The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.
Self Critique
I think the foreground, and mountain in the background, add quite a bit to the image. It screams “Southwest”. Their presence allows you to “see” the desert environment. The three meteors, purely luck, add a bit of wonder. I always struggle a bit with cropping. Any suggestions there?
Creative direction
I am always amazed at the reactions when I show friends and family images such as this. Most have never seen the night sky like this. My vision for night photography is to show the beauty of God’s creation.
Specific Feedback
Processing of night photography images is a bit more involved than wildlife photography. I’ve seen some night photography images that go too far and look nothing like what the night sky actually looked like. So, how was my processing of the image.
Technical Details
This is a single exposure. No blending of multiple images. No focus stacking. While I do sometimes employ those techniques, I prefer a single image composition if possible.
Canon R5
Rokinon 1.4/24mm
ISO 1250
Exposure Time 15 seconds
Description
In the last few years, I have become more involved in night photography. I don’t do it as much as I would like, as there are fewer and fewer places where the night skies are dark enough. I have been able to indulge this passion when I go to Yellowstone and also, this place, Big Bend Ranch. I like including foreground into my night sky images. For me, it gives the image context and a sense of place.
I enjoy this photo. I do not have a problem with the crop even though the mountain is central. This is because the mountain, milky way and rhs bush are off center. The negative space rhs seems to work. There is enough detail in the foreground to attract the eye so that area of processing is good. My only nitpick is that some of the stars show chroma distortion. By the way, I found 4 meteor trails. 3 in a bunch and one on its own. Was there a small moon to illuminate the ground and mountain?
Wonderful!! I think the FG and its composition are very good features. And your processing of the sky is excellent – not overdone. I’m guessing there was some moonlight on the land. Not a criticism but I wonder about another version with very slightly cooler WB, as many people seem to expect that in a night scene? (That said with awareness that a daylight WB is accurate for moonlight and it looks like you have that here.) I wouldn’t criticize the crop but I think an option is a little more on the right and a little less on the left, if you have the canvas or an alternate exposure. The Ocotillo feels a little crowded.
There is some blue in the stars toward the corners – CA in the lens. Maybe you could get away with a global desaturation of blues as there aren’t many more – else mask to the corners?
I suspect the trails are satellites. Ubiquitous there days.
Hi Jerry,
This nighttime scene definitely screams southwest to me! For my personal tastes your crop works just fine, although the LLC appears to be a touch soft, so maybe crop that off. I like the overall darkness as it looks very natural. My only suggestion as far as processing would be to make the image just a little cooler, but that is subjective and more of a personal choice rather than a critique. When I had the opportunity to do some nightime skies in Acadia NP; a few years back; I know that there was a certain sense of awe peering up into sky and viewing the Milky Way as well as the multitude of stars. Anyway, this is a wonderful image.
That’s beautiful Jerry, so you definitely succeeded in that goal. Your processing is well done, especially for a single exposure. I know how challenging these can be!
I agree about a tad more room on the right, but no biggie.
