Chasing the Cosmos: Milky Way Over a New Zealand Lake
Sometimes, the most awe-inspiring views require dedication, long drives, and a touch of photographic magic. This past weekend, after navigating a precious clear weather window and undertaking several 6-8 hour drives, I finally had the opportunity to immerse myself in some serious astro-photography. The destination? A tranquil lake in New Zealand, perfectly positioned to capture the majestic descent of our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
The effort was, without a doubt, profoundly worth it. Witnessing the dense band of stars and nebulae sink below the horizon, reflected in the still waters of the lake, was an experience that words can barely capture. It's moments like these that remind us of the vastness and beauty of the universe we inhabit.
Behind the Lens: Capturing the Celestial Dance
Achieving this shot was a meticulous process, involving careful planning and a robust gear setup. Here's a peek into the technical details:
Gear Used:
- Camera: Nikon Z7a
- Lens: Nikkor Z 14-24 f2.8S
- Tracking Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro
Camera Settings:
For the Sky, I captured 6 frames in 2 rows, employing the following settings:
- Focal Length: 24mm
- Aperture: f2.8
- ISO: 2000
- Exposure: 30 seconds per frame
These frames were then expertly merged using PTGui to create a seamless panorama of the night sky.
For the Foreground, to ensure adequate detail even in low light, I used:
- Focal Length: 24mm
- Aperture: f4.0
- ISO: 6400
- Exposure: 30 seconds per frame
Again, 7 frames were composited in PTGui to render the foreground with the best possible clarity.
Finally, the magical blend of sky and foreground, along with all the crucial color and contrast adjustments, was brought to life in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
It’s a privilege to share these celestial wonders with you. If you’d like to see more of my work, please feel free to visit my Instagram page:
Stay curious and keep looking up!
