Grand Canyon Milky Way: A Stellar Edit from 2024
Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to capture the majestic Grand Canyon under a sky ablaze with the Milky Way. This image, taken with a Nikon D750 and a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 lens, represents not just a beautiful vista, but a journey through a new editing workflow that I'm excited to share.
The Capture:
The conditions were ripe for a stunning night sky. Here are the details of how this shot came to be:
- Camera: Nikon D750
- Lens: Sigma 85mm f/1.4
- Exposure: 4 seconds
- Aperture: f/3.5
- ISO: 8000
- Sub-exposures: 22 (without dark or calibration frames)
The Editing Process:
Bringing out the detail in astrophotography is often as crucial as the capture itself. For this image, I employed a multi-stage editing process:
- Lightroom: Initial adjustments to white balance, exposure, and contrast to set the foundation.
- ASTAB: (Assuming this refers to a specific stacking or noise reduction software for astrophotography) Further processing to enhance the faint details of the Milky Way and reduce noise.
- StarTools: Leveraging its powerful tools to refine star colors, contrast, and overall image quality.
- Photoshop: The final polish, focusing on compositing, selective adjustments, and bringing the image to its full potential.
A Glimpse of the Canyon's Majesty:
This capture is a testament to the breathtaking beauty that unfolds when the terrestrial and celestial realms collide. The Grand Canyon, with its ancient geological formations, provides an awe-inspiring foreground to the cosmic spectacle of the Milky Way.
It's worth noting that at the time of sharing, the fire that impacted the region was still burning, and access to the North Rim remains restricted. My thoughts are with those affected by the fires. I hope this image serves as a reminder of the natural wonders that await and the resilience of our planet.
Stay tuned for more astrophotography adventures!
