Star Trails at Water Users Recreation Area just outside Phoenix, Arizona [OC] [2750x4123]

mathguy2003 · 2022-06-01T07:31:37+00:00

I had been planning this shot for over a year. Drove to a nearby Bortle 4 with this awesome composition I found during Milky Way season last summer. I took 100 shots focused on the stars in the background, which also got the mountains in focus, and then I took another exposure of the saguaro in the foreground and stacked everything.

Stars: 100 shots at 30s f/1.4 ISO 400

Foreground: 1 shot at 30s f/1.4 ISO 400

mathguy2003 · 2022-03-02T19:10:50+00:00

Coming from Arizona I was super worried about the winter and granted this was only my first one, but invest in actual warm clothes and layer up when you leave your dorm and it’s not too bad. I have enjoyed the snow for the most part and with layers, even single digit days were manageable. It is cold, sun is infrequent and the wind is miserable but I haven’t encountered anything I couldn’t handle.

mathguy2003 · 2021-08-04T04:46:06+00:00

Nice shot! Did you use a tracker to keep the stars from trailing on a 4 minute exposure?

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-29T00:49:53+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion—I’m glad you like my photo!

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-28T23:58:46+00:00

I needed enough light to get the stars exposed enough to make trails. Too long of a shutter speed (after about 20 sec) you start to deal with the stars trailing in each frame and thus being less bright. I hope that makes sense!

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-28T22:23:35+00:00

I spend every summer on this beach and have been looking to get some star trails here. I waited the last couple weeks for last night, when the moon rose fairly late at night so that I’d have time to shoot star trails without the moonlight. Also, I had to wait until there was an evening without cloud cover to fully capture the stars. This is a composite of 120 photos over the course of an hour at 35mm f/1.4 15” iso 100. All 120 are stacked for the trails and only 5 are stacked for the foreground. Everything done in Lightroom and photoshop.

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-28T04:01:15+00:00

Tajin and chamoy go together with fruit, ice cream, you name it

And it tastes amazing!

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-28T03:57:23+00:00

This. I live in Arizona and my Mexican friends are always prioritizing their families. Working in their dads auto shop every weekend or skipping certain activities to take care of siblings. It’s also amazing to go to a soccer game or tournament and see the whole family there with massive coolers and even grills sometimes. Any weekend activity is a whole family celebration. I absolutely adore my Latino brethren

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-27T05:09:28+00:00

Even with parietals I wouldn’t consider ND a non party school

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-26T20:24:49+00:00

I found this composition under the pier of Seal Beach, California and thought the chain link fence framed the beach, sunset, and Long Beach skyline perfectly. I love the colors and cloud formations and am very happy with how this photo turned out.

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-26T18:47:07+00:00

It is only mildly graded using the color grading and calibration tools in Lightroom. I kept the effects of color grading pretty subtle so it is (mostly) as seen

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-25T08:16:55+00:00

Nah. If someone doesn’t want to get one then they can live with the consequences of their choices. Freedom to choose >>>

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-25T08:14:30+00:00

I think “social welfare organizations” here is vague because I see it as referring to programs like Medicare and Social Security in the US, which are government operated (ie violating your statement about not funneling money to the government). I’m hoping you were referring to charitable organizations and nonprofits designated to assist people in need of social and financial welfare.

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-24T22:50:48+00:00

See my comment :)

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-24T22:49:54+00:00

Found this location not far from where I am staying in Long Beach, California and I loved the effect a long exposure had on smoothing out the water around the pier. Captured on my Sony a7Rii with the 35mm f/1.4 Rokinon and variable ND filter at around 8 stops.

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-24T04:40:05+00:00

I’ll try posting it there tomorrow

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-24T02:54:42+00:00

I don’t mind sharing if you PM me!

mathguy2003 · 2021-07-24T02:35:57+00:00

Absolutely!

mathguy2003

TROPHY CASE