Interesting blog and as a complete novice to Milky way shots I would ask the following questions after reading that blog (in fact I am asking them):
1:What is the torch for?
2: I would have thought that a 14mm would be wide enough to capture the entire scene! Why >7 shots?
3: What is the distance from the left edge of your scene to the right edge - 700 miles?
4: How do you determine "the sharpest infinity setting" on your lens and why?
5: Is this because you are using a manual focus lens and if so would an AF not do just as well?
Nice blog though and have bookmarked it.
1: The torch is to find yourself around with out tripping over shit, and afterwards once set up its for light painting if needed.
2: This is a 14mm shot...
3: Alot of fffing miles...
4: You focus on the moon or a far light post and go from there, if that fails use live view mode and focus on the brightest star and zoom in and ensure its focused in manual.
5: Manual focus only and always.