Park Avenu Star Trails

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 21, 2009765 views24 comments

My first post here. I have done star trail photography using film but was really excited about trying it with digital to better control the painting aspect of it. This was from last Feb. in Arches NP and my first night trip using the Mark III.
Canon 1D Mark III with the 17-40mm lens at 17mm for 1 hour and ISO 400. Wall Painted with flashlight.

While I photgraph many aspects of nature, I joined NPN because I enjoy the wonderful landscape photos posted here. Looking forward to sharing with the talent assembled here!

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on November 21, 2009 at 12:48 PM

A great way to introduce yourself! Very nice shot.

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 21, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Welcome to NPN Roman. I like the light on the canyon walls.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on November 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM

Beautiful and surreal image. Welcome to NPN!

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on November 21, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Welcome Roman, great first image! I look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

Wayne

Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on November 21, 2009 at 1:18 PM

An amazing first post, Roman. Great placement of Polaris here and excellent composition. Would you mind sharing how you did the light painting with the flashlight - did you just do the right side?

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on November 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM

Welcome to NPN!

To be honest, I'm quite distracted by the distortion, especially on the left. It seems like this could be corrected or at least diminished in Photoshop. I think it would make for an improved composition. Light painting the rock formations was a good idea, and helps to add depth and interest.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on November 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM

Thanks all!
Doug, I painted the entire scene (left and right) with a very big flashlight....hardest part was to avoid pooling but since I painted about 4 minutes (memory...I didn't write it down). I normally do trails at ISO 100 but since I didn't like the painting on the first attempt....I upped the ISO and the walls looked better.
PS Jim....yes I could correct for distortion....but I personally don't have an issue with it and can be corrected in PS as you mentioned.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Hayden on November 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM

Wow. I recently spent a week in Arches, returning several times to Park Avenue to capture the feel of the place. Never achieved that goal, but you definitely nailed it. Great work.

Registered on November 21, 2009, 41 Posts, 201 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on November 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Beautiful. Well conceived and executed.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on November 21, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Pretty impressive Roman. I like that nice light you got back there on the horizon. Placement of the trails is also well done. Welcome to NPN.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on November 21, 2009 at 2:48 PM

Definitely captures the surreal landscape out there, nice work Roman, and welcome to NPN! The rock textures look a wee bit soft, maybe some more websharpening would help?

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on November 21, 2009 at 3:10 PM

I love it, Roman! My only nit is because you lit the left side so well, I'd like to see the right side lit as well. Small matter. Well done, and welcome aboard.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 21, 2009 at 3:27 PM

Welcome to NPN, and magnificient first post. Just gorgeous. Thanks for posting specs too.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Elliot Johnston on November 21, 2009 at 7:57 PM

A nice first post by any standards. I've never gotten around to trying this technique, but I would like to give it a whirl one of these days. Nice shot

Registered on November 11, 2009, 23 Posts, 288 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Vaughan on November 21, 2009 at 9:46 PM

Outstanding image, welcome and I can't wait to see more.

Registered on April 29, 2009, 57 Posts, 670 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 21, 2009 at 10:33 PM

That's pretty impressive, Roman. The painting adds very nicely to the great field of stars. Welcome

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on November 21, 2009 at 10:54 PM

WELCOME Roman,

I love this kind of work and would love to see more of on a usuall basis. Such a wide scene here that hypnotic whirlwind of trails is massive. It seems that softness mentioned is due to noise reduction.

Distance plays a huge part in light painting.

Steve S.

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on November 22, 2009 at 5:29 AM

A beautiful shot, Roman. I love the different colors in the star trails. The warm light on the rock walls is a nice complement to the night sky. Welcome.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on November 22, 2009 at 9:40 AM

Stellar!!!

Welcome to NPN and I look forward to more work from you.

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on November 22, 2009 at 10:45 AM

Welcome to NPN Roman

a wonderful first post of star trails with an evening glow on the horizon.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on November 22, 2009 at 12:22 PM

Great to see you here, Roman. And, what a wonderful image to start with. No nits, and I am NOT going to rework a version and post it here!

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on November 22, 2009 at 7:12 PM

Hi roman

What a very creative and surrealistic image.. A fantastic first post

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on November 22, 2009 at 9:10 PM

Roman, Nice light painting work here. Low noise for such a long digital exposure. Nicely done. Best Regards.

Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on November 25, 2009 at 4:09 PM

excellent

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments