Waterton Night

[Kyle Jones]

Our first night in Waterton Lakes had clear skies and a moonrise at 12:41am - right when the Milky Way would be centered over Waterton Lake. I set my alarm for 12:20am and made the 5 minute drive to a spot I scouted that afternoon. This spot put the iconic Prince of Wales hotel on the right and the view down the lake in the middle, with mountains on both sides. I bracketed exposures for the hotel, and I have some vertical distortion to clean up, but those efforts will need to wait until I can get to a real computer.

I made a second stop at the hotel itself to get a clearer view of the lake and the Waterton Township on the right.

Any thoughts are always welcome.

 

[AlanLichty]

Beautiful viewpoint for this night session. I can’t wait to see what you do with this back on your computer. That hotel is a park icon with the lake down in front.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Very nice view and use of this as a foreground for the MW sky.

 

[JimFox]

Both of these are really great Kyle. What a really great location.

In #1, I would be tempted to crop out about half of the grass at the bottom. It doesn't really add anything to the image, so I would lose as much as I could and leave just enough to be an anchor.

#2 you did get the lake better. But I am not sure on those trees on the lower left, they kind of unbalance the bottom.

But again, these both are really nice as they stand.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Both of these are really great Kyle. What a really great location.

In #1, I would be tempted to crop out about half of the grass at the bottom. It doesn't really add anything to the image, so I would lose as much as I could and leave just enough to be an anchor.

#2 you did get the lake better. But I am not sure on those trees on the lower left, they kind of unbalance the bottom.

But again, these both are really nice as they stand.

I expect to crop out more of the grass when I can upright the image (I need my computer for that).

Agreed on #2 - I should have set up another 10 yards to the right to avoid them. One of the challenges of night photography! On my final edit I plan to darken them more so they are less obvious.

 

[Beth]

great view, can't wait to see the final edit.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I can't wait for the final, mages, Kyle. What I can't figure out is why you have star trails in the water and not in the sky in the second image.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I can't wait for the final, mages, Kyle. What I can't figure out is why you have star trails in the water and not in the sky in the second image.

I've noticed in the past that reflected stars almost always look like smears. I guess it could be the water movement

 

[Bob]

Kyle,
You are correct about the star trails in the lake. The water is always moving and in my experience you always get trails in a reflection. I really like both of these image.
The milky way in the first is just spectacular. I don't agree with Jim the foreground is fine and gives some perspective. I also like the city lights in the second. My only suggestion and it is very minor would be to dim down the lights from the hotel in the first they are a bit too distracting. However, that ia a minor critique and I like both images.
Bob

 

[JimFox]

I've noticed in the past that reflected stars almost always look like smears. I guess it could be the water movement

The reason is because of the angle of the reflection. It's not because of water movement. It's natural and will always happen. Some people don't like the look of the stretched stars, but it's natural.

@Douglas Sherman