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Morkel Erasmus
07-16-2012, 05:40 PM
The night skies in the Kalahari are really something special. This was taken in a remote corner of the Nossob rest camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
I used an LED Lenser torch bounced off my hand to paint the foreground. It was tricky to get the right exposures to the right spots. We only had a window between 4am and 5h30am from when the moon had set until the dawn would break to capture these images. I love the "falling star" (I know that's not what it is :t3) at the RHS edge...though I wish it was further away from the edge...
There was also a storm building on the horizon.

I will be travelling for work until Friday, so I might not be as active as always - but I will probably log on quickly every night!

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 @ 14mm
f2.8 @ 25s @ ISO-3200

Bob Miller
07-16-2012, 06:46 PM
Hi Morkel.....Wow! This is a tremendous image that I just Love. I am going to have to try this sometime. Was the nebula visible to your eyes?

Dave Mills
07-16-2012, 11:13 PM
Hi Morkel, I like the composition and a good job capturing the sky. If this were mine I would eliminate the white line in the lower right.

Don Railton
07-16-2012, 11:17 PM
This is quite spectacular Morkel...!

DON

Vivaldo Damilano
07-17-2012, 01:41 AM
Hi Morkel, this one was worth getting up for, wonderful image TFS:cheers:

Mark Wiseman
07-17-2012, 04:17 PM
Hi Morkel, ditto Vivaldo's comment.
Best wishes, Mark.
PS, I like the satellite you caught and I will be off to Niewoudtville soon, so some starry nights and flowery days will be on the agenda in the bulb capital of the world.

PhilCook
07-17-2012, 04:36 PM
Must give this a try next time I'm away from the city lights, a really nice image Morkel. The milky way in all it's glory and some earthly scenery as well adds nicely. I think the " shooting star " is a great touch, please leave it in the scene...but get rid of that single red hot pixel just above on the edge.

Roger Clark
07-17-2012, 10:19 PM
Hi Morkel,

Beautiful image! I like how there is an effect of the galactic center illuminating the road in the foreground.

I suggest trying ISO 1600 to give a little more dynamic range and not saturating so many stars, thus retaining more star color. See my image I just posted for comparison.

Roger

Nick Palmieri
07-19-2012, 01:04 PM
Nice one Morkel. Great job painting the FG

Rachel Hollander
07-20-2012, 06:48 AM
Morkel - fantastic night image. Light painting worked very well. I wouldn't change a thing.

TFS,
Rachel

Morkel Erasmus
07-20-2012, 08:08 AM
Thanks for the kind words, folks.

Roger - will try that, I generally shoot between 1600 and 3200 with a preference for the nebulae I can capture at 3200.

Andrew Aveley
07-21-2012, 03:52 AM
Nice one Morkel. Like the overall colour and WB here.

TFS

James Fuller
08-04-2012, 08:53 AM
I see a UFO!!! Fantasic shot Morkel! Why light paint bouncing off your hand...does it change the color of the light or just help you control it better? Thanks!

Morkel Erasmus
08-13-2012, 02:58 PM
Thank you Andrew and James :5


I see a UFO!!! Fantasic shot Morkel! Why light paint bouncing off your hand...does it change the color of the light or just help you control it better? Thanks!

James, it gives a warmer colour (the LED Lenser has a blueish tone) and it helps you control the "painting" better...so you are right on both accounts... :bg3: