Clear Skies

[Nick Lukey]

Well tonight we had clear sky, so back out into the fields. Shame about the urban glow that's from Uttoxeter.
Still pleased with the shots I took, averaged around 8 seconds, couldn't do longer as they started to trail. Really enjoyed the hour. Lost my nice torch though means a walk out in the morning to find it.
Fuji xt1 14mm

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Sweet!

Must have been super clear

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Unlike many star shots I've seen, this one has a nice composition. I know it can be a specialist field, astrophotography, but you've achieved impressive results here. I can see the moon beginning to trail, but what's that line of dots just above the horizon on the far left? If that's a trail, might it be the ISS?

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Superb Nick.
Is it a plane to the left? I had talked to a local night time photographer at the end of last year. He was saying just how hard it is to find open skies unpolluted from street lights. I was going to try this year when the milky way is visible here between May and August. So looking forward to that.

 

[Nick Lukey]

Unlike many star shots I've seen, this one has a nice composition. I know it can be a specialist field, astrophotography, but you've achieved impressive results here. I can see the moon beginning to trail, but what's that line of dots just above the horizon on the far left? If that's a trail, might it be the ISS?

Thanks Rob, actually shooting this was really hard going, much harder than I thought. The moon made it difficult as well as it was a crescent but it burned out into an orb. If I get chance tonight i will re do it, and shoot the moon first, then the sky and blend them in photoshop. Its amazing how much detail digital sensors pick up. Seriously it was nearly pitch black where I shot from. Intersting to do though, and glad I caught Pleiades so well.

 

[Nick Lukey]

Superb Nick.
Is it a plane to the left? I had talked to a local night time photographer at the end of last year. He was saying just how hard it is to find open skies unpolluted from street lights. I was going to try this year when the milky way is visible here between May and August. So looking forward to that.

Hi Julian, yes its a plane I fairly close to East Midlands airport so I gues it was that. Thinking of trying to get some of the milky way myself, just a lottery with the weather.

 

[Tom Dunne]

A really fine result Nick. Actually, the light pollution from Uttoxeter does little damage to the image in my opinion.. I provides a nice extra element of colour in this case.

 

[Nick Lukey]

A really fine result Nick. Actually, the light pollution from Uttoxeter does little damage to the image in my opinion.. I provides a nice extra element of colour in this case.

Hi Tom
thanks for the comments, think the moon was more of an issue tbh. Shame as it was a lovely crescent.

 

[Keith Hollister]

I have been playing with some astro stuff as well with my X-E2 & 14mm. I have gotten to 20-25 sec without trailing unless you examine it at 100% (and even then it is pretty minor). That sort of matches a rough rule of thumb I saw that was 500/focal length (35mm equiv). Curious why 8 sec seems to be your limit.

Nice shot though. I actually think the horizon glow adds some interest. The trick with much of this stuff is getting some visible foreground to keep it from being just a shot of stars against a black background.

 

[Pete Askew]

Very nicely done indeed Nick. I agree about the glow, I also think it adds something. And the Pleiades have come out very well haven't they?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I found some great astro tips at http://www.budgetastro.net/astrophotography-with-a-camera-and-tripod-part-1.html

 

[Nick Lukey]

I have been playing with some astro stuff as well with my X-E2 & 14mm. I have gotten to 20-25 sec without trailing unless you examine it at 100% (and even then it is pretty minor). That sort of matches a rough rule of thumb I saw that was 500/focal length (35mm equiv). Curious why 8 sec seems to be your limit.

Nice shot though. I actually think the horizon glow adds some interest. The trick with much of this stuff is getting some visible foreground to keep it from being just a shot of stars against a black background.

Hi Keith actually looking at the exif it would appear that in my exuberance I left the iso @ 1600 doh , also it being a new camera, in the dark without my bloody torch which I mislaid. I could have done a little better, I had read that 15-20 seconds were quite achievable without trailing, as my first attemps goes I'm pleased, but next time I will be a little more prepared.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

there's nothing for me to ad but fabulous.