Within Reach

[iceman (Mike)]

This is probably my favourite nightscape I've done so far. I'm really happy with it.

Taken on the first night at the IISAC2013 star party, it's a 30s exposure with a Canon 6D, 50mm lens @ f/2.8, ISO4000, tracked on a Polarie.

Tried some new processing techniques that I'm liking

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Thanks for looking.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Appropriate Title

Cant believe how close the lagoon nebula appears to be.

Very nice Mike.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

That's really good, Mike!

[frenchbluehour (Nicole)]

Viewed this on Milky Way Scientists... Cool pic

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Another beauty - nice work

[matt34 (Matt)]

Great image & processing. Love the contrast and colour in the milky way.

Care to share the new processin techniques? Maybe the noise reduction is a bit high but that could be the jpg compression

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys!

Matt - I'm using the same tools and techniques, but being more selective. Rather than applying across the image as a whole, I'm doing more masking. I'd always masked out the foreground (where applicable) and processed it separately from the sky, but in this one I also processed parts of the milkyway separately for colour, contrast, saturation.

[multiweb (Marc)]

That's really nice . The trees give a sense of scale.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Like that's not going to be the new IISAC background image for all things IISAC...

Rather cool

Mike
or maybe the attached...?

[ourkind (Carlos)]

whatever the technique is it works for me, excellent Mike!

[iceman (Mike)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

That's really nice . The trees give a sense of scale.

Thanks Marc. The most pleasing thing is that I had planned the shot early in the afternoon before it got dark, using SkySafari and the compass to check that the milky way would rise behind the trees.
It's great when a plan works out!

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Like that's not going to be the new IISAC background image for all things IISAC...

Rather cool

Mike
or maybe the attached...?

Thanks Mike, it's certainly a possibility
Missed having you there with Fred.. was funny trying to help Fred setup his Polarie and tripod

Originally Posted by ourkind

whatever the technique is it works for me, excellent Mike!

Thanks Carlos, much appreciated.

[Ross G]

A beautiful photo Mike.

Love the detail in the Milky Way.

Ross.