Simple Milky Way Photography

I think one of the most important lessons to learn when it comes to shooting the night sky is how to find simple milky way compositions. We spend so much of our time seeking the epic shots when often the simple scenes are right there in front of us, and these can be just as beautiful under the light of the stars.
I hope you enjoy this little adventure.
Website: www.nightscape...
Facebook: / nightscapeimages
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Photography
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[@ColleenVR]

Your photo of the two fence posts on their own is my favourite of all your pictures. This is a really inspirational video, thanks so much ❤

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so very much Colleen.

[@steveh1273]

How can you stack 10, 15 seconds shots and expect the stars to be in the same place? Did you use a device to move the camera?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

The stacking software aligns the stars and at the same time freezes the foreground. I use Sequator.

[@wullieg7269]

Great to see you,my Scottish sky just clouded from clear,disappointed.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching. But what a beautiful landscape you have to live in ..!!!

[@berniestang2616]

I LOVE IT …. GORGEOUS…. This is A FANTASTIC SPOT AND PHOTO !!!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Many thanks Bernie

[@bobg982]

Yes, in my mind I was shouting "Snakes Richard!" when you were in the tall grass. Simple shots, but they are beautiful. Thanks for sharing the results of your work.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Good on you Bob, really appreciate your support.

[@roycarter2797]

Thank you. Can’t wait to try this out. I just ordered a 20mm f1.8Z S lens. I have a few other primes in the f/1.4 to f/2.8 range but I honestly think the Nikkor 20mm f1.8 S will let my Z8 perform at its best with more flexibility than using my 35mm f/1.8.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching Roy. You will love the 20mm f1.8Z lens.

[@GusMcCrae01]

Really nice. Yep, I would have driven by this site. It sure would be nice to have a diagram of your lighting placement setup with lamp types used. From what I see, I'm guessing you used 3 lights??

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching Gus. Some images use different lighting methods. Some used fixed "Low Level" lights, while others are "Light Painted" with a single torch by using multiple exposures. I have lots of videos on these techniques. kzbin.info/aero/PLAYKmqkUeSM8v3JeXcLiD9QWok_kWs-ob

[@ITechATechChannel]

After watching your awesome videos I bought sony a7c with 20mm 1.8 G lens and I will start night photos and videos soon. Thank you for inspiration

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Hey that's fantastic I Tech, I'll be really keen to see what you come up with. Thanks for watching.

[@kenpeterson3414]

Richard , Your Milky Ways are almost parallel to the horizon..Very beautiful..Ours in Arizona our perpendicular to horizon..Any good suggestion for a Pano when perpendicular? Thanks..love your video..Ken in Arizona 🌵 🇺🇸

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Hey Ken. You could do a vertical panorama. I think in the early part of the milky way season you may see the milky way laying down a bit more .. not as much as you can se down here, but a bit more sideways.

[@timwootton4649]

The image of the gate posts is really nice, would look great printed big!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Tim

[@russianhackee]

Love this video with all the simple things, I am yet to try some myself. I finally got the Photopills app (thanks, Richard !) and it's telling me the Milky Way is up there at S/SE around 4am.. but you say it's in the west, this time of year? I am just west of Melbourne. On a different note, have you thought of getting in touch with Subaru? I think they would love your images and drone videos, it's just perfect for Subaru.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching my friend. I think you may need to calibrate your compass in the phone. Just twirl the phone around your head in a figure 8 and then try photopills again. I don't think Subaru would be too interested in me somehow.

[@miloradkaravidin8818]

Actually the shot you said is nothing special is the shot I like the most among the ones you showed in the video. Great job as always. Cheers Mr Richard!!!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for your comments as always Milorad.

[@TxBronco]

When you talk about low light directional lighting how low? I have a couple of Lume Cubes that I could set up and reduce the output. What do you think, down to 25%? 10%. Thanks and great video!!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Richard. It depends on how far from the subject you are. Also how large the subject is. Lower is usually better. In my experience 25% will be too much.

[@fabriceromain5379]

Wonderful job and videos, thank so much. Is it possible for you to compare the night photography performance of Z7 vs Z6 ? Sure it will be worse but what would it look like with the same exact settings and conditions ? Regards and thanks again for your vids.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I don't have access to a Z7 but images I've seen from friends who have it .. I can't see any difference.

[@cicarda4350]

Hi Richard I recently took some images of a mostly white painted church and some lighthouses. I notice your image of the white Subaru do you still use your 1/2CTO gel when lightpainting white objects and do you make any adjustments to white balance settings in camera or do you rely on post colour adjustments of white balance etc. Do you have any tips for shooting nightscapes involving white subjects. Continued to be inspired by your work!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes I use the 1/2 cto when lighting white objects. Sometimes I will need to tweak the white balance in post production but it's usually pretty good. White subjects will flare very easily and therefore need less light.

[@lostintravel_at]

Wow, such beautiful shots! Thanks a lot for sharing! Greetings from Vienna!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching my friend.

[@gremlins71]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video, i was so surprised what a 35mm and 50mm lenses would do so wonderful images like what you did there. It's so inspiring . It gave me ideas where to shoot next time. Have fun and good luck for the next episodes. Cheers from Fleury en bière France.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you very much for watching Sam and Wheng. I certainly appreciate your comments.

[@Stufireman]

This video of your imagery is fantastic, it's opened me up to what the heck, go out and take my images with minimal foreground - more milky way images coming thanks to you and your wonderful imagery. Keep up the great work. 😀

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot my friend. Yes simple is very often the way to go.

[@michaeljordan7451]

Hi Richard I find you Channel great, but I ado have a question for you? Living in the UK and near a city light pollution is an issue. What settings do you suggest to get the sky looking good? I have struggled with this issue for a while now, what could you suggest please Thanks Michael

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Michael. It's very difficult dealing with light pollution. You cannot expose too brightly when facing this issue. I'd suggest lowering your iso and perhaps even stopping down the aperture a little bit to see what results you can get. The only real solution is to find a darker sky location . .obviously that may involve some travel. Hope it goes well.

[@i_n_c_r_y_p_t_o]

Wow you nailed the drone work in the intro! I don't know much of anything about drone video, did you just program it and then drive along the road after programming for those video clips? After watching the whole video, I have to say this was great and loved all of the final images. Great advice on just looking for the simple things around you to go with the Milky Way or just any starry background. I live in the Kansas City area in the U.S. and there aren't any dramatic foregrounds, like where you are. Am going to drive out in the country over the next week and a half while I wait for the moon to chill out so that I can have places to shoot when the Milky Way is available again.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Steve. I really appreciate your comments. Yes I pre-program the drone to follow objects. They are pretty smart.

[@malcolmhare3741]

Great video Rich. I think we are all guilty of dismissing what's there to find the "one" great shot. I have just been given access to an old farm untouched for over 70 years. I have a month window as its going to be levelled soon. Hoping for clear nights. Have a great weekend Rich.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Wow, that sounds wonderful Malcolm .. can't wait to see what you get.

[@maryellenrosen]

Great video, thanks for sharing. On your stacked background and foreground photos, I assume you took these at different exposures and then stacked them in Photoshop to blend together? Looking for tips as I try to go out to take Milky Way photos with my Z6 for the first time.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Mary Ellen. Yes I did take them at different exposures. I have quite a few videos which go into great detail about this process. See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaa7eYejrMiUfK8 or here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6Sph4dnmpKdg9E Always happy to help if I can.

[@bienenhonig2105]

Hi Richard, great video once again. I like your point with the small things, that also have their beauty and I totally agree with that. One thing came in my mind. How about a tutorial for shiny car lighting? As you said it is difficult light paintingwise. May be we can learn one or two tips that differ from other surfaces. Greetings Steffen

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Steffen. Yes it comes down to reflection really. The shiny surfaces will flare badly if not careful. It's also the same as when shooting an old rusty car with dew all over it . .the surface becomes reflective. The trick is to make sure the light isn't mirrored straight back to the camera . .this is hard to achieve as you can't really see that unless there is another person looking from the camera view. Maybe a video sometime.

[@garyhillery5302]

Richard, another top video, love the simple approach, as you said some people drive past locations, and I am one of them, to see what you achieved is great. Really looking forward to attending a class next year. You can see the Milky Way at night. When I look up at the sky at Bribie, I cannot see anything and need Photo Pills to help- out. I hope to come back from your class with a image I can hang on my wall, and believe I will with your course. Looking at this video on the dead tree one you took 8 panos for the sky but only 2 for the foreground. Why do you not need as many for the foreground as the sky? Looking forward to the next video.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Gary. Yes you can clearly see the milky way down here in the south. With the shot of the dead tree, I only needed the 2 shots to get what I needed. It was a very simple scene. I need a lot of images for the sky as I'm stacking them for noise reduction. I'm not stacking the foreground here as I shot them at a lower iso with a closed down aperture.. That's what I normally do as it makes the foregrounds very sharp.

[@MLou812]

My lenses don't go below f3. No wonder my night shots stink. Thanks for the education.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

It certainly helps to have wider aperture lenses.

[@bobtaylor5235]

Hi Richard, I thought the simple gateposts shot was great. It's given me some ideas for around my location (south east England)

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Bob. I'm glad it inspired you a little.

[@christofabt8958]

Great channel! If somebody is interested in astrophotography, he can learn a lot from you. I am looking forward to early May. The milky way will be visible and I life in a sparsely populated region close to some mountains in south west Germany. I hope the weather will be better than in April and March and I can use what I have learnt in your channel.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement Christof, I really appreciate it.

[@myatesphotography]

Great video and stunning images Richard . Thanks for the inspiration, I'll be out shooting my car with some star trails soon .

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching. Well at least we always have our cars with us out there.

[@Madieisacutie.]

You can never be too weary of those snakes my friend, be careful. I'm thinking perhaps a portable whipper snipper would be a great gift for you Richard, better pop it on your xmas list! With so many nightscapers l see continuously at epic locations sometimes it leaves the "little people" discouraged by limited locations so l for one really do appreciate these video's, yes they are simple but simply beautiful all the same 🙂

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Haha, yes good idea . .although this grass was so thick I reckon it would choke up ...!!! Thanks again for watching.

[@citylimitsphoto]

Great informative video. What was the app you were using at the beginning of the video?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I used the Photopills app. It's really good for checking compositions in relation to milky way position during the daytime.

[@guints9671]

🤣 Last week I was scouting out a location during the day. Right where I needed to go was a Tiger Snake in the grass. Nope, I really don't need that shot this year. But mid next year prior to snake season I'll return.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

It's a good thing you saw it.

[@barbaraw5510]

Just love your videos and I love your enthusiasm. I have learned a lot form watching your videos. I am often up your way and what I have learned has given me confidence to try to get images of the night sky.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you so much for watching Barbara, I'm pleased you enjoy the videos.

[@davidatkinson1413]

First time viewing your channel and am very impressed with it. Thank you.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you so much for having a look David. I really do appreciate your support.

[@InfraredVisuals]

Love your videos, really informative. And yeah btw has anyone found any snake in the grassy field yet in this video?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Haha, well I have seen spiders in my videos before when watching back ..!!! Thanks for watching.

[@jessicaeiss2541]

HI, I came across your video, as I was searching for and watching Milkey Way photography. I really loved this video, and am going to look through some more. I hope you have some light painting videos, as I would have loved to know how you did these set ups in this one. I really enjoyed the galaxy and the road. You have some really small, quaint roads you showed there. Thanks for a great video!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you so much for watching Jessica. Yes I have many videos about light painting. See here: kzbin.info/aero/PLAYKmqkUeSM8ClDIP8j0WaGefrUMYlx8w

[@sujithcheeral]

Enjoyed a lot..Very relaxing your video..thank you😊😊

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Sujith, really appreciated.

[@davefitzpatrick8775]

Great refreshing way to describe your passion & skill.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for your encouragement Dave, really appreciate it.

[@marcelolagatta2674]

Muito obrigado por postar vídeos assim, nós aqui no Brasil estamos gatinhando neste assunto e quando alguém sabe quer cobrar para passar conteúdo, forte abraço.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Marcelo

[@dennishegdahl8616]

Basic ?... Yea, maybe, but beautiful none the less. Thanks

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Dennis. I think basic and beautiful can easily co-exist in the same sentence.

