Malka_1 wrote:
These look like paintings, each better than the next, but #1 is my favorite. NZ is one of few places outside of North America that I'd love to visit one day.
#1 was a particular challenge as I had to bracket the shot while the boat was moving away at fast speed. Had to toss most of my attempts but this one worked. Anyway, thanks for your nice comment!
Queso_Grandee wrote:
Absolutely fantastic shots! My favorite is #2.
What gear did you bring on your trip?
I appreciate your feedback. These were all taken with a Sony A7C and Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8. Only the Milky Way was a mosaic with Sony A7III astromodified and Voigtländer 50mm f2.0.
If #2 is your favorite, you might want to check out this 2024 thread from user Aztatlan: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1863679/
This was my primary inspiration to go there one day and try to get something similar. I got to admit his images are still more pleasing in my opinion, but I am grateful he described - roughly - where to find this and happy I got my own version now.
Gregg B. wrote:
The image with the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds is stunning. Did you use an equatorial mount on that? Or multiple exposures?
Thanks so much!
Neither. Each panel is a single exposure and I used a small star tracker (Vixen Polarie U). An EQ mount - especially with GoTo - would have been nice, as polar alignment was a huge challenge. It was my first time trying this in the Southern Hemisphere and until the end I was not able to find the Southern Celestial Pole. As 50mm is somewhat still forgiving, eventually I just did a best-guess alignment and it does show in some panels, but post processing helped in hiding it for the most part.
DistantPlaces wrote: Danpbphoto wroteDistantPlaces wroteDanpbphoto wroteMagnificient photography!!
I visited NZ in 1970.
The South country was mesmerizing to say the least!
Your "trip" in photography is outstanding, your skills outstanding!
Bravo!
Just dynomite compositions!
DanThat is very generous feedback Dan, I really appreciate it!
1970 - wow! You have experienced a NZ that I can only dream of - it must have been a unique experience without many fellow travellers. Surely it must have felt like an untouched place. If you have images from that trip online somewhere, I'd love to take a look!I had just finished 2 years in Vietnam and I served with soldiers from Australia and NZ SAS officers on my "Team". When I came home, I took "leave" and went to Australia and NZ to visit those SAS soldiers. Spent 90 days visiting both soldiers.
I had planned on returning to Australia to work and live but "life" got in the way...
I do have pics somewhere..Not as good as yours by a "long shot".
DanThanks for sharing. It is rare to see such old photographs. Must have been a lot of work to scan. I've only scanned in from film for one trip and it was so much effort I eventually gave up :-) There are more sophisticated methods nowadays so maybe it is time to reconsider and digitalize some more old stuff.
The vegetation in your image looks different to most places I went to - was that probably on the North Island?
This was taken in Australia. It was the only one from my trip on the computer I was using here.
My photos from both countries are stored somewhere on a external hard drive.
Scanning was very simple with a Canon 9000F and Nikon 4000xxCoolscan.
Danpbphoto wrote: DistantPlaces wroteDanpbphoto wroteDistantPlaces wroteDanpbphoto wroteMagnificient photography!!
I visited NZ in 1970.
The South country was mesmerizing to say the least!
Your "trip" in photography is outstanding, your skills outstanding!
Bravo!
Just dynomite compositions!
DanThat is very generous feedback Dan, I really appreciate it!
1970 - wow! You have experienced a NZ that I can only dream of - it must have been a unique experience without many fellow travellers. Surely it must have felt like an untouched place. If you have images from that trip online somewhere, I'd love to take a look!I had just finished 2 years in Vietnam and I served with soldiers from Australia and NZ SAS officers on my "Team". When I came home, I took "leave" and went to Australia and NZ to visit those SAS soldiers. Spent 90 days visiting both soldiers.
I had planned on returning to Australia to work and live but "life" got in the way...
I do have pics somewhere..Not as good as yours by a "long shot".
DanThanks for sharing. It is rare to see such old photographs. Must have been a lot of work to scan. I've only scanned in from film for one trip and it was so much effort I eventually gave up :-) There are more sophisticated methods nowadays so maybe it is time to reconsider and digitalize some more old stuff.
The vegetation in your image looks different to most places I went to - was that probably on the North Island?This was taken in Australia. It was the only one from my trip on the computer I was using here.
My photos from both countries are stored somewhere on a external hard drive.
Scanning was very simple with a Canon 9000F and Nikon 4000xxCoolscan.
Thanks!
Dan
Oh that's why it looks so different. I just googled these devices - maybe I will get myself something like that sometime in the future.
Wow, all these images feel like you are right there in person! I viewed them on my main computer display. Great job!
What a wonderful place for landscape!
Of particulate notice to me is a notable unique quality of detail they have, and seeing that you shot with great lenses and a sensor that more closely matches the lens resolutions (instead of over megapixel resolution sensors with lenses that cannot give the sensor the detail they could resolve - physics of glass...) it makes sense what I'm seeing.
zuru wrote:
Beautiful set. I was in NZ about 8 years ago and had a blast... I wish I could go back but I have other items in the bucket list.
On the note of of tourists, the Wanaka tree location was insane back then; I cannot imagine what it would be now!
Thank you! Wanaka Tree was extremely crowded when I went. The water in the lake was also on a low, so the tree is much closer to the shoreline than online images suggest. I did not get any satisfying shot. Luckily such spots are relatively rare, most other places are far more secluded.
Mark Metternich wrote:
Wow, all these images feel like you are right there in person! I viewed them on my main computer display. Great job!
What a wonderful place for landscape!
Of particulate notice to me is a notable unique quality of detail they have, and seeing that you shot with great lenses and a sensor that more closely matches the lens resolutions (instead of over megapixel resolution sensors with lenses that cannot give the sensor the detail they could resolve - physics of glass...) it makes sense what I'm seeing.
What was your basic processing approach?
Mark, it means a lot coming from a professional like you!
I also appreciate you sharing these technical details about the lens resolution vs. sensor - I was not aware the lens used matches the sensor so well, it was not planned and is thus a total coincidence. Occasionally I was looking at newer camera bodies with higher MP count over the years, but the upgrade feels not significant enough yet to spend the money.
The basic processing approach was: Denoise in DxO PL, then some preprocessing in LR before actual editing in PS. The main steps were exposure blending with luminosity masks and D&B with luminosity selections. Some NIK Color Efex filters were applied as finishing steps.
gdanmitchell wrote:
The light in the first one is quite fascinating, especially that little highlight of rim light on the edge of the cliff on the right side.
Appreciate your feedback. This was indeed just when the sun started lighting that edge on the right side.
jaggedhorizon wrote:
Wonderful images, one better than the other. The composition in no. 1 is excellent.
Thanks a lot!