Wandering into Astrophotography

Bodie Island Light Station
ISO 1250 @15s

I recently made my second attempt to practice astrophotography, specifically trying to capture the galactic center of the Milky Way. We can't capture the entire galaxy since we're also within it, but we can see the center at times.

My first attempt was near the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii earlier this year. I wrote about that experience in my Encountering the Extraordinary post. This second attempt was during a recent visit to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore along the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Even though I'm just learning about this type of photography, I was able to get some images with which I am really pleased. With additional equipment and techniques, I could get even better results, but it's amazing what can be achieved with only a big sensor, a fast lens and a tripod. For this session, I used the Nikon D850 with a Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 lens.

The inclusion of the Bodie Island Lighthouse posed some challenges. Getting satisfying images required a bit of trial and error due to the bright light emanating from the lighthouse. I experimented with ISO values, exposure times, and also with timing the shots relative to the period of the lighthouse emissions.

Less Light from the Lighthouse
ISO 1000 @15s

Still Less Light from the Lighthouse
ISO 1000 @20s

Minimized Light from the Lighthouse
ISO 1250 @15s

The following two were taken farther away from the lighthouse, such that I could leave the shutter open longer without the light from the beacon blowing out the Milky Way. I also like the way the Milky Way aligns with the lighthouse in these, rather than alongside as it is in the others. The only real difference between these two is the application of light-painting of the foreground. In the second image, I used my headlamp to illuminate the boardwalk and surrounding grass briefly during part of the exposure.

 No Foreground Light-Painting
ISO 1000 @25s

Foreground Light-Painting
ISO 1000 @30s

So, a bit of a drive very early on a peaceful summer morning, about an hour of actual photography, a bunch of mosquito bites on my feet and ankles, and I came away with some satisfying images. Looking forward to the next time...

New Print Collections Available

Print collections are separate from the regular portfolio section of my web site in that I’ve printed the associated images to prove to myself that they meet my own quality standards. Of course, if anyone sees an image in the portfolio for which they would like a print, that is always a possibility. However, in general, the print collections represent those images I consider to be good enough to offer for sale in the sizes presented.

I’ve recently added two new print collections. Both contain images from my time spent on the Big Island of Hawaii in January and March of this year.

Big Island Sunrise Seascapes Collection

This is currently a two-image collection, but I’m working with one or more additional images which would also fit in this collection if they pass my quality bar.

I’ve recently had these two printed on 0.4mm cotton fine-art paper in 12”x18”, and the results are well beyond my expectations. (They’re available, ready to ship if you’re interested.)

Holēi Sea Arch Collection

This is a single-image collection, and given its aspect ratio, is only offered in 4 sizes.

This sea arch has a limited lifetime, as the erosive waves that created it continue to buffet the structure until, eventually, it will crumble into the sea. Then, all that will be left is images like this one to testify to its existence.