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Archive 2013 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Scott Kroeker
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Last week Thursday and fellow photographer and I took a 3.5 hour drive to one my favourite places in the province to photograph, Steep Rock. We arrived about an hour before sunset. It turned out to be one of the most incredible sunsets I've ever seen. Difficult to photograph though! With aurora in the forecast we stayed til nightfall. Though the aurora was out it wasn't super intense and when I decided to try a star trail photo clouds rolled in. So we left around 2am. I didn't get to sleep til after 6am! Still trying to catch up on sleep!

The first image is a single exposure with a GND filter. I wish I would have taken an underexposed shot for recover the blown sun! I was too overwhelmed by the light to think straight! DOH!

1.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/9371928465_5e3ca438cc_b.jpg

Next is a multi image panorama 2 exposure blend taken just after the sun dropped below the horizon. This has recently become my favourite time to shoot into the "sun".

2.
http://www.scottkroeker.com/srsspano.jpg

While waiting for it to get dark, the aurora to show up and the clouds to clear I took this 11min+ exposure.

3.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/9375145456_87f0b82717_b.jpg

This is probably the best aurora shot for the night for me. Again, it wasnt a great show and pales in comparison to the aurora I shot there a year ago. Still a few clouds in the sky but to me it added to the image. This is a 2 image blend for sky ground. I had it all in one exposure but to keep the noise at bay I took a longer exposure of the ground.

4.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/9374702972_4a86c8fb07_b.jpg

This was my failed star trail attempt. The clouds, in the case, didn't help!!!! Oh well, cant win them all!

Or any! :S

5.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/9372369233_9f1dc8044a_b.jpg

Either way, hope you enjoy!

Edited on Jul 29, 2013 at 05:03 PM · View previous versions

Jul 29, 2013 at 04:35 PM

ben egbert
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Incredible images, 1st and 3rd for me but 2 and 4 are also very close.

Jul 29, 2013 at 05:00 PM

blueimage
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Man Scott, talk about getting a really varied set of striking images out of one outing. You ordered everything on the menu, and it was delivered. #4 for me.

Jim

Jul 29, 2013 at 05:17 PM

stanparker
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Great series.

Jul 29, 2013 at 06:05 PM

kylebarendrick
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Beautiful set Scott. 1 and 2 are my favorites and 4 just behind. I'd probably darken the foreground some in 4 for more of a night vibe.

Jul 29, 2013 at 06:18 PM

chez
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Wow, what a series. Well worth the drive.

Jul 29, 2013 at 08:33 PM

DSC01
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Scott, Your really knocking them out of the park, great set I even dig the star trail shot. I like the light you got on #1 but my favorite is #2 and then the aurora shot. Regards,
Dean

Jul 29, 2013 at 08:42 PM

Amador
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Fantastic set! #4 is just sweet! I'd love to see some more focus on that interesting tree on the right, but that is being extremely picky.

Chris

Jul 29, 2013 at 09:02 PM

Scott Kroeker
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Thank you all so much!!!

kylebarendrick wrote:
Beautiful set Scott. 1 and 2 are my favorites and 4 just behind. I'd probably darken the foreground some in 4 for more of a night vibe.

Thank you Kyle! I actually had processed a darker version and was on the fence which one to post here.

Here it is for comparison.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/9371926769_ee0a7d19d9_b.jpg

Edited on Jul 30, 2013 at 02:09 PM · View previous versions

Jul 30, 2013 at 01:12 AM

bktools
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

A fine series, Scott, and the first image is my favorite: dynamic!

Bob

Jul 30, 2013 at 01:14 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Hey Scott,

Wow... very cool stuff here. You did have just a super sunset! #1 is incredibly sweet indeed, I really like it. #2 is a crazy composition, what a cool shot too. I agree with the darker version of #4. And with #5, I wouldn't call it a failed star trail shot at all. I think the clouds are cool and add to the shot. I would darken the foreground though quite a bit more and also the bottom of the sky where it's all cyan. In fact I would select that cyan area itself and change the Color Balance to get it to a darker blue and less cyan to match the sky more.

Jim

Jul 30, 2013 at 01:23 AM

Justin Grimm
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Great shots Scott. I really like 1 and 2! I also prefer the darker version of the Aurora

Jul 30, 2013 at 08:44 AM

CW100
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

nice set - # 1 & 2

Jul 30, 2013 at 10:16 AM

Bjadelberg
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

First one awesome!

Jul 30, 2013 at 10:42 AM

kylebarendrick
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

I do prefer the darker version of #4. I believe it allows the sky to stand out better. Thanks for sharing it.

Jul 30, 2013 at 02:07 PM

camboman
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

#3 is just awesome! The color looks spot-on - I have real problems getting neutral color with long exposures.

And I like the clouds in the star trails image, they make it seem more balanced!

Jul 30, 2013 at 07:43 PM

dhb820
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

I can't pick a favorite. I like all of them...very nice work!

Jul 30, 2013 at 07:52 PM

harshaj1
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Terrific set. All of them.
Harsha

Jul 30, 2013 at 08:23 PM

morris
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

1,2 and 4 are beauties Scott

Morris

Jul 30, 2013 at 09:29 PM

ScottHM
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Steep Rock Sunset and Aurora

Great shots Scott...always wonder what I'm going to see when I open one of your posts. I too like the darker version of the aurora, but I kind of like the clouds in the star trail shot...kind of like they're reaching out to you.

Jul 31, 2013 at 12:30 PM

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