Haleakala Star Trails

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 25, 2010159 views8 comments

From a recent backpacking trip in Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii. We were out on a moonless night and the stars were amazing. Orion's belt is visible here (look just left of center for 3 stars sloping diagonally above the peak).

Nikon D80, 12-24 Dx Nikkor, Photoshop blend of 2 exposures of ~30mins each at f/4.0, ISO 100. The first photo was started during twilight to pick up some of the magenta in the sky. All comments/critiques are appreciated.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 25, 2010 at 12:47 AM

Excellent star trails ! The magenta horizon is nice - wish there were more to set off the whites and blacks.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on April 25, 2010 at 7:29 AM

really nice star trail shot Scott!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 25, 2010 at 8:51 AM

This is really good this the strong silhouette to set off the star trails. I've never seen star trails go in different directions. How'd you do that? Did you flip one of the exposures. Looks sort of neat.

Addendum: Saw your answer below. Makes perfect sense. The things we can learn here!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on April 25, 2010 at 9:21 AM

Very interesting trails. I don't recall seeing many images where the trails curve in different directions.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on April 25, 2010 at 11:16 AM

Thanks to everyone for the comments. As for the star trails curving in different directions, I believe this is due to the fact the camera was pointed almost due west and that Hawaii is in the "mid latitudes" (~21 degrees north). My understanding here is that all of the stars in the left hand side of the frame are circling around the southern celestial pole, while the stars of the right of the frame are circling around the northern celestial pole (Polaris). If anyone can confirm that this is what is going on here, please let us know.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on April 25, 2010 at 1:36 PM

That is exactly what's occurring here.
Here in the Southwest, we aim for the southwest (Orion's Belt) to get the same effect.

I like how you brought in the magenta from another image. Helps create better definition for the mountains.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on April 25, 2010 at 4:18 PM

I like this a lot...I love the contrast of the mountain and the stars. Well done.

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on April 25, 2010 at 4:20 PM

Nice star trails! I just got back from Maui from vacation, but the sunrise I got up for at the summit was totally socked in.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments