After the Leonids proved elusive, I decided it was time for a major equipment upgrade—of the decidedly DIY variety. I hauled out the 30-foot collapsible flagpole, secured it with a 100-pound concrete ballast bucket, and cinched the whole assembly down in the truck bed using ratchet straps.
Hours later, I pulled into a neighbor’s field, transforming the pickup into a makeshift, towering camera platform. With the main camera hoisted into position, I launched the Holy Grail app on my phone, dialed in the perfect settings, and hit ‘start’ as the last remnants of twilight faded. To capture the full scene, a second camera was quickly set up to document the truck, the towering rig, and the impending star trails.
I left the camera rolling and endured the maddening wait for morning. When the sun finally rose, anxiety gave way to excitement. I returned to the truck, surveyed the scene, and decided to let the operation continue for several more hours, determined to maximize the effort.
The incredible payoff: 9,160 photos captured over an 18-hour stretch, compiled into a stunning five-plus minute video.
