The plan was to get up before dawn and do light painting. I would shine my lantern to illuminate the dormers and surrounding trees, while tasteful period-correct muted light from the mansion's hanging fixtures would show off the building and columns.

This is, after all, one of the great American icons, a remnant from Southern aristocracy with a National Register pedigree.

I did not expect horrendous gas station lighting! I made this 74-second exposure before realizing I needed another plan: wait for daylight to balance things and allow a much-shorter exposure time. That worked just fine.