Capturing the Trona Pinnacles with a 50mm Lens: A Journey Through Astrophotography Challenges

The night sky offers a breathtaking canvas, and for many astrophotographers, the desire to capture its grandeur drives innovation and perseverance. Recently, a captivating image of the Trona Pinnacles emerged, showcasing the stark beauty of the desert landscape against a star-filled sky. What makes this particular shot so compelling is the artist's choice to use a 50mm lens, a focal length not typically favored for deep-sky astrophotography, and the ingenuity employed to overcome the inherent challenges.

The Vision and the Setup

The photographer, using a Canon 50mm lens adapted to their Sony A7iii (astro modified), set out to capture the Trona Pinnacles under the vast expanse of the night sky. While acknowledging that this setup wasn't "ideal" and presented difficulties with "star winging and some gnarly vignetting," the final result speaks volumes about their skill and dedication.

Equipment Used:

• Camera: Sony A7iii (Astro modified)
• Lens: Canon 50mm
• Mount: Sky Watcher Star Adventurer

This combination, while unconventional for deep-sky imaging, demonstrates a creative approach to maximizing available gear.

The Night Sky and the Foreground

The sky portion of the image was captured over multiple exposures, meticulously stacked and tracked to bring out the celestial details:

Sky Acquisition:

• Total Exposures: 10 x 30 seconds (stacked/tracked)
• Aperture: f/1.8
• ISO: 640

To further enhance the image, a Ha Continuum acquisition was performed, capturing specific wavelengths of light:

Ha Continuum Acquisition:

• Total Exposures: 10 x 30 seconds
• Aperture: f/1.8
• ISO: 3200

The foreground, vital for grounding the celestial view, was also carefully captured:

Foreground Acquisition:

• Total Exposures: 5 x 30 seconds
• Aperture: f/1.8
• ISO: 640

The Post-Processing Journey

Post-processing is where the magic truly happens in astrophotography, and this image is a testament to that. The photographer utilized a powerful workflow involving Pixinsight and Photoshop to bring the vision to life.

Pixinsight Process:

• Stacking: Weighted Batch Preprocessing (WBPP)
• Detail Enhancement: BlurX, StarX
• Noise Reduction: NoiseX
• Color Processing: Continuum Subtraction

Photoshop Process:

• Initial Adjustments: Camera Raw Filter for foreground and sky
• Color Enhancement: Color balance
• Data Integration: Blend Ha, Stretch & Screen Stars
• Refinement: Sky Replacement Tool for blending foreground

This detailed process highlights the careful steps taken to address the challenges presented by the 50mm lens, such as mitigating vignetting and controlling star shapes.

The Result

Despite the initial hurdles, the resulting image is a stunning testament to the photographer's skill and artistic vision. The Trona Pinnacles stand majestically against a backdrop of stars, with the subtle glow of the Ha continuum adding depth and color. The image successfully blends the terrestrial and celestial, creating a captivating scene that inspires awe.

This capture serves as an excellent reminder that with the right approach and a willingness to experiment, even seemingly unconventional equipment can lead to extraordinary results in astrophotography.

For more of this photographer's incredible work, be sure to check out their Instagram page: