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Milky Way Panorama
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Milky Way Panorama



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The natural formation of the Milky Way can only be seen like this through the eye of the camera.

The natural formation of the Milky Way can only be seen like this through the eye of the camera.
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cameraNIKON D610

settings Aperture f/2.8 ISO 3200 Shutter 20/1 Focal Length 240/10 

upload_dateAug, 2017

Views

1708

Likes

Awards

Contest Finalist in A Milky Way Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Stars Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Capture The Milky Way Photo Contest
People's Choice in Starry Skies Photo Challenge
Winner in Starry Night Photo Challenge
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Peer Award
jennifermaybury_5771 Suemay michaelfmoore cathyblythen Ricardo_MGF CSArt andrewpowell_0479 +28
Top Choice
DonnaTurner Rmay1 anmikloi Morgan_Lytle jblimcaba charlisse bdtphoto +3
Absolute Masterpiece
HuaweiP30Lite marysorberdye jessewallace MMc1949 Kenny_Enriquez Leausmith Steve_Thomas +1
Magnificent Capture
elabrozzi dcnick96 philipdrispin Free-Spirit tashapaige14 OtterySense chocolatcoco +1
Superb Composition
msgdill RomaGarcia_ tajfaulkner
Outstanding Creativity
gloria085 eddiel91 biancarf
All Star
jamesjohnston_3471 TimMatthews160
Virtuoso
gregleslie tazzzer62

Emotions

Impressed
volkmer Kenny_Enriquez jamesjohnston_3471 gregleslie

Top Ranks

From Raw To Ready Photo ContestTop 20 rank
From Raw To Ready Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Glowing Nights Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Glowing Nights Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol16Top 10 rank
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My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol16Top 20 rank week 1
Everyday Magic Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Everyday Magic Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
The Sky Is The Limit Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Beyond The Horizon Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Beyond The Horizon Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Colorful Nights Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Skyward Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Skyward Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Nighttime Visionaries Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Nighttime Visionaries Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
The Photo Art ProjectTop 20 rank
Keeping It Low Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Wide Angle Fun Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Wide Angle Fun Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Star Gazing Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Star Gazing Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Awesome Landscapes Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Night Shooter Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Night Shooter Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank week 1
Winter Nights Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Winter Nights Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Star Love Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Wide Angle Shots Contest 2021Top 20 rank
Wide Angle Shots Contest 2021Top 10 rank week 1
Color Explorer Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Color Explorer Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Dark Hours Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Dark Hours Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Enchanting Landscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Night Sky Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Earth Day Every Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Around The World Photo Contest Digital Camera WorldTop 10 rank
Low Vantage Points Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Low Vantage Points Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
The Night Sky And The Stars Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Low Vantage Points Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
The Night Sky And The Stars Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Composing With Arches Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Look Up Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
A Milky Way Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol3Top 10 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol3Top 10 rank week 1
The Stars Photo ContestTop 30 rank
The Stars Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Night Wonders Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Night Wonders Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Shades Of Brown ProjectTop 30 rank
Shades Of Brown ProjectTop 20 rank week 1
Capture The Milky Way Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Capture The Milky Way Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Travel Photography ProjectTop 10 rank
Travel Photography ProjectTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol2Top 20 rank
Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol2Top 30 rank week 1
What A Night Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Finding Arches In Nature Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Finding Arches In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#milky way #astro photography #night sky #stars #night
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Behind The Lens

Location

To take this picture I drove south from Hobart, Tasmania, about an hour, down a quiet road and on to an even quieter dirt road. You can see the lights of Hobart in the distance but it was pitch black and during the couple of hours I was there no one even passed by me on the road. That’s the secret with astrophotography, the darkest skies.

Time

This shot was taken around midnight. Skies seem darker in the winter and of course it’s important to check the phase of the moon and moonrise and set timings.

Lighting

When I shoot night skies I try to connect the sky to the ground so silhouettes create a great connection. The wires running through the shot also help create a narrative.

Equipment

This was shot on a Nikon D610 with a Sigma 24-70mm f2.8. I use a Manfrotto tripod. A basic shutter trigger is essential for long exposures. These days I use a panoramic head for multi exposure panoramas.

Inspiration

I’m inspired by images of light that you can’t see with your own eyes. Mark Gee’s photography is certainly an inspiration. While I’ve taken lots of night images the Milky Way is one of the more exciting things to shoot. I also follow a few night photography groups on social media.

Editing

This panorama is actually over 180 degrees of the sky. It’s something like three rows of eight images. As it’s an early attempt by me, I didn’t have a panoramic head at the time, they certainly make stitching easier. I used Photoshop to stitch it together. In places I added an extra layer to correct some stitching errors. I’ve gone in and highlighted some of the lighter areas and darkened the darker areas of the Milky Way. This gives it more depth. I also like to push the saturation as far as I can.

In my camera bag

I usually go out at night with two tripods, one for single shots and the other with a panoramic head. I use a very basic cable shutter release, it’s always worth keeping a spare as they can be pretty temperamental. A good head torch is a must but I try and use it sparingly as a courtesy to my fellow photographers and because using it removes you from the night time environment. My usual go to lens is the Nikon 20mm f1.8. I like to keep a spare body and my Sigma 24-70 f2.8 as a spare. It’s useful for time lapses if the conditions are right. Sensible shoes, wind proof clothes and gloves you can operate your camera with are also essential, it’s a shame to have to head in because it’s too cold!

Feedback

Tasmania is a great place for dark skies. I love the peace and tranquillity of a night time shoot. There are places along the coast where the next land is Antarctica. I use some great apps to plan my shoots including StarWalk, TPE and weather and cloud cover apps. The Milky Way changes position in the sky over the course of the year. There are only certain time of the year you can get the full bow like in this image. In Australia the best time of year is between August and October because the bow is lower in the sky. I think the most important thing is to not wait for a special occasion. Go out and practice your night photography. Get used to your camera in manual mode and get ready for the next big night time event. Happy hunting.

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