Nighttime Sky - Star Points

[Brendan Dozier]

Finally got another try at getting some starpoints using Roman's "A Digital Guide to Photographing the Night Sky" as a guide. This is a rock formation off the highway headed towards Borego Springs, CA. The last time I came out here too late, and it was too dark to get a focus point on the FG.

Blended two exposures, taking one for the FG as it started getting dark and the other for the star points after 10pm, following the suggestions in the guide. Blended them as two layers in CS5, NR on the starpoints, levels, curves, sharpening, added a blue photo filter to sky.

This was a fun adventure and learning experience. Roman's easy to follow guide takes the guess work out of it, and provides a lot of helpful tips and information.

[Judy Howle]

That is certainly a WOW image! The exposure is very good and I live the sky.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Brendan, this is amazing!The colors and the lighting on the rocks as well as the star trails are gorgeous.

[Kerry Perkins]

Brendan, great job on this image! Super job with exposure and processing. I'm sure Roman will be happy to know that you learned so much from his book. I think I would do something with the fence in the LLC, probably cloning it out to preserve the nice composition you have.

I'm thinking Hwy 78 somewhere around the top of Banner Grade? Love that area.

[denise ippolito]

Brendan, Nice jog with this one. I agree w/ Kerry regarding the fence. I might crop a little from the top if it were mine as the one line seems on the edge. Nice job!

[Mark Fuge]

Nice image and application, Brendan

Neat capture and image.

[Stu Bowie]

Great work here Brendan, and I like the exposure of the FG. The colour of the night sky rocks.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Brendan,
Very cool! Not a huge fan of the fence myself....and I'd get rid of the plane trails ( I can't believe how many planes are flying every night!!!) but all in all....very well done and congrats!
Thanks for the kind words too!
Be careful....it is addictive!!!

[Richard Lovison]

Brendan,

Beautifully done composite. I agree with others about removing the fence and plane trails.

I'm not familiar with Roman's technique so take this for what it is worth. If it were possible, I might try darkening the sky more towards the black to produce a more natural effect as you wouldn't see so many stars in so light a sky.

Richard

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful work, Brendan. It has come out very nice. I am waiting to try Roman's night photography technique...

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks everyone for your comments & suggestions!

Here's the repost, removed the fence and the plane trails (thought they were shooting stars!). Also, brought levels down some especially on sky as Richard suggested.

[Anita Bower]

I liked the OP, and like the repost even more! Gorgeous colors. You chose a wonderful location for this sky image--with those marvelous boulders in the foreground. Lovely colors--including those in the rocks--and detail. Wonderful image. Worth all the work it took.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Yep.....repost took it up to another level! Way to follow the suggestions and improve it!

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks Anita & Roman!