Milky Way at Bonneville (added image+ one more)

[Ben Egbert]

Last Wednesday I drove over to Bonneville to try my hand at a Milky way with my new RF15-35 f2.8 lens. I trued to drive to the location that Jim Fox found at past Exit 4, but it was speed week and they had the area closed. I had to drive back about 5 miles to another entry point that Jameel and I had previously used. Full disclosure, I-80 appears in the image but it is easy to eliminate as I have done.


It was supposed to have 50 miles of visibility, but it was still smoky when I arrived. An evening breeze cleared it a bit and it was really clear except for a small band on the horizon.

This image is taken at ISO3200 f2.8 and 25 seconds at 15mm. The ground layer is a 5 shot median blend and then blended into the sky image. I used AF on a light source about 1/2 mile away. I am very happy with the focus and overall sharpness at f2.8 and high ISO. I put my Rokinon on for a compare but took it off as soon as I looked at the viewfinder, no comparison.

CC welcome. Is it bright enough? Colors ok? Dose the elimination of the highway lights seem phony? I have 2 more processed image, one taken before dark at ISO2000 and this image with the lights still in.

Here is a new one for Jim, I had to start from scratch as some of the issues he mentioned required a different approach. Unfortunately I can never match colors on any two processes.

One more, just a more gentle rework of the original, last one for me.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like your result. The ground exposure makes it quite clear why they hold speed week out there in the first place - and why they call it the Salt Flats. Nice job of teasing out some shapes in the salt surface.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Ben,

You got a Meteor!!!!

This looks pretty good. I like the detail in the ground, there is enough ridges to draw the eye to the sky. The Milky Way detail looks pretty nice too. Awesome positioning for you with that meteor.

Now with all of those positives, the sky itself seems a bit soft or noisy? Not sure which. It just seems to be lacking some detail. Maybe some more contrast to bring out the detail in the MW and the rest of the sky? I also think I would brighten up that meteor just a hair, as usually meteors are brighter then the rest of the sky.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

That lens looks like a winner Ben. I don't see any coma issues. The meteor almost smack in the MW core is a nice touch. A little on a blue side for the sky - perhaps a tad bit warmer? No issues with removing the highway lights - won't know if you didn't mention. Given a straight horizon, the blend was a good idea and easy to do.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I like your result. The ground exposure makes it quite clear why they hold speed week out there in the first place - and why they call it the Salt Flats. Nice job of teasing out some shapes in the salt surface.

Thanks Alan.

Hey Ben,

You got a Meteor!!!!

This looks pretty good. I like the detail in the ground, there is enough ridges to draw the eye to the sky. The Milky Way detail looks pretty nice too. Awesome positioning for you with that meteor.

Now with all of those positives, the sky itself seems a bit soft or noisy? Not sure which. It just seems to be lacking some detail. Maybe some more contrast to bring out the detail in the MW and the rest of the sky? I also think I would brighten up that meteor just a hair, as usually meteors are brighter then the rest of the sky.

Might be noise, I did not do much about noise in the sky. I will try to bring out more contrast and see if there is a way to brighten the comet

That lens looks like a winner Ben. I don't see any coma issues. The meteor almost smack in the MW core is a nice touch. A little on a blue side for the sky - perhaps a tad bit warmer? No issues with removing the highway lights - won't know if you didn't mention. Given a straight horizon, the blend was a good idea and easy to do.

Thanks Jameel. There are actually three meteors but they don't show at this res.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I think it came out great and I like the colors.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I like the first one better. The stars are too crunchy for me in the second

 

[AlanLichty]

I have to agree with Kyle - the subtleties in the first one are far more agreeable to my eyes than the second version.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Kyle, Alan, I totally agree

 

[JimFox]

Kyle, Alan, I totally agree

Hey Ben, as Kyle and Alan mentioned the edit went too far. Just a little added contrast in the sky, and then warm it up a tad as Jameel suggested.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Hey Ben, as Kyle and Alan mentioned the edit went too far. Just a little added contrast in the sky, and then warm it up a tad as Jameel suggested.

How about the new image I added?

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the new one better than #2 but still prefer the more subtle first rendering.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Alan, the problem is when you step away from your own vision, you are in no mans land. The original is very sharp on my monitor at full size. If I add contrast, it tends to darken the image. The real problem is not adding contrast but when to stop. Hard to do when you are reaching for somebody elses vision.

The question of being too cool. I was not so sure about that myself and agree is need to be warmed up. But the darkness brought about by added contrast makes this a problem.

This was never going to be a wall hanger so I have fiddled around with it enough.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Stay with your vision Ben. Your original is pretty good and if it was mine I would do some subtle tweaks at most. Both of your versions are significant changes.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks Jameel. Here is the way I like it best.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Looks really good Ben. This version also shows the other two meteor trails clearly.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Great stuff - really like this. I got some of the Perseids but with no real foreground, deciding if it is worth posting. This on the other hand is wonderful. I agree - the very first one has the most natural look while still giving us plenty of detail. And as mentioned, the meteor is a great bit of icing on the cake.

ML

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks Mike. I appreciate your comments. I did a test print and it's way too dark as is. That's the problem with MW shots.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Thanks Mike. I appreciate your comments. I did a test print and it's way too dark as is. That's the problem with MW shots.

For printing MW shots I usually create a version with an extra curve that pulls up the midtones

 

[Ben Egbert]

I am working in that direction