Threading the Heavens

Sometimes the photographs I remember most aren't the ones planned weeks in advance. They're the ones that come from looking up and realizing the conditions are simply too good to ignore.

I had been spending a couple of days photographing the landscapes of the southern Black Hills when, on the evening of September 30, 2025, an exceptionally clear night gave me a last-minute idea: head to the Needle’s Eye in Custer State Park and see if I could line up the Milky Way through its narrow opening.

I posted up alone beneath the towering granite formation and carefully positioned my camera until the Milky Way appeared to pass directly through the eye of the rock. This late in the season, the galactic core wasn't at its brightest, but the clarity of the night revealed an incredible number of stars stretching across the sky.

During the long exposure, I used my flashlight from an angle to gently paint the Needle’s Eye with light. The directional illumination brought out the texture, depth and weathered surfaces of the granite without taking away from the darkness surrounding it.

What began as a spontaneous idea became one of my favorite compositions from those few days in the Southern Hills: an iconic Black Hills formation, an unexpectedly perfect night, and the Milky Way appearing as though it had been threaded straight through the eye of the needle.

• Classic Borderless Frameless Prints – Printed on museum-grade cotton rag paper in a lustre finish, perfect for custom framing. These have an archival life of 100 years in typical display conditions and 200 years in dark storage. This style does NOT come with a frame.

• Metal Print – Satin-finish vibrancy and vibrant color depth and detail; edge-to-edge imagery on aluminum with sleek, modern finish. Mounted on a 3/4" float mount with pre-cut hanging holes. This medium style does NOT come with a frame.

• Float Frame Canvas Pro – Museum-grade artistry and timeless presentation; printed on archival fine art canvas with exceptional color accuracy, depth, and texture. Each piece is hand-stretched and expertly mounted within a refined floating frame that creates the illusion of the image “suspended” inside the frame. Crafted in Italy, these canvases combine traditional craftsmanship with modern precision for unmatched quality and longevity. Ready to hang and built to last, this premium format brings warmth, dimension, and a gallery-level finish to any space.

• Each print :

  • Ships ready to display (canvas and metal only come ready to hang)

  • Printed using archival-quality materials for 100+ year longevity

📅 Shipping Timeline:
Please allow 2–6 weeks for production and delivery for float frame wall art. Please allow 2 weeks for metals and classic borderless prints for production and delivery. Each piece is made-to-order and carefully inspected for quality before shipping.

📐 Custom Sizing:
Custom sizes or special installation inquiries are welcome. Please contact Ellen directly for bespoke sizing, framing, or large-scale project options either through my contact page or emailing ellenscollection@gmail.com

🕯️ Care & Longevity:
Each piece is crafted using archival materials for 100+ years of display life. To preserve the integrity of your artwork, display it away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth as needed.