Milky Way over Sparks Lane

[Travis Rhoads]

I mentioned it over on another thread...so thought I might post it here too...once I get around to re-editing I will share the new version too...

This is an image that was nearly 2 years in the making. From the time I first started to really learn to shoot the MW, through a fall trip the idea came to mind and then planning, waiting, trying and failing, getting rained out, it finally came together last month. I have never seen this shot done...and I have looked...for a while I didn't even think it would be possible. I was a little giddy when it finally worked out. I might even get to try to do it again this weekend if the weather works out.

Milky Way Over Sparks Lane by Travis Rhoads, on Flickr

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the level of detail you have preserved in the stars with a relatively low noise level. My own ventures into nighttime shooting have not fared so well.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

I like the level of detail you have preserved in the stars with a relatively low noise level. My own ventures into nighttime shooting have not fared so well.

Alan, the Sony A7R2 is really well suited to astrophotography, there is a lot of commotion about a built in noise reduction problem...but I am happy with my results. The lens used makes a big difference too, but probably the biggest difference is my edit process. Instead of shooting at ISO 6400, I shoot at 3200 and then adjust exposure in post production, and that creates a brighter exposure with less noise than the ISO 6400 frame. This one shows up as ISO 1600, but that is because the foreground is the base layer, and it was shot at 1600.

 

[Dean]

Travis,
Great shot extremely well executed .
Regards,
Dean

 

[MayD]

I think your patience paid off. Awesome!

 

[Kyle Jones]

I can see why that tree could make you insane during blending! Nicely done!

 

[Bob Denton]

That is a great photo.

 

[JimFox]

I love this one! Very well executed Travis.

I might have to go back and do some more tests. A couple of years ago I did a sequence of tests with the various High ISO's and my results showed that I was inducing slightly more noise from underexposing and then raising the level brightness in post, rather then just a proper exposure even if the ISO was Higher. Perhaps I will need to go back and check that and see if I still agree with that assessment. Of course, I could just wait till the D850 comes out, and then just do my retesting on that.

Jim

 

[Bob Denton]

A great night photo with stars.

 

[Martín el Escocés]

Beautiful shot, Travis, and interesting explanation of the technique you used. I have never managed to produce a decent star shot myself but I might give this a whirl!

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Apologies for the late replies...spare time has been limited the last week or two!

Travis,
Great shot extremely well executed .
Regards,
Dean

Thank you Dean.

I think your patience paid off. Awesome!

Thanks, it was great to see it finally come together, patience is not something I am typically known for!

I can see why that tree could make you insane during blending! Nicely done!

Thanks, yes, that tree drove me nuts! But the trees really needed to break the horizon of the mountain range behind them, it really sets the location for those that are familiar with it.

That is a great photo.

Very kind of you, thanks!

I love this one! Very well executed Travis.

I might have to go back and do some more tests. A couple of years ago I did a sequence of tests with the various High ISO's and my results showed that I was inducing slightly more noise from underexposing and then raising the level brightness in post, rather then just a proper exposure even if the ISO was Higher. Perhaps I will need to go back and check that and see if I still agree with that assessment. Of course, I could just wait till the D850 comes out, and then just do my retesting on that.

Jim

Thanks Jim. I think the editing thing is camera dependent, it was something I was reading about earlier this year, and with the A7R2 it seems to work really well. YMMV.

A great night photo with stars.

Thanks Bob!

Beautiful shot, Travis, and interesting explanation of the technique you used. I have never managed to produce a decent star shot myself but I might give this a whirl!

Thanks. It is a real challenge to shoot the night sky, it is one aspect of photography that really does require the right tools to get the best results...but on a recent trip leading a group of local photogs, we managed to make sure that everyone got a shot of the MW, no matter what camera and lens they were using...but the right tools do make a big difference.

 

[Ryan10]

I remember seeing this on FM. Superb! As I said to Jim, love that the MW is not over processed. I tend to go a bit overboard myself, but the way you and Jim have posted the last few are just excellent!

 

[Travis Rhoads]

I remember seeing this on FM. Superb! As I said to Jim, love that the MW is not over processed. I tend to go a bit overboard myself, but the way you and Jim have posted the last few are just excellent!

Thanks Ryan. I am not a fan of overly processed MW images, I try to work with what the camera gives me and not go too crazy. Glad you like it, thanks for the kind words.