Starry Shores of Fort Rose: A Milky Way Panorama from New Zealand
New Zealand's Southland coastline provides a dramatic backdrop for the celestial spectacle of the Milky Way, as showcased in this breathtaking seven-image panorama captured at Fort Rose.
This incredible shot was made possible through meticulous astrophotography techniques. Each of the seven frames was captured using a Sony a7 iii camera paired with a Viltrox 16mm lens. The settings for each exposure were: ISO 1600, f/3.2, and a 20-second exposure time, allowing ample light to gather for a detailed view of our galaxy.
The resulting image highlights not only the luminous band of the Milky Way but also a segment of the historic Fort Rose cliffs. The photographer noted a pleasant atmospheric effect, with a noticeable orange/red airglow present on the night of capture. This natural phenomenon, when processed with an AI auto white balance preset, subtly enhanced the warm tones, contributing to the unique and captivating overall color palette of the final image. Further global and local adjustments were then applied to accentuate the vibrancy of the colors and the details within the Milky Way.
The final image has been met with widespread admiration, with comments praising its beauty and the unique atmospheric quality. It's a testament to both the stunning natural beauty of New Zealand and the skill of the astrophotographer.
If you'd like to see more of this astrophotographer's work, you can find it on Instagram:
