Road to the Milky Way : NEW more contrasty version added

[iceman (Mike)]

I had an idea of a picture in my mind – all I needed was clear skies and the type of foreground I was after. After driving around Yarramalong, Kulnura and Somersby for a couple of hours, searching for the right location and waiting for clear skies, I had almost given up and started heading home when I came upon a private road that seemed to clear at the end.

I was in luck – a small gate to negotiate, but then a clear field and the skies started clearing, just enough, at the right time.

A few test shots, and then captured this - the Road to the Milky Way. A self portrait vertical panorama with the Scorpius and Sagittarius part of the Milky Way bulge rising.

- Large
- Blog

I was at Somersby now, much further East than I had intended and so the light pollution was terrible – especially when the clouds were around. The lights from Gosford and surrounds reflected terribly.

I had wanted to be out at Yarramalong – I imagined clear dark skies out there with a nice gate or fence or windmill in the foreground. Unfortunately I hadn’t taken into account the difficulty of finding such a site in the night time. It was almost impossible, because I could only see what was right beside the road. I really needed to do my reconnaissance during the day.

It’s not exactly the result I had in my mind; darker skies and a better foreground would’ve been nice, but I’m really happy with the end result, especially given my challenges and frustrations of driving around for 2-3 hours with nothing to show for it. It also gave me some practise with the 5D Mark II and 24mm f/1.4 lens and the type of exposures and ISO needed for these shots.

Technical details about the picture: 2 images, 20s each exposure, ISO3200, f/2.2, Canon 5D Mark II, 24mm f/1.4 lens. Images combined using AutoPano Pro and Processed in Photoshop. The Milky Way part of the image was processed using Gradient Exterminator to help even out the light pollution so I could apply curves and levels.

I’m not sure if there’s too much foreground – I’m wondering whether to crop a bit of the road – what do you think?

The 24mm f/1.4 is a nice fast lens, but even at to f/2.2 it has some pretty nasty stars around the edges. I think f/2.8 will be the minimum for round stars, but depending on the type of image, it might be ok to sacrifice some quality around the edge for speed and light!

Thanks for looking.

EDIT: New improved version uploaded (one on the left). The old one is on the right.
The new version has much more contrast. Hope you like!

[gregbradley]

Nice composition. I like your search for the ideal site. It takes planning to get the good shots eh?

I think the amount of road is fine. It would be great if you could darken the sky a bit as its a tad washed and that would increase colour contrast as well.

Greg.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

There's lots of fun to be had going wide field isn't there.
It's hard standing still for so long too. LOL
Like Greg said, this one is a bit too bright and the finer detail is washed out.
You worry too much about the stars around the border. Everyone knows and understands.
But, knocking the F stop up a notch or two will also give the Milky Way more contrast.
It's all about experimentation isn't it. And having fun.

[prokyon (Werner Probst)]

Nice foreground, nice image! Good idea well done.

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys.

You're right Greg - that's the thing I notice about most landscape astrophotography. The foreground matters. The best images (or at least, the ones I like best) are almost always taken from a great location or have something interesting in the foreground.

Looking at it today, the sky is definitely more washed out than I'd planned. The original was sooo bright I didn't want to overdo it with trying to make it darker, and I thought it looked ok yesterday but it does look too washed out now.

Will give it a reprocess tonight.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Great shot Mike

It actually made the hair on my neck stand up when I opened it.

Well thought out and constructed.

[Deeno]

I think its a nice composition.

I do like the way the road draws you into the shot

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

All you need to do Mike is instead of pointing to it, hold your thumb out like Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy Then print it onto a shirt

[Martin Pugh]

Nicely framed Mike. Gotta love these kind of shots.

cheers
Martin

[marco (Marco Lorenzi)]

Very suggestive composition Mike, I too love these kind of earth and sky shots
Marco

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys - I appreciate your comments.

I've attached a new version to the original post above, and the large version is also updated here.

I'm much happier with this version - more contrast and colour. Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes!

Originally Posted by Allan_L

Great shot Mike

It actually made the hair on my neck stand up when I opened it.

Well thought out and constructed.

Thanks Allan, it's great when an image can have that effect!

Originally Posted by Deeno

I think its a nice composition.

I do like the way the road draws you into the shot

Thanks Deeno, I was hoping the Milky Way would be straight up and down but we're not at the right latitude I'm happy with how this worked out.

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

All you need to do Mike is instead of pointing to it, hold your thumb out like Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy Then print it onto a shirt

Thanks Brendan. Nice idea! I did have one of me shaking my fist at the sky (because clouds were coming back) but it didn't have the same feel

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

Nicely framed Mike. Gotta love these kind of shots.

cheers
Martin

Thanks Martin - this is my favourite type of astrophotography right now.

Originally Posted by marco

Very suggestive composition Mike, I too love these kind of earth and sky shots
Marco

Thanks Marco! Much appreciated.

[Jay-qu]

Love it Mike, very nice

[atalas]

A stunning composition Mike! great effort.

[Satchmo]

Is this an example of what's called 'surrealism'.

[iceman (Mike)]

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

Love it Mike, very nice

Thanks Jay-qu!

Originally Posted by atalas

A stunning composition Mike! great effort.

Thanks for the comment Louie. I've been wanting to do a shot like this for a long time. So glad it worked out.

Originally Posted by Satchmo

Is this an example of what's called 'surrealism'.

I don't know Mark, I had to look it up on Wikipedia and still don't get it.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Nah, Surrealism is Dali. In photography, though, Surrealism is nowadays usually pretty abstract stuff which is quite heavily edited.

Much better job on the reprocessed/contrasty image.

Get rid of the human ruining the shot, though.

H

[Paul Haese]

Yes that looks better. Agree with H though the human in the shot (ie yourself) is not really making the shot. Though I suspect it is for earth and people category on ROG?

[Satchmo]

Originally Posted by iceman

I don't know Mark, I had to look it up on Wikipedia and still don't get it.

Hi Mike, It was just the bright sunset lit bits of sky shining through an overcast sky merged with the Milky Way suggested it wasn't meant to be a real scene but essentially incongruent elements merged together to challenge the visual senses and represent a world that might be classed as `surreal' . Its a very evocative picture.

[TrevorW]

Should these type of images be under deep space or terrestrial, IMO they are not deep space, maybe you should set up a separate heading to cater for them.

Colour seems slightly washed out IMO.

[stardust steve (Steve)]

Very cool image indeed. Hopefully this Easter break i will be trying to do something very similar. Is that bright orangey star (about a person length above the persons head) Antares?