Approaching the Scene 169: Al Aikens’ Epic SpaceX Launch Image

[@davidarcherimages]

Great shot, Al!

[@gbiguy]

This is a blend of 2 photos. Your 5 minute exposure, is that the total time (2, 2:30 exposures)? So where the booster separates, is that the break between the 2 exposures? Thanks in advance.

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Gorgeous photos, Al! Thanks for hosting this and letting us see them.

[@patriciablyler6484]

Wow! What an amazing photo!

[@MonacoMike]

Al mentioned 'blending'. Was this two different photos stacked together?

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

One heck of a photo!

[@crooked-halo]

Wow! Magnificent! I'm just now getting comfortable leaving "auto-everything" on my Sony A7, and focusing, choosing ISO, shutter speed, aperture & framing, so I'm a beginner. My only question is this, did you _know_ the trail was going to be two different colors as it left the shade of earth & travelled into sunlight? Anybody that knows feel free to answer, if you don't mind. Thanks a bunch! This motivates me to keep learning!

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Al actually talks more about this image in today's ATS (251).

[@JoeHTX]

That's amazing!

[@anukritibhandari7599]

Will a missile launch use the same settings or camera?

[@scottcureton1283]

I love this shot! Understanding that Al shot at 14mm to insure he captured the full top-of-arc, how much did he crop the final image?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I got the impression not much

[@alaikens6353]

Thank you Scott. The finale image is about 80% of the blended originals with some rotation to level the horizon.

[@scottcureton1283]

@@alaikens6353 Kudos on an awesome image. It's truly inspiring. Is there anything you would have done differently? I'm heading down for the Crew-3 launch at the end of the month, and we can't wait to see it first-hand.

[@DarrenLloydPDX]

Just seeing a launch in person is high on my list. Capturing one...even better.

[@carljarvinen1189]

Interesting discussion, enjoyed the conversation…

[@cjones7246]

Hi, do you have a video showing how to attach a fluid head onto a levelling base so that when you pan the camera is at all times level? I have a Leofoto tripod with an inbuilt leveller. I have a Fliud head from Manfrotto. The leveller has a bubble so before I attached the fluid head I make sure the leveller bubble is level. I then attach the fluid head which also has a bubble and adjust the 3 tiny screws in the tripod leveller to ensure the bubble on the attached fluid head is also level. So now I have the fluid head attached to the tripod and both the leveller bubble of the tripod and the bubble on the fluid head show they are level. I assume therefore that when I pan using the fluid head I will remain level at all times - this is not the case. As I pan the bubble on the fluid head shows me I am no longer level either to the left as I pan nor to the right as I pan. The level indicator on my Nikon D850 agrees that I am no longer level. So I’m trying to seek guidance on how to properly set up a head (whichever head you use - fluid, ball, 3 level) on a levelling base so that whenever you pan the head is always level. Is there any guidance or help for this? Thank you

[@R.Hogarth]

At the risk of asking (yet another) dumb question, I was wondering about the two shots that were blended together to make the main image for this video. He would have had to have had one camera constantly on the rocket to get the uninterrupted streak, but yet he claims that the people were so still in the foreground because they weren't moving while watching the launch. Is it safe then to assume that he used two cameras? One with which he shot the 5+19 exposure of the launch while at the same time taking a shot (with another camera) of just over 1 minute for the foreground.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I think the people in the foreground were still waiting and looking up as he did an early test shot.

[@alaikens6353]

Thanks for the comment Rob. The images were shot with one camera and one lens using the same exposure settings with the exception of duration: Nikon Z6 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S, f/11, ISO 100, 319 seconds for the sky and 158 seconds for the foreground. The time gap between the shots was a few seconds that allowed me to review the first shot (sky) before taking the second (foreground). My original intent was to blend the trails from the two shots for a longer trail, but that did not work out to my satisfaction because of the gap in the trail and complexity of blending the exhaust cloud reflections. I ended up using the sky and foreground approach for the final blend.

[@R.Hogarth]

@@alaikens6353 Thank you for the explanation. You have captured a truly amazing image! Thank you for allowing Hudson to share it with us.

[@kmattlong]

Hudson, I know everyone has lives they like getting to on the weekends but I work in a position that I cannot make the office hours during the week. Would it be possible to set up a Friday night hangout?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Well look at one alternate times and talk about it Matt. Sorry you've been unable I get it.

[@kmattlong]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto I appreciate it. Normally I catch a few minutes and then get pulled for something that needs attention. Keep the content coming. Absolutely love the work you do and the information given!

[@carlmcneill1139]

I know I've mentioned this before but I think it's so cool to hear someone talk about Flagler Beach and Palm Coast. I live in Alabama and my older sisterlives in Palm Coast.. We try to go out and see her twice a year. I hope to go down there when they have a launch some day. I would love to be able to get a blue hour shot and blend it with the long exposure shot with the rocket. I don't know if it'll ever happen. Can you suggest any other places in that area for pictures? I've taken several around St Augustine and I've taken a few of the lighthouse at Ponce inlet south of Daytona. I do a lot of sunrise photography at Marineland north of Flagler around the rocks too. I killed my d750 there last Christmas week.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Bird photography at the alligator farm. ;) sorry about the 750... :(

[@carlmcneill1139]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto it's all good. I had an extended warranty on it and that allowed me to upgrade to a z6 II. I've found some trails between Marineland and Ormond that you can hike. I have taken some pics of birds. I can't wait for the 200-600mm to come out just for that.

[@alaikens6353]

@@carlmcneill1139 St. Augustine at night is pretty cool: the marina, fort, Bridge of Lions, old town, Flagler College, lighthouse, etc. From the fort and the marina you can face east across St. Augustine Inlet for good sunrises and sunsets. It's relaxing to walk around St. Augustine, grab dinner and some beverages on St. George St. The lighthouse is almost across the street from the Alligator Farm. The Ponce Inlet lighthouse at moon set (3/4 moon and larger) from the east end of Lighthouse Drive is nice, but the good alignment with a large moon and the lighthouse front-lit, happens a couple of days twice a year, generally February and August. Sunrise is a tough angle. The Canaveral National Seashore has lots of birds and wildlife. This is on the south side of Ponce Inlet. From Palm Coast, take I-95 (or US 1) south to SR44. Go east to A1A and then south. A1A goes into the seashore.

[@carlmcneill1139]

@@alaikens6353 I have several pictures around St Augustine. We usually take a family vacation in the summer but last year we almost didn't get to. My sister was working in the ER at Halifax in Daytona. She was working with COVID patients and was scared she would bring something home with her to us. I ended up taking my girls down there anyway so we could do my daughter's senior portraits. Most of them were in St Augustine. I usually go there for sunrise at least 1 day easy visit. I'm wanting to go to New Smyrna Beach to do sunrise at the end of the road right at the beach where they have the arch across the road. Last year I got a sun burst coming through the bridge of lions when they raised the bridge to let a boat go through. It was a pretty cool shot.

[@ridesilent]

Hay bails!