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Debbie_Carmichael
IMG_5049 Stars Sorrento
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IMG_5049 Stars Sorrento



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This is from my batch of first ever night photography, the photos could have been better technically, but I am pleased with the attempt in post - lots of room f...
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This is from my batch of first ever night photography, the photos could have been better technically, but I am pleased with the attempt in post - lots of room for improvement yet. IMG_5049
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cameraCanon EOS 6D

settings Aperture f/4.5 ISO 6400 Shutter 30/1 Focal Length 17/1 

upload_dateJun, 2015

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4 Comments |
nikkismith_5022
 
nikkismith_5022 April 29, 2016
Oh wow that is beautiful
Debbie_Carmichael
Debbie_Carmichael April 30, 2016
thank you nikkismith_5022 :)
KatieMcKinneyPhotography
 
KatieMcKinneyPhotography May 17, 2016
Stunning capture!
markgamblin
 
markgamblin June 21, 2016
Absolute stunner this Debbie :)
Byronfairphotography PRO+
 
Byronfairphotography February 15, 2019
Beautiful.

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Behind The Lens

Location

This image was taken on Sorrento Back Beach, Australia. I was standing on wooden stairs leading down to the beach below, my tripod had two legs on a lower step and one leg on the step above, it was all a little precarious.

Time

I took the image around 8pm on a winters night in June, it was a beautiful crisp night with no moon or wind.

Lighting

With night photography light pollution is a one of the biggest issues, long exposures are used so any light, no matter how minuscule, will show in your final image. Choosing a night with no moon and as little light as possible will give you better quality and a higher quantity of visible stars.

Equipment

Canon EOS 6D, tripod with a level, infra red headlamp, remote trigger, masking tape Masking tape to hold the lens at the right focal point, in this case I used clouds during the day to focus just short the infinity point. The masking tape will stop you form moving the focal ring as you work in the darkness for your shots. Infra red headlamp enables you to see, but it also helps your eyes adjust quicker when you turn it off to take your shots. Remote trigger is very important to eliminate movement or use a timer.

Inspiration

I had focused much of my attention on the Milky Way, however, turning around behind me I saw the city lights in the distance and decided to try working with the light pollution rather than fighting it. I had chosen the same shot and composition for an evening shot earlier in the night, so I had some idea of my footing and how best to position the tripod on the stairs, the level built into the tripod was so very useful as I couldn't see much in the back of the camera on live view. Lots of educated guess here! I also knew chances of a perfect photograph was almost zero, but I was excited to try it anyway.

Editing

The image was put into photoshop for post processing, I used a lot of masking to process parts of the image individually. The image is far from technically correct - this is what I love about it, the movement I got from the positioning of my tripod on a high wooden staircase and the high ISO has given the image a 'painted' look, this was not done in post. I have played with the saturation and contrast, I have added light to areas of the image and adjusted shadows using curve adjustments and adjustment brushes in photoshop. There was very little sharpening if any, the more contrast and sharpening you add, the less stars are visible. Embracing the quirky faults of my Sorrento Stars has made it one of my favorites.

In my camera bag

Its all Canon and Sigma - EOS 6D, 100mm macro, 70-200mm, 50mm, remote trigger, 580ex flash, tripod and a small bag of bird seed - yes birdseed in a plastic bag, I use it for low shots on the ground to keep my camera dry or when I don't want to get my tripod out, it holds the camera steady on the slow shutter speed shots. On a quick adventure out it is just the 6D, 100mm, 50mm and the birdseed.

Feedback

Take a lens that will go as far as f2.8 if you want a clearer shot, I believe the f4.5 contributed to this shot though. Be prepared to edit in post. My exposure time was 30sec which may have also contributed to the movement of the stars and ocean giving the painted look of the image as did the very high ISO and movement of the staircase mentioned above, the 6D seems to like the exposure time just a little back from what I used, I have found it is trial and error with your camera. My best advice, I think, would be to shoot outside the rules sometimes, see what happens, figuring out why your image is not technically correct and how your unique image has evolved is a good way to learn but also an awesome way to create something you love.

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