Joshua Tree and Milky Way

[Steve Machol]

Joshua Tree Parkway (Highway 93, AZ)

Nikon D750 w/14mm Rokinon Lens
30 sec. at f/3.5, ISO 3200
Lighting: Neewer CN-360 LED Panel

20170914-_DSC8301_Highway 93 Astro Highway 93.jpg

[Uilleann]

I find B&W space to be very tricky (probably for the same reasons I struggled so much trying to edit my relatively color free solar eclipse images). Getting the contrast, and detail correct for the shades of gray are pretty tricky. With that said, this is a very nice edit Steve!

[Steve Machol]

I find B&W space to be very tricky (probably for the same reasons I struggled so much trying to edit my relatively color free solar eclipse images). Getting the contrast, and detail correct for the shades of gray are pretty tricky. With that said, this is a very nice edit Steve!

Thanks!

The interesting thing is that I really didn't have to process this much. All of the images I took that night had a very clear and distinct Milky Way straight out of the camera (I shoot Raw.) The only editing was the normal processing I do for every photo - the basic exposure adjustments as well as sharpness and noise reduction. I didn't have to do anything specifically to the Milky Way or stars.

P.S. The LED light panel was about 200 ft from the tree. Even at it's lowest setting the light was way too bright to use closer to the tree without creating far too much contrast and exposure difficulties so I had to move it far away.

[Uilleann]

I still need to get a LLL panel myself. I wonder if a heavy diffuser/tinted gel might help keep the night shooting levels more manageable?

[lensmanmd]

Great image Steve.

I have a Satechi led panel with barn doors, diffusers and gels, with a dimmer. Gives me a lot of control for fill applications. Very reasonably priced on Amazon.

At at least I think it's Satechi, maybe another Chinese brand.......