Raining From Heaven

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 21, 2013744 views22 comments

This was taken during my recent visit to Washington. The Perseid Meteor Shower was coming to an end but since I had clear skies I decided to head up to upper Tipsoo Lake and see what I could capture. I stayed probably 3 hours but had little luck with meteors, at least in the direction my camera was pointing. Saw some other bright fireballs though shooting through the milky way. Not sure if the color in the sky is from light pollution or the moon, which was setting over my left shoulder. Perhaps somebody with more knowledge of the area might know?

I usually avoid doing startrails because I think they are to cliche, but in this case I used a different method of stacking which I kind of like. This is 27 30 second exposures stacked together.

Would be interested in hearing your thoughts. Please check out the larger version!

Nikon D300s
27 exposures stacked
30 Sec. @ f/2.8
ISO 2000

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on August 21, 2013 at 4:25 AM

I like this image a lot. Very nice composition and startrail.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 21, 2013 at 9:38 AM

Zack, That is super cool!! I like looking at this.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 21, 2013 at 10:29 AM

This has a great, stark clarity. The silhouetted trees are so sharp, the star trails nicely clear, and the light on the distant clouds adds just a hint of warmth and really adds to the depth and sense of being there. The star trails start as points and get larger and brighter at the end, did you change aperture across the sequence?

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

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 21, 2013 at 11:16 AM

One of my favorite easy go to spots. Been waiting to see some of your Rainier images Zack!

I'm not usually a fan of star trails, but this image works great! A nicely different take on an often photographed spot!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 21, 2013 at 12:11 PM

Pretty cool shot. I like the falling star effect your stacking has. I would clone out or burn down the brightest spots at the top and left side as they pull the eye a little.

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

Comment posted by Jared Warren on August 21, 2013 at 12:21 PM

Zack, I love this. Very effective with the star trails and lake reflection. One of my favorites of your collection. I'd second Morris's suggestion as an easy refinement to this great image. Nice work!

Registered on May 11, 2012, 84 Posts, 931 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on August 21, 2013 at 5:23 PM

I really like this Zach. I agree that star trail photos can get cliche, but this one is pretty unique. I love the appearance of the star trails, the clarity of the image, and the clouds on the horizon. Well done!

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on August 21, 2013 at 7:16 PM

I am not usually a star trail person, but this image has a unique look to it. I really like the sky.

You did a nice job with the processing, Zack.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on August 21, 2013 at 7:39 PM

Thanks everyone.

Morris: thanks for the subtle suggestion regarding the brighter stars in the upper left, I think it will be a definite improvement.

Mark & Janet: the look of the star trails is the result of my stacking technique in post processing.

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

Comment posted by Tony Prower on August 21, 2013 at 8:39 PM

Oh man! these are really sweet star trails and a wicked reflection also.

Registered on February 5, 2012, 24 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on August 21, 2013 at 8:40 PM

Great effect with the reflections and stars falling up! hand stacked in Photoshop or do you use a specialty program?

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on August 21, 2013 at 9:21 PM

Janet, I am currently working on an e-book that details my night photography techniques, it will be available on my website soon.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on August 21, 2013 at 11:31 PM

I'm sorry that you feel that folks around here are "spamming for book sales" Janet, but this is just one of the ways many of us photographers make a living these days. This is a forum to critique the work of other photographers, not to go into detail explaining each and every post processing technique used to create an image. Best of luck with your photography and welcome to the forum.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on August 22, 2013 at 12:08 AM

The straightness of a lot of the trails makes it look like a massive amount of meteors. Pretty cool!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 22, 2013 at 5:24 PM

Wonderful image, Zack. I really like the look of the startrails. I've seen something similar before, but this is even better. For what it's worth, I don't think keeping that secret to yourself (or describing it in a future e-book) is problematic in the least.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 22, 2013 at 5:51 PM

Zack: Just saw this image. Very nice image with some nice processing. I like the final product.

Read through the thread and saw a comment on "spamming for book sales". Your response to that post was very professional and polite. Thank You. Using the terms "spamming for books sales" was in my opinion unnecessary and rude. Sorry you took the brunt of the comment.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Prower on August 22, 2013 at 6:54 PM

Oh man! these are really sweet star trails and a wicked reflection also.

Registered on February 5, 2012, 24 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on August 23, 2013 at 10:33 AM

Neat effect! And I agree with Keith about your answer to the unnecessary comment that was made to you. That could hardly be called spamming, it was simply a polite answer to her question.

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 24, 2013 at 10:36 PM

Darn, looks like i missed all the fun comments...

Anyhow, this is really bizarre, Zack--im another one who usually doesnt care for trails, but this is a fresh take on te technique--and i like it!

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on August 25, 2013 at 8:59 PM

Its an awesome photo Zack. The perfect amount of stars and trails.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on August 28, 2013 at 11:34 PM

Zack, this is ridiculously cool. I've only seen this effect done by one other photographer on 500pix. The image is perfectly timed to post after the Perseid Meteor shower! Very memorable image.

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Abdulmajeed Aljuha on September 1, 2013 at 4:56 AM

I like the effect on the stars and the reflection but more than that how neat and clear the picture is

love it !

Registered on December 4, 2010, 77 Posts, 149 Comments