Simple Milky Way Panoramas

Have a look at how I take simple milky way panoramas without any complicated formulas or equipment. Milky way panoramas are a great way to get a very vibrant and detailed image. We look at the method I use to actually take the shots and also delve into the software to stitch the images together.
Website: www.nightscapeimages.com.au/
Facebook: / nightscapeimages
Instagram: / nightscapeimages
Equipment I use:
Nikon D750
Nikon 20mm f1.8
Nikon 14-24 f2.8
Sigma 35mm f1.4
Nikon 50mm f1.8
Nikon 85mm f1.8
Yongnuo RF603nii remote triggers
DJI Mavic Pro Drone
Godox Flash Equipment
LED Lenser P7.2 torch
Z96 continuous light
Syrp Genie Mini
Sky Watcher Star Adventurer
Video Equipment:
Panasonic G9 camera
Panasonic GH3 camera
Panasonic FZ2500 camera
Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 lens
Panasonic 25mm f1.7 lens
Z96 video light
Yongnuo YN300 video lights
Sennheiser Radio Microphones

[@simonharding5696]

I would say these are the best instructional tutorials on capturing and editing the night sky. Your style is warm, clear and uncomplicated, and the enthusiasm is infectious. Thanks a million for another excellent video.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Your comments are greatly valued Simon, I really appreciate the encouragement.

[@steelheadranger1798]

I agree with you. He has a great teaching "presence" and style.

[@marct9221]

Hey Richard...Just catching up with your older vids...and I am enjoying all of them! (thank you again for the apps suggestions)

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm glad you're enjoying them Marc, thanks mate.

[@nicknichols4249]

Thanks! At 71 years old I finally learned how to stack and merge images together. Can't wait for clear skies to apply my newly learned skills. Your presentation was spot on and easy to follow. This video is packed full with a lot of great information!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching Nick

[@strider00111]

@@nightscapeimages.richard Took you long enough like this reply ;) lol......

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@strider00111 I have a lot of replies to get through, sometimes they slip through the cracks.

[@that1duder]

Excellent video. I thought my 35mm would be too close but now I am excited! Thanks a bunch!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching Jake. I love using these longer focal length lenses for nightscapes. In fact I'm doing a couple of videos now about using different focal length lenses on the channel. Really appreciate your comments.

[@srinivastatachar790]

Thanks for all your tips and ideas. I feel like make an attempt . Thanks

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Always very pleased to help.

[@johnfriesen1071]

I can't stop watching your videos!! I'm learning so much more than all the other editing tutorials. Very cool shots!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for your kind words of encouragement John, it means a lot my friend.

[@natureonfocus7091]

Just amazing I will test it with my Nikon Z6 and the 28mm F1.8 lens

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'll be keen to see how you go Torsten. Thanks for watching.

[@By.ozalsa]

The super ultimate bestest. Cheers man 🙏

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for having a look Osama, all the best my friend.

[@veronica0406]

Beautiful!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks again Veronica

[@diulio.fotografia]

Amazing tutorial! Thanks!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching Diulio, really appreciate it.

[@HeguB]

Thank you so much for the great tutorial! Found this extremely helpful! Keep up the great work!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really pleased you like it, thanks for watching.

[@pennyheuscher4854]

Thanks - terrific teaching

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for having a look Penny

[@almusur1781]

That was a fantastic video. Thank you so much.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching Al

[@The_Crooked_Path]

God it makes me happy seeing an Aussie make this. And with a BA wagon. Good stuff mate

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for the comments mate, really appreciated.

[@48northphotography5]

Awesome image and tremendous step-by-step teaching. Thank you, I cannot wait to engage your instruction in my next nightscape image.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching really appreciated it.

[@Slippinjimmy12]

This is by far the easiest way someone explained astrophotography. Immediately subbed. Thank you heaps for making such fantastic tutorials.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Chaitanya, really appreciate that.

[@giovanniugas]

Thank you Richard, fantastic video, as usual.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Very kind of you to say so Fabio

[@clark7894]

Thank you. I like the way you edited.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot James, really appreciate it.

[@hogsatkat]

Looks so easy. Wow

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Maybe not easy but certainly doable. Thanks for watching.

[@denniswaynea]

excellent!! thanks for sharing your technique!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really pleased you like it De W. Thank you.

[@itsoffthemap]

Awesome explanation, no filler and very detailed. Subbed!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching, really appreciated.

[@gurvinderbhirth9583]

Fantastic video, so clearly explained. Thank you

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Glad you like it .. .thanks for watching.

[@doumepatrice7597]

Many thanks for your generosity and congratulations for your amazing pics

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You're very welcome Doume

[@tony_r_pierce]

Excellent and motivating!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Tony, always appreciated.

[@miloradkaravidin8818]

Great educational video. Thank you Mr.Richard!!!!!!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Milorad

[@sjmhaulage]

Awesome content Richard; Thank you.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching Steve, really appreciated.

[@klaasD1962]

Love the way you explane how you create these images. Gives me the fibe to go out an shoot footage myself. Thx again for sharing

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate the comment, thanks for watching

[@mountainmanmike2274]

Great instructional video. Some of your methods will help me out big time. Thanks!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Good on you Mike, glad you like it.

[@alsteiner7602]

OUTSTANDING simple approach. I can try this. Thanks for posting

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching Al, really appreciated.

[@BretBihler]

Love your videos. Really appreciate your detail description of the steps you use to produce whatever shot you are describing.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Bret, really appreciate you watching.

[@quarkyman1]

Great of you to share your knowledge Richard, very well explained. Cheers mate.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Michael, really appreciate you watching

[@CluelessYoutuber]

This is an absolutely helpful tutorial on the milky way panorama. I hope to be able to apply it in my next shoots.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching, I really appreciate it.

[@claudiapatrick2261]

Thanks for the informative, easy-to-follow four shot pano method. I love your final image!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm really pleased you liked it Claudia, thanks for watching.

[@leobandiola]

Really amazing work and tutorial. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching Leomar and for the comment.

[@lutero2000]

Congratulations for the excellent photographic work. I'm learning a lot from your videos ... Thanks!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you very much for watching Lutero

[@charleshoward1475]

What a brilliantly made film. Your instruction is absolutely wonderful. I've yet to process a single image, so I find myself glued watching every second of this. I am certain to return several times. So glad you included camera setting as well. Thanks ever so much Nightscape Images.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate your comments Charles .. thank you

[@bojangrbikj2495]

Very helpful, thanks so much!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm really pleased you liked it Bojan, thanks so much for watching.

[@AGoodBuzz]

Thanks for the great instructions.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate the comments, thank you.

[@massdistraction6169]

Another great video, thanks for sharing. Both informative and inspiring, job done ✌️

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching.

[@paulirving1959]

Subscribed... Notifications on... and ready for more!!! Excellent tutorials and delivery. You make it look very achievable, thank you very much!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Joe

[@MikeLHarlan]

Thanks again Richard for another superb video! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. I especially enjoyed the post processing piece. All the best to you sir, and I look forward to more of your videos.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Many thanks indeed Mike .... appreciate you watching

[@brianhurrell290]

Brilliant tutorial

[@jocliff7387]

Great pictures and I will definitely give it a go..thanks for sharing the video...so well presented and informative. All the best.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Jo, appreciate you watching and for the comment

[@photocreativity]

A very nice tutorial, Richard. I like the way you explained the process. 👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks again Ivo

[@CraigskinnerphotographyUk]

Great video, nice and simple yet informative 👍🏻 Nice to see your workflow, and that image really does pop by the end of it. Awesome.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks Craig. I've always liked this tree and was very happy to capture the milky way behind it earlier in the year

[@magicfab1155]

You are absolutely right, "Simplicity is the ultimate of sophistication". Richard thanks for sharing another good one. I can see the passion on your tutorial.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Many thanks indeed, I really appreciate you watching.

[@terry2855]

Hello Richard, thank you so much for sharing your workflow. I’m going to go back to some of my old MW photos and make some adjustments. Have a great day!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Good on you Terry ... thanks again

[@carolelabrecque2799]

Always so interesting, easy to understand, masterpiece picture, genuine kindness. Luv ya! ♥️♥️♥️

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you so much Carole, your encouragement is so appreciated.

[@chetansp912]

Marvelous video..!! Loved the step by step explanation of the whole process.. 👏🏻👏🏻

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm pleased you liked it Chetan

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Absolutely loved this. I have done a couple of astro shots but nothing like this. I love the way you take a complicated idea and make it simple for us. Your explanation of the post processing is superb too. Thanks Richard.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm so pleased you got to watch the video Chris and even more pleased that you took the time to comment. ... really appreciated. Always happy to help you along on your nightscape journey.

[@johnwheeler5271]

Great video,Thankyou.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Many thanks indeed John.

[@lagocardiel]

Good Job!!! From 🇦🇷

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching Hector.

[@amanarts007]

amazing content loved your work

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching Aman

[@nerminhuskic7182]

Details in raw are crazy. You don't have to force edit so much. fantastic

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Nermin

[@druksl6626]

Fire

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching.

[@AndrewDawes]

Mate you need to write a small flip card booklet so I can keep on me in the field 😂 such excellent produced videos mate with some excellent trips and step by step 👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Haha ... thanks mate. I actually do have a cheat sheet of settings I give to all my workshop participants. But these videos are a little more detailed than what's possible on a card.

[@adicruceanu153]

You sound like the Bob Ross of nightscape photography! Keep it up with the good work!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Adi

[@M31glow]

I just found your channel and I literally have watched 90% of your videos. Thank you for the inspiration

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching Walter

[@jankoh300]

You are amazing!!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching. I'm really pleased you like it.

[@swarnikastudio]

Beautiful

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much

[@homesteadandvideo]

Very very educational and great video, as always.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate that Orjan

[@homesteadandvideo]

@@nightscapeimages.richard dark season is upon us here in north of norway ,soon i must bring ur tips and tricks with me and start shooting outside .

[@nilotpal_dey]

Excellent video....

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching Nilotpal

[@wirinharwirjawan6422]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you for watching.

[@murraymcgregor6289]

hi richard. great work and well presented. i really enjoyed your simple approach, as you said. i was so inspired i checked your website for workshops only to find they're all sold out for this year!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Hi Murray, thanks so much for watching. Yes the workshops are going so well, lots of them were sold out from the end of last year. If you like you could send me a contact form inquiry from my workshops page on the website and then I can email you some details.

[@BVaqueroREMAX]

Pretty nice work

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Bruno.

[@miket.1933]

crazy how strong the milky way is visible even with that light pollution from the town.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Mike. Yes it's quite bright here. Although the town in the distance isn't huge.

[@CqCasting]

Awesome; Thank you so much for sharing, you have inspired this retired sole into experimenting with my Nikon D600. I'm in a location where night photography has lots of potential. Desert and subject are abundant. Light room and Photoshop are also going to be a challenge but with your tutorials I have a chance with creating something worthy. Again, Thank you very much.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching and for leaving a comment Ron. I'm sure you'll get some wonderful images with a bit of practice.

[@NildoScoop]

Very nice picture. 👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much really appreciated

[@photography3569]

Thanks a lot! Great Vid!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You're very welcome ... thanks for watching.

[@PSTUTORIALSTV]

I really wish we had better conditions over here in the UK for this kind of photography Richard, it is something I would love to add to my repertoire. Fantastically explained as usual, you always produce top video's. All the best Ben

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Ben ... one thing we do have here in this part of the world are beautiful night skies

[@prasadshriram2737]

I've only shot astro once before. it was just a few single exposure shots. I've been itching to do a panorama ever since. this looks easy to follow and simple. Will be giving this a go soon! Thanks!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you making the comments .. thanks.

