This Evenings Photos

jr1104

jr1104

jr1104

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Well, when I woke up and saw that it was going to be a clear sky all day, I knew exactly what I'd be up to that evening. It's been a while since I've had the camera out and I had a few ideas about what I wanted to try.

The first 2 are from when I was out and saw the suns colours really begin to show. The second one was a lucky shot, since I wouldn't have stopped and seen it if I hadn't been held up by some sheep being moved.





After the sun had set, and I'd eaten my dinner, I figured it was time to go back out again and see what the night sky held. I felt inspired after seeing the other thread here about astrophotography, and feel pleased with what I have achieved. The last one was stacked in Deep Sky Stacker, just so you know.







All these where taken using a Nikon D40 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Thanks for looking, and don't forget all pictures can be clicked for a hi-res version.
 
They were taken in Cumbria, right next to the Pennines. I've found a little spot up next to Knock Pike that I regularly go to to view the sunset.
 
I really like 4, I always prefer star photos that have some kind of forground to give a scene and a location.
 
No 4 is actually a 2 shot panorama stitched using Microsoft ICE. For a free piece of software that doesn't get much attention, it actually did very well, especially since it had to take the skies rotation into account.
 
These are very nice. Love the 3rd one down, what settings did you use to take it? Really nice effect with the dark sky blending into the sun set.
 
jr1104 said:
No 4 is actually a 2 shot panorama stitched using Microsoft ICE. For a free piece of software that doesn't get much attention, it actually did very well, especially since it had to take the skies rotation into account.
Click to expand...

Fantastic photos :) What settings did you use for the last photo? It looks like ICE has removed the exif. I've found it works very fast compared to any other software for stitching, but I always get jagged merged edges when saving an image at full size.
 
The first sunset one is 4 exposures, combined in Photomatix Pro, and then a very slight fiddle with the curves to help bring out the sky. The second one I put the exposure compensation up +0.7 on the camera, to help capture the detail, then used the curves to balance out the sky and the sun.

The first 2 night sky photos are both 30 seconds shutter, and wide open at f/3.5. This is about the longest time possible before star trails become noticeable, which is why I'm hoping to get an f/2.8 lens soon. This would allow me to capture more stars without exposing too long.

The last one is 5 30 second exposures stacked with 2 dark frames in Deep Sty Stacker. I'd never used it before, so it was more of an experiment than anything else. Also, all the night shots where taken at ISO 1600.
 
Wow, they really aren't that noisy for 30 second shots at ISO1600. On my D50 you wouldn't be able to tell stars from noise!

Cheers for the explanation, it makes a bit more sense now. There mustn't have been much ambient light left from the sunset to get a 30 second exposure at f/3.5 and ISO1600. Just enough to bring out the colour.

Did it take much experimentation to work out those settings?

Panzer
 
Fortunately Cumbria is one of the best places in the country for avoiding light pollution.

I knew from previous shots where abouts the light glow would be coming from, so I could take that into account. I've also done quite a few night photos before, and have experimented with different settings. This nights photos, I guess I could say they where the culmination of all these tests, since I knew that wide open and 30 seconds would get me good stars, and the amount of light left would be down to luck and post-shot editing.

I was quite surprised at the noise as well, especially since previous shots at ISO 800 have been worse, but I think the light levels and amount of stars are just right that it isn't noticeable at all.
 
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