This is my first attempt at a Milky Way photo taken at Stonehenge Memorial in Southwest Washington. I'm not familiar with how to stack images yet but am reading up on it currently.
Taken with the Sony a 7iii and a Samyang 14 mm F2.8. Inside the memorial is a LED light panel set to warm. I know the light pollution from the town in the background made it difficult get a good exposure and if there are any tips to share I would greatly appreciate them.
P.S. I believe I've become obsessed with Astrophotography.
Man if this is where you started can't wait till you say you're experienced. I like it, I'm sure other folks will nit pic it for something I didn't see but man great start.
Thanks man! I am a rookie for sure but can't wait to do more.
Post Processing will make a big difference in the noise and the light pollution from the town. I did some post processing in LR to see what could be done since I haven't tried PP any astronomy shots.
But do you like the photo? I think it is great Michael. The Milky Way exposure looks good to me. You might also want to mention that those are planets Jupiter and Saturn to the left. Some noise reduction would help and Topaz deNoise is one of the best. ;)
I like the image a lot but I know it could use some fine tuning. Thanks for the great tip on the Topaz.
Hi Michael. My question about liking the photo was for William. :) FWIW, I like your processed image better. William's version is too dark on my calibrated monitor.
I like the composition.
nice composition. stacking will help with the noise. Keep it up
Great job for a first shot! Only up to go, and you're starting off strong. I've always wanted to go to this location by the way, as a native Washingtonian.
It was a bucket list must for me and I highly recommend it.
Absolutely a great dream come true and like all others best to come! Just info, not critical, remember when even a slight tilt up foregrounds lean for I know you were real close. So a vertical pano maybe and a little further back, I know about the parking lot. also may not need interior light, the A7iii recovery of shadows are great. If around city or town lights shoot at 800 to preserve highlights and even may have to crank down f/# f4 or more). Also Topaz Denoise/AI clear is the best used from Lr Photo-edit in. also Topaz Gigapixel can now be used from within LR for a monster size image. The lens did nice but today there are three Sony lenses the aps-c 1018 f/4 (my first lens with the A7s) (uses screw on filters) used full frame @12mm to 18mm (18 if rear light shield removed), the FE 12-24mm f/4 G and the new FE 12-24 f/2.8 GM the last two there is Haida Rear Lens ND Filter Kit ($150) that will soon have the Clear Night filter for the rear of the lens, so wait to buy a front filter holder for the last two. But goto https://www.lonelyspeck.com/ for his two filters the Sharp Star will help focus the stars (but needs a filter holder) and https://alynwallacephotography.com/ for his StarGlow Filter also a filter holder need but you can use the radial tool in Lr to put a glow around each star that form a sign like scorpio (next to MW). But also the the 16-35's f/4 (2nd lens) and f/2.8 great lenses both. The shot is with the 16-35 f/4 to point out that even with a f/4 shadows can be brought out and the shots look like daytime with stars so no hurry for fast glass just another dream!! Also learn about SkyTrakers that let you get longer shots with colors unseen in a short shot and for noise study image stacking with Sequator for PC and Starry Landscape Stacker for Apple leaving Noise reduction off!! Two apps PhotoPills and Planit Pro. A lot to learn and study on a stormy night. Oh! Do not get the Sigma 14 f/1.8 just study on line photos and you will see why also just TOO heavy!!
So much to learn and thank you for sharing all that information. I do have the 16-35 f4 so I will have to try that lens next as well as a vertical pano.
something I've been wanting to try. Great jump into astrophotograrphy!
I love the LED light panel inside of the memorial. I just picked up a light panel for light painting landscapes, but that's another really cool use case for it. Nice work, especially for a first effort. I also like the balance where both the Milky Way and henge are visible.
Looks fantastic Michael! Keep it up!
Hi Michael.
I might be a little late here, but when I do MW shots I shoot 5 or 6 shots of the sky in quick succession wirh the lens wide open or close to wide open with an iso around 3200 and shutter speed from 10 to 20 seconds. I will edit one in lightroom sync the rest tothe one edited them stack them in a program called sequator. The foreground images have changed settings to reduce the noise levels and give a deeper depth of field. I would take the iso down to around 200 and the f stop to 4-8, the light paint the foreground interest such as your monument. Check out a guy named Richard Tatti from Nightscape Images as he has some terrific, easy to follow youtube tutorials. The image here is using his principles.
Oh, and learn how to do star reduction, it really helps the MW pop.
Regards
Dave