Winter milky way reflections

Joshua Bunn (Joshua) · #1 04-07-2016, 11:03 AM

Hello all!

My latest image is one for a customer who wants to frame it in a porthole, hence why it's round... This is taken in the Two Peoples Bay nature reserve next to Little Beach on the South Coast of Western Australia.

A lot of work went into this one and some gradients from vignetting and air glow and some dew on the lens which reduced image clarity slightly and created issues with stitching seams. Having said this, it was a beautifully clear cool night, no wind to speak of, lovely location and stunning air-glow!

For those who like the shot details...
A panorama made from 73 panels stitched in PTGui Pro
Each sky shot is a stack of 5 individual exposures, aligned and average combined, each exposure 10 sec , ISO 10000 @ f1.4.
Foreground exposures are a single image, each exposure 30 sec long, ISO 12800 @ f2
Full Spectrum modified Sony A7s (by Mike Malik),
IDAS HEUIB-II MFA filter
Sigma 35mm Art lens.

Heavily reduced image size here: http://astrob.in/full/254092/0/

Thanks for looking!

gregbradley · #2 04-07-2016, 01:06 PM

That's an exwtraordinary image Joshua. Wow. I have always wanted to do a panorama with a modded camera. This has only brought that forward. Also multiple images for each panel is something I wanted to do.

The 35mm lens is showing no distortion which is fabulous but 35mm is hard work with so many panels needed so well done for persisting.

I am thinking of getting the Zeiss Batis 18mm which Zeiss recommend for astrophotography as it has no coma and sharp corner to corner wide open at F2.8. Or the Loxia 21mm F2.8 would make easier work of this.

Greg.

Rigel003 (Graeme) · #3 04-07-2016, 02:45 PM

Fantastic image. I love the juxtaposition of the super sharp foreground detail against the backdrop, and the reflections add another dimension. Beautifully composed - a work of art. The Ha regions really come through strongly.

blink138 (Pat) · #4 04-07-2016, 04:48 PM

this is genius!!
pat

h0ughy (David) · #5 04-07-2016, 05:05 PM

lot of effort in that shot - well done

Octane (Humayun) · #6 04-07-2016, 06:42 PM

You hit that one out of the park, my friend.

Sublime.

H

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #7 04-07-2016, 11:41 PM

Nice indeed!

RickS (Rick) · #8 05-07-2016, 07:19 AM

Stunning work, Josh!

Joshua Bunn (Joshua) · #9 05-07-2016, 05:28 PM

Thankyou lads for your support!

Greg, yes the sigma 35mm art is a fantastic lens for astro I have found.
18mm would definitely make lighter work of the panorama, at the expense of resolution... however, if you are using it on your A7r (i believe you have), that would compensate for the shorter FL.

Graeme,yeah, I changed the focus the closer i got the tripod to keep things sharp. The Ha regions do indeed come through strongly... have to be carefull not to over do them!

Josh