
Cosmic Fireplace - 4x5 Crop

by Mike Lee
Title
Cosmic Fireplace - 4x5 Crop
Artist
Mike Lee
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
NOTE:
This image has been quite popular and several folks have opted to purchase it as an 8x10 or 16x20 from the original image I uploaded. While this works, FAA/Pixels doesn't seem to offer the buyer a chance to customize the crop and the default crop could be better. Therefore, I made this version. The image is still available in the original 2:3 (4x6, 8x12, etc) format elsewhere in my gallery.
A lone stone fireplace and chimney stand as the last remnants of a once-thriving roadside business along California State Highway 36 in Lassen County. Beneath the stunning galactic core of the Milky Way, this historic landmark tells a story of resilience and tragedy.
Originally part of a bar, restaurant, and gas station run by Bill and Jeanette Tunison in the 1930s, the establishment met a tragic turn when a family member was murdered inside. Following this event, the Tunisons sold the business, and it changed hands multiple times before becoming the Little Red Barn Café. In 1961, a devastating fire reduced the building to ruins, leaving only this chimney behind.
Today, the site is kept alive by a local group known as the Chimney Fund, which decorates the structure on holidays and raises donations for those in need.
This nightscape was created using advanced astrophotography techniques, including multiple exposures of the night sky that were stacked to reduce digital noise. The foreground was carefully light-painted with a handheld flashlight, bringing out the intricate textures of the stone and brickwork against the cosmic backdrop.
This striking image will captivate lovers of night photography, astronomy enthusiasts, and those drawn to abandoned places with rich histories. Perfect for home or office decor, especially for those who appreciate celestial landscapes and rustic ruins. An excellent gift for space lovers, history buffs, and collectors of unique, atmospheric photography.
Uploaded
August 12th, 2023
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Comments (67)

Brian Morefield - Prose Imagery
A wild, imaginative capture of the terrestrial and the extraterrestrial Mike! I can see why it's a big seller!

Harry Beugelink
Beautiful image. Great composition and lighting. It looks indeed great in a the 4x5 format

Bernadette Krupa
Mike, great capture "Cosmic Fireplace - 4x5 Crop"! Congrats on multiple Features!! L/F

Gary F Richards
Spectacular Cosmic Fireplace… composition, lighting, shading, excellent colors and artwork! F/L voted

Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your wonderful art has been featured in ABC Group from our "G is for GOOD NIGHT " themed week, OCTOBER 30 2023 - NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Gary F Richards
Outstanding Cosmic Fireplace composition, lighting, shading, color and artwork! Congratulations on your very deserving features! F/L

Gary F Richards
Outstanding Cosmic Fireplace composition, lighting, shading, color and artwork! Congratulations on your very deserving features! F/L

Morris Finkelstein
Stunning nightscape photograph, Mike! Congratulations on your feature in Barbie's The 200 Club! F/L

Barbie Corbett-Newmin
CONGRATULATIONS! It is my pleasure to feature your sensational rising star photography on the homepage of The 200 Club, a unique and highly ranked group. You are invited to archive it in the Club's Features/Thanks discussion thread and other appropriate threads for posterity or promotion.