Milky Way

[TripleBlack]

I've been wanting to try this for a good while so I pulled over while driving back from Oklahoma late last night. It was a fairly dark location and the moon had 'set'. Not much prep or time spent as we were tired and ready to get home -- I just set the camera up and pointed it at the sky and snapped a few, not even checking the viewfinder or live view, hence the weak compositions. I'm now anxious to give this a real try during the next new moon.

If you have anything similar, let's see 'em!

Details: 7d w/Tokina 11-16 2.8. ISO 3200/30 seconds/f2.8. Manual focus to infinity. It took some fiddling in Lightroom to get a decent color balance and exposure.

[wwomanC6]

Very Cool pics!!! Love the blue and purple colors!

[carlton_fritz]

It doesn't get that dark here.

[Chuck A]

very nice, indeed

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

I like these pics, don't get me wrong. But how in Sam's HELL do make them interesting composition-wise? I've tried several time and failed miserably.

In the end, all I end up with is stars and a full Recycle Bin.

[TripleBlack]

Originally Posted by wwomanC6

Very Cool pics!!! Love the blue and purple colors!

Thanks... kind of an editorial decision on the blue and purple. I played with the white balance quite a bit trying to find something pleasing. I shot them on auto WB and they had an orange cast. Cooling the WB helped.

Originally Posted by Chuck A

very nice, indeed

Thanks!

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

It doesn't get that dark here.

Here either... I was driving between Norman and Dallas (we WILL NOT discuss the football game I was there to attend). I was surprised how well it showed up given the amount of light there. It was dark, but not DARK.

Originally Posted by Thomas

I like these pics, don't get me wrong. But how in Sam's HELL do make them interesting composition-wise? I've tried several time and failed miserably.

In the end, all I end up with is stars and a full Recycle Bin.

I think the only way to make them really interesting is to have some foreground or horizon feature to set them off against. The shots I like best have something interesting in the foreground like an old tree, rock formations, etc. To make that work, it needs to be super dark on the horizon. Everywhere around here there's a lot of light pollution on the horizon so it's hard to do that. For these, I literally just pointed the camera 'up'.

This was taken (not by me) at an old fort about 3 hours west of me; I plan to check it first chance I get.

[78SA]

Great pics!

[Sea Six]

Beautiful. Btw, TripleBlack, the "Milky Way" literally means milk-white path.

Technically this would count in this months' contest. Just sayin.

[TripleBlack]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Beautiful. Btw, TripleBlack, the "Milky Way" literally means milk-white path.

Technically this would count in this months' contest. Just sayin.

Well I have something else I'm hoping to shoot Wednesday, but might have to fall back on this one if that doesn't turn out. I'm a month late with this... should have had it for my own "sky" topic.

[Yamma]

wow!! Those pics are amazing!! I rarely get the opportunity to see it, but have always wanted to shoot it. You did a great job capturing it!

[TripleBlack]

Originally Posted by Yamma

wow!! Those pics are amazing!! I rarely get the opportunity to see it, but have always wanted to shoot it. You did a great job capturing it!

Thanks! I was really surprised at how well they turned out. Pretty easy stuff... just shoot raw to give the most latitude for exposure and WB adjustments, wide open with a fast lens, high ISO, and keep the exposure 30 seconds or less or you will get the beginnings of trails.

Just wish there would have been something interesting to include as a foreground. Kinda boring as photos, though they make a pretty good wallpaper for the PC.

[78SA]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Beautiful. Btw, TripleBlack, the "Milky Way" literally means milk-white path.

Technically this would count in this months' contest. Just sayin.

Good point.

[Bucwheat]

Amazing sight.