As a visual storyteller and space enthusiast, I spend my fair share of time with my cameras pointed at the sky, but this night was one for the books. SpaceX was set to launch the SAOCOM-1A mission, a satellite designed to monitor and aid in disaster management, but this launch had more in store...
Armed with a 600mm lens and a 2x doubler, I staked out my spot near Vandenberg Air Force Base, hoping to get a clear shot of the Falcon 9 rocket as it journeyed to space. The setup was demanding; small movements have big results so a heavy tripod and good fluid head is a necessity. The results, in the end, were more than worth it.
The launch kicked off with the intensity I’d come to expect from a Falcon 9 mission. But as the rocket reached the upper atmosphere and its first stage separated, the exhaust vapor began to create an extraordinary display. A rare and stunning phenomenon unfolded: a rainbow-colored vapor plume, refracted in the twilight sky, illuminated the heavens like a nebula. I was mesmerized.
There was a sense of serene otherworldliness in watching this swirling, rainbow-like cloud develop from the exhaust vapor. To capture such a moment of beauty in the controlled chaos of a launch felt like witnessing a natural wonder—like a perfect alignment of art and science.
Then came the next first: this was the inaugural landing of a Falcon 9 at Vandenberg. SpaceX’s efforts to reuse rockets were already groundbreaking, but to see the booster touch down so gracefully on California soil added to the unforgettable nature of the night. It was a rare and historic moment that I’ll forever feel lucky to have captured.
This footage of SAOCOM-1A remains my favorite launch out of Vandenberg to date. As I sifted through it recently, I realized how it encapsulates what I aim to do at Deer Dog Visuals: capture moments that leave a lasting impact, whether it’s the incredible technical feat of a rocket launch or the fleeting beauty of a vapor cloud catching the light just so.
For anyone interested in seeing a glimpse of that night, I’ve included some footage and stills on my site. It’s a reminder that in the right conditions, even a man-made event can bring us closer to the stars, just for a moment.
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