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tozo
05-22-2014, 01:53 PM
I've been doing some night photography of ruins and petroglyphs. Spent some time wandering around Comb Ridge the other week and scored this one of the Procession Panel.
Seems like this might good group interested in this kinda thing.
Any one doing anything similar? Like to see some more.
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-8f3jcfS/0/L/Eternal%20Procession2-L.jpg

Sombeech
05-22-2014, 02:06 PM
WOW! That's gorgeous, thanks for posting

phatch
05-22-2014, 04:17 PM
That's a nice shot!

tozo
05-23-2014, 09:58 AM
thanks for the appreciation!
here's another from the same triphttp://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-hdJ9kn7/0/L/arch%20canyon%20ruin%20milky%20way-L.jpg

Sombeech
05-23-2014, 10:52 AM
Amazing stuff

taatmk
05-27-2014, 08:56 PM
Nice stuff.

Bluff-Canyoneer
05-29-2014, 05:04 AM
Sweet! Thanks for posting.

tozo
06-02-2014, 06:50 PM
thanks for the appreciation!
I'll post more as they come. if anyone wants to share what they think might be a cool site for night photos of ruin/rock ar I'm always looking for new places and ideas!

tozo
06-29-2014, 04:47 AM
Went into the San Rafael Swell the other night and got another image.
This was my first attempt at a panorama of the night sky.
Kinda hard while standing there in the pitch blackness.
but pretty pleased with the results.
Calling it Three Warriors
74944

qedcook
07-01-2014, 12:37 PM
Keep 'em coming!

kiwi_outdoors
07-01-2014, 06:05 PM
Zodiacal light from road to Rock Creek, CA; I was testing my skills at night shots prior to a fall trip to Alaska, whence I might photograph Aurora. Camera is Nikon D3300. Lens was Tokina wide angle zoom at 12mm F2.8. Exposure was 30 sec ISO 6400.

Bluff-Canyoneer
07-02-2014, 06:19 AM
No ruins, but some Milky Way as per a few previous posts.
I shot this Friday night in the cinder cones north of Flagstaff (hence the orange glow on the horizon).
Nikon D5300, 18 mm f 3.5. 10 second exposures at ISO 1600. Produced using PowerDirector 12.
I really need a full format (FX) camera and a much faster lens, but that's a few thousand dollars I can't spare right now.

Watch in 1080 full screen if you can.
YouTube compression introduced a lot of noise that not in the original.

Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqzSfWyuwYI

Embedded:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqzSfWyuwYI

Swimswithtrout
07-05-2014, 02:00 PM
Here's a few of mine, all shot with my Nikon D7100, and a 70-300.mm zoom lens, NO Telescope. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/14299807079_9e374bf609_c.jpg (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/14299807079_c01bde3ee5_o.jpg)

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/14110267770_9895e21a4d_o.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/14110267770_9895e21a4d_o.jpg)https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/14110267770_7583dc49f4_c.jpg (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/14110267770_9895e21a4d_o.jpg)



https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/14094812647_b93120cfdc_c.jpg (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/14094812647_a1de614b6e_o.jpg)



https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/13319112965_5942730acd_b.jpg


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/13500174843_8dbce5b961_c.jpg (https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/13500174843_320cb44761_o.jpg)

kiwi_outdoors
07-05-2014, 06:11 PM
question for "swimswithtrout"

re the spiral galaxy image,
how fast was the lens? (actually., can you please provide all the EXIF data?
was the camera on an equatorial mount?

Swimswithtrout
07-06-2014, 01:55 PM
question for "swimswithtrout"

re the spiral galaxy image,
how fast was the lens? (actually., can you please provide all the EXIF data?
was the camera on an equatorial mount?

I can't provide EXIF data, beause these are all stacked images, using DSS. The camera was on an extremely simple tracking mount.

The individual "sub-frame" exposures run from 30 sec as in the M13 globular cluster shot, up to 180 sec like the Cygnus star cloud shot. Total integration time ranges from 45 min to 1 1/2 hrs. All but the Cygnus star cloud, were shot at f5.6, ISO 1600. The Cygnus shot was at f5, ISO 400.

The galaxy shot,M51, is 1 hr 20 min of 120 sec sub-frames. 70-300mm zoom at 240mm,f5.6.

kiwi_outdoors
07-06-2014, 06:09 PM
it might be interesting for at least a few readers to hear more about DSS (whatever that is) and the integration process.

Swimswithtrout
07-06-2014, 06:59 PM
it might be interesting for at least a few readers to hear more about DSS (whatever that is) and the integration process.

Deep Sky Stacker (DSS) is the de facto standard for a free astro photography stacking program. It takes your individual "sub frames" and then registers and stacks them all on top of each other with just a couple of mouse clicks.

