Milky Way & Light-painted Ironwood Tree: This photo of the Milky Way over Superstition Mountain, and the Ironwood Tree was taken late on a moonless night on May 9th of 2021 as I was...

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

This photo of the Milky Way over Superstition Mountain, and the Ironwood Tree was taken late on a moonless night on May 9th of 2021 as I was just becoming familiar with Astrophotography.

Taking the Picture

I spent several hours researching the Milky Way and when it would be in just the right position to lay across Superstition Mountain as shown in the photo, but I wanted more than just the Milky Way over the Mountain. The Ironwood Tree is a favorite subject of mine, situated alongside a well-used foothills trail, and I look forward to the short period each spring when it’s in full bloom.

The semi-translucent, bluish-purple blossoms of the Ironwood Tree are on display for only a short period, so timing is of the utmost importance in the making of this photo. Of course, the outstanding color of the blossoms are only visible during the daylight hours, so I was determined to bring along some flashlights to “light-paint” the tree as I was exposing for the mountain and the Milky Way.

I tried each of my LED flashlights in turn but wasn’t satisfied with the results, until I grabbed my trusty mini-mag light from my bag. The Mag Light uses a filament type bulb, and the batteries were half used, but the light being reflected from the Ironwood tree was soft and lit up the tree nicely.

As the magic hour arrived and all was ready, I began taking a series of ten shots, each with a fifteen-second exposure time. I repeated this for several groups of photos, just in case one series was better than another. In all, I wound up with fifty photos to take home for extensive in-depth editing.

Editing the Picture

Because of the light painted tree and the dark sky, the dark mountain, and the dark foreground, I was unable to come up with an acceptable final photo that I felt I could use for a quality print. So, I had to separate the sky from the foreground and process each part separately. When I was finished with each part, and was satisfied, I then re-combined those two halves into the final image that you see.

Photo editing was done in Affinity Photo
Jack Olson’s Images in the Wilderness.

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ClarkG Loc: Southern Indiana USA

Awesome photo! And awesome post editing. I also use Affinity Photo.

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

ClarkG wrote:

Awesome photo! And awesome post editing. I also use Affinity Photo.

Thanks ClarkG, I've been using Affinity for almost four years now and can't beat it for the bucks.

Jack

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I like it!

angler Loc: StHelens England

Beautiful shot.

poprock48

Wall hanger for sure 👍👍

Gampa

Wonderful!!

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

That turned out really nice

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great job, Jack.

merrytexan Loc: georgia

Wilderness Images wrote:

This photo of the Milky Way over Superstition Mountain, and the Ironwood Tree was taken late on a moonless night on May 9th of 2021 as I was just becoming familiar with Astrophotography.

Taking the Picture

I spent several hours researching the Milky Way and when it would be in just the right position to lay across Superstition Mountain as shown in the photo, but I wanted more than just the Milky Way over the Mountain. The Ironwood Tree is a favorite subject of mine, situated alongside a well-used foothills trail, and I look forward to the short period each spring when it’s in full bloom.

The semi-translucent, bluish-purple blossoms of the Ironwood Tree are on display for only a short period, so timing is of the utmost importance in the making of this photo. Of course, the outstanding color of the blossoms are only visible during the daylight hours, so I was determined to bring along some flashlights to “light-paint” the tree as I was exposing for the mountain and the Milky Way.

I tried each of my LED flashlights in turn but wasn’t satisfied with the results, until I grabbed my trusty mini-mag light from my bag. The Mag Light uses a filament type bulb, and the batteries were half used, but the light being reflected from the Ironwood tree was soft and lit up the tree nicely.

As the magic hour arrived and all was ready, I began taking a series of ten shots, each with a fifteen-second exposure time. I repeated this for several groups of photos, just in case one series was better than another. In all, I wound up with fifty photos to take home for extensive in-depth editing.

Editing the Picture

Because of the light painted tree and the dark sky, the dark mountain, and the dark foreground, I was unable to come up with an acceptable final photo that I felt I could use for a quality print. So, I had to separate the sky from the foreground and process each part separately. When I was finished with each part, and was satisfied, I then re-combined those two halves into the final image that you see.

Photo editing was done in Affinity Photo
Jack Olson’s Images in the Wilderness.

This photo of the Milky Way over Superstition Moun... (show quote)

i like it too...very creatively done.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Wilderness Images wrote:

This photo of the Milky Way over Superstition Mountain, and the Ironwood Tree was taken late on a moonless night on May 9th of 2021 as I was just becoming familiar with Astrophotography.

Taking the Picture

I spent several hours researching the Milky Way and when it would be in just the right position to lay across Superstition Mountain as shown in the photo, but I wanted more than just the Milky Way over the Mountain. The Ironwood Tree is a favorite subject of mine, situated alongside a well-used foothills trail, and I look forward to the short period each spring when it’s in full bloom.

The semi-translucent, bluish-purple blossoms of the Ironwood Tree are on display for only a short period, so timing is of the utmost importance in the making of this photo. Of course, the outstanding color of the blossoms are only visible during the daylight hours, so I was determined to bring along some flashlights to “light-paint” the tree as I was exposing for the mountain and the Milky Way.

I tried each of my LED flashlights in turn but wasn’t satisfied with the results, until I grabbed my trusty mini-mag light from my bag. The Mag Light uses a filament type bulb, and the batteries were half used, but the light being reflected from the Ironwood tree was soft and lit up the tree nicely.

As the magic hour arrived and all was ready, I began taking a series of ten shots, each with a fifteen-second exposure time. I repeated this for several groups of photos, just in case one series was better than another. In all, I wound up with fifty photos to take home for extensive in-depth editing.

Editing the Picture

Because of the light painted tree and the dark sky, the dark mountain, and the dark foreground, I was unable to come up with an acceptable final photo that I felt I could use for a quality print. So, I had to separate the sky from the foreground and process each part separately. When I was finished with each part, and was satisfied, I then re-combined those two halves into the final image that you see.

Photo editing was done in Affinity Photo
Jack Olson’s Images in the Wilderness.

This photo of the Milky Way over Superstition Moun... (show quote)

Outstanding image

tcthome Loc: NJ

Wilderness Images wrote:

Thanks ClarkG, I've been using Affinity for almost four years now and can't beat it for the bucks.

Jack

tcthome Loc: NJ

Another option is to shoot for the foreground & sky separately. Combine them in post Even shoot the foreground at blue hour. Either way you can shoot longer exposures for the foreground than the Sky/Milkyway. I haven't done it yet but want to. Not optimal time of the year or location, but maybe this month if I can get some clear skies. Have fun.

Check out this guys you tube channel. Lots of good info. He has a couple of series sets of videos also.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-KNiVo4X76cJIMphH1lEdA

Also, there is an astro section here on the hog.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-109-1.html

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

tcthome wrote:

Another option is to shoot for the foreground &... (show quote)

Thanks for the reply tcthome, I usually catch a lot of flack from my photographer friends when I combine images (as in sky replacement) so I thought this method would be the least-bad way of accomplishing my editing tasks. I'm still in the experimenting stages with Astrophotography so I'm not adverse to trying alternate methods.

Good luck with your clear sky's, we haven't been very fortunate around here, our best months started out with wildfires and now we're into Monsoon season.

Jack Olson

tgreenhaw

Beautiful image :-) The tree looks like its made of gold.

[I usually catch a lot of flack from my photographer friends when I combine images]
Fine art has an audience of one. Your new photographer friends approve.