Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

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Archive 2009 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

dereksurfs
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p.1 #1 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Headed to Big Sur this morning pre-dawn hoping to catch some stars before sunrise. Inspired by other recent night shots I have seen by other photographers I thought I'd give a moonless night another go.

This is fun stuff. But I am definately still experimenting with the darkest nights. It had just rained and the stars were really bright. And I saw several shooting stars while taking these.

Anyway this was a composite of two images. The first was 1 hour before sunrise - 30 secs, f4, ISO 2500. The second 45 minutes later - 30 secs, f4.5, ISO 100, 5DII, 17-40L. This type of shot really is pushing the limits of the 17-40L. This time it seemed to do better than others. But I did have to push the exposure up a stop during raw conversion. So there was definately noise to deal with. But for this lens I am pretty happy with the results especially wide open.

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** Updates based on suggestions, less purple and darker skies:

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Derek

Edited on Nov 26, 2009 at 09:26 PM · View previous versions

Nov 22, 2009 at 03:36 PM

bshamilton
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p.1 #2 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

That's pretty cool, Derek! Great star fields....Pleides, Hyades, Orion and Canis Major easily recognizable.... and good work on the blend....looks quite natural.

Barry

Nov 22, 2009 at 04:38 PM

KKapple
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p.1 #3 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Fantastic image.

Nov 22, 2009 at 04:47 PM

parsons
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p.1 #4 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

all of what barry said, though perhaps tone down the purple a little in the sky.

simon

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:38 PM

uintaangler
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p.1 #5 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Lovely scene.
Great Work.

Nov 22, 2009 at 06:45 PM

David Leask
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p.1 #6 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Wow!
Just amazing.
Well done Derek.
David

Nov 22, 2009 at 10:13 PM

dswiger
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p.1 #7 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Very nice and the blend works for me.
Boy, does this make you feel small (in a good way).
Have thought about doing something like this.
Thanks for posting
Dan

Nov 22, 2009 at 10:20 PM

XFBO
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p.1 #8 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Beautiful shot, one Ive always dreamt of making one day.

If you don't mind my asking, what made you go for such a high ISO?

Nov 23, 2009 at 01:58 AM

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p.1 #9 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Stunning image Derek - I keep hoping I can capture a scene like someday but so far I have yet to be anywhere near the right time and place to make it happen.

Nice work.

Alan

Nov 23, 2009 at 02:01 AM

dereksurfs
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p.1 #10 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Thanks guys,

I am still experimenting with these darkest of nights. But I think this is progress in the right direction. Using the staggered foreground frame was an idea I got from Floris on NPN. Anyway I will probably use dark frame subtraction next go out to help minimize noise.

XFBO, the reason I used ISO 2500 was out of necessity. Dark skies are the goal which means it is really dark out - so dark that you can't even see things a few feet in front of you when walking. When it gets that dark you need to brightest, widest lens you have - for me that is the 17-40L/f4. At 17mm, f4, ISO 2500, 30 seconds this image was still at least 1 stop underexposed. So shooting at ISO 3600 may have been better. But obviously the higher ISO you go the more noise. So it is a trade off. If I wanted star trails I could just shoot for 10 minutes+ at lower ISOs. But I am going for non-trail shots.

Derek

Nov 23, 2009 at 03:30 AM

XFBO
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p.1 #11 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

TY for that explanation, I guess I should had realized that a longer exposure would lead to blurred/streaked stars. Another duh moment.

Nov 23, 2009 at 03:37 AM

wordski
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p.1 #12 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

This is fantastic! Hope to see more of Big Sur soon.

Nov 23, 2009 at 03:39 AM

Rob-Bob
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p.1 #13 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Derek,
Thats a fantastic, wonderfully amazing image.
Very well done.

--a bit purple, but just fantastic.

Thanks for going to all that work, & sharing the results.

Keep it up,
Bob

Nov 23, 2009 at 04:01 AM

Ray Still
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p.1 #14 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Beautiful image really digging everything about this capture and very nice work on the blend

Ray Still

Nov 23, 2009 at 04:03 AM

cclark
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p.1 #15 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Absolutely incredible. Planning my trip.

Nov 23, 2009 at 04:07 AM

ScaryFox
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p.1 #16 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Fascinating! I love the light on the water. Very mysterious.
Ute

Nov 23, 2009 at 02:41 PM

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p.1 #17 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Great com, Derek. I have never seen such a combination before.

Nov 23, 2009 at 06:33 PM

dereksurfs
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p.1 #18 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Thanks for the comments everyone. And I appreciate the feedback on the sky too. Now that you mention it it does seem to have a bit too much purple. So I'll work on that after work tonight. Night sky color balanace is really tricky to get right, even after the fact during RAW conversion. I may have to set the color manually next time.

I am really looking forward to trying this again when we get some more clear nights. it seems like each time I go and experiment I learn a little more.

Derek

Nov 23, 2009 at 07:33 PM

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p.1 #19 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Wow Derek! This is a winner!

I love the STARRY sky and the interesting foreground.

Nov 23, 2009 at 07:59 PM

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p.1 #20 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

love it!

Nov 23, 2009 at 09:45 PM

Tim ONeill
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p.1 #21 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Well done Derek. The stars, coupled with that fantastic foreground exposure is a real winner.

Nov 23, 2009 at 10:41 PM

Bart Carrig
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p.1 #22 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Derek: Excellent execution here; thanks for the explanation. I'm surprised with the 30 sec exposure you didn't get more movement with the stars. Great job with the blend as well.

Bart

Nov 24, 2009 at 01:24 AM

dereksurfs
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p.1 #23 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Thanks Bart,

The main reason I was able to shoot for 30 seconds was because I was shooting wide - 17mm on a full frame camera.

Derek

Nov 24, 2009 at 02:37 AM

Rob Tillyer
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p.1 #24 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Wow, very nice.

Rob

Nov 24, 2009 at 02:44 AM

dereksurfs
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p.1 #25 · Update image: Big Sur by Starlight

Ok,

Here is one with a little less purple in the sky. Still not sure this is the right balance. May have too much blue now:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Derek

Nov 24, 2009 at 03:43 AM


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