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Archive 2013 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

MDBarrett
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

I went out last night with full intentions of trying some more astrophotography and really try and use my iOptron Skytracker. When I showed up to my spot I was met with a great show of the northern lights.

Needless to say the astro stuff will be a different night.

Mike

Nov 10, 2013 at 01:02 AM

lostinjapan
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

They are all fantastic, but I like 1 & 4 the best. Just spectacular.

Thanks for sharing.

Ryan

Nov 10, 2013 at 01:26 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Hey Mike,

Now that must have been a cool surprise for you!

#3 and 4 are my favorites. In both #1 and 2 I think you should pull the midtones down a bit more. #1 and 2 feel a little bit too bright to me.

Now.... where was this?

Jim

Nov 10, 2013 at 01:49 AM

MDBarrett
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

JimFox wrote:
Hey Mike,

Now that must have been a cool surprise for you!

#3 and 4 are my favorites. In both #1 and 2 I think you should pull the midtones down a bit more. #1 and 2 feel a little bit too bright to me.

Now.... where was this?

Jim

Thanks Jim. Just outside of Anchorage. I will play with the mudstones but honestly it was such a strong show I would be toning down what was there! Besides some NR and sharpening I didn't have to do too much. Hitting the road again, any suggestions for San Francisco Bay Bridge shot locations??

Mike

Nov 10, 2013 at 02:05 AM

MDBarrett
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

lostinjapan wrote:
They are all fantastic, but I like 1 & 4 the best. Just spectacular.

Thanks for sharing.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan.

Mike

Nov 10, 2013 at 02:05 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

MDBarrett wrote:
Thanks Jim. Just outside of Anchorage. I will play with the mudstones but honestly it was such a strong show I would be toning down what was there! Besides some NR and sharpening I didn't have to do too much. Hitting the road again, any suggestions for San Francisco Bay Bridge shot locations??

Mike

Hey Mike,

The show looks fantastic here, but if you look at the sky itself, it's too bright I think.... try the adjustment and see...

As for San Fran... I am not an expert there, but I got some great day time shots from Baker beach of the Golden Gate bridge. You can get close and get some nice waves splashing in the foreground and the bridge in the background. Otherwise I think the other spot that people shoot from at night is from the Marin highlands on the other side of the bridge from Frisco. But if I do recall, I also saw someone post some nice night shots from the overlook off the road above Baker Beach. I don't recall the name, but if you drive to Baker Beach, you will see the overlook.

Jim

Nov 10, 2013 at 02:13 AM

Kee Woo Rhee
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Mike, lovely shots you have here. I wish I could see those aurora scenes in person. Shot #3 is my favorite. Good luck with San Fran shooting!

Nov 10, 2013 at 02:26 AM

Scott Kroeker
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

What a show indeed!

Nov 10, 2013 at 03:46 AM

camboman
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

You got the aurora and the stars!

What a great dilemma to have...

Nov 10, 2013 at 09:24 AM

chez
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Man these are fabulous. I really like No. 2 and the formations in the sky. I would try to darken the image slightly and add a curve to give it a bit more contrast.

Nov 10, 2013 at 10:49 AM

Joe_A
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Great series.

Nov 10, 2013 at 12:44 PM

roguecoolman
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Well getting the Aurora is not bad consolation prize :P

Great set, love the Aurora. #1 is my fav.

Most of the people take the golden gate bridge shots off the Marin headlands. Take a look at this google map link.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=conzelman+rd,+marin+headlands&hl=en&ll=37.833141,-122.475672&spn=0.032878,0.039053&sll=37.831607,-122.482962&sspn=0.00411,0.004882&t=h&hnear=CONZELMAN+RD%2FKirby+Cove&z=15

along the conzelman rd you can see the GG depending whether clear night or fog level. To get a higher vantage point, you can go up the SCA trail/coastal trail (view google maps in satellite mode). On a great night where the fog level is low and you climb that trail you'll get nice shots of the fog sea with the north and south towers of the GG poking out.

Marshall beach is the other place for sunset (or sunrise I can't remember). Caution - nude sun bathers are here very often at marshall beach.

Jason

Nov 10, 2013 at 03:36 PM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Very nice. 3,1,2, 4 in order for me.

Great light and exposures and processing.

I would make 1,2,4 a bit darker to match closer what a human eye would see but thats just my preference.

Thanks for sharing. Scott

Nov 10, 2013 at 05:45 PM

MDBarrett
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Wow, thanks everyone for taking the time to comment and make suggestions. I will make some adjustments when I get back from SF and also share any of those new locations you all suggested.

Mike

Nov 10, 2013 at 07:49 PM

Yukonica
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Nice set. Great backdrop.
Do you leave the SkyTracker on 1/2 speed when including backgrounds?

Nov 10, 2013 at 08:16 PM

MDBarrett
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Yukonica wrote:
Nice set. Great backdrop.
Do you leave the SkyTracker on 1/2 speed when including backgrounds?

I find it easier to just blend in PS but with all the lack of darkness we get during the summer months I am still experimenting and learning. I have been trying to get twilight landscape and then wait an hour or two and start with the stars.

Nov 10, 2013 at 08:20 PM

Yukonica
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

I find it easier to just blend in PS but with all the lack of darkness we get during the summer months I am still experimenting and learning. I have been trying to get twilight landscape and then wait an hour or two and start with the stars.

I live at the same latitude as you and can't imagine a use for the sky tracker in summer (I recently bought one too)
What I have found is that, providing the silhouette is quite far off, if I run the tracker at half speed the landscape doesn't lose its crisp outline while I shoot exposures in the ten minute range ~ without star trails.
My next experiment will be to run it backwards at full speed to try build star trails while capturing Aurora at the same time. It may work or it may look hideous.
Did you buy their ballhead? Mine literally freezes solid at temperatures in the 20's. Don't know what will happen in winter.

Nov 11, 2013 at 12:15 AM

rpope
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Awesome display and very well captured.

Rich

Nov 11, 2013 at 06:39 AM

Josephhummel
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Love the composition - Ive been wanting to try out the rokinon 24mm 1.4 I heard the coma (streaky stars) is greatly reduced.

Mar 29, 2014 at 05:03 PM

pelagia
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Went out for astrophotography and ended up with Aurora's

Fantastic. I wonder if your eye saw it the same way, or it was possible due to long exposure.

Mar 29, 2014 at 05:31 PM

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