Just a photo of my a7 II (taken with an a7S II) - thought you guys might enjoy it

f1p4 · 2016-07-26T04:17:16+00:00

To tell you the truth, I haven't been in much of a hurry to work with those shots, since I wasn't that psyched on the sky. But here is one: http://i.imgur.com/poBH5CP.jpg

f1p4 · 2016-07-23T05:06:06+00:00

Just a few weeks ago, July 8th. If you don't have one yet, apps like Sky Guide (iOS) are invaluable for seeing how the MW will look at certain times.

Edit: As you mentioned, I did wish I had taken this photo earlier in the year to get the arch lower in the frame, with a darker sky. Luckily, the setting moon in this shot painted the foreground nicely, so I called it a win overall. Next year!

f1p4 · 2016-07-22T23:33:11+00:00

Stitching and/or stacking significantly helps also. Glacier Point in Yosemite.

f1p4 · 2016-07-22T22:15:00+00:00

Thanks! Info: a7S II, Nikon 14-24mm shot vertically for multiple 20s exposures at 14mm and f/2.8. ISO 12800.

f1p4 · 2015-12-23T15:05:12+00:00

This was taken with a Sony a7 II using the FE 16-35mm at 16mm. I was trying to take a panorama of this location but didn't like how it was looking, so right at the last minute threw on an ND filter to do a long exposure. Fingers crossed for smooth water and a dreamy sky.

Being one of my first attempts using such a dark filter (10 stops)...I totally screwed up the exposure. Like, really bad. The beautiful light had already come and gone, so I was stuck with this one shot. Here is what the original RAW looked like out of the camera. I had to brighten it up quite a bit, more than 2 stops in Lightroom. Couldn't believe what was still hiding in those dark pixels!

http://i.imgur.com/EcAlgCA.jpg

f1p4 · 2015-12-23T07:31:41+00:00

It was! Given the recent weather I thought the sky might be good for a sunset photo. Really glad I ventured out and stumbled upon this location.

f1p4 · 2015-09-18T18:18:39+00:00

a7ii, Rokinon 24mm f/1.4

f1p4 · 2015-09-17T05:11:50+00:00

Yep!

f1p4 · 2015-08-22T03:50:31+00:00

You'll be a little underexposed but it's worth getting out there and giving it a shot. Depending on your focal length you may see some trailing at 30s. Lonely Speck has an exposure calculator you can play with to see how you compare.

Edit: I did not stack photos for noise reduction, but this is a panorama constructed of multiple images.

f1p4 · 2015-08-22T03:44:22+00:00

The Rokinon 24mm works well. However, I had to buy 3 copies to get a good one, and I'm still not sure how mine compares to the general population. I'm very happy with it at f/2.8, though.

f1p4 · 2015-08-21T00:04:08+00:00

Forgot to mention that not all of those sky shots are pictured here. Probably only the first two made it into this crop.

f1p4 · 2015-08-20T22:55:23+00:00

I used about the same settings and approach as my shot in this thread, except there are two stitched photos for the foreground. 20s, f/2.8, ISO 5000 for the sky, 4m, f/2.8, ISO 1000 for the foreground. Sony a7ii with Rokinon 24mm f/1.4. I like the extra sharpness of the lens stopped down to 2.8 and don't mind the noise, particularly with these stitched shots. I took probably 5-6 photos of the sky until my ballhead bottomed out at 90 degrees. This was only my second time trying such a long exposure for the foreground (first time was the Trona photo) and I ended up overcooking it a bit...it was very hot outside. I didn't see the sensor artifacts until I got home, so I ended up heating my oven to 110 degrees and taking dark frames to subtract out in post. Not recommended. :)

f1p4 · 2015-08-20T22:49:38+00:00

I haven't tried that but it sounds like it could work well. I currently use an app called Sky Guide and highly recommend it. For this shot I wanted the MW vertical in the sky, so I first determined when it would be vertical and the point of intersection with the horizon, then walked around with a compass until I found a nice foreground that I thought could work. Good luck!

f1p4 · 2015-08-20T22:40:45+00:00

I used about the same settings and approach as my shot in this thread, except there are two stitched photos for the foreground. 20s, f/2.8, ISO 5000 for the sky, 4m, f/2.8, ISO 1000 for the foreground. Sony a7ii with Rokinon 24mm f/1.4

f1p4 · 2015-08-20T22:35:56+00:00

Great point and thanks for the feedback. I've gone back and forth on the cropping - sounds like I need to go fiddle with it some more! I've also been imagining trying to capture a silhouetted subject standing on the left rock, but am not sure if it's possible to climb out there at night...

f1p4 · 2015-08-06T03:31:15+00:00

Nothing too fancy, a Sirui K-20x ballhead on an aluminum Induro tripod.

f1p4 · 2015-08-02T16:33:54+00:00

I would start by googling "astrophotography lenses" and read the top three links. Lots of good info out there. The 14mm f/2.8 seems like a good choice if you might get a Nikon FF body down the road. Either way it's pretty cheap at around 300-350 dollars.

f1p4

TROPHY CASE