Acadia National Park

[AG64]

Spent a weekend at Acadia National Park in Maine and had nearly perfect conditions for shooting the Milky Way. Photographed using twelve 10 second exposures for the sky and stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker, then blended with a long exposure for the foreground. The second photo was shot just before it was completely dark due to the clouds moving in rather quickly.

1. Milky Way from Sand Beach


2. Milky Way from the trail head at the top of Cadillac Mountain


3. Sunrise from the final day


4. Flowers I happened across. One of the few still left this time of year

[Donald]

Very impressive sent of images. That of the flower is very well done.

But, this is exceptional. You see many fine star trails and pictures of the milky way this has got to up there with the best of them. Thank you for putting in how you did it as well. The detail you have in it is exceptional.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[DickyOZ]

A really great series, love #1.

[Stagecoach]

Good set Arno.

No 1 is great and something I want to achieve. For the long exposure of the foreground was it lit by moonlight?

[LePetomane]

Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.

[AG64]

Grahame, the foreground was entirely lit by the Milky Way. It was a new moon on the night I shot it, and the skies are about the darkest you’ll find on the east coast of the US, so the Milky Way was quite bright, even to the naked eye. I used 7 minutes at ISO 1600 and f/2.8. That’s with a micro 4/3 sensor, so if you’ve got a full frame you can probably go with a shorter exposure (or just not have to push the exposure as far in post). For full disclosure I did dodge and burn the foreground a little bit.

[AG64]

Thank you Donald. I must say that my switch to using stacking software for the sky shots earlier this year has made a huge difference. Shorter exposures (10 sec at 14mm FF equivalent) keep the stars as pinpoints and stacking many images reduces the noise considerably.

[AG64]

Thanks John

[AG64]

Thanks Richard.

[rpcrowe]

I like them all but, #1 is my favorite!

[Stagecoach]

Grahame, the foreground was entirely lit by the Milky Way. It was a new moon on the night I shot it, and the skies are about the darkest you’ll find on the east coast of the US, so the Milky Way was quite bright, even to the naked eye. I used 7 minutes at ISO 1600 and f/2.8. That’s with a micro 4/3 sensor, so if you’ve got a full frame you can probably go with a shorter exposure (or just not have to push the exposure as far in post). For full disclosure I did dodge and burn the foreground a little bit.

Thanks for that additional info Arno.

I'm able to shoot the Milky Way pointing out to sea with no light pollution and presently considering foregrounds so I'm ready for that long overdue cloudless night. Your pic was useful to me as it showed what could be pulled out of the foreground.

[Barnwell]

Nice images. Really like #4. For photo 4 did you need to light the flower?

[AG64]

Nice images. Really like #4. For photo 4 did you need to light the flower?

No flash or artificial lighting, just a luminosity mask and curves adjustment in post to accentuate the light on the petals.

[thegman]

#1 for me. Great shot.

[Wavelength]

Excellent images!!!