Many people get confused and think that stacking will yield a brighter image, when in fact, it yields an image no brighter than your brightest single sub. What stacking does do, is GREATLY reduce the noise in your image, allowing you to pull out the faint details that would be all but invisible with one single exposure. The more images you stack, the greater the noise gets reduced.

Stacking works wonders, even with simple fixed tripod/ long exposure situations.That's how I got hooked.

Here's the link to the DSS download. http://deepskystacker.free.fr/english/index.html

Here's my camera on it's "tracking" mount and tripod. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2307/13158330143_718f4c6065_b.jpg

tozo
07-08-2014, 10:53 AM
those deeper sky shots are fantastic. It's amazing what you can do now with some simple gear. Thanks for sharing. This is on my list as something to pursue!
Here's another I did about a year at Hovenweep's Cutthroat Castle
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-KX7RCh5/0/L/Anasazi%20Tower%20Milky%20Way-L.jpg

accadacca
07-09-2014, 11:39 AM
AWESOME thread! :popcorn:

BaitForTheBuzzards
07-09-2014, 03:18 PM
Really amazing stuff. I'd be interested is what kind of post processing you are doing and if you are doing any light painting on the rock art and ruins.

kiwi_outdoors
07-09-2014, 04:59 PM
Deep Sky Stacker (DSS) is the de facto standard for a free astro photography stacking program. It takes your individual "sub frames" and then registers and stacks them all on top of each other with just a couple of mouse clicks.

Many people get confused and think that stacking will yield a brighter image, when in fact, it yields an image no brighter than your brightest single sub. What stacking does do, is GREATLY reduce the noise in your image, allowing you to pull out the faint details that would be all but invisible with one single exposure. The more images you stack, the greater the noise gets reduced.

Stacking works wonders, even with simple fixed tripod/ long exposure situations.That's how I got hooked.

Here's the link to the DSS download. http://deepskystacker.free.fr/english/index.html

Here's my camera on it's "tracking" mount and tripod. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2307/13158330143_718f4c6065_b.jpg
So - for the stacking to work you don't need perfect tracking, approximate tracking will do (by balancing large camera on aa small equatorial tracker)

Swimswithtrout
07-10-2014, 06:24 PM
So - for the stacking to work you don't need perfect tracking, approximate tracking will do (by balancing large camera on aa small equatorial tracker)

NO !! You still need perfect tracking, and the longer the focal length the more critical it becomes !! That's why I have to keep my exposures ~ 30 sec @ 300mm, 2 min at 200mm for only a 60% "keeper" rate, and 3 min at 70 mm.

Stacking can't correct for trailing !!

tozo
07-11-2014, 03:29 PM
In terms of post processing it varies a bit per photo. But I'll try an break it down best I can. The 1st photo with the procession and milky way is a blended composite of two exposures taken several hours apart. 1st I did a foreground shot with moon light (about 1/2 moon if I remember) then a star shot after the moon set (sometime around 1am or so.) The ruin wall and milky way is similar but I knew the moon wouldn't light up the wall so I did a sunset one for foreground and a late night one for milky way. These were blended together manually in PS. The last two were light painted. I don't get fancy. Just try to stand to the side and flash the light for a few seconds. I just use an ancient flashlight that a mechanic left in my van. The glass is cracked and yellow with age, but I like the tone of the light and I think it works great for ruins. And of course probably most important is to shoot in RAW to provide the greatest editing power. I always feel like I learn and do something different with each photo!

tozo
07-21-2014, 05:25 PM
Passed through the four corners area this weekend and spent the night on a dirt road near the Horseshoe House Ruin in Hovenweep. I set up the intervalometer and went to bed. Pretty pleased with the results. All of the light is from moonlight. tall tripod came in handy!
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-kxrKHHX/0/XL/horseshoe%20ruin%20night-XL.jpg

Swimswithtrout
07-26-2014, 08:34 PM
Passed through the four corners area this weekend and spent the night on a dirt road near the Horseshoe House Ruin in Hovenweep. I set up the intervalometer and went to bed. Pretty pleased with the results. All of the light is from moonlight. tall tripod came in handy! That's far and away the best you've posted ! So many great dynamics going on .

Swimswithtrout
07-26-2014, 09:03 PM
I haven't had a "day" off in almost one month now, trying to get this huge project finished, so I took a night off and went in search of dark skies a few days ago, and found them.

This was taken a full 20 min before the start of official "Astronomical darkness"

75525 (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/14729641582_1909d02277_o.jpg)


This is the head of Scorpius, taken with my 70-300 @ 70mm and slightly cropped, once it finally got dark, while waiting for the Milky Way to get in the right position.

75527 (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14751195614_b3ee735388_o.jpg)

Then it was time for the prime time event

75528 (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14736195891_cfa2e553da_b.jpg)

I knew I was facing a 1hr drive to get back home and still have to get into work by 7AM. It was already 1 AM, but I couldn't resist one parting shot of the Andromeda Galaxy.

75529 (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14703316086_22fef2c11f_o.jpg)

tozo
07-28-2014, 09:30 AM
Swimswithtrout, those deep sky images are fantastic. That is something I hope to explore at some point, but I'm currently overloaded with hobbies. I'd love take a galaxy photo like that! how long was the exposure for the Andomeda Galaxy?
Glad you liked the Hovenweep photo. It's interesting how some turn out. Some photos I obsess and plan for weeks, thinking about angles, moonlight, cardinal directions... this recent one I just did at the spur of the moment mainly because iI was in the area and knew I could sleep in my van off the dirt road and the ruin wasn't a far walk. I played around with composition for a few minutes then set the intervalometer and went to bed hoping something might turn out. The more I do stuff like this the more I learn that the most important thing is just making a continual efforts to do something. Don't always worry about planning or having everything perfect because sometimes something perfect is sitting right in front of your nose and it just takes some effort to recognize it.

tozo
08-08-2014, 09:58 AM
Here's another one from a few weeks ago. Interesting trip down to Chaco canyon. I took a three day weekend and left SLC on thursday night. Slept just north of Moab in my VW van. The next day at a gas station the starter crapped out. Not wanting to loose my valuable opportunity to get to Chaco (I'd been thinking about this photo for a year or so) I pulled out a large wrench and gave the starter a few wacks. Started right up. Continued to play this game every time I shut off the vehicle, figured worse case I could do a roll start if I park strategically. This was great fun in the 90F heat in the desert around Farmington, NM.
Lots of work, lots of driving but I'm pleased with my results. Two exposures, blended in PS.
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-xqJzmGZ/0/XL/Pueblo%20Bonito2-XL.jpg

Doc Foster
08-08-2014, 03:31 PM
Simply breathtaking shots.

tozo
09-07-2014, 09:29 AM
been awhile since I've posted.
I took this one after work one day. I'd been thinking about this one for awhile and and when a full moon came I had to go. Full moon is my favorite for star trails Left SLC around 4pm drove drove drove. Found the snake. Set up the camera and crashed in the van. Awoke with the sunrise, grabbed the camera. loaded up on caffeine and drove back to work. (I did manage to bring a change of clothes for the next day)
lots of driving. one photo.
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-JMpV5bW/0/L/Snake%20Star%20Trails-L.jpg

qedcook
09-09-2014, 03:30 PM
Crazy good!!! :hail2thechief:

Swimswithtrout
09-11-2014, 09:40 PM
This might not be a fair comparison, but I just took this miniscule test shot 2 weeks ago, with my 80mm f7 APO on my new equatorial mount.

76090 (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5580/14971078958_4c16191696_o.jpg)

tozo
09-23-2014, 06:57 PM
Here's another for everyone.
I got inspired by Udink's awesome TR (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?72824-Hell-Roaring-Canyon) about Hell Roaring canyon and the Comet Thrower pictograph. Considering I do night photos of rock art how could I not go check this place out. Just using the beta from his TR I easily found the pictograph. I didn't know too much about it, as in orientation, how easy would it be to photograph with the night sky ect... This was a cool place to hang in the night, a half-moon eventually rose and illuminate everything perfectly. Thought this one looked best in B&W.

here's also a link (http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-ttm9wnC/A) to it on my webpage. I think it looks a bit better in the larger format than what the forum provides
Enjoy!
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-ttm9wnC/0/L/Comet%20catcher%20processed3-L.jpg

tozo
11-09-2014, 07:51 AM
This post is blatant self-promotion. If in inappropriate please remove.
I just wanted to let Bogley members know I've got some of the photos I posted in the thread hanging in downtown SLC at Caffe Molise. Good food. Go check them out if you're in the area.

Swimswithtrout
11-09-2014, 07:29 PM
76765 (https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15108802064_84ff95e077_o.jpg)

tozo
11-10-2014, 10:08 AM
very nice, Swims. Is that two exposures blended? curious what camera you used.

qedcook
11-14-2014, 08:50 AM
Killer awesome

tozo
11-17-2014, 08:08 PM
Did another one this past weekend. First visit to the Rochester Panel in the San Rafael Swell. Incredible panel, one of the coolest I've seen.

Drove down from SLC in fun snow and wind over Soldier Pass. When I got to the trail head it was cold, windy, and totally overcast. I settled in and cooked dinner in my van. Around 10pm I grudgingly got my gear and warm clothes on. The sky wasn't looking any better. This was feeling like a foolish endeavor and I realized I forgot my gloves :(.

So with socks over my hands I followed the 1/2 mile trail through the darkness. Luckily it was pretty easy to find. Coming upon the rocks which the panel is on in the dark was quite impressive. Felt as if stumbling upon some ancient temple, especially since I didn't see anything until I was 10 feet away from it.

Well the universe was kind to me. The wind ceased and the clouds faded away. I was given about 1 hour of play time before sky darkened again.
Here's one pic from the night. This is one exposure. Everything was light painted with my headlamp
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-LjQppS3/0/L/Rochester%20Panel%203_1-L.jpg

qedcook
11-18-2014, 08:07 AM
Can't wait to see the pics...

Swimswithtrout
11-27-2014, 11:12 PM
It's winter !!

76937 (https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8597/15855765555_2a1d1fcafc_o.jpg)

76938 (https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8588/15888913315_be53448664_o.jpg)

76940 (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/15358860349_a4085f1ca0_o.jpg)

76939 (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/15009143994_f1dc34bf7d_o.jpg)

76941 (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15212068024_4859fd773f_o.jpg)

Stray
12-15-2014, 06:18 PM
I was down in Moab for a quick bike trip. I thought I would try a shot of the night sky over moonflower with my D7100 and my 14-24 lens. I had forgotten my tripod. So I propped it on the hood of the car. I thought I had a great shot looking at the back of the camera (until I loaded it into lightroom).

It turns out, ISO H20 doesn't clean up.

Kudos to some amazing shots. :hail2thechief:

I am still hopeful.

tozo
12-16-2014, 04:50 PM
Hey, Stray. I think you should be able to do some decent night stuff with a D7100. I used to used a D90 and got some pretty decent results. I've done lots without a tripod, propped up rocks, slanted the camera in the snow. whatever. Here's my basic night recipe. Bear in mind I do most of night stuff with a 14mm prime lens, so the less wide the less time (google the 500rule for night photography). With my D600 I crank the ISO to 3200-4000, focus to infinity (make sure autofocus is off!), make sure your aperture is as open as possible. Your 14-24mm is probably a 2.8? Plently wide. I set a 5s timer (so the camera doesn't shift when I press the shutter) and wait. I also use an in camera dark frame subtraction. I think the D7100 has that, it's labeled something like Long Exposure Noise Reduction. I also only shoot RAW files, for the most post-processsing versitility (that's a whole other endless topic).
If you ever have any questions just drop me a line, I love to talk about this stuff.
Here's one I did with my D90.
77090

kiwi_outdoors
12-16-2014, 05:51 PM
It's winter !!

76937 (https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8597/15855765555_2a1d1fcafc_o.jpg)


pretty please - what camera lens etc did you use to get this photo?

Its sooo beautiful

Swimswithtrout
12-17-2014, 05:05 PM
pretty please - what camera lens etc did you use to get this photo? Its sooo beautiful Speaking of the D7100, the photos in my post were taken with my Nikon D7100 and 80mm/ f7 (560mm focal length ) APO refractor. All images are "stacks" of 5min sub exposures with a total integrated exposure time of 2 to 2 1/2 hrs.

tozo
03-11-2015, 05:39 AM
It's been awhile since I've posted anything so I thought i'd share a few.
Here's a few from comb ridge back in february
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-ZZ4qcTL/0/L/Tower%20House-L.jpgMany of you probably recognize this ruin. All illumination was done by just placing a headlamp inside the door. Never entered, no more than leaning in and peaking around. I thought the ancient vegas were very cool.
http://www.ancientskys.com/Anasazi-ruins-photography/i-qnHJwqD/0/L/crane-L.jpgAnd the crane petroglyph on Comb Ridge. This one was kinda tricky since the moon rose too late to illuminate anything. So I took two exposures and blended.

Wasatch Rebel
04-12-2015, 05:20 PM
I would like to know how to take shots like that. Great pics!

tozo
04-13-2015, 05:00 PM
thanks, Wasatch Rebel! Modern digital camera are amazing things. If you have an specific questions shoot me a message.

Also wanted to let everyone out in Bogley Land who may be interested know that I'm going to have a bunch of photos showing in the gallery of the downtown Salt Lake City Library. Opening on May 9th and they'll be up for about a month. Many of the images have been posted in the forum.

So if you're in SLC with nothing to do come down to the opening or try to check them out during the month sometime.

here's a link to more info
http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/events/view/3881/

Thanks for the blatant self-promotion, bogley!