Starry Knights
It’s been a while since I have done anything photography related in quite some time, let alone a star-trail. Aside from being outside and in a beautiful plac...
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It’s been a while since I have done anything photography related in quite some time, let alone a star-trail. Aside from being outside and in a beautiful place, it was great to pass the time catching up with family and enjoying the time together.
Photo was taken at Knight’s Ferry Park in California.
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Photo was taken at Knight’s Ferry Park in California.
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May, 2018Views
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Awards
Featured
Contest Finalist in The Night Sky And The Stars Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
Superior Skill
All Star
Emotions
Impressed
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Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 1
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo at the Knights Ferry Recreational Area in California while visiting family in the area.Time
The foreground of the photo to capture the detail in the roots was taken at 7:50 PM and the star trails were shot between 9:00 PM and 9:45 PM on March 25, 2018.Lighting
I didn't anticipate a trip to Knights Ferry let alone pulling off a night-shot. After I got there, I intended to get a sunset shot, but the clouds had moved away from the area. The clear sky was perfect for some star trails and it had been a few years since I last did one--so why not!Equipment
I used a Canon 5D Mark IV with an EF 16-35 f/2.8L II USM lens and a Really Right Stuff TVC14 tripod pared with the BH20 ballhead.Inspiration
The inspiration behind this photo was twofold: 1. It had been a long time since I had done a star trail shot and all the right elements for a shot suddenly came together. 2. I used this as a teaching opportunity to introduce my cousin to time-lapse still photography and star trails.Editing
I couldn't have put this photo together without any type of post-processing. The photo of the roots (foreground) was adjusted for lights and shadows. The star trail was a composite of 140 15 second shots shot at 1600 ISO at f/2.8. Before stacking the photos together in photoshop, I removed the airplane streaks other distracting items from the shot. The two shots were blended in photoshop and adjusted for color, contrast, and clarity.In my camera bag
I usually carry my Canon 5D Mark IV, the 16-35 f/2.8L USM II and the 24-70 f/2.8L in my bag. Occasionally, the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM II will make it into my pack if I feel like carrying the extra weight. One of two tripods will come with me: the Really Right Stuff TVC-33 or the lighter TQC. A must in my bag is a roll of gaffer's tape and it comes in handy for so many things.Feedback
My advice for you if you'd like to shoot something similar is to start small and take a few shots of the stars so you can get to know your camera and equipment. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and experiment with different things once you get comfortable with what you are doing. The same goes for post-processing...keep doing it until you are comfortable with your new skill. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and ask questions. Most important of all: keep shooting!
