Glentanner Park

[BrianN]

I am now at Glentanner Park close to Mount Cook and last night I was treated with the milky way low over the mountians behind me at the campsite.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 24-50mm F2.8 G
• 24.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 15 sec
• ISO 1600

 

[Jollybox]

Lovely shot Brian, just returned home with some first try MW shots from the very same campsite It was a bitterly cold night (-7) but I managed to get some images. With the usual caveats and host of buts.... My images seem to be a bit 'soft' the stars are not really crisp (as I expected). Everything set on manual on the camera - focus set on inf, f 2.8, 20sec at iso 8000. A few of my 'test' shots turned out way over-exposed - using higher iso's to be expected I guess. What advice would you have for a complete MW novice? either shooting or a basic post workflow?
Should I try working the exposure shorter or stacking frames?

Many thanks in advance

 

[BrianN]

Lovely shot Brian, just returned home with some first try MW shots from the very same campsite It was a bitterly cold night (-7) but I managed to get some images. With the usual caveats and host of buts.... My images seem to be a bit 'soft' the stars are not really crisp (as I expected). Everything set on manual on the camera - focus set on inf, f 2.8, 20sec at iso 8000. A few of my 'test' shots turned out way over-exposed - using higher iso's to be expected I guess. What advice would you have for a complete MW novice? either shooting or a basic post workflow?
Should I try working the exposure shorter or stacking frames?

Many thanks in advance

Hi,

What I normally do in the field is set my ISO to 1600 ( again depending on the ambient light) I use this to check my composition and when I focus I set my cursor on a bright star and with manual focus move it to get the star as small as possible.

Once setup and happy with the composition I often use ISO 800 .

In post processing the first thing I do is to bring the exposure up to a balanced one.

Then using a sky mask I add a bit texture and clarity and at times a touch of dehaze but not always. Then a slight addition of black and increase the highlights this helps to increase the contrast with the stars.

Once done I then zoom in at 100% and use the mask slider to go to the extremes of the effect and slide to what I feel is the ideal amount.

I hope this helps

Brian.

 

[Jollybox]

Hi,

What I normally do in the field is set my ISO to 1600 ( again depending on the ambient light) I use this to check my composition and when I focus I set my cursor on a bright star and with manual focus move it to get the star as small as possible.

Once setup and happy with the composition I often use ISO 800 .

In post processing the first thing I do is to bring the exposure up to a balanced one.

Then using a sky mask I add a bit texture and clarity and at times a touch of dehaze but not always. Then a slight addition of black and increase the highlights this helps to increase the contrast with the stars.

Once done I then zoom in at 100% and use the mask slider to go to the extremes of the effect and slide to what I feel is the ideal amount.

I hope this helps

Brian.

Yep, very useful thank you very much - especially like the focusing tip. I have an opportunity with work to get out on a field trip, hopefully away from light pollution so I'll have a few more practice sessions.

C