Galactic Descent

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Hi Everyone.

Spent a few days visiting my parents last month and got out and about under some beautiful dark sky. I had a shot in mind for a while with the Milky way in a certain position but it didn't work, so I decided to go to a different spot and try a pano.

I would have liked the Milky way to be a little higher in this image but I spent too long in the first location when it was higher. I thought I'd be able to go back a bit earlier on the next night to shoot it again but the clouds rolled in.

This image is eight portrait shots stitched with Microsoft ICE. Canon 6D , Sanyamg 14mm @ f2.8 exp: 30 sec ISO 6400.

Large click here

Thanks for Looking.

Cheers

Rod

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Still a great image Rod and I can see it would have been even greater had the MW been over that tree, we are moving into new moon phase now so I hope you get a chance to try it again.

Mike

[Octane (Humayun)]

That's come out really nice. I like the tree in the middle.

H

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Still a great image Rod and I can see it would have been even greater had the MW been over that tree, we are moving into new moon phase now so I hope you get a chance to try it again.

Mike

Thanks Mike, Yeah that's the beauty of our night sky, if your patient enough you'll most likely have another opportunity.

Originally Posted by Octane

That's come out really nice. I like the tree in the middle.

H

Thanks H! I was trying to find a completely dead tree, which hard to do in the dark, this one was 50/50 so I settle for it.

[Ross G]

Great looking photo Rod.

Nice colours and I love that tree as well.

A good foreground for future photos!

Ross.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Ross G

Great looking photo Rod.

Nice colours and I love that tree as well.

A good foreground for future photos!

Ross.

Thanks Ross! I'm starting to find a few good spots up there.

[RickS (Rick)]

A great shot despite your tribulations, Rod!

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Thanks Rick

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Beautiful piece of work. Thanks for sharing.

[dutch2 (Ingrid)]

Fabulous shot, well done.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Ryderscope

Beautiful piece of work. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Rodney, your welcome.

Originally Posted by dutch2

Fabulous shot, well done.

Cheers Ingrid! I when I look at it, I keep wishing I was out there an hour earlier. Glad you like it, thanks.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Fabulous shot there Rod. I actually like the composition with the central tree seemingly backlit by the milky way. Great stuff

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Thanks Richard!

The orange light behind the tree is from a coal loading site west of Gunnedah. It's not often that I dont mind a bit of light pollution.

[matt34 (Matt)]

Nice work Rod. The tree in the centre really draws the eye.

I'm wondering if a tighter crop would make the image stronger? Although you would then lose the LMC/SMC

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by matt34

Nice work Rod. The tree in the centre really draws the eye.

I'm wondering if a tighter crop would make the image stronger? Although you would then lose the LMC/SMC

Thanks Matt!

Yeah, I did play around with a few different crops but in the end I just couldn't crop out the LMC/SMC. I had enough image to the north to balance the scene, plus, I wanted to show off our beautiful southern skies to our northern counterparts .