Michelle Kimura Photography

06/20/2026

One of my favorite images!

06/18/2026

Being able to introduce another photographer to the beauty of dark skies is a privilege and a responsibility. You want a budding photographer to be able to move around in the dark comfortably, safely, and at the same time experience the beauty of a truly dark sky.
With the help of another nightscape photographer we were able to help someone start their photographic journey under the stars.
Being able to scout the area in the daylight before we arrived, she showed me the single white bloom shyly peeking out from under one of the red boulders. I knew immediately that would be my focal point for the evening. As soon as I saw the white flower peeking out, the name for my completed project popped into mind, Moonflower.
It is nice to be able to wander around under the night sky with another one who "gets it", someone who you can talk gear and settings with.
It is also nice to be able to begin to teach another how to set up for their first amazing shots of the night sky.
To the newest geeky member, welcome, we have heard that you have also been bitten by the night sky bug, happy shooting and clear skies ahead.

06/14/2026

Great night for star gazing. Thanks to Braeden and Charlene for the company and laughs. I can't wait to edit what we got!

06/12/2026

One of the images currently on display at the Gem Of the West Museum is Star Rockets. Towards the end of my second season of trying to figure out how to get a great image of the smudge in the sky that I could see with my own eyes, I finally had a break through. Star Rockets is the result.

This one is also technically a composite, I had 2 cameras and I liked how the bins looked in the blue hour light versus what was on the other camera. Neither camera moved from their position, but it is 2 shots on different cameras and lenses side by side at the same spot.

This image was the first time I jumped up and down on a dusty country road because I knew I had achieved my goal.

This was also the first time I saw the string of pearls arching across the sky as new Starlink satellites had just been launched. While cool to see, they will affect our ability to enjoy glorious night skies in the future.

This is only one of a handful that are in portrait orientation and is a 16 x 20 image, laminated and mounted onto mdf board.

06/08/2026

For the next couple months I am going to showcase photos that are currently on display at the Gem of the West Museum. There will be a couple a week until the end of the Museum's open season.

I am starting with Mystic Tree, it is one of the first images that I sold and continues to be a favourite of mine.

It is technically a composite. The tree was captured on the very edge of Coaldale, the nearby houses lighting up the foreground. The sky is from one kilometre south, facing the same direction. This one challenged my newfound editing skills, and when it was completed, it gave me a sense of validation, that yes, I can do hard things!

Currently on display, 16 x 20, laminated, mounted onto masonite board and framed.

06/01/2026

05/24/2026

Did I manage to get the entire Milky Way arch? Hmmm, maybe! To the editing software I go!

05/09/2026

Love them or hate them, look up this evening if your skies are clear.