Mid-summer, Milkyway it is.

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

D

Deleted member 115

Guest
Please feel free to add your milky way shots in this thread if you would like.
A few recent night shots I managed to get here in Central Washington. I have begun experimenting with low level lighting using an LED panel. I have yet to master it but it is fun trying to learn and the coyotes don't seem to mind.
The first 2 were taken with Nikon D850, Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 in the Basalt formations of Columbia Basin in Central Washington and the vertical shot was a D850, Tamron 14-24mm f/2.8 taken a few hundred feet outside our door, the sky was so detailed to naked eyes I had to grab a shot.
All were stacked using SLS to reduce noise and a quick resize in PS 2020 to post here.
850_3609.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
BasaltAtNight.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
850_3857-Min Horizon Noise-2.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
DRwyoming said:
Beautiful images @Hut

Are those basalt colums over by Vantage?
Click to expand...
Not really probably 20 miles or so East of Vantage near the Columbia NWR. I went out to Vantage a few days ago just to see what I could do with a night shot from the Wild Horse Monument. The rigs coming up the hill were a bit too much but it was kind of nice just being out there I can share a couple of those shots.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Member's gallery
Hut said:
The rigs coming up the hill were a bit too much but it was kind of just being out there I can share a couple of those shots if you want to see them?
Click to expand...
I know what you mean, in the Teton Neowise shot (other thread) the stars and comet were easy once things got dark enough but traffic on the park roads just wouldn't give me a long enough window for the foreground shot until well after 1 am.

Sure keep 'em coming, it's great to see how other folks are seeing things and using interesting foregrounds in different ways.
 
This is taken the other night from the Wild Horse Monument looking towards Wanapum dam, Vantage Bridge and Vantage Wa. Not exactly the results I hoped to see but it was fun anyway.
Vantage_min_noise.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
850_3793-Min Horizon Noise-2-Edit.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
DRwyoming said:
I know what you mean, in the Teton Neowise shot (other thread) the stars and comet were easy once things got dark enough but traffic on the park roads just wouldn't give me a long enough window for the foreground shot until well after 1 am.

Sure keep 'em coming, it's great to see how other folks are seeing things and using interesting foregrounds in different ways.
Click to expand...
A guy might be able to get a nice night shot of the crinkle cut french fry basalt columns down near the river here in Frenchman's Coulee. Maybe I will give that a try while before the core goes away. :unsure:
 
DRwyoming said:
Still very cool images. I like the way the lights in the bottom illuminate the Columbia and sort of balance all the Milky Way above it.
Click to expand...
Thank You I appreciate the kind words. It's all good for me as I learn. :)
 
Member's gallery
My wife and I went on a raft trip down the San Juan River in Southern Utah about a month ago and when I saw we'd be out during the new moon I carried a small astro kit (D800, 14mm, tripod, no tracking mount) and on our last night the skies were clear at camp and the canyon ran more or less North to South so I tried some Milky Way images from our campsite. I was trying for a look much like what you got on the Columbia River but since I was only taking 20 second exposures of the sky it didn't really occur to me to try some much longer foreground exposures and a blend.

Anyway, I spent a lot of time in post and was able to open up the river sheen and foreground a bit (that's a bit of light painting from a headlamp on the rocks). I didn't get quite what I was after but the image still printed nicely on a direct metal print.

San Juan River Milk websize sRGB.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
DRwyoming said:
My wife and I went on a raft trip down the San Juan River in Southern Utah about a month ago and when I saw we'd be out during the new moon I carried a small astro kit (D800, 14mm, tripod, no tracking mount) and on our last night the skies were clear at camp and the canyon ran more or less North to South so I tried some Milky Way images from our campsite. I was trying for a look much like what you got on the Columbia River but since I was only taking 20 second exposures of the sky it didn't really occur to me to try some much longer foreground exposures and a blend.

Anyway, I spent a lot of time in post and was able to open up the river sheen and foreground a bit (that's a bit of light painting from a headlamp on the rocks). I didn't get quite what I was after but the image still printed nicely on a direct metal print.
Click to expand...
I know didn't ask for a critique but I love that composition. Personally I think the subdued light looks great in this shot just enough reflection to get a nice feel for the water and canyon at night.
That said, I have been experimenting with low level led lighting using a "Boling P1" pocket light panel. I haven't got it dialed in yet but it's kind of fun.
 
