Galactic Rainbow
6 shot panorama in Joshua Tree National Park
6 shot panorama in Joshua Tree National Park
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May, 2016Views
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Awards
Member Selection Award
Winner in The Night Sky Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo just outside the White Tank campground in Joshua Tree National Park.Time
I stayed up all night in Joshua Tree that night, trying a few different spots. This was my first spot, but I needed to wait for the full moon to set around 12:30 in order to shoot the Milky Way. I took this shot around 1:30 or 2 am.Lighting
The moon had just set, and the light pollution was the sky a warm orangey glow that I liked the look of. I wanted to light the rocks up just a bit so I used my flashlight with a little bit of orange cellophane over it to give them a warmer lighting.Equipment
I took this shot on a Nikon D750 with a Rokinon 24 mm f1.4 lens and a Mefoto Globe Trotter tripod. I also had a headlamp and Coast flashlight so I didn't fall flat on my face.Inspiration
I am very familiar with Joshua Tree, and I had actually been to this spot before. It is very close to a natural arch that I have shot in the past. After shooting the arch one night, I passed by this spot and really liked the way the Milky Way arched over the rock formations. I tried a couple of shots, but didn't get the one I wanted before the sun began to rise so I headed back a few weeks later with a very clear idea of the shot I wanted to walk away with, and I was lucky enough to get it.Editing
Well this shot is actually a panorama of six shots stiched together. I used Photoshop to combine the series and then moved over to Lightroom to do some basic lens corrections and adjustments to the tonal curve and contrast.In my camera bag
I always have my Nikon d750 with the 24-70mm f2.8 lens with me no matter where I'm headed. I love how flexible it is. I also always have a GoPro Hero3 with me because you never know what kind of shenanigans you need to capture on video. Depending on where I'm heading I also have a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 lens, which I use mostly for wildlife photography and a Rokinon 24mm f1.4 lens that I use almost exclusively for astrophotography. I have an assortment of filters in dire need of upgrading because I am a butterfingers who drops them daily.Feedback
This was my first time attempting a panorama, and it is definitely something I want to do more of. The most important thing is to make sure your tripod is completely level. There is a lot of really cool (and really expensive) gear that can help ease the process of shooting a panorama, but for the most part you don't absolutely need it. The other bit of advice I would pass along is to shot your panorama in portrait orientation. It may take more shots to get across your scene, but you will have more space in the shot in case you need to crop or adjust the stiched version in post-production.
