Astrophotobear
FollowCanon 6d tamron 15-30 @ 15mm F2.8 ISO 6400 25s x 29 image panorama.
I've been waiting to do a backlit shot with the moon for around 1 1-2 year...
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Canon 6d tamron 15-30 @ 15mm F2.8 ISO 6400 25s x 29 image panorama.
I've been waiting to do a backlit shot with the moon for around 1 1-2 years now - conditions have never been good to do so for when I've been available. I went 3 times last year and despite clear forecasts, ended up being clouded out (I don't mind a bit of cloud though). So having the back lit conditions - the Pinnacles create some long shadows. I made some silly mistakes off course, but that's just part of life.
Apart from the moon - the zodiacal light streams up towards the core of the milky way.
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I've been waiting to do a backlit shot with the moon for around 1 1-2 years now - conditions have never been good to do so for when I've been available. I went 3 times last year and despite clear forecasts, ended up being clouded out (I don't mind a bit of cloud though). So having the back lit conditions - the Pinnacles create some long shadows. I made some silly mistakes off course, but that's just part of life.
Apart from the moon - the zodiacal light streams up towards the core of the milky way.
Read less
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Awards
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Contest Finalist in The Wonders of the World Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Our World At Night Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Nature And The Night Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Rugged Landscapes Photo Contest
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Contest Finalist in Discover Oceania Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Stars Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Arches In Nature Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
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Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
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PeteB72
October 31, 2015
Shows why mankind has always gazed in wonder to the heavens. Simply stunning! Thanks for persevering to get this image.
JPatterson
November 11, 2015
Quick question .. from your description, are you saying this is a 29 shot "stacked" photo ???
Astrophotobear
November 12, 2015
it's a 29 shot panorama - so the images are basically stuck next to each other with over lap for the panorama - as distinct to other forms of astrophotography stacking
ks_pics
February 28, 2016
Good to see you on here too Michael! I have been on here trying this site out for about a month! I love this shot of yours! One of my favorites! :)
john_arsenault
August 08, 2016
Clearly your planning and work paid off; a masterpiece. the fact that you are so willing to freely share the details of your effort earns you a whole new award as a kind, sharing, and generous person. thank you for the image, thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.
amanavinash
September 01, 2017
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
johnboywalton196
January 19, 2018
I have seen thousands of Milky Way Arch images but this is simply the best! Beautiful in every detail, an amazingly jaw dropping shot my friend. Well captured!
FlyingEagle
January 24, 2019
This is one of the best milky way and space photos I've ever seen, period. Amazing job!
jackhall_9918
May 23, 2019
Absolutely terrific! Where was this taken? You said the Pinnacles, but I am sure that it is not Pinnacles State Park in California. Regardless, it is a masterpiece!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
The Pinnacles at Nambung National Park north of Perth in Western Australia. It's about 160-200km north of Perth. Hundreds of limestone structures protrude from the desert creating a very interesting landscape.Time
Taken around 8pm on September the 18th 2015. I've been waiting to do a backlit shot with the moon for almost 2 years - conditions had never been good to do so for when I've been available. I went 3 times in 2014 year and despite clear forecasts, ended up being clouded out (I don't mind a bit of cloud though). Due to the rare lighting conditions I drove for a couple of hours after work to get to location and shot for about an hour for 3 panoramas). The moon was setting rapidly so the opportunity was very slim.Lighting
Crescent moon lighting creates and even lighting across the landscape and causes the shadows from the pillars of the Pinnacles. Zodiacal light (the triangle of light reaching up into the sky) is light from the sun reflecting off cosmic dust in the inner solar system. The Zodiacal light is available within only a short period after sunset.Equipment
Canon 6d, tamron 15-30mm F2.8, manfrotto 055probx tripod, nodal rail for the panorama.Inspiration
I have been long seeking to do a back lit milky way image at this location to create the long shadows of the Pinnacles to reach out from the frame. I note that this photo also won the international Photonightscape awards nightscape category for 2015 and was an APOD on 17 February 2016.Editing
It's a panorama of 29 images. I've stitched together using PTGui pro. Around 95% of the post processing at this time is just curves and colour balancing, masking and noise reduction (using topaz denoise).In my camera bag
Canon 6d, tamron 15-30mm F2.8, tripod (with levelling head and panorama nodal rail), hand warmers, 50mm f1.4, tamron 90mm F2.8 macro, tamron 70-200 f2.8, multiple speedlites with wireless triggers, headlamp, torchlight, hand held gps, gary fong lightsphere, Lee filters. Also a sky watcher star adventurer.Feedback
Planning and experimenting. The milkway and other celestial objects are very predicable as to where it will be, making it very easy to determine where it will be at any time in the year due to the number of apps that help. Light pollution sources are also well known. Always include an experiment when you go out to try something different and push the equipment boundaries a little further each time. I used to shoot at F2.8 16mm ISO 1600 religiously for a long time before I decided everything was just a guide line and not a formula.