[mikeSF]

here's the main event:

Stone House & Milky Way
K5 & DA21 w O-GPS1

[fs999]

Superb shots mikeSF !

[stanzhou]

[XLXW]

Nice shot.

---------- Post added 05-21-15 at 11:03 AM ----------

Beautiful capture.

[interested_observer]

I went out last night - forgetting to check the battery in my GPS (which turned up to be somewhat gone - to the point that I could not get the unit to calibrate) so I winged it. I stitched using 15 second exposures (20 seconds started to trail) at ISO 4000 using the Sigma 18-35 at 18. The area closed before the Milky Way really was able to get up in the sky, so my son and I found another spot - not as good, and made the best of it.

The first image was about 9.45pm and the second was about an hour later. We left just as the moon was coming up. What I was really going after was the first image's landscape paired with the second image's sky and MW.

Post processing for what ever reason is difficult for me in astro. I'v got it down to a workflow, especially with stitching. Microsoft ICE I have found, does not lend its results to good post processing, so I have post processed one of the panels in LR, then copy pasted the workflow to the other panels, exported in TIFF, stitched and then brought the result into LR for just minor adjustments - cropping, etc. It's not the best, but so far this is the best that I have been able to go. I have to learn Mike's approach.

I also think that I need a darker location.

[Aaron28]

the 2nd one is killer I_O!

[y0chang]

Excellent shots interester observer, the new lightroom has a panorama function. its great, it not only stitches well, but creates an editable DNG rather than a burned jpg.

[SirTomster]

How did you get ISO 4000 on a K5? I get 3200 then 6400.

[fs999]

How did you get ISO 4000 on a K5? I get 3200 then 6400.

Change your step interval to 1/3 in C Custom Setting 1 Menu.

[SirTomster]

Change your step interval to 1/3 in C Custom Setting 1 Menu.

Awesome, Thanks

[XLXW]

Terrific photographs. Very beautiful pictures. I really like the Saguaro cactus in the top photo. What are the names of the rockpiles?

[interested_observer]

Excellent shots interester observer, the new lightroom has a panorama function. its great, it not only stitches well, but creates an editable DNG rather than a burned jpg.

I have not upgraded yet, but have read about it. The LR6 thread here on the forum was lukewarm about the update. Also, I need a new printer, so was sort of waiting for another package deal....

Terrific photographs. Very beautiful pictures. I really like the Saguaro cactus in the top photo. What are the names of the rockpiles?

Actually it's the same rockpile from slightly different perspectives. The rockpile is called Superstition Mountain, and it's located about a hour east of downtown Phoenix (which is off to the right of both images).

• https://www.google.com/search?q=superstition+mountain&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=...w=1366&bih=627
• Superstition Mountains - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Superstition Mountain Museum | Lost Dutchman Museum

The second image was taken about a mile behind and two miles to the left of the photographer (the idiot behind the camera) of the first image. The best view - the first image is from the picnic area of the Lost Dutchman State Park. The Dutchman about a 100 years ago came into town with a load of very rich gold ore from his mine up on the mountain, then died. Folks have been searching for it since - which is now illegal, because the US Forest Service is tired of going out and rescuing folks off the mountain, who have been out searching for it.

Anyway, this was a test on stitching the MW, plus I wanted to try out my new lens and needed some new raw shots to try out some ideas.

[XLXW]

Thanks. Those mountains are extremely rugged. It would be fun to get up into them. Great photographs.

[fs999]

A dark place in south of France to test my Sigma Art 18-35mm F1.8



PENTAX K-5 II s • 80 ISO • Sigma Art 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM
Pentax O-GPS1 GPS Unit
Long exposure: 299,87 sec

[XLXW]

Beautiful.