DSC_4319
May, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I captured this image in the Flamingo campground area in the Everglades national park. I have always been enjoyed looking at the stars and through photography, we can all see some of the hidden beauty it has to offer.Time
A couple of friends and I decided to go and try our luck with the Lyrid meteor shower. It didn't exactly pan out since we were a week away from the peak day. With no moon light we noticed the milky rising at about 1 am. We waited a few hours and I was able to capture this image while my partners were doing some light painting of their own. April 17,2015 0315Lighting
With no moon and a small amount of light pollution from the Florida Keys, the sky was dark enough to capture the Milky way. There are not many places in south Florida where the sky is dark enough to be able to capture the milky way with detail.Equipment
This with shot with a Nikon D5000 paired with a Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm f/2.8. The camera was mounted on a Sirui M-3004X tripod and Sirui K-40X ballhead.Inspiration
For me the best kind of photos to take are the ones that show us things that are rarely seen. The milky way is possibly the most prominent feature of the night sky but, big cities have made it impossible for many people to enjoy. I like to share these kinds of images in hopes that it will encourage others to step outside and see the natural treasures that exist in the world.Editing
Nightscape photography can be tricky at times for beginners and the processing can be nerve wracking to get the results you want. For this image I used Lightroom. I bumped up the exposure 1 stop, used lens correction and increased the clarity, saturation and vibrance to bring out the color. I also used the noise reduction to smooth out the image and reduce the grains and noise that can look like stars.In my camera bag
I always carry my Nikon D5000 with the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses. My fast wide angle Tokina 11-16 has become my favorite lens for nightscapes. I use both a simple pro master cable release and an intravelometer as well. I always carry my headlamp with a red light to help preserve my night vision as well as bug repellant, you cant shoot in the everglades at night with out some form of mosquito protection.Feedback
Capturing the milky way is a great way to get to know your camera and test your patience. A few tips I would off are to make sure your focus is set to infinity that way the stars are sharp. The length of the exposure should be relative to your focal length use the 500 rule to get pin point stars. Don't be afraid to crank up your ISO. I shot this image at 1600 but 3200 may have been better. FInd a dark place and have fun!
