Summer Serenity

Image Critiques Nightscape & Astro Critiques
1

_DSC6713_SummerSerenityV1SR.jpg
_DSC6713_SummerSerenityV1SR.jpg1000×1500 1.24 MB

First

_DSC6861_Stack_SummerSerenity_V2
_DSC6861_Stack_SummerSerenity_V21000×1500 1.3 MB

Second

_DSC6687_SharkFinMilkyWay_OneShot_V1
_DSC6687_SharkFinMilkyWay_OneShot_V1999×1500 1.43 MB

Third

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

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 am struggling with this composition. The first photo is the second attempt, the second photo the third attempt, and the third photo is the first attempt.

All were taken over two nights at Shark Fin Cove in Davenport, CA.

The first is a composite of a single 4 minute exposure for the FG and the sky is a stack of 15 frames all at 4 minutes long, full frame

The second photo is a composite of a single 30 second exposure for the FG and a stack of 40 frames each 30 seconds long, full frame

The third is a single frame, but with the camera using the crop mask bring the view to 21mm, 30 second exposure.

Creative direction

What I had intended with this photo was to have a companion piece to go with the Orion’s Tribe photo I made in January.

I think the composition of the third photo is what I had in mind, but the crop mask was a mistake that I realized about 20 minutes after I had started taking frames. The wider angle is more in like with Orion’s Tribe, but I feel like the Milky way being off center seems to throw off the composition, and even more so in the third photo.

Specific Feedback

Which composition sits better with you? Which color balance works better? I am tending towards the bluer color balance to match the color balance of Orion’s Tribe

Technical Details

Nikon D850, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8

First Photo: f4, 4min, ISO 800, 16 frames for the sky, 1 for the FG
Second Photo: f2.8, 30 sec, ISO 3200, 40 frames for the sky, 1 for the FG
Third Photo: f.28, 30 sec, ISO 3200 Single Frame

Processed in ACR and PS. I used a Median Stack on the sky.

The Orion’s Tribe photo is HERE

Description

Shark Fin Cove under the summer serenity of the Milky Way. A perfectly calm summer night with a slight breeze and the gentle sound of the tide splashing on the beach below. A screech owl, and coyotes in the distance serenaded to keep me company well into the night.

Critique Template

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2

Youssef, I prefer the third image because the slight white area of surf, bottom rhs, the dark side of the sea stack and the Milky Way form a line. Brightening the earth/sea section would make this line more obvious. A small crop off the top and RHS may improve image left / right balance. The others have a disjoint between the land mass and the milky way and feel rather off balance. The amount of stars is (for me) edging on the side of noise white specks so I wonder if a median filter, 2 pixels wide would remove some of the noise. I notice none seem to have a level horizon.

Rob

3

All are wonderful!! As a standalone, I prefer the first, but would wonder about a little burning of the closest waves, or even a slight crop from the bottom.

As a companion to the earlier shot, which is fantastic, I think the difference in the amount of detail in the sky suggests there won’t be a close match. The second comes closest (with some crop from the bottom, it looks like?), but the MW is off-center. But it does point to the stack, which is quite nice. The third has the sky fuller and a lovely MW. With some cooling of the FG, and a little less contrast, it could work well too and might be my first choice.

None are a “match” but all are still strong companion pieces. I think the most important element in matching them is the color temp and contrast of both sky and FG.

4

Youssef, I echo Diane’s thoughts here. Way out of my wheelhouse for this type of work, but I can really appreciate the aesthetics or impression from these types of scenes. I think the first image deserves time spent going forward if you have a mind to as the composition works best for me there… :+1: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: