Milky Way in Death Valley by taffy

Milky Way in Death Valley

I went back to images from a photo course in Death Valley, the first week I'd started using Lightroom. This was a 'rejected' shot because I didn't know what to do with it then. Two and a half years of using LR has made a huge difference! No new photos from today but a lot of photography work otherwise! Definitely best on black.

If interested per Terry's request, the original: https://365project.org/taffy/special-photos/2015-01-16
FAV FAV FAV -- your new processing is so much more professional than a year ago!
May 3rd, 2017  
amazing shot
May 3rd, 2017  
The lighting on the dead tree branch is really nice. Did you do that in LR? The milky way is of course outstanding.
May 3rd, 2017  
@moonmtn Thank you! I did 90% of the editing in LR, then exported to Luminar and used a top/bottom filter, then back to LR and fiddled with the lighting. The hardest originally was the sky and the foreground needed completely different processing.
May 3rd, 2017  
Stunning job. FAV
May 3rd, 2017  
Magical!
May 3rd, 2017  
A very good reason not to delete some shots! Great that you came back to this, it gives such a sense of space and the lighting is fab.
May 3rd, 2017  
Amazing image. Fav
May 3rd, 2017  
What else can I say except 'stunning'. Fantastic effect from your processing, the glow on the branch off-sets the dark silhouette in the foreground, and your treatment of the Milky Way is very good indeed.
May 3rd, 2017  
This is a wonderful photograph, I really love it. I'd love to visit Death Valley, I remember learning about it in Geography lessons about 40 years ago and decided I would like to go there one day. I haven't been yet but I'm sure I will.
May 3rd, 2017  
This is absolutely fabulous. I really want to learn how to do this
May 3rd, 2017  
Wow amazing shot. FAV
May 3rd, 2017  
Instant fav -- now that is something !! stunningly beautiful !
May 3rd, 2017  
Magical echo between the shape of the branch and the Milky Way and fabulous edit. Amazing what a couple of years has done to our editing skills!
May 3rd, 2017  
This encourages me to have a go at some night-sky shots - I've never tried. Excellent result.
May 3rd, 2017  
Fabulous processing Taffy. Would you be able to post the original shot somewhere for comparison? Please?
May 3rd, 2017  
@angiedanielle24 We all get there soon enough Angie :-(
May 3rd, 2017  
@terryliv indeed...but I hope The Milky Way looks even better from there!
May 3rd, 2017  
@angiedanielle24 My aim is to be part of the milky way :-)
May 3rd, 2017  
Fantastic ... and love the light on the branch ...
May 3rd, 2017  
@terryliv cool!
May 3rd, 2017  
fantastic!
May 3rd, 2017  
Sam
Stunning! FAV
May 3rd, 2017  
this is pretty special. Vast yet delicate
May 3rd, 2017  
Stellar! That piece of wood seems to be reaching up to the sky. Faved
May 3rd, 2017  
Excellent shot.
May 3rd, 2017  
Tom
Fantastic, instant fav boarding on the surreal
May 3rd, 2017  
Absolutely fantastic shot of the Milky Way. So clear when there are no street lights or city lights to hamper the scene. fav.
May 3rd, 2017  
@terryliv I've posted the link in the description now. Thanks for asking. I hope you agree this is an improvement! Here's the link for convenience:
https://365project.org/taffy/special-photos/2015-01-16
May 3rd, 2017  
Fabulous! You found the perfect foreground for this shot! FAV!
May 3rd, 2017  
Wonderfully done!
May 3rd, 2017  
Fabulous image and processing :)
May 3rd, 2017  
Wow! Great processing, too.
May 3rd, 2017  
You have done absolute wonders with this. Stunning picture of the milky way and also of the landscape.
May 3rd, 2017  
Stunning shot! Fav!
May 3rd, 2017  
So pretty and dynamic.
May 3rd, 2017  
Wow this is amazing and I wish I knew what to do with processing! Fav of course
May 3rd, 2017  
Fabulous. Brilliant.
May 3rd, 2017  
You've certainly made a beautiful photo here and you're right, it does look stunning on black, with the light looking amazing. Fav.
May 3rd, 2017  
What a stunning image.
May 3rd, 2017  
Great shot
May 3rd, 2017  
Absolutely fantastic shot. You really should print this on metallic paper or glass. It would be magnificent.
May 3rd, 2017  
You have me singing the Don McClean song Vincent now......."starry starry night........" Luscious picture.
May 3rd, 2017  
Big difference. I love looking back on my first milky way shots now. I've come so far , but still have so much more to learn. LR went fairly easy for me. It was and is PS that gives me a headache every time I have to learn something new. I've been learning PS for 2 years now and still feel like I only use or know about 5-10% of what its capable of doing. Lol
May 3rd, 2017  
Lee
Wonderful shot and editing. Great night sky and milky Way, and of course the necessary foreground interest to finish the image off.
May 3rd, 2017  
Wow!!
May 3rd, 2017  
Gorgeous, Taffy!
May 3rd, 2017  
Wow, wow, wow!!
May 3rd, 2017  
Oh yes I agree wow wow wow! This is now at the top of my bucket list! Never seen the Milky Way! I wonder if I will be lucky in Newfoundland? Fav for your shot and your stunning processing!
May 3rd, 2017  
I'm really enjoying your project T
May 3rd, 2017  
Fantastic
May 3rd, 2017  
Out of this world, Taffy!
May 4th, 2017  
Wow! Double wow on black!
May 4th, 2017  
Wow very surreal image and great processing!
May 4th, 2017  
This was a gorgeous shot to start with, but the processing made it look absolutely amazing!
May 4th, 2017  
Absolutely outstanding on black - what a shot!
May 4th, 2017  
Incredible picture and perspective.
May 4th, 2017  
Wow and just a slight change that made it POP ...
May 4th, 2017  
Are you going to put this up on Flickr? I bet it would be a stunner there. Also, at some point, I would be interested to find out more about your views on Luminar (which I had not heard of, until your comment mentioned it and I did a "look-see.").
May 4th, 2017  
wow!
May 4th, 2017  
Beautiful shot! I don't know if I'll ever get to a place where I could take a night shot like this but this one sure makes me hope that I do!
May 4th, 2017  
Loved seeing the original and this one. I am just starting to play in lightroom. This is awesome. There is so much to learn
May 4th, 2017  
@rosiekerr Thanks for the kind words - and suggestion posting to Flickr. I'm planning to but hadn't gotten around to it. I do like Luminar though I only know bits and pieces about how to use it -- must get into their tutorials. Junko just downloaded it after seeing what it can do.
May 4th, 2017  
@taffy it's amazing to see the differences in editing decisions over time (and increasing skill levels). I Don't know Luminar, but now I want to join the club with Junko and Rosie!
May 4th, 2017  
What a fantastic shot and processing. It was very interesting seeing the original. Big fav
May 5th, 2017  
Absolutely fabulous, no other words needed :)
May 5th, 2017  
totally amazing world we live in and totally amazing image ...fav
May 5th, 2017  
Stunning. FAV
May 6th, 2017  
FAV!
May 6th, 2017  
that light is just plain AWESOME!
May 7th, 2017  
fantastic!
May 7th, 2017  
Wow - you've turned quite a nice photo into a work of art! Fantastic.
May 7th, 2017  
Wow, beautiful night. The milky way looks so clear!
May 12th, 2017  
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