Photo of the Week 2024-10-14

 

While working through a number of photos from my recent trip to Scotland, an opportunity to photograph the Aurora Borealis at an intensity seldom seen had me out with camera at a local viewpoint, Pilkington Overlook, north of Guelph. To say it was a special is an understatement, it was possibly a once in a lifetime experience with the Kp predicted at 8 and clear sky conditions. 

 

I managed to get back from a trip to visit our sons in Eastern Ontario and scramble to prepare for the possibility of a very late and possibly very long night. Arriving at the spot I had selected, it was evident that a crowd had gathered and cars filled the parking area spilling out to the nearby roadsides. When I saw a couple walking to there car I asked if there was anything to see and they indicated that there was but they were going to check out another location. So I continued to grab a camera, tripod, headlamp, had and some gloves to find a place to set up.

Although it was much earlier than I had expected, the show had already started. There was subtle aurora activity across the horizon from NW to NE. Over the course of just over an hour, the performance built to a stunning climax before fading away ... 

Here is a screen capture of all 72 RAW files from the shoot, all without any enhancement, the way the camera captured the scenes with consistent exposure settings. It shows the progression of activity from 21:41 to 22:46 ... it's near unbelievable.

 

At it's peak, I was astounded by what was being captured on the camera sensor. No, it didn't look like this to the naked eye and for an explanation of why, I direct you to this resource so I can focus the discussion on and showing the images I made.

Over the past couple of days, I've been eeking out some of the images I made, mostly those leading up to the crescendo of colour that occurred where I was just after 22:00. The colour really started to come on just before 22:00, with red becoming as prominent as green in the sky. By 22:10 it was all around, ahead to the north, to the west, to the east, overhead and even behind me. It was simply overwhelming, even with the naked eye.

I've attempted to select a set of images from the 3 dozen that I've processed to illustrate the progression of the event during the period I was photographing. Here they are in sequence ...

 

Find me on FB, Insta and flickr to follow along as I post the complete collection of images from this amazing event.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-07-29

Working with captures from the same night time outing used to create last week's image,  I merged 2 (unstacked) frames as a mini pano to get another composition I wanted. This, showing the crazy light pollution glow over Tobermory when everything is closed for the night ...

' Tobermory glowing under the Milky Way '

... it was a significant challenge to bring out some detail of the Milky Way given the amount of light Tobermory was throwing off but I managed to get something that I like and I'm learning along the way.

DJE

 

 

Photo of the Week 2024-07-22

 

' MW Arching Over Hay Bay '

A first go at capturing the Milky Way Arch. Six vertical images, themselves each a stack of 4 exposures, stitched into a panorama. Processed in LR, PS and ON1.

 

There is no shortage of 'nightscape' images on the internet showcasing the Milky Way over dramatic landscapes. There are nearly as many processing styles, with options ranging from subtle single exposure versions to the surreal using stacking and tracking techniques to extract the last photon of light and detail.

Recently I was treated to a clear sky forecast while at the cottage and decided to take advantage of it to try out the new (to me) Irix 15mm f/2.4 for some night sky shots. I spent some time planning with PhotoPills, TPE and other online resources to determine time and position of the Milky Way core. I had not thought to try a stitched panorama capturing the full MW Arch until I was out on the shore near midnight and noticed just how much of it I could see.

The process of image capture was relatively simple, though it was my first time out under the night sky with my R5 and with a hew lens as well. I ended up capturing six sets of four images over a roughly 150* (estimated) field of view. I applied lens profile correction in Lightroom, then exported to TIFF's, then used Sequator to stack each set of 4 exposures, following some online tutorials. The resultant output from Sequator (also in TIFF format) were touched up for light pollution and bright cottage lights in PS, saved back to the TIFF and then stitched in LR using photomerge.

 

Challenges came mostly from the quarter moon shining bright to the SW, blazing lights from cottages across the water, and the ever present glare of Tobermory and the Ferry dock megawatt lights. All the aforementioned challenges were tackled using a combination of Lightroom, Photoshop and ON1 Effects adjustments, dodge, burn, clone, heal and curves techniques and tricks to achieve the result shown above.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-07-15

I thought this week's post may have been about my recent nightscape photography, given that a lens purchased for that purpose had arrived late last week. While I did get out on Saturday to give it a trial workout, other aspects of life, namely a new puppy, had other ideas for time that I had planned to learn some new image stacking software for editing the resulting raw files.

 

So I sit here at the keyboard on Sunday night, resigned to the fact that I don't have enough time or energy to get through a new workflow to show you the results of last night's shoot (amazing as it was that I managed to stay up until midnight to see the Milky Way rise in the sky). Instead, I delve into the archive for something and ... lo and behold, there's a nightscape image from over 4 years ago (albeit from winter) sitting there, ready to share.

 

' Front Row Seats '

 Dark skies at our cottage on the Bruce Peninsula are absolutely awe inspiring ...

 

This image was made with the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 on a Canon 5D MkIII DSLR. A while after I got rid of the 5D MkIII, I also hesitantly traded in the Rokinon 14mm with plans to upgrade it down the road. Now I have with the Irix 15mm f/2.5 in EF mount to use with the EF-RF adapter and Canon R5 mirrorless. Hopefully, I'll have something to show from this combination some time soon.

 

Up to now, all of my night sky / nightscape images have been processed from single exposures, as is the image presented here. During my shoot Saturday night, I was capturing multiple frames to stack later with software specifically designed for night sky work. Why? Well, in simple terms, because processing a single image shot at high ISO includes noise that can result in bright pixels ultimately show up like stars making for a busier than actual night sky. How much difference will there be? I hope t' let ya know.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-07-27

Once every 6,766 years ...

Finding Neowise

The NW view from the Tugs Deck in Tobermory at twilight, with little Neowise below the Big Dipper, above the last vestiges of a Huron Sunset.
 

I had attempted to see and photograph the comet Neowise a few days earlier but cloud cover obscured the SW night sky, thwarting the effort. With clear sky forecast from 10pm midnight, conditions were perfect for another go.

It took a while to 'see' it, even though online resources had me looking in the correct spot. The lights from the Dock and Chi-Cheemaun made if difficult for my eyes to adjust to the dark (I really wish there were a way to dim the dock lights and those of the ferry but still manage to maintain security in the area). As it got closer to 11pm, the sky had darkened enough for long exposures on the camera to pick up the faint tail and orb of Neowise.

I had chosen a good viewpoint, but not a good platform from which to photograph. The small deck, that provides access to the area of Little Tub where snorkelers go to see the sunken remains of the Tugs, was transmitting vibration from the waves striking it's supports, making most exposures (10 - 20 s) show as jittery points of light. I found I could not zoom in and get a larger image of he comet without exaggerating the issue and without skyline for context, I found it wasn't a really interesting composition anyway.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-02-17

A cold clear night provided great views of the night sky on the Northern Bruce Peninsula ... so it was time to suit up, gear up and get out for some night sky photos.

Venus and The Milky Way

 

The Heavens Above

Front Row Seats

 

Village Glow

 It was calm, crisp and quiet at -20*C... and there was home made hot cocoa to warm up with afterwards.


DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-08-28

This past weekend was the 3rd annual weekend at the cottage with Lynn's older sister and her family. This year Bill and Cathy stayed with us while Michael, Melissa, Hannah and Thompson stayed at Lands End Campground across the bay. 

Although timing had not been in my favour for night sky shots for a while. We were fortunate enough to have 3 great days of weather and 3 wickedly clear nights where the night sky was dark, full of stars and the Milky Way ... and I was able to fight through the siren call of the sheets as darkness falls ;-)

I managed to make it late enough on 3 consecutive nights to see the night sky complete with Milky Way from the shore in front of the fire pit, this image was made the first night and it didn't get any better than this ... how could it ?

Hay Bay - Milky Way

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-09-05

The most difficult aspect to photographing the night sky, stars and the Milky Way is staying up late enough these days ;-)

With another summer coming to an end, daylight hours are becoming shorter, darkness comes earlier, and so too does the time when stars and the Milky Way come out for night photography. It's a gradual change, but at some point it grabs your attention and you realize that at this time not so long ago it was still light out and perhaps the sun had not yet set.

With a clear night sky a week ago, it was only 10:00 pm when the stars were out in all their glory with the Milky Way easily visible to the naked eye ... oh how I love the view when light pollution from the major populations centres is far away and the magic is revealed.

With a little help from quality gear and some digital enhancement, the images can be breathtaking ...  
 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-07-04

We were at the cottage again this year for Canada Day and by some accounts (business owners in Tobermory) this year it was busier than any previous year. That's why we make sure we are well stocked with provisions and tend to avoid the insanity that Tobermory has become on long weekends ... that is, all except for the July 1 fireworks. We have to go see the fireworks and Celebrate Canada Day.

Tobermory Celebrates - Canada Day 2016

This year again, we invited friends to come and join us for a few days while we were on vacation and again it was a great time. Good friends, good times, good celebrations, Great Country!

HAPPY CANADA DAY

PS - did you know that the sun sets later in Tobermory than in Guelph? Tobermory is just over a 3 hour drive north, and just above the 45th parallel, 1.7* and roughly 250 km north of Guelph and according to Environment Canada's weather service, this time of year, sunsets 7 minutes later in Tobermory. The image above was made at 10:17 pm and you can still see traces of the sunset on the horizon, nautical twilight.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-01-19

Not every image is a winner, many, perhaps most, are not even keepers ...

I was reading a photography article online recently that touched on a familiar question. "What is it that draws me to a scene and motivates me to make an image" ? The article suggests that "there is one question you should ask yourself before taking any picture" .

For me it translates to "What am I trying to create in making this image?"

Like the author of the article, most of the time I react to scenes in front of me as opposed to undertaking a detailed analysis before making an image. I've worked hard to quiet my analytical side and allow creativity through to take the lead. I do believe it's a good to keep why I'm making a particular image and what I am trying to say with it in mind along with compositional and exposure guidelines. My reasons for creating an image may be anything from simply "here is a beautiful scene" to "wow look at this, I really need to show this to others".

