Our Galactic N'ghborhood

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 21, 2010598 views25 comments

Hi!

This photo shows our own galaxy: the Milky Way above the hills near Azul,Argentina along with two of our small satellite galaxies: The Magellan Clouds. The Small Magellan Cloud is at the top left and the Large Magellan Cloud is at the bottom left.

I know Milky way shots can be boring, after seeing some you've seen them all but this was a very clear night (but humid) and I couldn't resist showing 3 galaxies in the same frame.

I'm not sure about removing the branches in the foreground, maybe they are too distracting.

Tech data:
5DII,Nikon 14-24 F2.8
ISO1600, F2.8,14mm,
10x1 minute exposures
stacked for noise reduction.

Thanks!
Luis

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 21, 2010 at 10:47 AM

Sweet shot Luis. IMO this is nicer than the average celestial image. The comp is very nice and balanced with the two extra Magellan Clouds. Very nicely done.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on September 21, 2010 at 10:53 AM

well done!

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on September 21, 2010 at 11:07 AM

I don't really understand how the technique works, but you've certainly created an incredible result. Since I don't often visit the many other web galleries out there, I probably haven't seen as many similar images as some have.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on September 21, 2010 at 11:27 AM

This is awesome, really different from the normal star images. Great composition as well!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Giovanni Allievi on September 21, 2010 at 12:01 PM

Gorgeous view !
It makes me think what kind of tiny beings we all are...

Giovanni.

Registered on March 26, 2008, 87 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on September 21, 2010 at 1:49 PM

Highly interesting, beautiful and educative image Luis! I have not seen too many milky way images yet - I really enjoy it and I think it is a fascinating way to look at nature.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 21, 2010 at 2:14 PM

Fabulous work Luis! Gorgeous light. The branches are not that noticeable except in a dark room.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by David W. Kelly on September 21, 2010 at 2:20 PM

How can the glorious heavens ever get boring? Wonderful image.

Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on September 21, 2010 at 4:08 PM

“10x1 minute exposures
stacked for noise reduction.”

How did you stack 10 one minute exposures and avoid the long star trails normally associated with ten minutes of exposure?

Nice shot.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on September 21, 2010 at 4:17 PM

Thanks All for the very kind feedback.

Richard: I use Deep Sky Stacker (freeware) to stack it compensates for the stars rotation. For this shot I also used an Astrotrac drive mount to be able to pull 1 minute exposures without trails. It's a nice device that goes between your tripod legs and your tripod head. (You can google it)

One day I will find the right foreground for the right sky under a dark site with the right conditions. I'm sure that day will find me without any equipment! :)
In the meantime I'm happy with this less interesting compositions.

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 21, 2010 at 7:28 PM

Super!! I really enjoy looking at this. Nice work, Luis.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on September 21, 2010 at 7:54 PM

I really like these star images. Living in the city doesn't allow many opportunities to witness this beauty.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 21, 2010 at 8:55 PM

One of the best night sky/Milky Way shots I have ever seen, but the foreground needs a lot of work. Have you tried blending a long exposure for more detail in the foreground with your sky stacks?

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on September 21, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Awesome, Luis. I had the same reaction as Richard. Will google that to find out more.
I do think the branches are distracting and would suggest some cropping off the bottom and cloning out the residual tall branch.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 21, 2010 at 10:03 PM

This takes the beauty of the night to a whole new level. Don't worry about the foreground. This looks as good as a HST image.

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

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 22, 2010 at 5:51 AM

The stars are superb. The fg material just takes away from the glorious sky IMO--id rather just enjoy this as a great astro shot, personally i think its counterproductive to tie it to a landscape, but thats just my take.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pederson on September 22, 2010 at 8:15 AM

A truly amazing sky...but I do find the foreground distracting. If it were my image, I'd be tempted to crop out all of the foreground...and work to darken the light bleeding up from the horizon. The process you used is very interesting...I'll have to look it up. Thanks for sharing this.

Registered on August 12, 2010, 29 Posts, 108 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 22, 2010 at 9:09 AM

Maybe the clearest shot of the Milky Way and surroundings I've seen yet! Amazing!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Amy Lindsey on September 22, 2010 at 10:02 AM

Fantastic stars! I'm with Stan Rose on this one- the foreground is distracting, particularly the branches. They were the very first things my eyes were drawn to. You've got enough excitement in the stars to get rid of the foreground, or at least the branches. I would love to learn to shoot the skies as well as this!

Registered on August 25, 2005, 14 Posts, 54 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on September 22, 2010 at 10:38 AM

Ty for the feedback guys!!!
I will remove the branches and polish the foreground a little. I will also try to find other locations with clear skies and a better composition for the foreground.

Stan: Not the best foreground but at least it gives some context about where the shot was taken. The hills by the way are among the oldest rock formations on earth dating from more than 2000 million years ago!

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Adrian Klein on September 22, 2010 at 1:11 PM

The details of the Milky Way in your image are super. A fine night shot indeed!

Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on September 22, 2010 at 2:28 PM

“ For this shot I also used an Astrotrac drive mount to be able to pull 1 minute exposures without trails. It's a nice device that goes between your tripod legs and your tripod head. (You can google it)”

Wow, what a neat piece of fairly affordable hardware! That thing has to run as smooth as glass in order keep things sharp.

Great star shot!! Keep’em coming.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on September 22, 2010 at 3:17 PM

Yes Richard, the Astrotrac is very nice and I like its portability.
With a very rough 20 seconds setup using a compass I could go from 20 seconds to 1 minute or a bit longer.
With proper alignment you can expose for 2 or 3 minutes with a longer lens or even more.
My interest was just to extend the exposure of nigh landscapes to make the sky look better and for that it really delivers!

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Jackson on September 23, 2010 at 12:44 PM

Wow, one of the best Milky Way shots I've seen. Have to agree with Stan as well. The foreground distracts. I've done several Milky Way shots myself but living in the Northern Hem the center of the galaxy is pretty much right at the horizon. Would love to travel down south and get something like this. Well done!

Registered on July 27, 2005, 3 Posts, 44 Comments

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on September 23, 2010 at 4:52 PM

This one is all about the sky so I don't see the lack of fg as a bad thing at all. I can't believe the detail you captured in the Milky Way. Awesome!

Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments