Night The Night Sky at 11,500 ft.

The Night Sky at 11,500 ft. · **1 Like**

Over the weekend my dad and I went on a motorcycle camping trip up in Guanella Pass, just west of the gold town of Georgetown. We stayed up late to see if we could get some shots of the night sky. This was really my first time trying wide field astrophotography (well, wide considering 35mm).

After making camp, we hopped on our bikes and rode up to the pass. This pass is at 11,669 ft elevation. At first I thought we were skunked because the skies were very overcast. Waiting a few hours paid off, although there were still clouds.

Here's my first shot. You can see the clouds being lit from Denver's city lights, even though Denver is pretty far away.

And here is a picture looking up through the trees at camp. The trees were lit slightly by a small lantern we had.

I am real excited they turned out and am now putting some lenses on ebay to pay for a 14mm F2.8 Samyang to get some REAL wide field astrophotos.

Tako Kichi · 06-30-2013, 07:35 PM

Nice shots. Looks like you might have captured a satellite track in that first photo too.

**Bob Harris** · 06-30-2013, 08:52 PM

Beautiful shots CJ, crystal clear air in high country.

carrrlangas · 06-30-2013, 10:58 PM

Amazing results. The pictures do look wida in my opinion. How long did tle exposures lasted?

slowpez · 07-01-2013, 07:43 AM

Stunning. I love the perspective in the second shot. The glimpse through the trees is very appealing to me.

Colorado CJ · 07-03-2013, 05:22 PM

Thank you everyone, glad you liked them

carrrlangas, these were shot at

1000 ISO
f1.8
15 sec exposure.

I am itching to get to a truly dark sky area and try it out again. REALLY wanting that 14mm Samyang now.

tessfully · 07-04-2013, 03:18 AM

These are excellent!! wow wow... amazing colour, I would never have guessed that was city lights. I really have to try this some time soon. TFS

Colorado CJ · 07-04-2013, 07:27 PM

Thanks!

I'm doing another motorcycle camping trip starting tomorrow. This time, I'm heading down to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The skies are much darker there, so I hope to get some better shots. Maybe I can get some interesting dune features in the foreground this time.

I'm off to bed, want to be on the bike and riding by 6:00 AM tomorrow.

I'll be sure to post some of my results.

Colorado CJ
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06-30-2013, 07:35 PM	#2
Tako Kichi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit) Posts: 1,296	Nice shots. Looks like you might have captured a satellite track in that first photo too.

06-30-2013, 08:52 PM	#3
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Beautiful shots CJ, crystal clear air in high country.

06-30-2013, 10:58 PM	#4
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Amazing results. The pictures do look wida in my opinion. How long did tle exposures lasted?

07-01-2013, 07:43 AM	#5
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	Stunning. I love the perspective in the second shot. The glimpse through the trees is very appealing to me.

07-03-2013, 05:22 PM	#6
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Thank you everyone, glad you liked them carrrlangas, these were shot at 1000 ISO f1.8 15 sec exposure. I am itching to get to a truly dark sky area and try it out again. REALLY wanting that 14mm Samyang now.

07-04-2013, 03:18 AM	#7
tessfully Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: S. Algonquin, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,860	These are excellent!! wow wow... amazing colour, I would never have guessed that was city lights. I really have to try this some time soon. TFS

07-04-2013, 07:27 PM	#8
Colorado CJ Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,429 Original Poster	Thanks! I'm doing another motorcycle camping trip starting tomorrow. This time, I'm heading down to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The skies are much darker there, so I hope to get some better shots. Maybe I can get some interesting dune features in the foreground this time. I'm off to bed, want to be on the bike and riding by 6:00 AM tomorrow. I'll be sure to post some of my results.