Help with a Milkey way location (image added)+ 3rd image

[Ben Egbert]

I am putting this here because I want some critique on the location. This is not a presentation image. I took it last night which was a horrible night for a MW because the moon was directly in the MW and very bright. But I wanted to explore the possibilities of the site for a future date, I am thinking July 19.

This is at 9400 feet and only 44 miles from home. The core of the MW would be at the left edge of this 15mm image. I moved the camera to avoid as much washout as possible.

That said, I would have a hard time getting as much light on the foreground without such a bright moon. But the horizon is fairly low as you can see and the light pollution from the town of Heber would be shifted to the right edge.

This was taken at 15mm 25 seconds f4 and ISO 1600

 

[JimFox]

Hey Ben, that looks like it would be a nice location with being at high altitude, and the light pollution seems minimal.

Did you take an image of what you think the actual composition would be? One where it sounds like the moon would have been in the middle of the image?

 

[Ben Egbert]

I probably did during the day I think I did with the moon in it because the Milky Way dictates where to compose I have not processed them yet.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Jim, here is an approximate composition I would use placing the MW near the middle. This is 20mm and I would be using 15 and probably tilted upwards to get more sky;.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Jim, I found one thats just what you asked for, shot at the same session with the moon (and MW) near the center. This is straight out of camera with no processing. 15mm ISO1600 f2,8 30 seconds

 

[Ben Egbert]

I think I see the MW and it's not where the Sky Guide said it would be. I could not see this with the naked eye. I did not see it until I posted it here. Anyway, this is the comp I would use and it would not change much had I centered the MW. The foreground is not really very interesting for a night shot.

 

[JimFox]

Thanks for the additional photos. The 20mm image with the flowers in the foreground actually could make a great ground layer. Just shoot it post sunset and then blend it in with the Milky Way.

The last one you posted, I think the Milky Way is still too much to the left in the image, it will feel unbalanced. I wasn't sure where the MW would be in relation to the moon. Ignoring the moon, the MW needs to be about halfway into the image or even a bit more to the right side then halfway.

That last one though doesn't do much for me in terms of ground layer interest. Even if you changed the angle of it to aim more to the left, I don't think it would carry the image or compliment the MW.

It could make for a fun MW practice session, but I think you should look for something a little more engaging on the ground, or use that location in the 20mm shot. That location could be super cool I think.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks Jim. When I am doing Milkey Ways, I use Sky Guide as a set up, but often move as I start taking images and know exactly where the MW is. In this case, I could have used the location of the 20mm shot but at 15. It was only 50 feet or so from the other location.

Foliage and flowers are not great subjects for MY shots because the don't reflect light well (maybe some flowers do).

I was up here for flowers but still a week or so early and I am defiantly going back. Do you think the 19th will be a good night? Can't do the 20th because it's my wife's birthday.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Jim, I found one way to the left with the MW better positioned, I thought it was clouds until I spotted

the previous one. The mw is washed out, but it shows the relationship to the terrain.

 

[JimFox]

I like this a lot better Ben.

I would go set up and shoot it so that road runs right through the shot! Not sure how much traffic you get up there at midnight, but that road could be super cool. Along with doing one with some of these flowers.

Do you have 2 tripods so you can take 2 different compositions at twilight? One with the flowers and one with the road? That way you can take the twilight shot with better ground detail, and then just move the camera between the 2 locations without moving the tripod.

I am guessing that you would want the MW taken by about midnight before it starts getting too vertical.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I like this a lot better Ben.

I would go set up and shoot it so that road runs right through the shot! Not sure how much traffic you get up there at midnight, but that road could be super cool. Along with doing one with some of these flowers.

Do you have 2 tripods so you can take 2 different compositions at twilight? One with the flowers and one with the road? That way you can take the twilight shot with better ground detail, and then just move the camera between the 2 locations without moving the tripod.

I am guessing that you would want the MW taken by about midnight before it starts getting too vertical.

Yes I have two tripods, so I could do that. I tried to avoid that road in the daytime, but I had the same idea as you when I saw it here. There is a surprising amount of traffic all night. But I could hear them a long way off and time my shots.

After posting the previous message, I saw that the 19th is not good, but the 23rd might be but being a Saturday might have too many people.

 

[JimFox]

If it were me Ben, I would go for Monday Aug 1st or even Sunday July 31st. You want to be on that side of the new moon. I would have to look closer, as I am thinking here, I would actually suggest Tuesday Aug 2nd or perhaps Wed Aug 3rd.

On the 2nd, the moon sets at 10:52. So it depends on what time your sunset is on the 2nd, but shooting from 10pm until it sets would be awesome, especially if you are going for a single shot image. On the 3rd it sets at 11:21pm so from 10:45pm on past the moon set would be perfect timing.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks Jim, I may need to take 2 more trips, the flowers will be gone by August.