The Eagle, the Heart and the Milky Way

A photo composite of multiple exposures. From the photographer: “This picture is taken from the Argimusco, a high plateau, situated just north of mt. Etna. It is considered as the Stonehenge of Sicily due to its rocks that resemble animals or human figures. Even if most of these seem as megaliths in quartz arenite modeled by a prehistoric population, it is generally considered that these are, in fact, completely natural, being produced by wind erosion. Either way it would be bizarre and great. Argimusco is also called “The Mirror of the Stars” because there are ten stone statues which represent the constellations present in the summer sky.

Apart from the historical notes, I found a heart-shaped tree just embedded in those rocks; a heart that had the center of the Milky Way above it. A magnificent coincidence that perfectly reflects the love for the sky and the stars. In this image also, the cloud takes the form of an eagle directed towards the rock under a splendid mantle of stars.”

Technical details: Nikon D800 + Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 – 10 shot for the sky @ 14mm, ISO 1600, f/3.2, 80 sec, 5 dark frames with same details of sky and one shot for the ground at 14mm ISO 800, f/3.2, 190 sec