This week, while I was making the image below, there were no questions, no answers  consciously running through my mind, just ... "this is freaking awesome !" Now that I have the image, I do want to share it with others, it is beautiful, it fills the viewer with wonder and amazement and it tells the story of light pollution.

Orion Rising

I made this image a couple of nights ago, on a crisp winter night at the cottage, with still winds and the temperature at -22*C. It was 10:00 pm and quite pleasant standing at the shoreline watching the stars, listening to the alien like gurgle-glug-gloog of water moving under the ice. Fortunately Lynn was there to share the experience with me. As a matter of fact it was at her suggestion we decided to head down to the shore in the first place.

Enjoy !

DJE

Photo of the Week 2014-09-29

...  she said, "I think you should make one of those in the tall narrow ones you do."

... so I did :-)

DJE.

Photo of the Week 2014-09-01

The last night of the last long weekend of summer ...

About a month ago, I made a first attempt to photograph the night sky over Hay Bay, the Bruce Peninsula and Lake Huron from the shore at our cottage. Conditions were not ideal but seeing the Milky Way appear, lead by many stars as a we sat at the shore enjoying the embers of a campfire, motivated me to give it a go.

Since then, during a week of vacation, an opportunity under much more favourable conditions arose and I was able to make some decent images (blog post 2014-08-18). For that possibility, I had come equipped with a particular lens, with characteristics more suited to night sky photography. I'm not certain how much the improved results were due to the selection of equipment, opposed to the more favourable conditions ...

... but, the results impressed me enough to do some further research on gear and technique in the effort to improve my night sky images more. My research led to an online discussion of lenses and which were recommended for the brand of camera I use. Never needing much of a push to acquire new gear, I picked up a ultra-wide FF lens, the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, a focal length not already covered by something in my kit.

As luck would have it, the next visit to the cottage looked as though it would offer only cloudy night skies and the Rokinon would see use just for landscape and trial images as I became familiar with it's manual focus and manual aperture control. Well luck changed and on the final night, the sun set through clearing skies and by 9:00 pm the first star was visible. I started to gather the equipment I would need and waited for the night to darken.

The challenge on this attempt, a waxing crescent moon throwing a tremendous amount of light over the bay and into the surrounding sky. At this particular point in the lunar cycle, the moon is just slightly west of the Milky Way when looking south across the bay. After making a number of exposures of just the sky, I decided to try a series that would include some of the surrounding landscape, water etc. I ended up including the moon and it's reflection on the bay. It required a fair bit of processing to get the look I wanted and I'm still not totally satisfied, but here it is ...

August Moon & Milky Way

I can can see spending many more nights working to capture the night sky at various locations on "the Bruce."    

DJE

Photo of the Week 2014-08-18

... one bazillion and one, one bazillion and two, one bazillion and ...

On a cool summer evening, Lynn, Jordan and I built a shoreside campfire. For the first while we sat and listened to the crackle of some free cedar kindling, kindly provided by a neighbour. We watched as smoke drifted up and out over the bay until the main wood caught.

Sun had dipped below the horizon when Jordan picked up his acoustic guitar and began to play. First, his own composition, a piece he is working on for me. I intend to use a recording of it as background music for a yet to be created slide show of my fine art images, and perhaps even a studio open house at some point. I love listening to J play anytime, and it's something else when it's beside a campfire.

Lynn was leaning back in one of the "Bruce Chairs" (others might call them Muskoka or Adirondack chairs, but to me they are my "Bruce Chairs"), pointing out the stars as they made their nightly appearance. One, two, three ...

Soon the sky was full of stars, planets, satellites and a few meteors .... and ohhhhh that MIlky Way.

cosmic canvas I

cosmic canvas II

cosmic canvas III

Forget counting ! It turned out to be a wonderful night for watching stars, and for photographing the Milky Way.

DJE  

Photo of the Week 2014-08-04

Sunset, Moonrise, One Milky Way, Three Meteors and a Bazillion Stars !

There are techniques that can be used to make the Milky Way more prominent in night sky photographs but for my first attempt I chose an approach that would convey a more realistic presentation of what my eyes saw on a clear night, from the shore at our cottage on Hay Bay.

The Bruce Peninsula is a Dark Sky Preserve and I've been meaning to take advantage of my time there to make night sky images. The challenge is that I like morning light, I mean really early morning light, and in order to photograph then it requires that I'm out f bed and heading to a location before or close to sunrise ... 6:00am and earlier these days. With my body's alarm clock set for early rise it's difficult to get past 10:00 pm and I'd definitely need to do that if I was going to capture the Milky Way in the night sky. This required a mid day nap, and what better to do on the August long weekend at the cottage than grab an hour or so in the afternoon for just that.

So in the evening, well rested, armed with a shore-side fire and coffee complete with hooch, I waited until the sun went down ...

  
                                                                                                          and the moon went up ...

 



 ... then the stars came out !

Milky Way 2014-08-01

DJE