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
My goal was to frame Mt. Whitney in the center with the moonlight illuminating the landscape. I got lucky and a well-defined shooting star decided to join in for the photo.
Creative direction
I still consider myself an intermediate astrophotographer. I don’t have any particular creative vision, I see it when I see it.
Specific Feedback
I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on the composition, editing of the photo, and overall thoughts about this image. How does it make you feel? Also ways of improving for next time.
Technical Details
Sony A6000 | 35mm | F 1.8 | 26 sec exposure
Description
This photo was taken back in 2022 on an impromptu trip to Yosemite, journeying through the Eastern Sierras northward. Yosemite finally opened its doors again after COVID restrictions loosened, so I had to go. This was taken in Alabama Hills, facing Mt. Whitney.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Matthew, welcome to NPN!! Very nice composition and lighting, with the moonlight giving the sky a lovely blue color. And you caught a lovely meteor. I’m glad you have kept the natural colors on the landscape. Moonlight is the same color temp as daylight as it is sunlight reflected off a gray object; the blue hour part only applies to the sky.
One thing I feel helps add a little mystery to night scenes is to keep the contrast low, and I would have a look at pulling out more detail in darks, but that’s just my opinion. Plenty of people here would feel otherwise.
The exposure is a bit long as stars are showing trails. At 35mm I would try to stay under 8 sec, but that taxes ISO and noise.
Hope to see more of your work and your comments on other images!
Thank you, Diane! I will definitely see how low contrast will feel. I typically lean on increasing contrast for a more dramatic look, but I’m curious to see the difference. The exposure is tough for me on an A6000, always a trade off between star trails and amount of light I’m capturing. Maybe it’s time to invest in a star tracker!
An intermediate solution (before a tracker) is Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac) or Sequator (PC). You shoot a series of maybe 10-15 exposures quickly and the software stacks them to greatly lower noise, and amazingly gives a good FG. You can shoot at a shorter SS and with the noise quenched you can bring the exposure up as needed.
