Panorama astrophotography process (part 2) - an Astrophotobear tutorial

[@buchanan0801]

I really like the subtitled afterthoughts/clarifications. They add a lot to the learning experience.

[@ericredard3411]

All I can say is WOW! Amazing images and you are also a wonderful teacher. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@rosiethebear300]

So beautiful - wonderful videos you put out! Have learned so much just since last night by reading your blogs and watching your tutorials! Thanks ever so much!

[@michaelgoh2884]

thanks muchly :)

[@michaelgoh2884]

I'm pretty far behind on my schedule :P

[@Auagri]

Ive learnt so much from watching these videos please do some more :) Cant wait to get my 15-30 and start learning hands on

[@jaemelo2693]

Wow, this is absolutely stunning. Great work!

[@newenergyawakening]

Awesome pair of videos - thank you so much !! I've just started astrophotography and live in Perth, so the Pinnacles are a prime target :)

[@darylswalker]

Absolutely amazing Michael!

[@ThePhantomJack]

This is one of the best tutorials on this issue. Thank you so much :)

[@michaelgoh2884]

+ThePhantomJack thanks muchly

[@karl4834]

Really great tutorial. Looking forward to trying some astrophotography soon. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@scottwilliams6056]

Very much enjoyed watching this video, thanks for sharing and inspiring.

[@nevadaxtube]

Amazing photoshop skills! Great image processing.

[@Mr09260]

Your use of Photoshop is an eye opener ..I have lots to learn

[@TheBohemianCrow]

Thank you for sharing your techniques!

[@jingyiyou3215]

I have learned some useful techniques, thank you so much

[@FotodioxInc]

Beautiful result! Nice tutorial.

[@MichaelGoh333]

+Fotodiox Inc thanks muchly

[@duribe316]

Great video. Got some great pointers.

[@davekelly8168]

Excellent work, now if only I could do PS like that. I may try to follow it for some stacked/tracked images...

[@CaiShuRen]

Michael, fantastic tutorials and awesome post-processing skill in LR and PS. Really enjoyed watching both again and again. Good job! Unfortunately Spore, where I grew up, has too much light pollution and with the high humidity, the condition is never ideal for such astrophotography.... might have to venture to other places to have some hands-on. Any chance to have a hand on the raw files to practice the post processing part? Just asking...

[@Mr09260]

Thank you Michael ..I am just starting out in Astro ..and I am also in S Hemisphere in S Africa ..I need to find out how we can line up like the guys in N Hemisphere do with their polar star ??

[@Dodo_Nature]

Thanks, learned some new trix. 😃👍🏻

[@joshbuffum5797]

Hey Michael, I LOVE your work! Do you have any videos on how to edit the milky way through LR? Wish I had Photoshop but have been working with LR. Your night photography is stunning, and I'd love to learn more from you!

[@michaelgoh2884]

+Josh Buffum thanks Josh - it's on the plans - just been very busy with work etc but will do so

[@LukasZ92.]

amazing shot and tutorial! your personal note of editing milky way shots is stunning! thanks for this Video! lot to learn for me. did you used a star tracker for the shots? or are this "normal" exposures?

[@StopperChopper]

This was pretty impressive... Looking forward to try it out some day... Any tips for the shooting day?

[@JamboLinnman]

Thanks Michael. Exactly what I was looking for. Up until now I've only used Lightroom CC for astrophotography panoramas and struggled with vignetting with the Samyang 14mm f2.8 (and Canon 6D). I intend to get the same stitch software that you are using and have Photoshop but any tips on how to avoid this without having to dodge and burn?

[@michaelgoh2884]

+Sean Kerr with more overlay - you'll have less issues with the vignetting. I also have a "brief" blogpost at a number of software stitching programs. I personally prefer ptgui because that's what I've gotten used to.

[@jiangyonig8322]

真心受教了，学习了，谢谢作者！

[@Cancington42]

great tutorial! thanks for sharing! i'm curious to know if you are using the standard or the pro version?

[@michaelgoh2884]

thanks - I'm using the pro version because it has the masking function. I know hugin (free) has masking as well, but apparently is not so intuitive. I tried hugin just to see what the results are like, probably gets easier through use :P.

[@lukot007]

Very interesting video, well both of them :) It will be very helpful when i play with night panoramas too. I have a question tho about color balance adjustment layer in photoshop. How come you only color balance the midtones and not the shadows and highlights as well?

[@MichaelGoh333]

I have been doing more of that recently ;)

[@lukot007]

Great :) It makes a big diference... At least when i am using it :)

[@joelsjaarda3807]

Michael, thanks so much for sharing this video. Can you tell me what percentage of overlap you like over the photos (on my Gigapan the default is 40%, I think. I'm wondering how that compares to what you do for these night shots).

[@michaelgoh2884]

Hi Joel - I move the camera 15 degrees for each shot normally - althought 30 degrees is probably fine as well. This is really just due to the practicalities of the measurements on the tripod head and also - originally I was using a "lower quality lens" - so the idea was that centre sharpness is better and also reduce the impact of distortion with the superwide lenses.

[@TheDangei]

Awesome

[@DwayneKSmith876]

Really nice video and edit. Have you tried this process with the lightroom panorama feature? Would it get the desired results?

[@joelcito84]

Thank you so much for the two videos. Just have a few questions. How many pictures took it to make this panorama? and how did you expose correctly the ground ? I always have this problem with the field (really dark) but not the sky. Thanks again

[@michaelgoh2884]

Hi - most of the panoramas I'm doing now are about 26-30 images in two rows. I've been a bit of a purist so like using the same exposure settings between the sky and the ground - typically around f 3.2 iso 6400 25-30s. If the foreground is moderate to light - this is fine for exposing the foreground. The issue then is when post processing, I mask to the foreground/sky as the curves adjustment for the sky would make the ground too dark

[@Lumbera]

Thank you Sir!

[@youngmers]

really awesome image mate ,do you use a complete panoramic head?

[@michaelgoh2884]

thanks - just using a nodal rail on an arca swiss ball head. I like trying to keep it simple and light

[@youngmers]

oh i have the same , Iv had no luck stitching Astro Pano's with the 14mm Samyang to much lens distortion I'm guessing. I also think it helps if the Milkyway was horizontal and not straight up over head.?maybe i need 50%overlap?

[@AaronZajonc]

Thanks Michael, that looks like a solid process. I think you did a great recording, especially for your second attempt! Do you use any type of Nodal device for you panoramas? If so what type? Thanks.

[@michaelgoh2884]

+Aaron Zajonc (Az) Thanks Aaron - I used to use this arrangement - astrophotobear.com/panorama-nodal-point-on-a-budget/. Now I've changed the cheap flash bracket for a cheap rail to use on an arca-swiss system with an L plate.

[@AaronZajonc]

Michael Goh Thanks for the reply. I hope you use a cheap tripod too otherwise it would be a bit of overkill? I'm looking at this rail for pano's mainlinephoto.com.au/sunwayfoto-dpg-210-multi-purpose-rail-arca-compatible/ any thoughts on it? Thanks,

[@michaelgoh2884]

+Aaron Zajonc (Az) lol - like this one mainlinephoto.com.au/sunwayfoto-dmp-140-multi-purpose-rail-nodal-slide-with-screw-knob-arca-compatible-clamp/

[@bryanworkman3902]

Do you ever make prints of these? what do you like to print on?

[@MichaelGoh333]

+Bryan Workman I'm really slow at the moment :P been sick. Anyways - print on metal or high gloss as it brings out the contrast of the stars

[@kpstad]

hey, how do you reflect the image onto the sand like that?? Id love to do that!

[@michaelgoh2884]

you mean at the beginning? I'm standing in a salt lake - so it's reflected stars off the lake. Some more details on the photo here - 500px.com/photo/115457545/exploring-the-great-expanse-by-michael-goh?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=124855

[@kpstad]

oh wow, thats a fantastic photo, where was that? Also i was just about to buy the tamron 15-30, how do you like it??

[@DBdagnerDAN]

do you ever use sky tracking mounts?

[@michaelgoh2884]

yes - I have a sky watcher star adventuer - I use it occassionally

[@CPTFRIENDS]

Thanks :)

[@silversurfer8210]

what is the software you use to create the panorama called?

[@michaelgoh2884]

hi - used ptgui pro

[@silversurfer8210]

cheers

[@bmudri]

such a peaceful voice lol

[@bobmclaffah1172]

what month did you take this?

[@michaelgoh2884]

HI Bob - September - noting that also in the southern hemisphere

[@Loopsrainforest]

Brilliant photography & editing but it just reminds me how much I hate spending time in photoshop.