Rodney Campbell's Blog

The main event for the evening was to take the frames for a star trails composite image. Standing here feeling alone in the universe is a humbling experience. Out here in the absolute darkness with the universe of stars above filling the heavens with sparkling diamonds. Oh too many to count or fathom

The first task was to select a suitable composition. I wanted to include these three fantastic Boab specimens (perhaps the rule of odds at play :)). I aligned my location and composition so that the boabs would be reaching up into the heavens with the centre of the rotation of the stars being aligned with the right hand tree. At the time I possibly would have preferred to align with the centre tree but it wasn’t possible to do that and include the three trees cleanly. In the end having it on around the third probably works better anyway

The Boab Universe

NIKON D750 + 14.0 mm f/2.8 @ 14 mm, 61 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600 x 89 Frames

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

First some test shots with some light painting of the foreground (including one of yours truly :)). This to potentially later use to blend in as the foreground image

Then it was time to let the intervalometer run. I was taking frames at 14mm, 61 seconds @ f/2.8 and a staggering ISO 1600 (it was so amazingly dark skied out here and still the background was dark!)

The sequence started at 8:30PM and I let it run for 89 frames. By 10PM I’d had enough of sitting alone in the dark with all manner of strange noises in the dark. All sorts of animals and birdlife out in the darkness moving about. Plus I was camped here in the absolute darkness right next to a likely crocodile infested river. Strange thoughts do eventually creep into your mind 🙂

Don't forget to Share...

Google

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin

Pinterest

Email

Print