Reverse Tunnel View Nightscape

[Kyle Jones]

I was in Yosemite this weekend, and wanted to try a Milky Way shot from the valley. Of course, this time of year the MW hangs out in the West, making it challenging to come up with a good composition. I remembered seeing shots of Horsetail Falls from a "Reverse Tunnel View" angle and thought that would be cool. I scouted along the 4-mile trail and found a spot that would work. I hiked back up in the evening and set up for the shot. Everything lined up us planned except for 2 things: (1) I forgot that the tunnel would actually be in the shot (the orange spot in the background; and (2) Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was in my field of view.

I shot this with a Tamron 35mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4, 13s and ISO 2000. The sky is a single image. The ground is a smart-object stack to remove noise and let me bring more detail out of the ground. It also tamed the lights from the cars in the valley.

Any thoughts are welcome.

(edited to reduce the light from the tunnel per feedback)

 

[MonikaC]

I like how the MW & comet make 2 sides of a triangle. It's too bad about the lights from the tunnel being so bright. It would be so tempting to edit it out.........

 

[AlanLichty]

Photobombed by a comet. I imagine you are crushed that it spoiled your MW capture

Wonderful result and some nice planning.

 

[JimFox]

Very cool Kyle! Love what you came up with in this. That reverse look is very nice because the valley traffic makes for a nice addition. I think I would look at taming that tunnel some more. It's amazing just how bright those lights are in it. I would try something simple like desaturating it and reducing the brightness. The rest of the image is a killer!

 

[Kyle Jones]

I like how the MW & comet make 2 sides of a triangle. It's too bad about the lights from the tunnel being so bright. It would be so tempting to edit it out.........

Very cool Kyle! Love what you came up with in this. That reverse look is very nice because the valley traffic makes for a nice addition. I think I would look at taming that tunnel some more. It's amazing just how bright those lights are in it. I would try something simple like desaturating it and reducing the brightness. The rest of the image is a killer!

OK, I've reduced the strength of the light from the tunnel. I decided to just replace the original image as the change is somewhat subtle. As much as I'd like to just clone the whole thing out, the tunnel is an iconic part of the park and nobody thinks of it being visible in a landscape shot.

 

[JimFox]

Yep, that's better I think Kyle. It's not quite as bright so it doesn't draw the eye like a magnet.

And I agree, I immediately dismissed the idea of cloning it out as it's too iconic and we know it's there.

Congrats again on getting the Milky Way with the comet. I tried the other night, but I was at a ghost town in Colorado and I got there too late so it was too low and there ended up being distant telephone poles and lights etc in the background that I didn't know about as I wasn't that familiar with the location. But, I am heading to New Mexico for clear skies at the end of the week, I will try again, but the comet is really getting dimmer by the day, so I don't know if it will turn out or not.

 

[Ken Rennie]

Firstly it is stunning and I am awestruck. However, the light in the sky at its lowest point is distracting me although I realise that it is probably realistic. 1. Colour is different 2. Just too bright. The cloud is ok just the sky around it. Lastly the milky way looks both wonderful and believable. This is what is known as a Sh*t sandwich in British camera clubs. Nice comment, not so nice comment, nice comment. Ken

 

[Kyle Jones]

Firstly it is stunning and I am awestruck. However, the light in the sky at its lowest point is distracting me although I realise that it is probably realistic. 1. Colour is different 2. Just too bright. The cloud is ok just the sky around it. Lastly the milky way looks both wonderful and believable. This is what is known as a Sh*t sandwich in British camera clubs. Nice comment, not so nice comment, nice comment. Ken

Thanks Ken - yes that light in the bottom of the sky is from the towns in the valley to the west. I was thankful that I didn't have even more light pollution. I've darkened it quite a bit already and may take another shot at it. Thanks for the comment.

 

[Sunny Sra]

Kyle,
Saw this on IG, but it's so much better to view it here. Love this view.

 

[MonikaC]

OK, I've reduced the strength of the light from the tunnel. I decided to just replace the original image as the change is somewhat subtle. As much as I'd like to just clone the whole thing out, the tunnel is an iconic part of the park and nobody thinks of it being visible in a landscape shot.

Yes, that's better.

 

[Beth]

fantastic photo