Digging for Astro Photography Gold

[rogerg]

I wonder what people will think of this one...

It's about 50% an astrophoto and 50% a light painting photo, again as per my Southern Cross & Pointers shot, attempting to end up with more an interesting piece of photography than a plain astrophoto. I think the story with it helps.

http://blog.astrophotography.com.au/2012/04/digging-for-astro-photography-gold.html

Technically it's hard to say exactly what frames are in it because the light painting frames are blended individually to use the bits I wanted, and are all unique exposure lengths using cable release. The Orion/stars is 8 x 60sec (was limited by Orion setting). There were 15 frames of light painting.

... that doesn't sound like much but it took at least an hour to shoot, to get the right effect. I like to take time over such shots thinking about what the atmosphere is and what I want to re-create in the photo I'm trying to capture. There was a lot of walking around the vehicle looking at what I wanted to include and exclude, considering and testing different uses of light, etc.

I have to say, the truck felt larger than life when crouched half inside it illuminating the inside etc. Quote spooky :)

One of the quirky things about this kind of shot is that of course I was (and in some cases my wife was - good helper!) standing in the shot holding the lights, so I find it mildly entertaining that there's lots of photo's with one of us in it but you can never see any people :)

Drove 1800km in 4 days, camped at 2 places over 3 nights, had a great trip, a few more photo's to come :thumbsup: .. but not too many "production quality" astro pics, it was an reconnaissance trip.

The title of the photograph comes from the fact the photograph was taken in in the Goldfields region on an old pastoral and mining lease, and I was on a 4 day 1800km trip to find new astrophotography locations (you could say fossicking for photography locations! ;) ).

Roger.

[iceman]

I like it Roger :)

The sky is a bit yellowy/green, it would be nice if it was a bit darker but a great shot! I like it a lot!

[MrB]

I like it.
Reminds me of when I lived out that way as a kid.

[rogerg]

FYI ... I found it needed to be a larger image, I just uploaded a 1100 wide image to the blog, the smaller 900 wide just wasn't working for me. :)



Yes ... interesting the sky colour. Something I often debate is how much do I leave the sky colour as it is from the RAW photo's and the visual aspect on the night, vs how much do you make it a more neutral black? Out in the wheatbelt here I notice dramatic changes in the actual sky colour visually from night to night and it usually shows in the photo's. Some nights, like this one, it's a very gold-brown. I think it must depend on what dust etc is in the atmosphere? It's very dry and dusty out there of course. So it's hard to decide if to make it true to the situation or more "deep space" like we would expect :)



I like that ... great to hear the scene can be related to, thanks.

[jjjnettie]

:) I really like this one Roger.

[strongmanmike]

What a great trip that sounds like it was Roger... very jealous :)

The photo looks nicely composed for certain but for me it screams "a setup" the lighting in front of truck looks out of place since the truck is a deralict rust bucket (isn't it?)..as a subject matter it doesn't really connect with the sky for me :shrug:...time marching on stops for no one perhaps :question:

Bon't get me wrong, its a pleasing looking view.

Look forward to seeing the other paintagraphs :thumbsup:

Mike

[rogerg]

Thanks for your honest and detailed feedback Mike, much appreciated :thumbsup:

I hear what you are saying ... derelict truck but lights like it's alive .. depending on how you look at it that could be odd :) From my perspective, there in person at night I got less of a feel that the truck was old and derelict and more of a feel that it was still alive ... in the dead of night you notice more the solid nature of what's left of the truck and less the details that are missing. There's also a almost ghostly aspect to it, that the truck was waiting for a driver, ready to go even though it was a rust bucket :question: I think where I have failed you is not conveying what I was thinking in a way that is clear to you through the image. Interesting for me to consider :)

re connect with the sky - agreed, I liked the angle for the truck but did wish there was a different line of silhouettes to connect with the sky better, and that there was different constellations above it to help with that. The shot arguably has too much of a "top 1/3 is stars bottom 2/3 is landscape" aspect. Always something to improve upon, although I often think in this kind of situation "is it a photograph worth taking if that connect doesn't exist?". There were a several shots I passed up on the night because of this thought.

Roger.

[MrB]

I was thinking the same thing, Ghost Truck :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

That's a great comp. Very nice colors. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[xstream]

I like the image.
Reminds me of Stephen Kings "Christine".

[rogerg]

Thanks all for your feedback. Over the weekend I will be trying a new version with some changes resulting from the feedback :thumbsup:



good :)

that might have been a better name for the picture actually :)



Thanks :)



Funny.. my wife's name is Christine, she was holding some of the lights :)

[gregbradley]

I like that a lot. Nice and arty.

Great composition.

Greg.

[seeker372011]

Like it.nice to see something different

[Rigel003]

Lovely mix of elements Roger. I really like the blue and green tones and there's a hint of mystery that combines with the starry sky to get the imagination running.

[midnight]

Some of the best places I've found are out east of Norseman in and past Fraser Range. Just magic out there and your photo reminds of the terrain out that way.

Lovelly shot and the truck makes for an element of derelict & mystery.

Well done Roger and hope you've found some nice places.

Darrin...

[ballaratdragons]

I love it!!!!

Fantastic :)

[rogerg]

I have updated my astrophotography blog (http://blog.astrophotography.com.au/2012/04/digging-for-astro-photography-gold.html) with a new version.

The new version takes in to consideration some of the useful feedback I've received, including:
- Sky colour altered to be more neutral. This has had a nice effect of emphasising the foreground colours more, I like it.
- Headlamp and interior lighting changed to be more orange, matching better the type of light you would expect from a vehicle of this era.
- Fixed a few layering issues with the sky and silhouettes

Thanks everyone for your PM's and replies. I think the new revision is better balanced as a result. Colour is still very subjective :)



Glad you liked it, thanks for taking the time to give feedback :)



Thanks for taking the time to comment, glad you liked it :)



Thanks :) I'd be interested to hear what you think of the new version. I fear I may have removed warmed up the blue too much. I like the blue of the original, but accept it didn't quite match the era being aimed for. :shrug: Let me know if you have a chance to take a second look :)



I'd love to get out there. Quite a drive out there though, I'd really need more time. :) Could be included in a 1-2 week excursion to that and the Esperence south-coast area, that'd be fun. I imagine the vegetation would be somewhat similar to where I was, but more hilly terrain I guess.

[alpal]

I am starting to see more & more photos like this -
it's an interesting concept & I must do the same soon.
They are very appealing.

[rogerg]

I believe the advent of the following has made such creative ideas an easier reality such that they are more achievable and so being done more commonly than back in film days:
- Low noise high sensitivity cameras to enable shorter exposures in low light
- Ultra portable sidereal tracking mounts such as the AstroTrac
- Live View for easy instant feedback focusing

I'm certainly not the first and won't be the last :)

The challenge is being creative enough to come up with something unique and appealing. Or at least, that's my challenge.

[Ross G]

A great photo Roger.

Original.


Ross.

[rogerg]

Thanks Ross.