Chasing the Milky Way in Nevada

There's something about standing alone in the desert at 2 AM that puts things in perspective. The silence is absolute. No cars, no planes, no people. Just you and about a billion stars. I'd been planning this trip for months, waiting for a new moon weekend with clear skies. The Nevada desert is one of the darkest places in the continental US, and the Milky Way visibility is unlike anything you'll see near a city. The first night was a disaster. My tripod leg snapped on the hike in, and I spent an hour jury-rigging it with duct tape and a hiking pole. But by night two, I'd figured out my compositions and the tape was holding. The results were worth every minute of frustration. Gear notes: Canon 5D Mark III with the 14mm f/2.8. 25-second exposures at ISO 3200. I shot about 200 frames over three nights and kept maybe 15. The desert teaches you patience. You can't rush the stars.