Astro Photography - first attempts

[Tri Danimal]

I made an attempt at Astrophotography, please go easy on me ;-). I am uploading the original file and the edited file, if you guys think you can help me with the editing please make a pass at it. Let me know what your thoughts are on these photos. What can I do better? I know the framing isnt the best, we were drinking at the campfire so yeah.


Astro 1 org


Astro 1 edit


Astro 2 org


Astro 2 edit

[Donald]

I have no knowledge of astro-photography, but that being said, editing is editing and it seems to me that you have done an excellent job. Showing us the un-edited file followed by the edit version is an excellent way showing us what you did.

On Astro 2, it might have been useful to put a mask over the lower part of the image to hold the lights back to what they are in the unedited version. And, as opposed to Astro 1 in which everything appears very sharp, there does appear to be some movement in Astro2 so that the stars are not so sharp.

[Shadowman]

Nice efforts, the important thing is how do they look to you, are you satisfied with your efforts, is their anything you'd like to correct?

[Stagecoach]

For a first attempt you have done well and a good job capturing the Milky Way.

Exposure time of 15 sec, ISO4000 on No 1 I suspect is near the limit you can go at 18mm but it would be worth trying slightly longer with a lower ISO. The limiting factor will be avoiding star trails.

For No 2 the Exif says 5 sec, ISO4000 that's too short. If you were limited by the foreground lights it could have been an opportunity to take two exposures and merge them.

[Tri Danimal]

Nice efforts, the important thing is how do they look to you, are you satisfied with your efforts, is there anything you'd like to correct?

I think I would like to learn how to add a mask as Donald mentioned, I am not too sure I can do that in Lightroom (I only have Lightroom).

For a first attempt you have done well and a good job capturing the Milky Way.

The exposure time of 15 sec, ISO4000 on No 1 I suspect is near the limit you can go at 18mm but it would be worth trying slightly longer with a lower ISO. The limiting factor will be avoiding star trails.

For No 2 the Exif says 5 sec, ISO4000 that's too short. If you were limited by the foreground lights it could have been an opportunity to take two exposures and merge them.

I will print out your suggestions and keep them in my camera bag for the next camping trip.

I have not tried to merge multiple photos in post just yet. Does Lightroom do that?

[Manfred M]

I think I would like to learn how to add a mask as Donald mentioned, I am not too sure I can do that in Lightroom (I only have Lightroom).




I will print out your suggestions and keep them in my camera bag for the next camping trip.

I have not tried to merge multiple photos in post just yet. Does Lightroom do that?

No these are not things that can be done in Lightroom. This requires a pixel based editor like Photoshop, Serif Affinity, GIMP, etc. All of these tools support layers and layer masks, which are needed for this type of work.