Unveiling the Mystique: The Untold Tale Behind the 2025 Pahrump Phone Book Cover Photo

It astonishes me that the Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which graced the night sky this past October, makes an appearance merely once every 80,000 years. The first time I spotted it in my backyard with only my bare eyes, I was captivated. Photography is my hobby, so I realized instantly I had to photograph it.

I initially attempted to capture it with my iPhone that evening and was surprised by how well it came out.

I started contemplating how I wanted to frame the comet with elements of Pahrump that I cherish in both the background and foreground – the town’s lights and the Joshua trees. Thus, on the night of October 14, I packed my wife, dog, two cameras, and tripods and made my way up Wheeler Pass Road, roughly 15 miles east of town. As the sun began to dip, I trekked a few yards off the roadway, searching for ideal spots.

The nearly full moon was ascending in the East, illuminating the Joshua trees and casting shadows on the earth. I spent approximately 1.5 hours wandering and capturing photographs, experimenting with various settings on the camera.

Out of around 300 images, most of them worthless, I emerged with this photo, which for me encapsulated the sense of awe and wonder I experienced while gazing at the comet. Did my ancestors from the Stone Age feel the same as I did when they observed this same comet 80,000 years ago?

When I returned to the vehicle that night following my photographic adventure to my wife, who had stayed in the car to keep warm, she revealed the images she captured with her iPhone. Her photos were absolutely stunning, and she didn’t have to lug around 30 lbs. of gear, nor endure getting pricked by the dagger-like spines on the Joshua trees. Clearly, she’s far smarter than I am.

I was completely astonished and immensely thankful when I received the notification that my photo had won the phonebook cover contest. Could I really have been the sole submission? There are so many talented photographers (both professional and amateur) in Pahrump.

I’d like to urge anyone, whether professional or amateur, to submit their photographs for next year’s competition. There’s an abundance of history and beauty within our community that I see shared daily on social media by others who are simply using smartphone cameras – images that, in my opinion, far surpass mine in capturing the essence of our town.

About this photo: taken with a Sony A7RM3 with a 24 mm lens, f/10, 4-second exposure at ISO 3,200.