A Celestial Symphony: Milky Way and Andromeda from Hurricane Ridge
Prepare to be mesmerized! I recently had the privilege of witnessing and capturing an absolutely breathtaking view of our universe from the iconic Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. During one of the park's new moon star parties, I ventured out onto the meadow trail, and what unfolded before me was, by far, the most spectacular display of the Milky Way and Andromeda I have ever seen.
This photograph is a testament to the incredible beauty that can be revealed when we escape the light pollution of our cities and look up. The sheer immensity and detail of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, was on full display, a luminous river of stars arching across the inky black canvas. And there, in its majestic glory, was the Andromeda galaxy, our nearest galactic neighbor, a fuzzy smudge of light that contains billions of stars, all visible to the naked eye under such pristine conditions.
Capturing the Cosmos: The Gear and Settings
To bring this celestial vision to life, I utilized a combination of high-quality gear and precise settings:
- Camera: Canon R5 Mark ii
- Lens: Canon RF 15-35 f/2.8 L IS USM Lens (with Autofocus and Image Stabilization disabled for optimal night sky performance)
- Specialized Filter: Hoya Red Starscape Glass Filter (to enhance specific light wavelengths)
- Support: Sturdy tripod and gimbal head for stability
- Trigger: Remote trigger via the Canon mobile app to avoid any camera shake during long exposures
The Exposure Recipe:
- Aperture: ƒ/2.8 (to gather as much light as possible)
- Shutter Speed: 30 seconds (allowing ample light to hit the sensor)
- Focal Length: 17mm (capturing a wide field of view)
- ISO: 1250 (balancing light sensitivity with potential noise)
Post-Processing: Bringing Out the Details
Once the data was captured, the magic continued in post-processing. Using Adobe Lightroom, I carefully refined the image to reveal the subtle nuances of the night sky:
- Color Temperature: Adjusted to 4594K to achieve a natural and pleasing look.
- Highlight and Black Clipping: Reduced to preserve detail in the brightest and darkest areas.
- Shadow and White Balance: Increased to lift the shadows and reveal more detail in the fainter parts of the Milky Way.
- Vibrance: Slightly increased to subtly enhance the colors without overdoing it.
- Saturation: Decreased to maintain a realistic and less artificial appearance.
Witnessing the Milky Way and Andromeda from such a pristine location is an experience that truly humbles you. It's a powerful reminder of our place in the vast cosmos and the incredible beauty that awaits us when we step outside and simply look up.
