Quiver Tree Galaxy

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 14, 2016140 views9 comments

We just came back from an epic 24 days of camping overland in Namibia with family and friends.
One of our locations was the quiver tree forests near Keetmanshoop.

I hope you like this one - night shooting was limited by the galactic core not being visible this time of year and the moon being up most of the night, we only had a moonless window an hour or so before sunrise.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 @ 14mm
f2.8 | 25 seconds | ISO-3200

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Ana on November 14, 2016 at 10:56 AM

This works really well. The silhouette of that smaller tree against the sunrise adds a lot to the shot.

Registered on February 10, 2004, 191 Posts, 1446 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on November 14, 2016 at 11:57 AM

While the sky didn't give you everything that's out there due to the time of year and the galactic center, this still works for a night sky image. I wish the light painting on the dominant tree wasn't quite as strong. The keystone effect from the wide angle lens tilted up is pretty strong with trees on both sides of the frame tilting in. Don't know if there was enough image capture to straighten that without cropping in to far? Those issues aside, a pleasing image for me.

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

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on November 14, 2016 at 3:25 PM

Wonderful foreground and sky, just very unique and appealing. I don't mind the keystoning effect at all, but would be curious to see it with less to see if I prefer it. Sounds like you had a marvelous trip and I look forward to seeing more photos. There is a strong shaft of light angling up from the right lower corner. Not sure what that is, but it catches my eye a bit. Perhaps someone was holding a light coming from that direction onto the tree?

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 14, 2016 at 10:00 PM

This is a fine "starscape", Morkel. The lighting on the tree (I'm guessing light painted) balances well with the star field. The shaft of light coming in from the right is a bit of a distraction, but overall I like the scene a lot.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 16, 2016 at 2:48 PM

Very cool and graphic. I love the stars and the Large Magellanic Cloud off to the right. The tree is very other-worldly. Nicely done.
--P

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on November 16, 2016 at 4:08 PM

This is a really interesting idea IMO. For me it's about the large tree and the small tree on the warm horizon. I would build the composition around those elements by cropping a tad from the bottom and the top. If there is any way to make the coloration due to lightpainting on the front tree more natural that would be good. I would try cooling the temperature to give it a more moonlit appearance it would be good. But this image has so much going for it. The warm horizon gradually changing to blue. The leaning trees are excellent because they promote the idea of it being so alien. PS I would clone out that small cluster of stars on the right edge.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on November 17, 2016 at 2:22 AM

Think the Milky Way has lined up very nicely for you in this composition. Well done Morkel.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on November 18, 2016 at 7:53 PM

Excellent Erasmus I love Quiver trees and this one with it's crown of foliage is looking gorgeous as emporor of it's Galactic Empire.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 20, 2016 at 4:06 PM

Thanks a lot, folks!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments