Celestial Aoraki (+ cooler version)

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 3, 2011858 views34 comments

One of the most memorable nights of my life experienced while leading a workshop in New Zealand this year. A lengthy entry in my journal at the time has been published on my blog about the story and technique behind this photo : ’A Night to Remember’

Canon 5DMkII, 16-35mm 2.8L, ISO 100, f7.1, 70 minutes. Single exposure.

Comments

34 comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on August 3, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Really glad you posted this one here Kah. This is truly a treat and such a beautiful night shot. I am amazed you managed to get this with a single 70 min exposure. There seems to be very little noise. Love the colors and comp here.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on August 3, 2011 at 11:29 AM

This tells a story all by itself. Beautifully conceived and executed.

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

Comment posted by Verdon on August 3, 2011 at 12:08 PM

nicely composed very good quality shot

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 3, 2011 at 12:12 PM

Wow, quite a nice shot! I'll have to read your blog entry to get the background. This works very well in every respect and I particularly like the light on the distant peak.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 3, 2011 at 1:45 PM

I like star trails, but normally am not too fond of images with these short star trails in it, but I must admit that I find this very special and appealing KK.

PS: I tried to follow your link to 'A Night to Remember', but it did not load. Will check it again as you made me curious about your technique

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on August 3, 2011 at 2:24 PM

Superb startrail image, I love the compositon you've chosen for this scene and the lovely startrails of course. I found your blog post very informative, kudo's for using a single exposure!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on August 3, 2011 at 3:21 PM

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing the story behind the image.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on August 3, 2011 at 3:39 PM

Well the photo sure is nice Kah Kit!

Nothing to critique. Maybe a bit more color?

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on August 3, 2011 at 4:07 PM

Wonderful shot, perfect composition and timing.

Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on August 3, 2011 at 4:28 PM

very nice Kah!! i like your imagine here, maybe the rocks in the front a bit dark for my taste.

good job man

Hamed

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 3, 2011 at 5:02 PM

It always amazes me how you can make such long exposures and get them so clear and sharp. Great image with lots of depth.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Tim Donnelly on August 3, 2011 at 6:16 PM

What a stunning result that is. Beautifully composed and executed indeed!

Registered on March 2, 2011, 13 Posts, 54 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on August 3, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Awesome execution. Beautiful composition.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 3, 2011 at 9:18 PM

The color in the star trails makes this extra special. Loved reading about what went in to making this. Sounds like you were in your element.

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

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on August 3, 2011 at 10:49 PM

Kah Kit - This is such a wonderful image and there is so much to enjoy. The composition, mood, and processing are all excellent. I also enjoyed reading your story of how you made this image (typing three paragraphs of text on an iPhone, however, sounds very unpleasant).

Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 4, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Beautiful one exposure image Kah Kit. Not many do that these days. I love the overall motion and quiet light. Beautiful work.

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

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 4, 2011 at 2:07 AM

superb. like this alot. interested, as ever, in the choice of white balance. not sure i would have gone for this myself!

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on August 4, 2011 at 2:16 AM

Love your work Kah!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on August 4, 2011 at 2:30 AM

Wonderful image, Kah Kit. I like the soft, muted colour and the bg mountain peak as a focal point. The pink and blue star trails are quite beautiful. The misty water running around the rocks makes a great fg.

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

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on August 4, 2011 at 7:45 AM

Incredible shot Kah, everything works for me. Excellent work!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 4, 2011 at 8:02 AM

Stuart, I used auto-white balance for this. Everyone's shots turned out this colour that night. The shot I took a couple of weeks before this in moonlight and with stationary stars had a very cool balance and I liked the two contrasting colours in my portfolio.
http://www.magichourtravelscapes.com/images/large/Mt-Cook-by-Moonlight.jpg

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 4, 2011 at 10:52 AM

thanks for the response kit kah. this point is that i think we have the choice about white balance on these (irrespective of what the camera sees) and just that i don't think i would have opted for this particular colour. obviously purely personal and it's where some creativity and play may well come in. our eyes see these scene only in b&w so we can adjust the WB to our hearts content. sadly, your website content wasn't loading - i'd love to see the other images.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 4, 2011 at 11:12 AM

Stuart, the previous shot is this one, about two weeks earlier, from a lower viewpoint with a full moon. Auto-white balance again. For the star-trails it was necessary to start the exposure with some afterglow present, perhaps a factor in the colours. In any case, the purple colours seem a bit retro as star-trails done with film often have this kind of look.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 4, 2011 at 1:31 PM

Great shot Kah Kit. Very cool to look at. I liked your earlier shot from this location and this makes a great addition too that. Excellent work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on August 4, 2011 at 5:30 PM

Excellent Kah,
I'm in New Zealand right now and just left the Mt.Cook after three backpacking nights

love the angle and the water flow

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Chikku Baiju on August 4, 2011 at 5:35 PM

Superb star trail image. The colors in the stars make this very unique. Love the comp as well.

Registered on January 9, 2010, 31 Posts, 246 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on August 4, 2011 at 6:57 PM

Nicely done, that water makes a great foreground after 70 minutes, and the star trails elevate the eyes.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 4, 2011 at 9:10 PM

70 minutes, incredible. I don't think my battery would even last that long.

Outstanding image, Kah!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 4, 2011 at 10:17 PM

I had a play around with the colour balance so here's an alternative version.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on August 4, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Amazing shot...one of your best nightscapes.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Rodney Dugmore on August 5, 2011 at 1:41 AM

Very nice Kah. I reckon I like the more magenta rendition.

Registered on January 3, 2004, 76 Posts, 1028 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on August 6, 2011 at 10:34 PM

Nice comp, and overall scene. I think I prefer the first, warmer version. Or at least something in between the two. I also appreciate that you got this in one long exposure. While appreciate the ability and patience involved in taking 20-30 shots of a few minutes and blending them together, it just seems like an enormous amount of work.

Chris