[@cicarda4350]

Great images once again Richard, from what seems to be such simple compositions. You have changed my driving habits! Eyes on the road but always scouting the countryside for possible compositions. What can I say! Speaking of which, I sometimes find it challenging to get my composition "right" at night. I shoot with Nikon 7200 with 18-35 Sigma f1.8 lens. Once set up I take some test shots and usually up my ISO to max so I can see what is in or out of my shot. Even so I have been caught out and miss important subject matter that should have been in the shot. Image is simply not bright enough or shadow details difficult to see. You often talk about composition but rarely show techniques we can use to ensure you get that composition just how you want it on the night. Might be worth making this topic part of another video. Loving your work , very inspiring!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Greg, also for your generosity. It is very difficult to see what you're composing at times at night. I think sometimes we need to sit and wait for our eyes to get used to the darkness and it's amazing what you can actually see. Things like tree silhouettes or buildings etc. It also takes a lot of concentration to pick out little things that may be in the shot that you don't want in there. I will certainly do more videos on this topic moving forward.

[@lactech27]

Wow!! Great video again.. how the simplicity it is turn it into epic shot.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you very much Luis.

[@patryksiuta]

Hi! a have one question: In the picture in 3:25 minutes there is one row of 8 pictures each? or 2 rows of 4 pictures each?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for watching. These are all single row panos. 8 images side by side in portrait orientation.

[@johnl4469]

Terrific work as usual Richard. Thanks heaps mate. Keep well.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much John, always appreciated.

[@valeriymaslikov6806]

Awesome!! Thanks a lot! You job is inspiring!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I really appreciate you watching Valeriy

[@nightskyimages2977]

One of my favourite videos of yours so far love the simple stuff I'm definitely looking forward to this milky way season

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks again for watching Brad. Glad the videos are helping.

[@laurelb8372]

Great instructions. Am enthused to give it a try. Thank you

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Laurel, thank you.

[@oprdoc]

You’re flat out Awesome 🔥. Thank you.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You're very kind indeed my friend. Thanks for watching.

[@nikhilmisra8151]

Richard, this channel is one of those channels where I stick around until the video ends! Your work is brilliant, and there was no way one could figure out a single flaw unless you know them yourself. Brilliant shooting, for that matter, and as I always say: "I can never get tired of watching your videos and learn something amazing every time."

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

That's very kind of you to say Nikhil, I certainly appreciate your support.

[@carfaulfinder]

Simple stunning images

[@golf4654]

Thanks for everything, love your front car plate afc !

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching Joce

[@paulmorrall5719]

Another inspiring video Richard, thank you

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

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

[@bradtuckerman388]

G,day Richard, once again stunning work mate I love the fence posts.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps Brad. It's a matter of using what's out there.

[@PhillTicehurst]

all the images are fantastic really enjoy your video s especially this time of year with the winter in UK take care Richard and look forward to next weeks video and dream of when i can shoot milky way again next year.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much as always Phill, your kind words are very encouraging my friend.

[@FlowericiousResident]

the Subaru shot great for Ads for the Subaru hope they'll see that !!! Always a pleasure to be watching your photography input much love from Washington State.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching my friend.

[@TehStriker]

There's an epic thing in all those locations: the photographer. Again an amazing job, Richard! I'm speechless... 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Very kind of you to say my friend. I like to think of it as 90% perspiration 10% talent.

[@simonharding5696]

Great video, as they all are. There is a lesson learned in looking for that everyday subject that everyone else would just walk or drive past. It's given me an idea for a metal gate, just up the road!! I just need some clear nights :-) Thanks again for such great and inspirational content.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks as always for watching and leaving a comment Simon. All the best with that gate ..!!

[@demus8757]

Hello from The Netherlands. I have just watched this video and I am amazed by your pictures. Maybe you call them simple because of the "simple" foreground, I call them amazing. You make something out of almost nothing. What I am wondering about is how you determine the values for lens opening, shutter speed and ISO. I tried to make some pictures in September when my wife and I were in the southwest of America but I didn't get anything else than some light points in a further black picture. What do you use to measure the amount of light to get to the correct settings? Thank you for the video, I will watch more of them.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching my friend. The settings you use will depend on a few things. The camera and lens you use ... especially the focal length are all factors to consider. You'll notice I always put my settings on each image to give people some ideas. Have you seen my online workshop series. I do discuss a lot of these things in detail. kzbin.info/aero/PLAYKmqkUeSM96MzmcTwVxT7Ccps5zhWOJ

[@demus8757]

@@nightscapeimages.richard Hello again, no I did not yet see the workshop. I found the 'Simple Milky Way Photography' video and watched it. Thanks for pointing out the workshop, I will surely watch it, and hope to learn from it. Thanks.

