I visited Mount Rainier and Mount Saint Helens last week, and here are some images from that trip. All images were taken with a Nikon D800. The last image was taken with the Astrotrac system (merging one tracked image with one untracked image). The Milky Way really did emerge, as shown, from Saint Helens.
Tim, Aaron, Chris, Scott, Harsha, and Andrew, thanks for taking the time to look over my images and make comments. The blending on the last image looks good to me, even when printed at 20 inches by 16 inches. However, I may have a better image to use for the ground (taken earlier in the evening, so there is more detail and less noise). That might make for a better large print. I will try this new ground image and post the new blend if it looks good. Thanks again!
Keith W.
Nick, thanks! The morning light on Saint Helens was great for me for at least 30 minutes. The evening light on Rainier was very fleeting - it only lasted about 5 minutes, and happened just as I was about to leave (I should know better by now). The milky way shot was greatly aided by getting some information from someone (specifically, Iron Tazz Scaggs) who was there the night before. Using that information, I was able to place myself in a position so that, at around midnight, the milky way would align itself so that it appeared to be coming out, or erupting, from Mount Saint Helens. I do have a half way decent single image (60 seconds, so slight star trails) to prove that my composite isn't stretching the truth of what I saw that evening. What an evening it was! At any rate, thanks again.
Keith W.
Ron and Sneakyracer, thanks for the feed-back! Yes, the second image shows a snow covered Tipsoo Lake. Later in the season, when the snow melts, sunrise images can be taken from here, with a reflection (if you are close to the lake) of Mount Rainier in the lake. You may have seen (fantastic) images like that on this forum. I intend to go back late summer (either this year, or next) for just such an image. Thanks again!
