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Archive 2015 · Kansas Under the Stars

jonnyt5050
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Kansas Under the Stars

Hello! These are 3 images I made this past week.

Each were made with Nikon D810 w/14-24mm F2.8 lens @14mm. In the past, I was usually unimpressed with lack of color in foreground given that we're operating in complete darkness. So I tried out blending in an image (from same scene) with a little more light (just after sunset or before sunrise).

Obviously, Kansas isn't known for great mountains. So I usually try to find a barn or interesting building to incorporate to break up the horizon.

C&C welcome. I think I'm getting closer to how I want these images to look but any tips from the forum here are certainly appreciated. Thanks!

1.

Galactic Common Core by Jonathan Tasler, on Flickr

2.

Knowledge is Power by Jonathan Tasler, on Flickr

3.

Kansas Barn under the Lights by Jonathan Tasler, on Flickr

Aug 18, 2015 at 09:46 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Kansas Under the Stars

Hey Jonathan,

Nice thought process there. And you came away with some very nice foreground subjects here. I think #3 is my favorite, though I wish there was a little more space to the right of the shot, but still it's cool with the barn and meteors in it.

And #1 and 2 are right there with it, I have been trying to choose between the two of them but really can't.

Good work here.

Jim

Aug 18, 2015 at 12:01 PM

mstrickland
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Kansas Under the Stars

I think I know that barn in the third image.

The sky in all three images is a bit too blue for me. I'd still try to incorporate some of the blackness of the sky, personally. I really dig the symmetry of the second image, but I really wish the milky way was coming up through the center of the frame. Again, if I were you, I'd time my exposure so the milky is going to pop up through the center...could be a really cool effect.

Good to see some images of home pop up in this forum. Keep it up, man!

Aug 18, 2015 at 12:06 PM

dgdg
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Kansas Under the Stars

They are all nice.
Color balance is a matter of taste and these look fine.
The foreground brightness in all match very well with the sky.
Are you sure in #3 that's not a plane across the milky way? I see little blobs in the middle of the streak all along it.

David

Aug 18, 2015 at 12:17 PM

jonnyt5050
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Kansas Under the Stars

Hi David.

Yes, those are aircraft in #3. Initially, I made the mistake of thinking I had caught some meteors. But I was quickly brought down to earth (sorry for pun!) by an alert viewer who pointed out those are aircraft.

Ah well.... maybe next meteor shower.

But it does draw the eye to Andromeda. (It IS Andromeda, right?!)

Aug 18, 2015 at 03:22 PM

jonnyt5050
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Kansas Under the Stars

Barn in third image is southwest of Atchison, KS on 116 Hwy. Is that the one you're thinking about?

Thank you for the notes on composition and color. I think I do prefer a blue space but might try out the blacker version. White balance on milky way shots... I hate to think about how many hours have I screwed around with that!

Aug 18, 2015 at 03:26 PM

Sunny Sra
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Kansas Under the Stars

Beautiful series. Love it

Aug 18, 2015 at 06:17 PM

IsaacTheGray
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Kansas Under the Stars

These are fantastic. In number 2 - The transition from the light on the horizon into the stars really works for me. I've got a long way to go to figure out how to blend different images from the same scene like this. They turned out great!

Aug 18, 2015 at 07:16 PM

kwilliam8
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Kansas Under the Stars

The second image for me. I like the composition.
Keith W.

Aug 19, 2015 at 12:53 PM

Cheryle Sytsma
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Kansas Under the Stars

All of these are very nice...
airplanes and background house, and all!

I like the blue of your skies...
#3 reminds me of the Kansas peacefulness!

Aug 20, 2015 at 08:50 AM

impressnow
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Kansas Under the Stars

I love your shots - especially # 3 and really like the colors.

In about 2 weeks I will be in Sedona and part of our trip is to try astrophotography, which I've never done before.

Although I've been shooting everything but stars for over 40 years, this is new to me.

What recommendations do you have for a newbie?

I'll be taking my new Canon 7D Mark II with my 24-70 f/2.8 and possibly a 14mm 2.8.

Thanks in advance!

Mike

Aug 20, 2015 at 03:18 PM


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