Joshua Tree: Was hiking in Joshua Tree, CA last week. A very unique place. The stars were bright but there is more light pollution than I thought. Yucca Valley has really grown since...

bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD

Was hiking in Joshua Tree, CA last week. A very unique place.
The stars were bright but there is more light pollution than I thought. Yucca Valley has really grown since the last time I was there, 4 years ago.
I'm still learning the whole astral photography thing. I need more practice.

(Download)

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Nice set, your astral are great.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

bbrown5154 wrote:

Was hiking in Joshua Tree, CA last week. A very unique place.
The stars were bright but there is more light pollution than I thought. Yucca Valley has really grown since the last time I was there, 4 years ago.
I'm still learning the whole astral photography thing. I need more practice.

I like your Milky Way images. They are great. I had Joshua tree on my bucket list but with COVID 19 I will not fly. Maybe 2022 when we have a cure.

Umnak Loc: Mount Vernon, Wa.

Very nice set! I really like the astro shots, especially the second to last.

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

They are all nice, but the astral shots are exceptional! I understand that what you wanted in the final print is for you to determine, but have you tried illuminating the foreground? I understand that a lot of folks don't like excessive use of pp, but have you tried a little "pre-processing" with some flashlights or remote flashes?

bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD

PixelStan77 wrote:

I like your Milky Way images. They are great. I had Joshua tree on my bucket list but with COVID 19 I will not fly. Maybe 2022 when we have a cure.

Thanks. I flew Southwest. Check in and Security was no more than 5 minutes at both BWI (Baltimore/Washington) and San Diego.
They kept the middle seat vacant and none of my flights were more than 1/4 full. Plenty of room and seats.

bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD

Donwitz wrote:

They are all nice, but the astral shots are exceptional! I understand that what you wanted in the final print is for you to determine, but have you tried illuminating the foreground? I understand that a lot of folks don't like excessive use of pp, but have you tried a little "pre-processing" with some flashlights or remote flashes?

Thanks. I'm still learning the Astral Photography part. I have a D750 and the Kit Lens (which is very, very good) but I think to do it right I need a 28mm Prime lens and I just can't afford that right now.

I also need to not be afraid to ratchet up the ISO. It really is amazing how good De-Noise works.
The last MilkyWay shot I used my red flashlight to paint some of the Joshua Tree.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

bbrown5154 wrote:

Thanks. I flew Southwest. Check in and Security was no more than 5 minutes at both BWI (Baltimore/Washington) and San Diego.
They kept the middle seat vacant and none of my flights were more than 1/4 full. Plenty of room and seats.

Good to know. Thanks for the tip. Your work is excellent. My last Astro was last year in Tuscon. No light pollution but clouds rolled in.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Fuzzy little things, aren't they? Nice shots of them.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good series.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Guess I'm the odd ball being not fond of Astral photography but I love the other shots.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

PixelStan77 wrote:

I like your Milky Way images. They are great. I had Joshua tree on my bucket list but with COVID 19 I will not fly. Maybe 2022 when we have a cure.

Actually, you can reach them from the ground.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Very nice work! I hope viewers know to download the astrals to really appreciate what you have done.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

bbrown5154 wrote:

Was hiking in Joshua Tree, CA last week. A very unique place.
The stars were bright but there is more light pollution than I thought. Yucca Valley has really grown since the last time I was there, 4 years ago.
I'm still learning the whole astral photography thing. I need more practice.

Very nice and what a special place it seems to be. The skies are lovely at night.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

Very nice stars Mr. Brown ....very nice ..