Quiver Trees by Night 3
The warm light pollution from the nearby town of Keetmanshoop (Namibia) contrasts with the cool glow from the Milky Way, with a grove of quiver trees in the for...
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The warm light pollution from the nearby town of Keetmanshoop (Namibia) contrasts with the cool glow from the Milky Way, with a grove of quiver trees in the foreground. One of three panoramas taken than night. In this one, the Magellanic Clouds are clearly visible.
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Dec, 2012Views
1412
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Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 22
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Runner Up in Enhanced Photo Contest
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
Jaw Dropping
All Star
Superior Skill
Exceptional Contrast
Genius
Magnificent Capture
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aprilrena
February 03, 2013
I love everything about this photo. The warm glow in the distance, the unique trees against the beautiful starry sky. I Love how you captured this. I only hope to be able to capture such a fantastic shot one day. Congrats on your award :)
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blairwacha
February 09, 2013
Hi, this is a stunning panorama! Can you tell me your camera settings for this series of shots, please?
Thanks,
Blair
Thanks,
Blair
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blairwacha
February 09, 2013
Panoramas done correctly, in my opinion yield the best results of any photographic technique done to date. This one is gorgeous! Congratulations on the recognition you've gotten for it. It's well deserved.
Blair
Blair
PRO+
mmarriuss
February 21, 2013
FANTASTIC!!! Wonderful capture of the milky way and a fantastic landscape! absolute masterpiece! :)
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
At the Quiver Tree Forest Restcamp near Keetmanshoop, NamibiaTime
about 04h00Lighting
What looks like the sunset is actually light pollution from Keetmanshoop, some 17km away.Equipment
Canon 40D, Tokina 11-16mm, Tripod, Nodal Ninja panorama adapterInspiration
I had actually gone to the Quiver Tree Forest to photograph the quiver trees in moonlight, but the moon was too full and the results disappointing. So I made a few panoramas of the Milky Way after the moon set. It was an experiment. When I was back at my computer I experimented some more in post-processing, and eventually hit on this.Editing
Yes, lots. The image was made up of 16 exposures (each 30s, f/2.8, ISO 3200) which were stitched into a single 270 degree image using Hugin. I then used a variety of adjustments in Photoshop, mostly curves with masks to selectively brighten the foreground and to increase the contrast in the sky. The colour comes from the choice of white-balance: I picked a colour temperature that would separate the warm glow of the city lights from the cool star light. I have explained the process (for a very similar image, treated the same way) on my blog: http://www.floriansphotographs.blogspot.com/2012/08/quiver-trees-by-night-2.htmlIn my camera bag
It depends on where I go. If I want to travel light, I just take my Fuji X100s with a small filter case containing two filters, lens cloth, a lens hood, spare battery and spare SD card. If I have lots of space, I also take my old Canon 40D (two bodies), the Canon 17-55 f/2.8, Canon 70-200 f/4 IS and Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. I usually also pack one or two old manual-focus lenses (with mount adapters): usually my Pentax 50mm f/4 macro, Pentax 100mm f/4 macro, or an old Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar. A big Cullmann tripod with Manfrotto ball head, a tiny Redged tripod (for macros), and the Nodal Ninja. Plus polariser, IR filter, ND filters and a grad filter with holder. Also important: a small first aid kit and space blanket.Feedback
Everybody and his dog is photographing the Milky Way these days, and there is plenty of excellent advice on the web. The most important, though: go somewhere with dark skies. Even if you leave your camera at home, you really must see the sky the way everybody saw it until a century or two ago.