[@lesladbrook4508]

Just fantastic encouragement Richard

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Very kind of you Les. Thanks.

[@alpharho_photo]

Hi Richard! I absolutely enjoy your content and follow it avidly... keep it up! I have a query that goes the opposite way to "simple" milky way photography. Is it practical to combine multiple frame panoramas and stacking (like what sequator does)? I can visualize how you can do either separately, but I'd like to attempt both in order to not only increase the field of view but also reduce noise without excessively using the sliders in Lightroom. Any thoughts?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Luis. In my next video this weekend I'll be including one panorama which is stacked as you suggest. I used Sequator to stack the individual panels and then stitched those in photoshop. So I shot 4 separate frames with 6 stacked images in each frame.

[@alpharho_photo]

@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks Richard! I appreciate you taking the time to respond and in such a timely manner! You've actually addressed my unspoken question, which relates to the order in which the process should flow. I now understand that stacking the individual frames comes before stitching them together. That's so helpful! Is that also the order in which you take the images? Meaning, taking a "burst" of shots for each frame before panning the camera. Did I get that right?

[@paultrunfull3324]

Must have missed this one Richard, nice one.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks for catching up with it Paul, really appreciate it.

[@puck528co]

Fantastic pictures. Will try photographing my car once more. Did Not work with 14 mm lens 😁

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You can do it with 14mm but it won't look as realistic.

[@puck528co]

Maybe the car is wrong. I should weld some steel tubes to the motor hood 😅 Your southern skies 😍...

[@andysuzierawlins5462]

Awesome images Richard, the master of creating simple beauty in images! It will be march before I can get back to mw photography again. You're very lucky with your southern mw for composition, but you're a master of maximizing what you have in your images

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks as always Suzanne. There are plenty of other great things in the night sky to photograph as well.

[@andysuzierawlins5462]

@@nightscapeimages.richard I know, we're in lockdown again at the moment and having frequent rain and cloud

[@garysymonds3965]

Thank you very much appreciated

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks Gary, I appreciate you watching.

[@andrewrogers5426]

DO YOU USE ANY ZOOM LENSES FOR THE NIGHT SKY??

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

The only zoom lens I use these days is the Nikon 14-24 f2.8 Andrew.

[@GARY1951A]

This is so inspiring to me! Trying to find a dark sky and epic compositions for me is very difficult - But I love that you showed that even ordinary locations can produce epic images AND they will be unique! I also worry about being out late at night in some location regarding safety - do you always get permissions from the landowners before you stop on the side of the road late at night??

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much Gary. I usually get permission from land holders to go onto a property to shoot but not just to stop on the road side. Mostly the farm houses are a long way away from the road anyway.

[@brendongee5584]

Hey Richard, another great video.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Brendon, I very much appreciate your comments.

[@gavinheppenstall766]

Hi Richard, great video as usual.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thank you very much Gavin, I appreciate you watching.

[@icecrobat]

Brilliant and informative as usual.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for having a look David.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Sometimes the simplest compositions are the best. Beautiful work Richard. The image at 3:31 is just so amazing. But even the car at 17:40 was super cool too with the 35mm. Fantastic video as always mate and thanks for sharing your passion and great advice 👍🙏

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

As always I really do appreciate and value your comments and insights Adrian, thanks a lot mate.

[@erikmardiste]

can you achieve simiar results with stock 15 to 55 ml lens if you dont have a is lens?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes you certainly shoot nightscape photography with a standard kit lens. Better lenses just make it easier.

[@erikmardiste]

@@nightscapeimages.richard thank you very much

[@PhillipMcCallum]

Enjoy my Saturday morning hit of your videos,the enthusiasm is contagious. Thanks again

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps as always Phillip.

[@alexbadeu]

Really awesome captures!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Alex

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

I have noticed the zodiacal light too

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes it's always very prominent in October/November down here.

