Calling all Photography nerds!

Just another random sunset shot at Laguna Beach, CA

 

I've really been trying to work on my astro shots to get results like this. So far, I've had no luck ):

 

Make sure you are shooting the Milky Way core for best results. I went out in October last year, too late for the core as it doesn't rise above the horizon and was not very impressed with my shots. Right now the core is rising between 1-2 am and sets around 5:00 am so you gotta time it around the moon.

 

Main points to hit.. rule of 500, use an aperture thats 2.8 or bigger (1.4 lenses work awesome), make sure you have a good heavy tripod (or hang weight to help stabilize it) depending on the camera, iso 2500-6400 is where you want to be, depending on how much light pollution you have in your shot. It also helps to shoot 24mm or wider like 16mm and 14mm. You will be able to keep the shutter open longer without getting stars trailing. (14mm can expose for about 35 seconds based on the rule of 500) Oh and mark your focus at infinity during the day, or tape your focus ring at infinity focus so it doesnt move later. Because most lenses arent really focused at infinity even if the little factory camera marks say the lens is..

There are tons of informative videos on youtube. the lonely speck is a good place to go with tons of astro photo info.

 

I'm shooting with my Rokinon 14mm and Canon 6D. ISO is usually around 3200 and about 20' shutter speed. Just never getting the Milky Way Core...Maybe need to get further away from light pollution and stack more than 3 images.

 

Your setup is more than capable of getting some good milky way. You're creating a lot of your own light pollution in your shot. Just the camp fire alone is enough to take away a lot from the stars. If you want a photo like that, id suggest taking a photo for only the sky with no other extra lighting (or a few if you know how to stack) and then take a few for your foreground. blend together in post. Where exactly did you take the photo? theres a website I use to find dark skies. darksitefinder.org I think it is.

side note, if you wanna really get crazy, you can focus stack on top of all that! Ive yet to attempt said feat. I shoot more time lapse than I do stills, so I usually just pick a comp and then its stuck on that.

 

- agree - you just gotta find the dark sky and time it when the Milky Way is in full view and around the New Moon. I shot this today while out working. Winter doesn't want to let go of Colorado yet.

 

This was taken in Alabama Hills. Here's a better shot at my attempt at shooting the milky way a few months back out of the season.

 

yeah, just too much light.. Alabama Hills is plenty dark.

This was take in lucerene valley, with a 16-35mm f4 believe it or not haha.

 

If anyone is in the socal area and wants to give me a crash course for astro, please let me know . I’ll supply beer and a campfire to camp a night!

 

I’m gonna be making a Milky Way trip soon. I’d say nowadays, 40% is actually shooting it, and 60% is the post process that’s done to make it look as nice as it does.

 

Let me know when you go...I'd be really stoked to join and learn!

 

Red Rocks, snow, my truck

 

So I did it.. I broke down and bought a brand new 5DMKIV with canon c-log update for video.. might I say.. I am IN LOVE! Such an upgrade from the MKII! Amazing what 8 years advancement in technology can do. Kinda a chore shooting two cameras now.. but not complaining about it. Love that I can have two cameras setup at once now. One to time lapse with and other to shoot stills. Heres a few shots from a quick trip some friends and I made to test out my new camera. (They are all shooting on 5D4 also) Side note, decently impressed with the 720p slowmotion it can put out. Its not full 1080p, but I couldnt find myself to drop the extra 2 grand for a 1DXMKII. Ill upload a test vid I took of it and update this comment with the youtube video if you guys are interested at all.

5DMKIV + 16-35mm f4 L IS with iso 200, 6 sec exposure, f4. Took a shot of my friend Diego shooting a pano. Blew highlights out a bit.. what can I say, first night with the camera.


9 Shot Pano with 5DMKIV + 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS - cant remember the settings.. But this is actually cropped in a lot from what it started as. This was shot from above Dodger Stadium.

Shot of my new camera with bokeh LA in the background. 5DMKII + Samyang 24mm f1.4 at f2.0, iso 100, 1.3 sec exposure

 

wow

 

That's awesome!! Congrats on the camera. Running a 5DMKIII for a few months now and love it. Enjoy!!!

 

Nice, I almost picked up one of those since that would still be a decent upgrade from the MKII, but I wanted the dual pixel auto focus and stuff for video because Im gonna be getting into a lot more video now.

 

Congrats on the new body! Getting new gear always drives me to find time to go shoot! Had my camera handy on my way home and ended up at this spot. Looked cool, but shooting into the sun with none of my flash gear... oof!

 

I agree.. debating on going somewhere tonight after work. I have all my gear with me since I do photo stuff for work too.
I hardly ever use a flash though, Just boost out some shadows in your raw edit. :]