[@carolbinder8199]

Very inspirational. I was just about to buy a wider angle lens but I think I'll have a go at this method instead!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching Carol. Happy to help anytime with recommendations.

[@johndoherty6448]

Thank you, NI for a great instr video. The absence of music is music to my ear, so to speak! Strength 10.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks once again for watching John, always appreciate your comments.

[@craigwilson1604]

Superb richard really enjoyed that and getting great tips, im not very good at editing but with content like yours i will improve 👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Craig ... I really appreciate your support

[@allanisip6302]

Thank you for you tutorial sir...

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Very pleased you like it

[@cherylwilcox9648]

You have me so excited to take my first Milky Way panoramas at the end of the month - I've got two nights in a Bortle 2 sky that I plan to make the most of. Deep Sky Object photography with my Redcat 51 and Nikon D7500 for the first part of the night, then it's all Milky Way until the morning. Thanks for a great video not only telling me but showing me how you take the four shots, and then how you post process them. Clear skies!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You're very welcome Cheryl. Thanks so much for watching. I hope you get some wonderful images.

[@frankgiron7065]

Thank you for your input

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you so much Frank

[@Amuppet]

Learning from the old man, Im certainly going to practice this!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Fantastic Dennis

[@animalyze7120]

Nice video and great tutorial. You have a real knack for this, hopin mine come out near as good lol

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching.

[@msandersen]

This makes me want to go back to reshoot my first attempts at nightscapes using a longer focal length; but of course I need to experiment with simple setups first before trying something like this. I think I’m ready to try this next step, as I’m happy with what I managed to get in my first 2 outings. Now all I have to do is convince my wife we need another holiday to Nora Head Lighthouse; won’t be hard, as she loved it there and wants to go back in whale season.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Fantastic Martin, really appreciate you watching.

[@benaboody]

great video mate.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching mate

[@hunterkillerii1483]

I love the style on how you record your videos, keep it up! This channel is inspiring me to go out at night and take some great night shots.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching. Really appreciated.

[@hunterkillerii1483]

@@nightscapeimages.richard No worries! I just can't get over how well presented they are, honestly I could binge on your tutorials all day. Looking forward to your future videos :)

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@hunterkillerii1483 Really appreciate that.

[@p.preamchannel1783]

Awesome Thank you

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You are very welcome, thanks for watching.

[@chrisastrophoto9798]

Greaaat!💗

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Appreciate that Chris

[@martinnightingale6033]

Great Tutorial . I'm aiming to have a go at Nightscape / Milkyway photography this year in the UK .

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Fantastic Martin, that's great. I hope you find clear skies and good conditions.

[@martinnightingale6033]

Thank you . I've been going through a total loss of photo mojo for at least the last two years . I'm finding inspiration via great tutorials on youtube. So onwards and upwards .

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@martinnightingale6033 Yes it can certainly be like that Martin. Once you get a taste for nightscape photography it might just get you up and running again. Keep in touch, I'll be keen to see how you go.

[@martinnightingale6033]

Nightscape Images Thank you .

[@franznawrath]

excellent !! greetings fom CHILE !! ;)

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching Franz

[@puck528co]

Thank you very much!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching

[@msandersen]

Very good video. I’m planning a trip, for which I will use my crop-sensor Fuji with both my 12mm f2, and perhaps as with this video, my 23mm f1.4, which is roughly equivalent to 35mm FF FoV.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks Martin. Both those lens combinations will be wonderful on your Fuji.

[@alanmeek1731]

A Uniqball ball head, allows you to level the horizon and lock it place, whilst separately allowing up/down and side to side movement, idea for this kind of panorama where you want to quickly reposition the camera and not have to repeatedly re-level the horizon.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching Alan, really appreciate your insights.

