Comet Lemmon over High Peaks

Image Critiques Nightscape & Astro Critiques
1

pauldphoto-lemmon-1.jpg
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Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Thursday late afternoon I headed out to Pinnacles NP and lugged about 40 lbs of photo gear 1.5 miles up the Condor Ridge Trail. There was a definite haze in the sky and some wispy clouds drifting through further degrading the view of the comet. I decided to set up and have a go at the photo anyway. The goal was to capture the comet as it descended above the High Peaks utilizing the moon to illuminate the FG. In the end, due to the clouds, I was only able to use 17 of the 80 exposures planned for the stack.

I feel the shot has potential, so I am planning on trying again on Friday night (November 7). I want to try again in hope of getting more exposures to try to bring out more detail in the comet’s tail. The moon will be rising at about the time the comet dips below the horizon so I should have a darker sky and still be able to utilize the moon after it rises to illuminate the FG. Let me know if you want to accompany me. My wife hates it when I go out into the wilderness by myself.

Specific Feedback

How does the FG look? Does it look natural? Can it be darker? Lighter?

General composition and other opinions always welcome.

Technical Details

Canon R5 with RF 100mm 2.8 Macro
Stacked and tracked - iOptron Sky Tracker Pro
17x 13 sec. exposures/f2.8/ISO 800
Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker processed in LR and PS

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Composition:
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2

Paul,

Great photo of A6 Lemmon. Even though you only used a fraction of the frames you still managed to squeak some great detail in the comet’s tail. I I love the cool moon light illuminating the land. I have always liked moonlit landscapes. My only observation where there might be improvement is the halos along the horizon, which are probably artifacts of the blend of the FG image with the sky image, unless those are actual light domes from light pollution but I guess you would be facing west and there is not much west of the Pinnacles, maybe Soledad and Salinas. In any case that is where I would try to do a little more work.

Youssef

3

Paul,

I think too, that this is a great photo. The low moon lighting the foreground gives depth and detail and something to look at, garnished by the comet and stars. I do not have a problem with the lighter horizon - my first thoughts were that you took the photo at the last of the blue hour. Given that the moonlight is from the left, your lens FOV about 20 degrees, this does not seem so. Either way, I think the lighter horizon makes it more natural.

Nicely done.

4

Wow – you got it!! The FG lighting looks perfectly natural as does the sky and comet. I love the lighter gradient toward the horizon – it looks natural to me. There is one slightly odd-looking gray area in the sky at the bottom of the sharp dip on the right. It is not at all obvious and may well be natural.

We’ve had too many high clouds up here and I haven’t tried with a regular camera – haven’t even finished processing the shots with the astro camera. Looks like tonight is the last clear night up here for at least 10 days, with a lot of moonlight.