Sailing on an Ocean of Stars

As an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer, I'm always searching for those moments where the universe truly unfolds before my lens. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to capture such a moment in Longreach, Australia, using my Canon M50 paired with a Brighton Star 14mm F2 lens.

The Capture

This image is a 20-second long exposure, a relatively short duration that still managed to capture an impressive amount of celestial detail. The goal was to preserve a natural look, avoiding extensive stacking or aggressive processing. The result is an image that truly feels like sailing on an ocean of stars.

Processing and Tips

I performed some light touch-ups in Adobe Photoshop on my phone to bring out the details. While the natural look was key, I received some valuable feedback from fellow astrophotographers.

One suggestion was to tweak the white balance to address some of the purple hues in the sky. For those new to astrophotography, this is a great tip to keep in mind as it can significantly improve the natural color rendition of your night sky shots. Additionally, for a 14mm lens, it's often possible to push exposures as long as 30-40 seconds without significant star trailing, offering even more light-gathering potential.

It's rewarding to share these images and connect with a community that appreciates the raw beauty of the cosmos. I'm excited to continue exploring the night sky and sharing my journey!