[@jimslater3574]

Brilliant

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Jim, really appreciated.

[@jimslater3574]

You've inspired me to finally commit to buying Lightroom - and I got one of the only standalone versions left - just in time! Thanks again for the tutorial, very articulate and straight to the point.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@jimslater3574 Good stuff Jim .. enjoy it.

[@gm010379]

THANKYOU...

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching.

[@Ekuahx]

Fantastic video with great explanations. I'm very jealous of the milky way you guys are able to see and capture. Here in Norway we only get the tail of the milky way which in comparison is quite underwhelming. Then again we have Northern Lights, so I guess it evens out 😅

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes I suppose you are right. There are always trade offs where ever we live. Appreciate you watching.

[@wesleyanismlucas8816]

Imagine having milky way core with northern lights, that would be awesome!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@wesleyanismlucas8816 It's a bit hard in the Northern Hemisphere. It can happen in the Southern Hemisphere though.

[@100mikeshark]

ace will try this

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Mike

[@PhillipMcCallum]

Thank you

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching Phillip

[@612morrison]

Great video. I worked out that using this technique with a 35mm lens (on a full frame body) in landscape view its approximately the same as image coverage as a 16mm in portrait view, so if your careful with overlaps you should be able to print on standard ratio paper, great for those of us with canon printers in my case a pro 1000 which won't let you print panoramas the full width of the printer ie a nice full A2 print.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Fantastic, I'm sure you;ll get some awesome prints. Thanks for watching.

[@612morrison]

@@nightscapeimages.richard unfortunately here in Northern Ireland we don't get the weather or have as many dark sky areas as you do, clouds and light pollution isn't a good combination.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@612morrison Very true .. I saw that first hand when I visited recently.

[@ChrisandLauraTravels]

Hey mate love this video! Im trying to get into Night scape photography! Quick question, with the tone curve in Ps, could you not do that in Lr? I havent invested into Ps as yet but wondering if the same effect can be achieved with the tone curve in lightroom? Cheers mate

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching. You can achieve a similar thing with the tone curve in lightroom. The big advantage of the curve adjustment layer in photoshop is that you can edit any part of the image separately by brushing bits away or adding them back in .. in other words it's not a global adjustment. That's very handy.

[@robertgrenader858]

I use a Bogen gear drive tripod head, which lets me easily rotate in any direction for multi image panoramas. I found with a ball head, I had trouble rotating vertical, leveling, etc between shots.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes lots of people have that problem, I guess it's all a matter of what works best for us. Thanks Robert

[@AntonPickard]

Thanks so much for producing such great videos - I especially appreciate your video production values, various angles, cut-away shots etc. I am wondering if you incorporate noise reduction stacking when doing panoramas or if time just does not permit that. Also, do you combine panoramas with light painting and if so, how is that done. Many thanks again.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Hi Anton, really appreciate your comments. When I shoot panoramas I don't usually do any extra stacking, I guess it's possible but obviously takes a lot more time. Yes I do incorporate light painting in most of my work. In this case I didn't have to though.

[@davidarteaga7054]

First I must say your videos are informative, outstanding, not boring and are pushing me to finally do this. One silly question. I know to focus to infinity when shooting the stars and milky way. When you are doing panos, do you or should you have to refocus everytime for each pano shot or will everything be in focus because of the plane of field. I have been doing photography for 4 years now and finally feel that I am prepared for this but still sketchy on this detail. Thank you for the vids. Your images are spectacular.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching David. No you don't have to re-focus for each shot. Of course that's assuming you don't move the focus ring between shots accidently.

[@blueman841]

Thanks for posting this. It helps a lot. One question I do haves, If I took multiple photos. ( say 6 ) does it matter if I start from the left or the right? as well if I took 2 rows of photos does it mater if I started from the left or right, top or bottom?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Dave. From my experience it doesn't matter where you start and finish.