Galactic Archer
The light as an arrow nocked on the Milky way's Arch. Pale di San Martino (Trentino - Italy).
This is panorama merging of 7 shots at f-2,8, 64...
Read more
The light as an arrow nocked on the Milky way's Arch. Pale di San Martino (Trentino - Italy).
This is panorama merging of 7 shots at f-2,8, 6400 ISO, 25 sec., 14mm.
Read less
This is panorama merging of 7 shots at f-2,8, 6400 ISO, 25 sec., 14mm.
Read less
May, 2016Views
7046
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in The Milky Way Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Faceless Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in High Peaks Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Contest Finalist in Sweeping Landscapes Photo Contest
Featured
Judge Favorite
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in a stunning place of Alps: the Dolomites. The place is named Capanna Cervino at 2000 mt (6600ft). The mountains here are Pale di San Martino (3192 mt - 10472 ft - the highest peak "Cimon della pala") in the eastern border of Trentino (Italy).Time
We left the car at 1.30 am, and after a short trek (about 20 minutes) we reached the place. This particular photo was taken at 4 am after several different shots.Lighting
We were looking for a dark nighth with no light pollution and no clouds. Fortunately we have had a wonderful dark and clear night although there was a little light pollution coming from Passo Rolle's streetlights (a few hundred meters away from our position) and (the worst) some light pollution was coming from San Martino di Castrozza, a little village a few kilometers from us heading south. The light of this village were overlapped on the souther part of the milky way. I had to work hard in post processing to correct this.Equipment
I used a Nikon D700 with a Samyang 14mm, mounted on a Benro IT 25 tripod. Camera settings for this shot were set ISO 6400, aperture f/2.8, exposure 25" for each shot.Inspiration
In these last period I am particularly fascinated by night photography. It takes you in a different dimension where you can feel the world around you in a very different way that you are used to. So I tried to visit places around me with my camera and capture them in a different perspective. I visualized in my mind a part of this picture some weeks before (the location, the arch over the mountains ecc.), but the Archer was an unexpected chanche (thanks to Giulio and Luca). Then I chose the right night (new moon) and checked the best moment on 'stellarium' app to be on site. Planned the trek, and last I hoped to get the right weather.Editing
I think that post processing in night photography is a must. I took 7 shots, panning from right (south) to left (north). First I performed a postprocess with ligthroom (working on one pic mainly to correct withe balance and lights & shadows, and sincronizing then the other 7 pics), than I merged the four shots in a panorama with photoshop (with distortion adjustment & cropping), then I proceded with microcontrast regulation of milky way (mainly with a curve mask and an high pass filter). Then I went back to lightroom to intensify clarity with a mask over the milky way and to reduce light pollution at the southern end (right) of the galactic arch with a second mask.In my camera bag
When I go to spend a night hunting stars I usually bring my backpac with me as less as I can.. It is important to have a light backpac when you walk in mountains! So I have my Nikon D700, with a Nikkor 24mm on (that's my preferred one for landscape shots). I bring with me also a Nikon 28-105, and a Samyang 14mm and of corse a tripod (my one is a Benro IT25 with a ballhead). I have a headlight, but I bring with me also an handable flashlight for lightpainting.Feedback
I think that the most important think is the light. In Europe light pollution is a serious problem, so you have to look for a location the as far as possible from a town. Or if it is not possible be careful to have the light of a town at your back. Milky way's arch goes from south to north through east, and the most beautiful part is the southern side, so you should look for a place in wich the darkest part you can see is toward south. The best period to photograph the Milky way in Europe is in summer.
