My First DSLR Milky Way Capture from Hanle: A Journey of Learning
After my initial phone-based attempt to locate the Milky Way, I was eager to try my hand at capturing it with my DSLR. This shot, taken from Hanle on the same night, represents a significant milestone in my astrophotography journey. It's not just my first DSLR Milky Way shot, but also my first foray into dedicated astro-processing software.
This project was filled with 'firsts' for me:
- First Milky Way Capture with Main Camera: The Milky Way has been a long-held dream target since I started taking astrophotography seriously.
- First DSLR Milky Way Shot: Transitioning from phone photography to DSLR for this iconic celestial target.
- First Experience with Dedicated Astro Software: I previously relied on Photoshop for stacking and stretching. This time, I used Siril for stacking and initial stretching, marking a new phase in my processing workflow.
The Acquisition
Despite the excitement, the night didn't go exactly as planned. I only managed to capture data for about 3 hours, a stark contrast to the two full nights I had initially allocated. These were intended as test shots, and I had a different shooting plan for the subsequent night, which I may not get to implement for a while.
Gear & Acquisition Details:
- Camera: Canon 200D
- Lens: 18-55mm kit lens @ 18mm
- Aperture: f/4
- Exposure: 15 seconds
- ISO: 12800
- Frames: 114 light frames, 56 stacked + 100 dark frames
- Tracking: Untracked
The Processing Journey
I stacked the frames and performed an initial stretch using Siril. Following that, I made final adjustments in Photoshop and Lightroom. While I'm happy with the overall result, I'm always open to feedback and eager to learn how to process this data even better. The initial outcome was disappointing due to unexpected limitations, but seeing the processed version, even with its imperfections, brought a sense of accomplishment.
Processing Steps:
- Stacked in Siril
- Stretched in Siril
- Final tweaks in Photoshop & Lightroom
A Note on Light Pollution
One of the challenges I encountered was managing light. If your photos appear too bright or blown out, it might be due to light pollution or simply overexposure. While stacking helps reduce noise and enhance details, it cannot recover blown-out highlights. A good tip for future shoots is to slightly underexpose your frames to preserve the delicate details in the brightest parts of the sky. Trying to capture in environments with less light pollution can also make a significant difference.
I'm excited to continue learning and improving my astrophotography skills. Feel free to share any critiques or tips you might have!
