I've been waiting and waiting for a night when the stars are visible, it isn't too windy, and it is dark before I've fallen asleep to get this shot. Finally the night arrived. I really like how the shot turned out complete with a light from a boat on the ocean lighting up the stream. I'd love tips from the starry night pros about how to focus when it's so dark. I focused to infinity since I couldn't seem to get any of the stars to be bright enough on my screen to manually focus on them. View large to see the silhouetted wind blown tree.
Thanks so much for visits, comments, suggestions, favs and taking my reflected flying egret to PP. It is so exciting when a shot I really like goes to the PP
You did so well here Jane & a beautiful photo of the Milky Way...you don't seem to have much light pollution there , the same when I go to NZ the sky there is fabulous!
Lovely shot. I'm still jealous of your dark skies.
If you can't get a star to be bright enough on your screen, the next best way to do it is to focus on something very far off in the distance during the day and look precisely where the focus ring is. That's a really good thing to know about your lenses too in case you see something happening and want to quickly set up and get shooting (such as northern lights, for example).
@jgpittenger hmmm.... not much, actually. I think you did a really nice job with it. I think I'd try out upping the exposure slightly in the top corners to see how it looks, but I think the way it is now definitely draws your eye to the milky way so it might not be an improvement. Maybe just give it a shot and see which way you like it better?
The way I usually go about that is to create an exposure adjustment layer, increase it by 1.0 to 1.5 stops, create a mask, and use a graduated filter to create a nice transition to one corner. Then adjust the opacity until it looks nice. Then copy that layer and use a graduated filter to apply it to the other corner. Let me know if you'd like to try it and that isn't clearly written enough.
Absolutely stunning. Only seen the milky way once myself and that was in Southern Ireland where there were no lights or industry or any kind to lighten the sky.
Amazing that you can get silhouettes, such nice ones, against such a dark sky. The milky way looks magnificent, and the ambient light is in a great place. What more could anyone want? Fav.
This is simply stunning Jane!!! The clarity of the stars is perfect, as they appear pin sharp which is hard to do with long exposures...and a definite FAV!!
Exceptionally brilliant! The composition, the silhouette, the lighting are all beyond splendid! You've even inspired my husband who used to be the family photographer.
Great shot. When I tried to focus to infinity last week, the stars were not in focus. But, I'm going to try what @colosimo suggested about focusing on something during the day.
@gazbadger WA lens with as open an aperture as possible, run the ISO up high and depending on the focal length shutter speed...I will try to find the suggestions another 365 er gave me some time ago. tripod and remote a must.
@jgpittenger I see :-) I think I may be upgrading my gear a bit soon. Ah well.... will have go with what I have for now. .. if it doesn't come out well the milky way isn't going anywhere! Lol
If you can't get a star to be bright enough on your screen, the next best way to do it is to focus on something very far off in the distance during the day and look precisely where the focus ring is. That's a really good thing to know about your lenses too in case you see something happening and want to quickly set up and get shooting (such as northern lights, for example).
The way I usually go about that is to create an exposure adjustment layer, increase it by 1.0 to 1.5 stops, create a mask, and use a graduated filter to create a nice transition to one corner. Then adjust the opacity until it looks nice. Then copy that layer and use a graduated filter to apply it to the other corner. Let me know if you'd like to try it and that isn't clearly written enough.