As a disabled veteran, Michael Simmons (@distantlightphotos) says he’s learned that the challenges we face can often lead to unexpected rewards. “For me, photography has become a way to push my boundaries, not only physically but also creatively, as I seek out the hidden beauty of the landscapes around me,” he says. “It's also a way to escape the hustle and bustle of life and feel the serenity and rawness of nature that draws me in, especially in places like Big Bend National Park, where the vast, rugged terrain holds endless stories waiting to be captured.” 

We came across this image of his, taken using the Sony Alpha 7R V paired with the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master, and had to learn more about it. Simmons says, “I love shooting with my wide angle lens so that I can try and bring to life as much of my subject as I can and give the audience a front seat to the scene as if they were there with me.” Keep reading as he shares the story behind the shot in his words.

Photo by Michael Simmons. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. Foreground: .5-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000 Background: 321-sec., f/3.5, ISO 640

A wren’s nest settled in the arms of a cactus in full bloom with a Milky Way background. Michael Simmons shares how he captured the scene in Big Bend National Park.

Stumbling Across A Unique Shot

This photograph was taken not far from the Balanced Rock Trailhead in Big Bend National Park, a place known for its dramatic desert landscapes and towering rock formations. My mission that night was simple: find a cactus in bloom under the stars. The park's desert flora is stunning, but I wasn't expecting to stumble across such a unique shot. As I was carefully scouting the area for a blooming cactus, I came across a particular cholla that caught my eye. Not only was it in full bloom, but nestled within its arms was a small cactus wren nest, an unexpected and delicate addition to the scene. The combination of the harsh desert environment and the fragile life within the cactus immediately captured my imagination, and I knew this would be my shot.

High-Resolution With A Wide-Angle View

To capture this scene, I used the Sony Alpha 7R V paired with the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master lens. I was able to achieve a wide field of view while keeping the sharpness and clarity I needed for both the foreground and the expansive starry sky above. To keep everything stable during the long exposure shots, I used my Really Right Stuff Ascend 14L Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. To track the stars and ensure pin-sharp clarity, I also used my Sky Tracker, which allowed me to follow the stars' movement while avoiding any star trails in the final image.

Using Focus Bracketing To Shoot The Scene

With my gear set up, I was ready to begin capturing the scene. My first priority was to ensure I didn't disturb any wildlife—particularly birds that might have been nesting in the cactus. After carefully positioning my camera as close to the cactus as possible without causing any disturbance, I began the process of capturing the shot. 

Since I was working with a narrow depth of field and wanted both the cactus and the surrounding landscape in focus, I opted for focus stacking, using the in-camera focus bracketing setting, I took 21 shots in total at 18mm, using the following settings: .5-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000. The shutter speed was chosen carefully to avoid any motion blur from the wind or my own tripod movements, as I wanted to keep everything crisp. The higher ISO allowed me to capture the subtle details of the scene in the low light, without introducing too much noise, especially in the shadowed cactus and desert floor. The sky was shot at 23mm using the tracker with the settings: 321-sec., f/3.5, ISO 640.

Stacking The Images During Post-Processing

Once all 21 shots were captured, the real work began. I imported the images into Lightroom for initial adjustments—mostly tweaking exposure and white balance to ensure the scene had the right mood. Then, I used Helicon Focus, a specialized software for focus stacking, to combine the 21 images into one sharply focused composite. After that, I returned to Lightroom to finalize the tonal adjustments before moving the stacked shot and the tracked sky shot (which I had taken separately with the Sky Tracker Pro) into Photoshop for final blending.

In Photoshop, I merged the stacked cactus image with the tracked sky shot to create a seamless final photograph. The challenge here was blending the perfectly sharp cactus with the starry night sky, ensuring that the stars didn’t appear too static while maintaining the integrity of the cactus details. Once the blend was complete, I made a few final tweaks to the contrast and saturation, bringing out the colors of the cactus blooms and the deep blues of the desert night sky.

See more of Michael Simmons’ work on Instagram @distantlightphotos.