WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT:
Join the Heard Nature Photographers for a night of astrophotography at Cooper Lake State Park-Doctors Creek Unit, on the north shore of Jim Chapman Lake. I scheduled our July and August field trips as night shoots to beat the heat this time of year. Cooper Lake was created in 1991 and named for its proximity to the town of Cooper, TX. In 1998, Congress renamed it to honor Jim Chapman, a former congressman from Sulphur Springs. The lake is about 1.5 hours east of the Metroplex.
We will meet for dinner at 5:00 p.m. so we can finish eating with plenty of time to get ready for the golden hour, the blue hour, and have plenty of time to find some good spots to set up before dark. We will be dining in Cooper at Tejanos Mexican Grill right in the middle of town. When you register for the field trip on the HNP Web site, please let me know in the comments whether you plan to join us for dinner. That way, I will know who to look for, and I can give the restaurant a headcount a day or so before we arrive. That is important, since the restaurant tends to be quite crowded on the weekends, but the owner assured me that they could accommodate us if I give him a headcount ahead of time.
There are a couple of areas in the state park that will be most conducive to what we want to do. I’ve included a map of the state park below. The main part will be near the swimming area on the southernmost part of the lake’s north shore. There will be very little light to impede our photography, and the crowds of families and swimmers will be gone by dark. The other area is Twilight Point. To get there, after registering and paying your entrance fee at the main park entrance, go back to the road, turn right, and continue around the bend and up a rise to another parking lot just before the dam. From the parking lot, there is a short trail down to the water’s edge. I did not go to Twilight Point, but I was told that it, too, is quite dark and is frequently used by photographers for astrophotography. I will probably be near the swimming area if anyone needs me.
© Tom Martin (View from Parking Lot toward Swimming Area)
© Tom Martin (View from near the Swimming Area to the West)
© Tom Martin (View of Lake and Southern Sky with Night AR [Augmented Reality] of Miley Way superimposed [courtesy of Photo Pills])
Admission to the state park costs $5.00 per person, plus there is an additional $2.00 per person fee for late night activity. The park closes at 10:00 p.m. and it typically costs an additional $20.00 per person to stay overnight. However, they only charge $2.00 per person if we stay beyond 10:00 p.m. but don’t stay overnight. By the time we arrive at the park, the office will be closed. So, we will need to pay our fees in an envelope at the park office. This applies whether we shoot from the main park or drive around to Twilight Point. So, you may want to get some cash to pay your entrance fees before you drive out there.
DINNER:
5:00 p.m.
Tejanos Mexican Grill
20 S. Side Square
Cooper, TX 75432
PHOTOGRAPHY CONDITIONS
(according to Photo Pills for August 23, 2025)
Sunset: 8:00 p.m.
Moon: New Moon that will set at 8:27 p.m.
Milky Way: Should be visible in the southern sky by 9:30 p.m. and should be vertical relative to the horizon by 11:15 p.m.
If anyone wants to do some deep space photography, the Andromeda Galaxy should be well up in the eastern sky by 10:00 p.m.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT:
Long pants to protect against chiggers, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Tripod (necessary for long-exposure night photography)
Wide-Angle Lens(es) for Milky Way shots
Long Telephoto Lens(es) for deep space photography
Optional: Star Tracker if you want to track the Milky Way or any deep space objects to minimize star trails and maximize the opportunity for pinpoint stars if you want to stack images.
Extra Batteries and Memory Cards
A head lamp or a small flashlight to help navigate after dark.
Drinking Water, although there is potable water and there are restrooms in the state park.
While there are picnic tables in the vicinity of the swimming area, you may wish to bring a portable chair to sit closer to your gear.
I suggest you take your camera bag with you into the restaurant rather than risk having your most valuable gear stolen from your vehicle, but it is up to you. So, you may want to travel relatively light.
Lake Cooper State Park Website
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/cooper-lake
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Contact me if you have questions:
Tom Martin
HNP Field Trip Coordinator
469-261-3045
ntmarti1@tx.rr.com