The Milky Way Rising Above a Local Rock Formation
Recently, I took a drive to clear my head and decided to capture this stunning view of the Milky Way rising above a very distinctive local rock formation. Sometimes, a low-pressure shot is exactly what you need to reconnect with the beauty of the world around us and the cosmos above.
This particular location, identified by a keen observer as Aramoana, provided a unique and captivating foreground for the celestial display.
The Gear Behind the Shot
To bring this vision to life, I utilized the following equipment:
- Camera: Nikon Z7a
- Lens: Nikkor Z 14-24 f2.8S
- Star Tracker: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro 2i
Capturing the Cosmic Dance
The process involved meticulous planning and execution to blend the terrestrial and celestial elements seamlessly:
Sky Acquisition
The sky portion of the image was a composite of multiple exposures to capture the faint details of the Milky Way. I shot approximately 3 frames with 4 rows each, using the following settings:
- Focal Length: 20mm
- Aperture: f2.8
- ISO: 2000
- Exposure: 30 seconds per frame
These frames were then merged using PTGui to create a panoramic view of the galactic core.
Foreground Detail
For the foreground, I captured 1 frame with 2 rows, focusing on bringing out the texture and form of the rock formation:
- Focal Length: 20mm
- Aperture: f4.0
- ISO: 6400
- Exposure: 60 seconds per frame
These foreground shots were stacked in Photoshop to reduce noise, ensuring a clean and detailed base before the final merge.
Final Touches
The final blend of the sky and foreground, along with all color adjustments and refinements, was carried out in Photoshop and Lightroom, bringing out the mesmerizing detail and vibrant colors of the Milky Way.
It's shots like these that remind us of the incredible universe we inhabit. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the night sky!
