, 20185 min read
29 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 8 - Welcoming the Night
The sunlight faded slowly, and the cold of a December night in the desert creeped in. The logical part of my brain said that we should...

Shaun C Tarpley
Dec 10, 20185 min read
24 views
0 comments


Big Bend '17: No. 7 - South Rim Sunset
From the South Rim's unobstructed vantage point, just about any location provides an incredible view of the Chihuahuan Desert South of...

Shaun C Tarpley
Dec 3, 20184 min read
41 views
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Big Bend '17: No. 6 - The South Rim
It is easy to build up an experience in your mind before a trip and then be underwhelmed by the actual destination. However, one of the...

Shaun C Tarpley
Nov 26, 20185 min read
30 views
0 comments
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