Stars over Grand Canyon

**Uilleann** · 07-05-2016, 01:13 PM

Have you ever hiked trails at night needing nothing but starlight to guide you? After this weekend, I can say I have, and it was spectacular! Airglow was also spectacular both nights we were out. Wish I had a telescope...though the new camera is no slouch with these wide shots. :)

Grand-Canyon-11.jpg Grand-Canyon-12.jpg Grand-Canyon-14.jpg

**scriptfiller** · 07-05-2016, 02:34 PM

Were the post processed? Are these JPG's or RAW?

**Steve Machol** · 07-05-2016, 02:42 PM

Very nice!

**Uilleann** · 07-05-2016, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by scriptfiller

Were the post processed? Are these JPG's or RAW?

Compared to what I normally have to do in post to find the MW detail when shooting near the big city - these are virtually untouched. These are of course jpgs so that everyone can see them. But the amount of work needed in post was literally minuscule. These are very very close to what came straight off the SD card. In fact, if anything, I was finding that some of the shots were actually overexposed, and if anything I had to bring that down in Lightroom a touch. Absolutely insane when you realize that's distant starlight! :) The airglow was also super prominent, with even my non-astronomically inclined wife mentioning more than once. The fingers and ribbons were clearly visible naked eye. What really got us, and something the camera wasn't particularly good at capturing well, was that even under starlight, you could make out all the distant ridges and features along the rim and canyon walls for a large distance. All in all, an amazing adventure - and virtually in our backyard. :D

**Mick** · 07-05-2016, 03:50 PM

Grand Canyon is my worlds favorite place. So dark at night you cannot imagine the number of stars in the sky. Great Pictures. I wish I had taken pictures in my trips in.

**Johns** · 07-05-2016, 06:48 PM

Drove up from Phoenix 2 weeks ago, and ended up spending almost the entire evening looking at the stars. Words can't describe it, but the photos come close!

**obxeyeguy** · 07-05-2016, 07:31 PM

Very nice pics Brian. I live in the country, and enjoy the natural sky, but nothing like that. Love it!

**Uilleann** · 07-06-2016, 10:06 AM

Mind you, these are extended exposures, about 15-20 seconds each. Camera was a Canon 5D MkIII, with a Sigma 24mm F/1.4 lens (stopped down to F/2.0) No tracker, just a tripod. ISO varied depending on subject, but hovered between 1600 and 3600. The colors and definition were still spectacular naked eye, but the colors you see here can only be captured with timed exposures. :)

**scriptfiller** · 07-06-2016, 10:48 AM

Great pics!, thanks for the reply Uilleann. Still miss the days of my youth out in the country west of Jacksonville out all night under the stars with my telescope.