Milky Way Photos- thanks Al!!

[deaner1971]

Those are AWESOME!

Wow!

Any chance Al could give us a brief version of the techniques you learned?

Great job!

[Andy]

LOL mmvt! That has got to be the BEST "selfie" I have EVER seen. You have learned well from Yoda, young luke

[deaner1971]

Thank you!

Outdoor Photography had an article on shooting the Milky Way so, between your notes and that article, I am ready to give it a shot (or 2 or 12).

[deaner1971]

Quick follow-up, does anyone know what color (on darksitefinder.com) would be considered the minimum color for good shots?

I am stunned that little of Vermont gets below light green which is the middle of the spectrum on that site.

Looks like Kettle Pond is in a darker area as is the Great Cliffs. One of those might have to be the choice for this year. Noty sure about option to the southern sky for both. May have to tinker around.

Does anyone know if the moon having set has the same effect as it being new or does the light still obscure the night, even when the moon is no longer visible?

For Android users, the best option seems to be an app called Stellarium. I just bought it ($2.49) and don't yet understand it completely. There is also an free app for your computer from the site, as well.

[deaner1971]

I am going to give this a shot: https://www.creativelive.com/night-phot ... -banner_-1

$179 for anytime access and downloads but, free to attend on broadcast nights.

[autzig]

I've just llogged into the SOV site for the first time in a while because I have been traveling, and still am. I'm writing this from Canmore, AB Canada. We left Glacier National Park today and will be doing the the Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Highway tour over the next few days. Unfortunately, it rained every night in Glacier so I didn't get any night shots.

Margy, I am happy to share my knowledge of night sky photography with anyone who is willing to listen and I enjoyed our night sky photo op last year at Killington. The reflections of the stars in the pond were really nice. Anyone who is interested can find my article on night sky photography on my website at http://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Nightscapes and here's the photo I made with Margy at Colton pond: http://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Portfoli ... /i-hsSTJpJ. Here's a night sky shot I made with Carol at May Pond: http://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Portfoli ... /i-Fq9cHRg. Here's one I made at Lake Willoughby last year shooting with Carol and Andy: http://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Portfoli ... /i-q9PFNVH.

Does anyone know if the moon having set has the same effect as it being new or does the light still obscure the night, even when the moon is no longer visible?

Dean, new moon or set moon, it doesn't matter. You just don't want the moon lighting up the sky. That said, a crescent moon, can add just enough light to get a good foreground without having to composite sky/foreground shots.

I've found that it is still possible to get a good Milky Way shot that includes the galactic center even in November. Here are a couple of examples from two different years in November in Arches National Park: http://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Portfoli ... /i-HmGH9PJ andhttp://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Portfoli ... /i-Nsrsr7R.

I think Photo Pills is the absolute best app for night sky photography. Not only will it show you when the galactic center will be visible and where it will be, it includes and augmented reality feature that uses the phone's camera to show you where the Milky Way will be at a particular time. That way, you can find the foreground you want in your shot and find the exact time the Milky Way will be where you want it. Here's an example: http://www.goldimagesphoto.com/Portfoli ... /i-PjxxKDW. I wanted the galactic center of the Milky Way to appear between the Turret Arch and the mountain next to it. With Photo Pills, I held the phone up at the spot and turned the time in Photo Pills until the galactic center was where I wanted it. Then I returned at that time to get the shot. I didn't have to leave anything to chance.

I know that some of the regulars to this forum are starved for color and can't wait for October. I've seen and photographed a bit of color here in the west and I'll try to post some photos to the foliage forum when I get a few minutes during my travels.

[Kerry29]

I'm writing this from Canmore, AB Canada. We left Glacier National Park today and will be doing the the Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Highway tour over the next few days.

I spent a total of four weeks photographing in the Canadian Rockies in the autumns of 2014 and 2015 so I am, by definition, jealous. I could easily spend the rest of my life wandering around Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, not to mention the Bighorn Wilderness in Alberta. I look forward to seeing what you capture while in the region.

[Kerry29]

I spent 5 days in Jasper in August! NOt nearly enough time but the Canadian Rockies are simply amazing!! I tried to see Lake Loise but it was packed with people and cars so went to Lake Moraine instead and it was stunning. Jasper is beautiful and Spirit Island was worth the trip.

I spent a total of about eight days in Jasper over the last two years--it's a truly beautiful park, and many of the best spots aren't all that close to the town of Japser.

BTW, you definitely got the better end of the deal if you missed Lake Louise but hit Moraine Lake. Lake Louise is a very pretty sight, but Moraine Lake is at another level.

(FWIW, I have almost 1000 images from the Canadian Rockies on my website. For anyone interested, the gateway to those photos is here:)

http://www.lightscapesphotography.com/f1059975436

[autzig]

Some of you have asked to see my photos when I got back. I now have them posted on my website. I will start another thread about that so this one doesn't get even more cluttered.

Al