[@carmelthomson9917]

Cool!! Love the fence posts!! And i was thinking, as you were saying about we might think to ourselves ""it's pretty ordinary.." someone else might absolutely love it!! I'm hoping to get out soon, I know the milky way has gone, but stars of any description are awesome at night! Ps, you're so right about the distortion on the 14mm lenses...don't like mine at all (Samyang 14mm), so will be buying a (I think) 20 mm lens soon!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Carmel. Yes there is always something to shoot in the night sky. The only 20mm lenses you can get for Canon mount are the Sigma 20mm f1.4 or the Samyang 20mm f1.8 as far as I'm aware.

[@carmelthomson9917]

@@nightscapeimages.richard i seem to have lost a converstaion we had a few weeks ago...you were telling me to try a Tamron over the Sigma, but perhaps that was 35mm???

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@carmelthomson9917 Yes it was the 35mm. Tamron do a 20mm lens but it's f2.8 the others are faster aperture.

[@victormultanen1981]

Thanks for sharing Richard!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for watching Victor.

[@ChrisMosner]

Inspiring as always, Richard. Loved all the shots, especially the first pano. Wondering if you could detail a little more about translating from Photopills to real-world settings when the Milky Way is “lying down.” I’m in the northern hemisphere trying to determine when I can get a pano with the Milky Way stretching across the sky. I’m confused when I see negative elevations for the core, in Photopills, yet see the Milky Way apparently laying down in the planner. I also wonder what the ideal elevation is, in degrees, for those panos. From the looks of it, visibility times will be very limited, so planning must be optimal! Would appreciate some expert video guidance!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Chris. I think it depends on where you are located in the Northern Hemisphere. I find Stellarium to be the most helpful with all of this planning stuff. As I mentioned in the video I do use photopills when out on location but it's less helpful when planning a long way out. I think you'll find the milky way "Laying down" more in the early part of the year .. maybe late march/april. Just to be clear, you'll never see the core laying down like in these images as you have to be well south of the equator to get this view.

[@ChrisMosner]

@@nightscapeimages.richard thanks, Richard! I also just watched your tracking video. You are, truly, a master of what you do. Your tracked composites are next level good.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@ChrisMosner You're very kind Chris. Tracking is not something I do very often so I was happy to get those results.

[@kenklontz1945]

Nice job and a great add for the car 😎

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Ken. I wasn't going to shoot the car but I thought .. what the heck.

[@carlreid4161]

Morning Richard. Great opening image that pano is awesome. The open gate shot I particularly liked as you captured the core magnificently. The second pano was the six shots all one row? Simplicity at its best, and plenty of scouting I need to do more of that mate! Thanks for sharing Richard.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Carl. Yes both the panos were single rows.

[@alanwatkiss7993]

You've got me hooked Rich, I live close to the Peak District in England must have a few nights out. Great vlog mate, and yes we are all scarred of snakes especially them big poisonous buggers you have.👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Haha, well I've never actually seen a snake in my photography travels . . but I know they are out there. Thanks for watching.

[@jaceacekalgoorlie]

Snakes aren't poisonous 🐍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@jaceacekalgoorlie You reckon ..!!!

[@alanwatkiss7993]

@@jaceacekalgoorlie Thought you'd got some of the worst in Australia?

[@gregthomasphotography]

loved the simple gate posts 👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Greg, yes do did I.

[@abhayrege8509]

greatness is in simplicity, indeed...

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching my friend.

[@Mr09260]

Thanks so much Richard

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Really appreciate you watching Peter

[@harveyrichard2007]

Wonderful shots! Can I ask what font you used for your signature?

[@harveyrichard2007]

Do you stack several subs together for each shot?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

To be honest I can't remember except that I made some alterations to it in photoshop so it's not actually a standard font.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes many times I do stack images .. anywhere up to 10 shots usually.

[@allanwilliams2361]

Good morning Richard.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

And good morning to you also Allan.

[@MaquinahumanaVCF]

Good job teacher!! 🌌

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I'm really pleased you like the video, thanks for watching.

[@cwf0073]

Quality content as always Richard, definitely learnt something new every time by watching your vids, keep it up! And its monsoon season here in Malaysia, full of rain clouds all day long, I miss the milky way so much!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Yes I can imagine how difficult the monsoon season would be. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesmcluckie7088]

Awesome mate....😊👍🏻

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks heaps for watching James.

[@justkerry173]

I was so disappointed last week. Took my D850 out for the milky way, got home and realised that, somehow, the camera had shifted to JPG instead of RAW. Loved watching this, Richard.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

I've done that as well Kerry . .we live and learn I suppose. Thanks for watching.

[@dkfqnwk3]

you are the best~!!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

You're very kind indeed Roy

[@rhodesia1578]

All your images are fantastic Richard , thanks for all the information you so kindly give out to everyone 👌🏻👏

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for your kind comments Ross, really appreciated.

[@bobsheridan6692]

Thank you Richard for another inspirational video. I have just started doing nightscape images this year and I particularly struggled with finding interesting foreground images for my compositions. This video has encouraged me to look closer when scouting out locations. Our Milky Way season is over this year, being in the northern hemisphere, however I can hardly wait for next year. thanks again.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Bob. Yes there isn't much milky way here now either. I think it's always good to look beyond the obvious compositions.

[@benburden9323]

What is your app called in the video

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

See at 4.36 in the video. It's called Photopills.

[@benburden9323]

@@nightscapeimages.richard that great app I like it so how can you see the milky way with your settup

[@thruthelens7100]

Awesome images mate. Often simple things can be the best.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot for watching mate, yes simple is often the best.

[@garydavies2979]

Many thanks, I appreciate your videos. They are straight to the point and the images are inspirational. One question I have about the panoramas. If you're doing eight shots at 15 seconds each, how do you compensate for the movement of the stars during the time elapsed between the first and last shot?

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Very kind of you to say Gary. The stitching software works out the alignment despite the movement.

[@garydavies2979]

@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks. I shoot 360 panoramas and stitch using PTGUi Pro. I usually try to avoid anything that's moving but I'll give this a go.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

@@garydavies2979 I'll be keen to see how you go Gary

[@garydavies2979]

@@nightscapeimages.richard I'll keep you informed but it could be a while. I live in the light-polluted south of England and we have travel restrictions at the moment. Still, gives me plenty of time to go through all your tutorials and get the theory under my belt!

[@spenceford4299]

📸 good show.

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks as always Spence.

[@chetandoshi7053]

Super

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks as always Chetan

[@physicslab5787]

Nice

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks very much for looking.

[@marshysterrs1011]

Переезжаю в Австралию 😉 🌌📷👍

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Haha, well it's a beautiful if somewhat rugged landscape here Mars.

[@jiffijoff9780]

Wonderful, Richard, as always. Great also the new video shots dynamically walking straight towards the cam from a distance - AF following you perfectly. 👍 Also the drone shots turned out great. Thanks for your enthusiasm 🌈👍🙂🙂

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks a lot Jiffi. Yes I'm very happy with the new camera for my videos. I do love the odd drone shot to help set the scene also.

[@MrDaveB123]

Now that's what Im talking about ! Maybe Im a bit of a photo snob or maybe Im just fussy and appreciate good photography. I feel I strive for excellence. You Sir stand out from the crowd and your creative eye will be someone I follow and learn from . Thank you

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for your very kind words of encouragement David. It's really appreciated.

[@LeonKolenda]

Hey Richard, Wow on this video! I'm a tree freak when it come to images, and that large tree shot is absolutely fantastic! Couple of questions: 1. In the car shot, you used a 35mm f1.8 shot at 2.2, why was the SS set at 8 seconds, as apposed to 15 seconds with the 20mm f1.8, and the ISO was the same? 2. Why is it that I see that the Milky-Way in your pano's, (when you use the 20mm f1.8) is so much bigger looking in the sky, compared to many Pano shots that I have seen where the Milky Way is way smaller, and always looks further away? Man I'm envious of that Tree shot! Great work, love this channel! Wish Down-Under was open for travel and this covid was over, I would definitely fly over and take one of your workshops!

[@nightscapeimages.richard]

Thanks so much for watching Leon. The longer focal length lenses require shorter shutter speeds as they show more apparent movement across the image. The more images you include in a pano the smaller the milky way will look because the field of view of the toral image becomes greater. So the milky way will look larger in an 8 shot pano compared to a 12 shot pano for example.