FenlandPaul

Thanks Paul - definitely a break from the Fens!

Thank you Dave - that’s very kind. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoy making them. 😊

Thank you, Lee - appreciated. I actually got the idea for the cave shot from an image I took at Porthgwarra, in (kind of) your neck of the woods! 🦟 still scratching!

We have often had family holidays around the town of Javea, overlooking the Spanish Mediterranean on the Costa Blanca. Light, buff-coloured cliffs tower over tiny coves, nestled between wide expanses of sandy beach. Logistics and bizarre local access restrictions have usually meant we’ve been limited to a few locations but in during our visit this month I was determined to find a few interesting locations for Milky Way shots. This part of Spain is very heavily light-polluted, with almost no coastal viewpoint undeveloped. But the coastline runs north-east to south-west, so it’s possible to capture the Milky Way directly over the sea for the first few hours of darkness. Finding obliging foregrounds is more of a challenge. I spent hours scouring Google Earth for interesting locations that were reasonably accessible, within a couple of hours’ drive from Javea. Despite the large search area, I ended up finding somewhere just 5 minutes from the villa in which we were staying! Cova del Llop Mari is a small rock platform perched above the sea beneath impressive cliffs. During the day, it’s a haven for daytrippers aboard motor boats and paddle boarders, who dive off the platform into the turquoise waters and explore the gaping sea cave beneath the rock platform. There’s also a path - albeit quite a terrifying one - down from the road, which is partially stepped but at times seems to disappear. Practically this was the only way I was able to access the rock platform, and a daytime scouting exercise allowed me to familiarise myself with the more exposed and sketchier sections. The way back up in the baking sun wasn’t, however, something to be recommended! I arrived shortly after sunset while there was still some light in the sky. Gentle waves lapped at the rocks, occasionally interspersed with a larger break that would splash water over the platform. Shining my head torch around the cliffs, several pairs of eyes stared back at me; I couldn’t quite make out their form, but I suspect they were wild or stray cats. They kept an eye on me all night - I think I was on their turf. I had a couple of compositions in mind. The first was a simple view of the rock platform and cliffs dropping into the water with the Milky Way core above; it was early enough in the evening that the orientation of the Milky Way mirrored that of the cliffs. The composition allowed for a selfie as well. However the composition I was most excited about was from within a small cave, which framed the Milky Way core perfectly. It was more than a little unnerving going into this cave at night, not least because it was intensely hot and filled with mosquitoes. But the prospect of a framed Milky Way shot was too much to resist, so the temporary discomfort was very much worth the end result, although I type this whilst scratching vigorously at the dozens of bites picked up on my arms and legs that evening! There’s something quite special about shooting the night sky next to the sea. Both remind me of the vastness of this universe we call home. The combination of starlit sky, inky black waters and the sounds of the waves really help you to reset. I also produced a video Nightscape Journal to go along with this outing, the link for which you can find at the bottom of this post - hope you enjoy it! ✨Contemplation✨ Canon 6D (astro-modified) with Samyang 14mm f/2.8 len lens Sky: 23x20s exposures at ISO3200 at f/2.8 Foreground: Blend of 1x120s exposure at f/4 and ISO1600 and 1x10s exposure at f/4 and ISO 6400 Sky stacked in Sequator. Edited and blended in PhotoShop. ✨Through the Keyhole✨ 📷 Canon 6D (astro-modified) with Samyang 14mm f/2.8 lens for foreground and Samyang 24mm f/1.4 lens with Skywatcher StarAdventurer tracker for sky. 🔧 Foreground: lightpainted focus stack of 2 images of 8s at f/4 and ISO1600. Sky: 12x2 min tracked exposures at ISO800 and f/4 (scaled to 14mm equivalent) 🎞️ Sky stacked in Sequator. Edited and assembled in PhotoShop. ✨Cliffs and Core✨ 📷 Canon 6D (astro-modified) with Samyang 24mm f/1.8 lens and Skywatcher StarAdventurer tracker for sky. 🔧 Foreground: focus stack of 2x30s exposures at ISO3200 and f/4. Sky: 12x2min tracked exposures at ISO800 and f/4 🎞️ Sky stacked in Sequator. Edited and assembled in PhotoShop. ✨Shelter✨ 📷 Canon 6D (astro-modified) with Samyang 24mm f/1.4 lens and Skywatcher StarAdventurer tracker for sky. 🔧 Foreground: lightpainted focus stack of 3 images of 8s at f/4 and ISO1600. Sky: 12x2 min tracked exposures at ISO800 and f/4 🎞️ Sky stacked in Sequator. Edited and assembled in PhotoShop. Nightscape Journal vlog link:

That looks like a cracking lens - beautiful image. 🤩

Very kind indeed - just starting to edit a new one right now as it happens. Hopefully (overseas internet connection permitting!) out next Saturday morning. 😊

Really great set of images, Dave. Love the concept and the execution.

Oooh, that lens looks pretty special! Lovely pics. Making my humble Samyangs a bit jealous!

Very nice indeed, Paul. I never tire of the Plough in an image. 😊

First of many I hope! 🎉🎉

What a stunning set of images, Patrick. And a great story to go with it.

Very nice, Paul. Must have been an awesome experience out there on the beach.

I think you can be super happy with that as a first attempt, Jeff! Is that from Kenya? Must be great to have the core parallel with the horizon like that, rather than stuck in the light polluted murk of this part of the world!!

Very nice indeed, Chris. Amazing what you can pull out of the MW despite lack of proper darkness!

A beautiful image from one of my favourite locations! 👏🤩 Hope you had a great time down there; we’re Cornwall-free this year, which is a bit disappointing!

Just all round a beautiful image, Paul. Nicely done!! 👏

Enjoy, Chris. Hope you get some clearer (and darker) skies than I’ve had in the Highlands this week! ☁️ 🌧️

That pano is absolutely stunning, Paul (as are the timelapses, but I could get LOST in the pano). You’ve had some great shows in the last couple of days. 👍

As I said on Twitter, lovely image, Chris. The foreground is a real winner. 👍

Stunning, Paul - the layers of colour are just exquisite.

Thank you - the aurora was definitely a bonus for the evening (in fact it sort of redeemed it after the dew and kit issues!).

Very nice Lee. Glad you were careful next to that quarry 😳! A very natural edit as well 👍.

Thanks Pete - very kind. The hot shoe is holding a wireless intervalometer - it doesn’t interact with the hot shoe, just uses it as a mounting bracket and a short cable goes from there to the port. I use it a lot for timelapses and sequences of lots of shots for stacking. thanks Paul. Misty aurora still my favourite. 😊

Yep, that’s a lovely image Lee. “Fake” NLCs seem to abound at this time of year, but I just think it makes genuine sightings all the more pleasing. Nice colours in the foreground flora! 👌

That’s very kind indeed, Lee. If I’ve in anyway inspired you to get out there, then that’s the very best thing to hear. I love the misty aurora one too. I printed one up the other day, and I’m quite chuffed with it. 😊