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I have heard of using defocused star images so that their colors wouldn't blow out, but your idea captures something more subtle.This photo is from 2019. The Zion National Park has since banned walking or standing on the Canyon Junction Bridge so it would be illegal to shoot this now.
The photo was taken with a Phase One XF/IQ4150 using a 35mm BR lens. Like most landscape astrophotos it has some special techniques and a lot of post processing. In this case there are three layers. The foreground (which is actually built from several frames averaged), the sky (which is also built from several frames averaged) and a second set of sky photos taken just slightly out of focus.
The reason for the out of focus layer is to capture just the larger stars and allow them to "shine" brighter than the smaller stars. It also helps capture the colors of the stars. A drawback of using sharp lens and high resolution is that stars become smaller and less differentiated in the image so they start to just look like noise. By allowing the brighter stars to show more you create a more natural looking result even if the viewer doesn't understand why. As far as I know this is an original technique that I discovered.
This is a spectacular image. Such a simple composition yet rare as can be. Beautiful.Calla Lily
View attachment 149470
WRS1250 | IQ3100 | Zeiss 120/5.6 S-Planar | f/8 | 46-image focus stack
Another addition to a series I'm thinking of naming "Pandemic Floral Portraits."
Hope everyone is staying healthy, safe and sane!
John
This photo is from 2019. The Zion National Park has since banned walking or standing on the Canyon Junction Bridge so it would be illegal to shoot this now.
The photo was taken with a Phase One XF/IQ4150 using a 35mm BR lens. Like most landscape astrophotos it has some special techniques and a lot of post processing. In this case there are three layers. The foreground (which is actually built from several frames averaged), the sky (which is also built from several frames averaged) and a second set of sky photos taken just slightly out of focus.
The reason for the out of focus layer is to capture just the larger stars and allow them to "shine" brighter than the smaller stars. It also helps capture the colors of the stars. A drawback of using sharp lens and high resolution is that stars become smaller and less differentiated in the image so they start to just look like noise. By allowing the brighter stars to show more you create a more natural looking result even if the viewer doesn't understand why. As far as I know this is an original technique that I discovered.
Thanks. I overlay it in Lighten blending mode. Normally the smaller stars don’t show but I may need to mask or use the Blend-if sliders to hide traces of the Milky Way.Lovely shot, sir! May I ask, how do you edit or blend-in the 'slightly out of focus' layer? Do you just overlay it generally over the finished sky layer (based on the stacking of the multiple, in-focus star frames)? Do you adjust the layer opacity? Perhaps brush it in, using a layer mask, only around the brighter stars? Change the layer blending mode? Would be very interested to learn... But would also fully understand if this is confidential to you
Either way, a smashing result!
Craig, thanks so much for your generosity in sharing this. I will give it a try!Thanks. I overlay it in Lighten blending mode. Normally the smaller stars don’t show but I may need to mask or use the Blend-if sliders to hide traces of the Milky Way.
I failed to mention also that the sky was shot with a tracking mount.
Thanks so much for your interest, Dave.Ed...on a separate note, have you sent off your 645Z for repair? Hope it won't be long before you have it back and making your usual spectacular images. Please keep us all posted on any developments..
Dave (D&A)
John, where in the world do you find these interesting flowers?Nigella sativa
View attachment 149688
WRS1250 | IQ3100 | Zeiss 120/5.6 S-Planar | f/8 | 24-image focus stack
The alien, other-worldly nature of these flowers caught my eye as I was taking in some fresh air in the garden the other day - another installment in what's turning out to be my pandemic floral portrait series.
John