The Cosmic Valley - Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

Behind the Image On a crisp autumn evening, I went stargazing with friends who knew exactly where to go and — just as importantly — had the right amount of adventure in them. The kind of people who can find the best place to observe a comet, but won’t get you lost in the dark. Just after sunset, comet C/2023 A3 appeared where they said it would, slipping into view between Sentinel Rock and El Capitan. I had my Hasselblad X2D and a fast lens with me, just in case. The stars aligned. A full moon lit the valley, revealing detail in the granite and softness in the trees. Headlamps from climbers flickered on the cliffs, and the distant glow from Tunnel View shimmered faintly. I held the valley floor in shadow and let the comet and cliffs carry the frame. It was a moment of rare alignment: light, timing, place — and the right company to share it with. About the Artist Charlotte Gibb is an award-winning and renowned nature and landscape photographer based in Northern California. She is known