Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I got into astro this past year with my little a6600 and I feel pretty confident in saying that I’m pushing this camera to its limits xD
My girlfriend and I visited Yosemite back in August and I somehow convinced her to hike out to the edge of Mount Watkins at night for this view of the milky way over Half Dome. I was really pleased with how this image turned out, not only the main subjects but also seeing the valley and Glacier Point off to the right.
Specific Feedback
Anything!
Technical Details
Two exposures, one for land and one for sky.
Camera/lens: Sony a6600, Sigma 16mm f/1.4
Land:
Sky:
Blended in Photoshop and edited primarily in Lightroom.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
- Vision and Purpose:
- Conceptual:
- Emotional Impact and Mood:
- Composition:
- Balance and Visual Weight:
- Depth and Dimension:
- Color:
- Lighting:
- Processing:
- Technical:
What a spectacular shot! Thanks for your effort to get to this vantage point. Well worth the hike, I’d say…
1 Like
Thank you @Dave_Douglass! I think so too
This is very nice! Normally I would expect a vertical with more of the MW showing, but this one works very well, with the strong FG dictating a horizontal and the MW providing a nice touch. I’m a little torn which is the subject but I’ll accept that both are.
The stars are quite nice and the MW is nicely processed. I love the lighter area toward the horizon. The blending looks reasonable but I wonder if a little more contrast could be pulled out of the distant mountains. If they were left darker it might be less of an issue. Nightscapes do tax the dynamic range of sensors.
1 Like
Thank you @Diane_Miller! I suppose this is more of a scene than a subject photo. I forgot to mention that I used a (high pass? I’d have to look back) filter in PS to reduce star density outside the milky way and thought it helped a lot. I also think this may be my most edited photo in terms of tweaks as I refined the MW, ha!
About the background mountains, you think they should be darker? Or more contrast? Thanks for pointing it out!
Every time I try to do a MW image it gets more processing! I would be interested to know what you used to reduce star density. I’m working on a dual processing with our usual tools for the FG and the astro software PixInsight for the sky, or just for the stars for a purist.
Yes, I think the BG could use more contrast (micro-contrast?) and probably also a bit more darkening. It may have lost some contrast if it was lightened. Hard to know. This stuff is difficult.
1 Like
Mathew, this is very well created. The mix of stars and lights in the valley tells a fine story and the details looks great. My one minor nit is the blueness of the distant land, but I wasn’t there…
1 Like