Night Photography / Milky Way Shots

[Dave_W]

Ah, good point. I should have looked first.

I was thinking about your set up and the ability to follow the star movements. I would suggest taking a series of images while varying the exposure times starting at 40 sec on up to 2 min. Looking again at your image, it seems like there may also be an issue of light pollution at your location. Is that correct or am I just seeing the effect of overexposure?
​Also, what PP software are you using to work up your images?

 

[Jack Dickens]

I think I have fairly dark skies (20.6 on my astronomy light meter, in the middle of the desert I got a 22 on my light meter), but there is probably a little bit of light pollution.

I'm not using any software to work up the images. I have Photoshop but haven't learned how to use it yet. I also have Deep Space Stacker but haven't mastered it either.

Maybe it would help if I started shooting in RAW?

 

[Dave_W]

Yes, shooting RAW will make a very big difference.

Here's an example of a before and after sky photo shot in RAW format. Btw, the first photo is directly out of the camera with no PP'ing.

 

[Jack Dickens]

No way! Huge difference! So, I really need to shoot in RAW and learn Photoshop. Or is there another, more user friendly, software out there for this sort of photography editing?

 

[Dave_W]

The bulk of the PP'ing was done in Lightroom. But Photoshop will do everything LR does, it just a little harder to master than LR is. That said, I would urge you to pick up a copy of LR. Right now you can download it for a 30 day free trial. Generally people find it's so useful that they buy it outright before the 30 days are up.

 

[sOnIc]

Hi ppl, awesome images Dave!

Jack, you say 35mm but the image you posted looks much more zoomed in, like I'd expect from my kit lens at 52mm, if not more? The group of stars just above center is the 'Coathanger' cluster in Vulpecula; between Cygnus and Aquilla. If you want to show the Milky Way then you need to pull back, use a wide-angle lens like 18mm or less. It looks to me like your image is very good; great astro-tracking except a little trailing in the corners, the milky colour behind the stars may actually be because you are right in the brightest parts of the Milky Way there; and/or perhaps some light pollution visible, OR even moonlight? It's a telescopic type image; you could do a good picture of the Andromeda Galaxy with a field of view like that. But as I said; if you want to show the Milky Way then you need to pull back a lot. And defo shoot raw so you have white balance and exposure control after; Photoshop is awesome, essential. (Adobe Cloud, monthly subscription for apps like PS, job done...)

This edit took me 2mins in ViewNX2, obviously without raw tools, all I've done is reduce the brightness, you can see the Milky Way now, its not a bad image; perhaps a little off focus.


I'd love an astro-trak type thing myself but I can piggy back an SLR on one of our telescopes here; either manual tracking or 'goto', or there are DIY barn-door methods which work well. I'll have to drive out to one of our dark-sky spots and try it again soon : ) Great to see some astro stuff on here. Best of luck...

 

[sOnIc]

Sorry, I had to do it ..:


And this is what it looks overlaid on top of Dave's huge field of view:


So, I guess that is 35mm, apologies, just looks much more zoomed than I would have expected, but you can see the FoV you have.
To better that image; I think you would need to perfect the focus, and have better 'seeing' conditions; better visibility. Make sure the camera rig is not being blown around in the wind or anything, perfect stability; and perfect the astro-trak setup as it was not quite on.
And obviously my edits were done with a small jpeg, I'm sure you can imagine the difference if I was starting with a full-res RAW.
Hope this helps, I certainly enjoyed myself!

 

[Photosail]

Hi one other thing, I can add I am experimenting with night photography as well. Make sure the image stabilization feature on your lens is turned off.

I have found this out the hard way.
I do have a question of my own though,

I am having trouble with my remote shutter release It seems I have to be in front or to one side of the camera. Is there an item I can buy and put on the hot shoe. To make the remote easier to work.

Regards
Photosail

 

[JDFlood]

Typically astrophotography today is done with stacked multiple exposures. So 5 seconds ISO 800 or less, 10 exposures. Then use deepspacestaker ( free ). Then process in PS. While I really prefer LR for most photography Photoshop is easier for Astrophotography. Also, switch to a astrophoto Forum... Like Cloudy nights, or astronomy forum. The process is well worked out, but is highly specialized. It is truly amazing what you can do... But takes a lot of time and specific tools to do it easily. JD

 

[Photosail]

One other thing to keep in mind.

Make sure to turn off the stabilization settings in your lens. learned the hard way.

 

[Jonathan]

Typically astrophotography today is done with stacked multiple exposures. So 5 seconds ISO 800 or less, 10 exposures. Then use deepspacestaker ( free ). Then process in PS. While I really prefer LR for most photography Photoshop is easier for Astrophotography. Also, switch to a astrophoto Forum... Like Cloudy nights, or astronomy forum. The process is well worked out, but is highly specialized. It is truly amazing what you can do... But takes a lot of time and specific tools to do it easily. JD

You beat me to the stacking tip!

I, too, am a wannabe astrophotographer. I have bought the kit but it has been raining so much here since late last year I suspect even Noah would be felling self-doubt! I have this telescope: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000GUKTDM/ref=wms_ohs_product_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (Celestron NexStar 6SE) and some bits and bobs (like these lenses http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004KMC0UC/ref=wms_ohs_product_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and stacking software but I haven't really been able to get into it yet. I need to find and join a local club.