Member's gallery
Hut said:
I know didn't ask for a critique but I love that composition. Personally I think the subdued light looks great in this shot just enough reflection to get a nice feel for the water and canyon at night.
That said, I have been experimenting with low level led lighting using a "Boling P1" pocket light panel. I haven't got it dialed in yet but it's kind of fun.
Click to expand...
No worries, feedback is always appreciated.

I haven't run across the Boling P1, I'll take a look.

Thanks,
-Dave
 
Member's gallery
This is a great thread. Outstanding photos all! I’ve attached a few that I was lucky enough to capture recently. One
9D01EC0E-925C-4353-B5C0-ADB086776560.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
44616B34-6BBC-46FD-AEA6-AA171DA3DAD7.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
71D6D5B4-04B1-48C6-90CB-229CEA8EBFDF.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
F131AF0F-DCC6-474D-B56F-34FF8FE49BAB.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Neowise, a Milky Way pano taken in June & then a couple taken last weekend in extreme NW Kansas, hoping to capture some Perseids while we were there. Saw a couple but no luck on an image. Look forward to seeing some more great shots & the associated inspiration! Thanks all, Bill Schone
 
Member's gallery
Bill Schone said:
Thank you sincerely. We love being out under the stars, even if the pictures don't work out! But what a bonus when they do. Bill
Click to expand...
Well said Bill, I feel the same way about all my outdoor photo work. We hope to capture memorable images but often the time in the field is its own reward and being out under clear night skies is always exhilarating.
 
Member's gallery
Wow! What a thread, love all these shots, even the ones with the traffic light trails. The varied foregrounds in the Milky Way shots are fantastic. Well done, guys, thanks for sharing!
 
jer said:
ow! What a thread, love all thes
Click to expand...
DrBob said:
Nice images. I guess I'm a bit slow, but what is SLS?
Click to expand...
Thanks, yes "Starry Landscape Stacker" makes quick work of stacking shots to reduce noise.
Lately I have been changing my strategy and shooting 18 light frames and 18 dark frames. It seems to do pretty good at noise reduction. Shooting these at f/2.8 for 10 seconds, ISO6400.

I don't have a star tracker so I have shortened the exposure time and upped the ISO to help reduce star trails.
 
jer said:
Wow! What a thread, love all these shots, even the ones with the traffic light trails. The varied foregrounds in the Milky Way shots are fantastic. Well done, guys, thanks for sharing!
Click to expand...
Thanks :cool: (y)
 
Member's gallery
Another shot, taken a week ago. Foreground is 5 x15 second exposures, f/2.2, on a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, iso 3200 on an app-c Nikon D3300. Milky Way is 15 x 60 second exposures, f/3.2 on a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, iso 1600. The Milky Way shots were also shot on a tracker. Tried all different combinations of shots & settings trying to figure what’s best. Learn a bit more each time out. It was a beautiful night, here in Kansas by last weekend we were picking up the smoke from the wildfires in Colorado, actually we had received the smoke quite a bit earlier, but the with the smoke the sun set & moon set (which set about 10:45 that night ) were outstanding! Great times. Thanks all. Wasn’t sure if I should add to this thread or start a new one?
8FE9CE00-CC50-4227-8487-003A06AFA0CA.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Bill Schone said:
Another shot, taken a week ago. Foreground is 5 x15 second exposures, f/2.2, on a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, iso 3200 on an app-c Nikon D3300. Milky Way is 15 x 60 second exposures, f/3.2 on a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, iso 1600. The Milky Way shots were also shot on a tracker. Tried all different combinations of shots & settings trying to figure what’s best. Learn a bit more each time out. It was a beautiful night, here in Kansas by last weekend we were picking up the smoke from the wildfires in Colorado, actually we had received the smoke quite a bit earlier, but the with the smoke the sun set & moon set (which set about 10:45 that night ) were outstanding! Great times. Thanks all. Wasn’t sure if I should add to this thread or start a new one? View attachment 2454
Click to expand...
Right here is perfect as far as I am concerned. That’s a great photo. A beautiful sky with the old house, the tree and hay field all add to the overall feel of a beautiful night! Thanks for sharing
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top