This image requires a bit of honesty and explanation, so be sure to read this entire caption for a full understanding of the process behind it. Long story short — my original framing was pointed too low, and the tiniest portion of the launch streak went out of the top of the frame. This was devastating, as I was bummed to walk away from such a spectacular launch with what I considered a failed shot. With a bit of Photoshop magic, I took one of my previous SpaceX long exposure images and masked that in to fill the gap. I generally frown upon this level of manipulation, but I figured that being upfront with the process and not trying to pass off the photo as something it wasn't was a fair compromise. Nothing about this image was manipulated or misconstrued apart from the filled in gap. Apart from the masked-in portion, the image is made up of two consecutive long exposures taken with the same, stationary camera. One exposure is 153 seconds long and exposes for the rocket’s first stage burn. The other exposure is 95 seconds long and captures the rocket’s exhaust plume, which was illuminated as it rose into the higher atmosphere, creating a stunning display for launch viewers all around the Space Coast. This launch was too stunning for me to end up with what I considered a failed image, so I'm willing to bend the rules a tad with the mindset of being honest about it.