First crack at the Milky Way

Was out at Big Bend National Park and was able to give a go at capturing the Milky Way for the first time with a proper camera. Will add more as I have time to edit them.

Can you spot the dipper? Got this while shooting the milky way as well

Nice! What lens are you using for these?

GoFasterPB wrote in post #19500781
Nice! What lens are you using for these?

Thanks! It’s a 24 1.4. I had a ND filter on the lens I forgot about and have no clue what it was set at (kicking myself) would love to go back and try again

Still happy with the shots though

Haha, I've recently been having that same realization more and more. Sitting there at the computer editing pictures wishing I had taken notes of like a dozen different things while shooting. Learning comes a lot faster when you can pick up where you left off instead of having to test and check your way through it all over again. Especially when life gets in the way and it's weeks before you get your next oportunity!

GoFasterPB wrote in post #19500859
Haha, I've recently been having that same realization more and more. Sitting there at the computer editing pictures wishing I had taken notes of like a dozen different things while shooting. Learning comes a lot faster when you can pick up where you left off instead of having to test and check your way through it all over again. Especially when life gets in the way and it's weeks before you get your next oportunity!

True words there amigo!

You can't look up the EXIF for settings?

For most things yes, but I think that's the problem.

It's so easy to look at camera info after the fact that I've developed the bad habit of winging it without recording anything relevant that isn't part of that data set. Lately for me it's been more about strobe power, lighting config, distance to subject, did I use an ND filter or polarizer, etc...

Personally, I find it a matter of switching from casual hobby mode to having the presence of mind to take a more organized and purposeful approach.

sierracharlie338 wrote in post #19500740
Can you spot the dipper? Got this while shooting the milky way as well

Hosted photo: posted by sierracharlie338 in
./showthread.php?p=195​00740&i=i124810377
forum: Astronomy & Celestial

First pic is nice. Second one was as a little puzzle for me if I can spot it quick:

Exactly it nice work

Really it's very good, it's hard to do, I know, I've been there too and came back and found out how good I'm not. heheh

I was at Dugout Wells taking star shots and I had to leave when I heard a Mountain Lion growl over by the oasis area.
Another guy I met there were having a big time until then, we both looked at each other and didn't say much, but did start collecting our gear and we had to walk directly towards it. (We didn't see anything)
It was a definitely deep growl, it wasn't a bear, that is a really good spot for animals to get a drink day and night.

Anyway, I LOVE Big Bend, I have been many times, but I haven't been since 2014, I really enjoy it all, but the dark skies are something else.

You did a lot better than I did. I hope that you get to go back soon and enjoy it all again really soon. Of course it's hot there now, I always go in the early Spring or Winter.

If you get a chance to, go to Monahans Sandhills State Park on I-20 in West Texas. The dunes there are very photogenic, (of course, with the wind it changes, but...) and at night, you can see stars just like at Big Bend.
I included that place in my trip from Dallas to Big Bend the last trip, it's way out of the way, but I really am glad that I made the decision to go, I had no idea there were REAL sand dunes in Texas.

Great shots. Congrats.

Thank you, yes I plan to head back around november and will be hiking up to Emory Peak and spending a couple nights on the mountain. I can't wait to go back and will probably be making at stop at Monahans Sandhills just for the fun of it after looking at some pictures of the park.

Very nice; like the wide open field of view in the first one. It looks like you even managed a lone shooting star up in the top left 8)

I never saw it until post processing so yeah pure luck! Thank you