Milky Way Majesty: A Stunning View from Olympic National Park's Hurricane Ridge

Prepare to be mesmerized by the cosmos! The night sky above Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park recently put on a spectacular show, offering an unparalleled view of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and our celestial neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy. This stunning photograph captures that magical moment.

A Prime Location for Cosmic Wonders

This breathtaking image was captured by a dedicated astrophotographer on a clear Thursday night, coinciding with the park's new moon star parties. The meadow trail near the Hurricane Ridge visitor center provided an ideal vantage point, far from the light pollution of urban areas, allowing for an unobstructed view of the celestial wonders above. As the photographer describes, it was "by far the best view I have ever had of the Milky Way and Andromeda."

The Gear Behind the Galaxy

Capturing such detail requires a thoughtful combination of camera, lens, and accessories. Here's a breakdown of the equipment used:

• Camera: Canon R5 Mark ii
• Lens: Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens (with autofocus and image stabilization disabled for optimal astrophotography performance)
• Filter: Hoya Red Starscape Glass Filter (designed to enhance the visibility of nebulae and stars by filtering out light pollution)
• Support: Tripod and gimbal head (essential for stability during long exposures)
• Trigger: Remote trigger via the Canon mobile app (to avoid camera shake when initiating the exposure)

Optimal Exposure Settings

Achieving a well-exposed astrophotograph involves balancing aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The settings for this shot were carefully chosen to gather as much light as possible:

• Aperture: ƒ/2.8 (wide open for maximum light gathering)
• Shutter Speed: 30 seconds (long enough to capture faint light)
• Focal Length: 17mm (providing a wide field of view)
• ISO: 1250 (balancing light sensitivity with potential noise)

Fine-Tuning the Cosmic Canvas (Post-Processing)

While the raw capture is impressive, post-processing is crucial for bringing out the full beauty of the night sky. The photographer employed several techniques in Adobe Lightroom:

• Color Temperature: Adjusted to 4528K to achieve a natural and pleasing white balance.
• Highlight and Black Levels: Reduced to prevent clipping and maintain detail in the brightest and darkest areas of the image.
• Shadows: Slightly increased to reveal subtle details in the foreground and darker parts of the sky.
• Dehazing: Applied minimally to add clarity without introducing artificiality.
• Vibrance: Slightly increased to enhance the colors of the Milky Way and stars.

This combination of a pristine dark sky location, advanced equipment, precise settings, and skillful post-processing has resulted in a truly awe-inspiring image. It's a powerful reminder of the incredible beauty that awaits us when we look up at the night sky.