The Light of the MilkyWay

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 12, 2011469 views20 comments

Hi All,

This is a 5 shot panorama taken on a moonless night at a very dark location. I couldn't see a hand in front of my face. Nearest town was 200km away and there was no light source of any kind except the Milky Way and the Stars.

This was the first time in my life I wasn't fighting any kind of glow in the horizon product of a distant city or light source of some kind.

The Brownish reflection on the lagoon comes from the brightest part of the Milky Way that was on my back. Orion is clearly visible as well as the two Magellan Clouds.

I thought it was interesting to use the Milky Way as a light source.

5 shots, Canon 5DII, 14-24, F2.8, ISO3200, 30''

Thanks!
Luis

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on April 12, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Luis ...extraordinary work here ..love the concept, your effort, and new perspective ...well done ..your comp choice is fantastic too..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Zaccaria Exhenry on April 12, 2011 at 2:34 PM

Wonderfull! Very skillfully done!
The Milky Way reminds me of when i was a kid in australia, now i'm living in the northern hemisphere so....

Registered on January 21, 2011, 14 Posts, 36 Comments

Comment posted by Randall Smith on April 12, 2011 at 4:15 PM

Luis: Wonderfully conceived and executed. The faint details in the lake add to the image. Randall

Registered on June 13, 2009, 30 Posts, 69 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Stough on April 12, 2011 at 4:42 PM

A really beautiful starscape Luis. The reflections of the galaxy on the pool of water are sublime. Excellent work. Only suggestion might be to crop some off the right edge to highlight those glowing galaxies a little more.

Registered on November 20, 2010, 26 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on April 12, 2011 at 4:42 PM

I enjoy all your images Luis, but your night skies always standout IMO. Very nice work.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 12, 2011 at 4:51 PM

Beautiful shot Luis. Perfect placement of the Milky Way so it was over the water.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 12, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Hi Luis, This is awesome work! I love your night sky images,and I keep looking forward to them. Your comp here worked out great.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 12, 2011 at 7:28 PM

Very cool. I assume the the two bright areas on the left are the Magellan Clouds. I'd never have guessed that you could get them so well exposed with an SLR. Terrific concept and execution.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on April 12, 2011 at 8:57 PM

Nice scene, Luis. I bet a print of this would look good in the right light and setting. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 12, 2011 at 11:01 PM

Amazing sky Luis! Beautiful and especially exceptional work!

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 13, 2011 at 9:50 AM

This is neat, Luis. I've never seen tha Magellanic Clouds. Stitched starscapes. Is the software able to line up these points of light?

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

Comment posted by Tom Dobrzanski on April 13, 2011 at 9:57 AM

Excellent capture and great work! I'm as curious as Tony about which software was able to line it up.

Registered on September 27, 2010, 17 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on April 13, 2011 at 10:35 AM

Thank you for the feedback!!

Yes, the two bright blobs on the left are the Magellan clouds. They are easy to see with the naked eye from dark locations, no chance if there is light pollution.

I used PtGUI to stitch the panorama, no problem using the stars as control points, I allowed plenty of overlap between shots (around 40%).

ty again!

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on April 13, 2011 at 9:45 PM

Amazing nightscape Luis! The details you've captured are breathtaking.

I tried stitching a nightscape once and couldn't get the stars and landscape to line up properly because of the stars "movement" between frames.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Shane McDermott on April 14, 2011 at 12:05 AM

Hi Luis

Very cool concept, I really like the simplicity of the comp as well. The only thing I am seeing that seems a little off is the cyan band of color close to the horizon. I see it to the left and right edges of the lake. It looks related to processing and an easy fix. Otherwise very unique image.

Shane

Registered on November 12, 2007, 49 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Dobrzanski on April 14, 2011 at 3:15 AM

Thanks for reply Luis :)

Registered on September 27, 2010, 17 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on April 14, 2011 at 10:40 AM

Thanks again!

Shane: I will have to take a look at my files, I have the strange idea that cyanish glow is something natural, I think skyglow reflected at very low thin clouds but I can be as wrong as usual so I'll check. If it was me I remove it, if it is natural then I keep it. Ty for pointing at that!

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

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on April 15, 2011 at 6:02 PM

Lovely Luis. I know many a star gazer who would eat this up.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on April 17, 2011 at 1:00 AM

I like this a lot. The simple comp really puts the emphasis on that gorgeous sky but the water gives the fg just enough interest to get my attention.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on April 20, 2011 at 5:11 PM

Very cool image Luis

Well Done!

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments