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A Milky Way Photo of a Different Sort...


redarmy27

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Good morning guys,
 

I’d like to get some feedback on an idea that I have.  In April, I’m going to Kauai with the girlfriend and we plan on doing lots of photography as well as astrophotography.  It’s going to be very exciting and we plan on getting some great shots.  I’ve read the light pollution around the Sheraton in Poipu (where we’re staying) is relatively mild and you can get some decent shots of the Milky Way.

Brittney really wants to get a photo of us silhouetted with the Milky Way in the background along the beach.  That feat shouldn’t be hard at all as I’ve had my hand at it a bit now and love getting good shots of the Milky Way, but I have a twist…I’m planning proposing at the same time.
 

I have three questions:

I’m trying to save money but I could buy a Hutec Light Pollution Filter for my Nikon D7100 to get rid of any light pollution I could be contending with.  I’m not sure if that internal filter would be compatible with my 12-24mm wide angle lens, but I could always switch out and use a different one, say a prime 50mm, if I needed to.  Would using a light pollution filter really help with such a photo?  I know how to edit out light pollution effectively enough for this kind of photo, but I’m just curious.

I normally use my iOptron Skytracker for shots of the sky.  Should I still use it for such as shot?
 

Last, should I actually compose the image to get us in a reasonable focus first, and then taken another shot for the sky itself and simply combine the two images?

What can I say?  I’m pretty excited about this and just want to get the shot correct.  She’ll love it if I got it on an image like that; I just want to get it right!  Aside from getting the shot right, I'm really contemplating on finding the best way to hide the ring...perhaps in my Pelican photography case as a carry on...

Thanks in advance,

Jake

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Firstly, congratulations! I hope it all works out perfectly for you.

Secondly, as far as I know of the clip in light pollution filter DO NOT allow for a lens to attach to the camera. At least thats how it was for my Canon. So to insure that you dont have to bother with that I would make sure is a filter that screws onto the end of the lens instead. I dont know if thats how it is for all clip in filters but I dont see how a lens could fit with the filter in as its just too think. Maybe if you go with an older lens that has a completely flat back and doesnt "fit into" the lens slot. Definately make sure to do some research before you go with a clipin filter.

Thirdly, You do not want to go with  tracking mount. Especially if you are wanting to get landscape in the picture. Otherwise the landscape will be the object the blurs and curves around the bottom of the frame. If you are wanting a wide angle shot with you two and the milky way in it make sure you go for as wide a lens as you got.

Also I would ask a mod to move this to the imagine-widefield section of the forum. You will get a lot more replies there.

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Great idea! Just some thoughts as you'll have to experiment on site. Check Stellarium and crank in Hawaii time and lat/long for your hotel, or something on the island. See what time the MW will be at a nice angle (bring a compass). I believe in April it may be late. As it rises in the East, with base in the South, try to find a location on the East coast where you'll be shooting down the beach with the MW over the sea, maybe? How long can you hold a pose? 30secs on a tripod will do for MW if your lens is f/5 or better. Try some one offs, try some combined with low intensity (1/16 or so) flash and the MY itself. In long exposures, there is always some illumination of the foreground by ambient you may not see in real time, so play with it. Try to use the widest angle you have to minimize focus issues, and that will reduce star trails too. Oh, and get the  remote, and use it, A life saver. Plan for dark of the moon if can.

There isn't much LP in Hawaii over the ocean normally. I know you want it perfect, but a couple hundred bucks if you don't need to spend it could buy a really nice dinner or two.

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I had thought about getting a clip filter for my canon camera and whilst I could use my old vintage lenses they are flat behind I would not be able to use new EF-S lenses like the kit lens that came with my canon as that protrudes into the space where the Astromik clip filter would be. I didn't look into other clip filters.

I got a 2 inch filter (other brand) instead and use step rings to fit it front off the lenses instead. And does it help the one I have chosen haven't been able to test it yet to know if it was worth it.

An exciting holiday planned.

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Hey guys,
 

Thanks for all of the great feedback.  I have it all set out now, I think.  Before I had posted, I did find a good spot near our hotel for some great view points of the Milky Way.  I plugged in the coords along with the date and time for Kauai and I nailed the “sweet spot” for viewing.  Just about 1:00 – 1:30 AM on April 13th , the Milky Way will be horizontal to the horizon above the Pacific Ocean from us!  I asked her about getting such a great shot at such an early time in the morning and she’s all for it, she just doesn’t know what’s really going to happen *cackle*.

Brittney did pull a fast one on me though…guess what I have arriving today?  A light pollution clip-in filter for my D7100!  She did give it away since she was nervous about it working with my camera or not and I said it should since I know how to make the lenses work with the clip in filter.  She was torn between the 77mm filter or the clip-in so she called Hutec up herself and got information.  It’ll be here tonight so we’ll have plenty of time to try it out and plenty of time for me to practice!

Thanks for all of the wonderful feedback.  I’ll be sure to post some pictures up here when I get a chance!!  I just really hope that it’s clear that night/ morning.

All the best,

Jake

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