The Red Planet

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 19, 20121,076 views27 comments

I'm pretty sure this is the first NPN post from the planet Mars...

Actually this is from the Northeast coast of Brazil. The incandescent lamps of the village of Jericoacoara cast a warm glow over the coastal sand dunes during this 25 second exposure of the Milky Way and Southern Cross. The otherworldly scene is reminiscent of the photos NASA has published from the Mars rover 'Opportunity'.

The Southern Cross is visible at the bottom of the milky way, in the lower right side of the image.

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on June 19, 2012 at 4:50 PM

You should have included some Martians in the picture for the sense of scale!

Great image! I love your composition with the milky way and the color palette.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on June 19, 2012 at 5:11 PM

I applaud your concept and your technique.
Outstanding image.
Thanks for posting it.

The entire first page of this gallery is LOADED with brilliant images.
This is a great resource for anyone wanting to improve their photographic skill set.
A large Thank You to all the contributors.

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 19, 2012 at 5:24 PM

Just out of this world stunning. Very creative and well done

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on June 19, 2012 at 5:32 PM

Your Mars looks amazing, Michael!

Beautiful place with dramatic mood. Perfect exposure and execution. Love this!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 19, 2012 at 5:40 PM

Beautiful Mike. I really like how the thin cloud layer mimics the color of the sand. the texture and patterns in the sand also look so intriguing.

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

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on June 19, 2012 at 6:16 PM

So very otherworldly indeed. The images you have shot from this special place are some of the most unique I've ever seen. Really makes us think about life on mars or any other planet.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on June 19, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Amazing image Michael. I really like the details in the sky and the foreground sand. It's very cool that the image includes the southern cross. We definitely don't see much of that constellation in the northern hemisphere!

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Gasior on June 19, 2012 at 7:17 PM

Beautiful image . I like colors and details

Registered on March 7, 2010, 99 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Alister Benn on June 19, 2012 at 8:27 PM

Love the overall feel of this one... The continuity of tone between the sand and the clouds. I like also the way the clouds mirror the line of the galactic rim. Thoroughly cool....

Registered on June 9, 2011, 23 Posts, 258 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on June 19, 2012 at 8:44 PM

I'm sorry to disappoint you Michael but I posted a photograph from Mars last year. (The pic was okay but the internet connecton a bit dodgy). Anyway I certainly like this. The mood is terrific.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 19, 2012 at 9:24 PM

Wow. Incredible image.

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

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on June 19, 2012 at 10:00 PM

Cool image -- very unusual which I like. It's a bit on the orange side, but no biggie.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 19, 2012 at 10:26 PM

This is awesome, Mike! Unlike most of the Milky Way shots i see posted here, it looks totally natural to me--i appreciate the 'milky' look, i dont see every star and galaxy with my eyes so i dont want to see them in a photo either (unless its specifically an astronomy shot) Just sweet.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on June 20, 2012 at 2:21 AM

Mike,
Crazy image... I find it most fascinating, unique, and strikingly beautiful... like EVERY other piece of your masterful portfolio. If you want to send me a print "on the house", I certainly wouldnt re-gift it

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 20, 2012 at 3:28 AM

Absolutely amazing!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on June 20, 2012 at 1:43 PM

I love the color pallette and the simple comp. Well done

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

Comment posted by John Fan on June 20, 2012 at 3:34 PM

Is this from a single exposure? It is credible to have so much light pollution and the Milky Way is still visible. I like the tonality of the image. Good job.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 20, 2012 at 4:15 PM

Yep, looks like what Mars must look like in person. Feels like I've been transported there.

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

Comment posted by jack jaeger jr on June 20, 2012 at 4:52 PM

One of the best night sky photos I have ever seen ! Single exposure?

Registered on April 2, 2012, 26 Posts, 355 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on June 20, 2012 at 6:38 PM

Great image as usual Michael.

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 20, 2012 at 7:07 PM

Beam me up Scotty!!

Very nice Michael.
I took a look through your website, excellent body of work there

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on June 20, 2012 at 7:10 PM

Beautiful. The foreground light looks very nature.

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

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 20, 2012 at 9:47 PM

Thanks everyone- I appreciate the feedback! John and Jack- yes this was a single exposure.

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on June 20, 2012 at 10:42 PM

Seamless blend Michael. This turned out fantastic. The sky looks superb. Outstanding work!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on June 21, 2012 at 7:32 PM

Absolutly wonderful!! I really like the looks of this...feeling like I'm right there!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on June 21, 2012 at 8:13 PM

Other worldly. Love It.

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on June 22, 2012 at 9:01 PM

Just what I've come to expect from you. I was just telling a workshop client about your work. You don't produce weekly or even very often, but when you do, WOW! I also like that there is a subtlety in your work less commonly found. The images are powerful but subtle. In a competitive field where a lot of folks are trying to push the limits of what is being done often subtlety gets quite overlooked, yet you have a way of capturing it in a wow, yet peaceful way, if that makes any sense.

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