Like a House on Fire – Night Photography in Central Oregon
Central Oregon is the Land of Adventure
Exploring Central Oregon is always a rewarding experience for me. The region is filled with wide-open landscapes, clear skies, and a wealth of rustic character. One of my favorite subjects to photograph is the remnants of old buildings—abandoned farmhouses, crumbling barns, and weathered outbuildings that seem to whisper stories of the past. These old structures are photogenic at any time of day, but I especially enjoy capturing them under the stars.
Central Oregon is an excellent place for night photography. The skies are remarkably dark, thanks to the distance from major cities, and the stars shine with incredible clarity. The dry air and high desert elevation only add to the experience. For anyone who enjoys astrophotography, it’s a dream location.
The photo featured in this post is a great example of what’s possible after a day of exploring and scouting. I found this particular house on a quiet back road. Its dilapidated frame and leaning walls gave it so much character. As soon as I saw it, I imagined it with the Milky Way arcing above it.
Creating This Photo
To create the image, I used two exposures blended together in post-processing. I photographed the house during blue hour—just before it got completely dark—so the foreground would have soft, natural light. Then I waited until close to midnight to capture the Milky Way. The sky image is actually a stack of five exposures, combined to reduce digital noise while keeping the stars crisp.
Blending the two parts of the image was done using Photoshop’s Sky Replacement tool, which helped to align the lighting and create a more natural composite. The result is a dramatic, almost surreal scene that tells a story far beyond what a single frame could show.
Night photography takes planning and patience, but the results can be stunning. Whether you’re new to it or an experienced shooter, Central Oregon offers a canvas that makes the effort worthwhile. There’s something timeless about these old buildings, and capturing them under the stars helps preserve their stories in a unique and powerful way.