Taking milky way images during an 85% full moon.

 I nearly didn't go. The wind was strong, gusty and chilly - up to 35 mph. The moon was at 85% full moon. The landscape was moonlit. The milky way was at an awkward position, only just above a distant cliff line. 

All excuses 😂. In reality, an astrophotographer should be able to cope with anything nature throws at them! Only, I'm a beginner. I am still trying to figure out the art of composition and how to navigate my DSLR camera buttons in the dark without using a head torch! 

Such an amateur 😆

Then there is this whole post editing malarkey. Regular readers of this blog will have heard my regular lament before 'post editing is a dark, dark art; the work of the Devil'!  I take two steps forward, celebrate and then discover, in reality, I have taken three backwards. I then metaphorically howl! 

One of the issues is this - how can the same photographic light image be processed in so many different ways ...... and which is the most accurate version .......and how do I know? 😱

Anyway, here are the images from one night down at one of my favourite places, Wembury Beach, on the south Devon coast. It is where I go to try and learn and perfect my practice! 

The photo info: 

• Canon 800D and Samyang 14mm F/2.8 lens
• Intervalometer
• SWSA 2i tracker with William Optics wedge
• Benbro CF tripod

Shooting data: 

• 60" x 10 at ISO 1600 F/2.8 for sky; 
• foregrounds ISO 800 F/2.8 and varying between 15 - 90"

Post editing: 

Sequator, GraXpert and Affinity Photo were my goto programs for post editing. 

I haven't done a post yet on how I edit my milky way images because I don't feel confident about my skills and therefore have nothing to offer you fellow newbies/beginners at this moment in time.  

As I have said in one of my first posts on this new blog, I bit off more than I could chew. Like an idiot on steroids, for some insane thinking that I can't fathom out now, I decided to take on astronomy, astrophotography, using a DSLR on manual for the first time and then several new post editing programs (SIRIL, Sequator, Deepskystacker, GraXpert AND Affinity Photo) ALL AT THE SAME TIME! 

What was I thinking? 😯

I think the foreground came out fine but the sky - one too many curves and levels adjustments me think! 

Difficulties blending sky and foreground together regarding brightness, contrast, shadows and exposure

I processed the sky in SIRIL on this one and promptly lost where the stars bit got saved on my laptop - hence the absence of stars. I'm still searching for the 'stars' bit pf the star recomposition process! 

Was pushing my learning here - selfies, using an orb - trying to get the landscape exposed correctly etc! I messed up the sky section completely! 

On the bright side - I am slowly getting to grips with how to do 'sky replacement' in Affinity Photo. I now have the simple basics. Just need to learn how to do all the refinements and brush work

Nope! Can't explain this either but I like it! 

Plain, simple, one single image of 20" ISO 1600 F/2.8 with the moon to the west of me (right hand side and slightly behind me) 

So, what did I learn on the night?

• Pay more attention on my pre planning visit  - I used night view on PhotoPills but I think my smartphone GPS compass was weak and so where I thought the milky way would be and where it was in reality on the night - were two different things by quite some margin
• Don't try to do milky way shots after the moon has gone 50% towards or from a full moon. It is just way too bright - or I should have used my Optolong L Pro clip in filter to try an reduce the moon glow - but this would have necessitated taking longer images. Tricky in those windy conditions. 
• my orb is too bright and stark. I need to dampen and diffuse its glow somehow before the next trip - any ideas? Drop me a comment below .... please 😧
• shoot a number of different lights combinations e.g. 30 x 20" at ISO 1600 F/2.8, for example
• remember to use the histogram to try and judge the best camera settings - yep I forgot to 😡 so serves me right! 
• do some more research about landscape composition - leading lines etc. I have done a post on composition so I should have known better! 

At the end of the day ....did I have fun? 

Yes I did!

Did I learn lots of new things? 

Absolutely?

Have I made some progress above where I was before? 

Yes, definitely, small steps, but progress nonetheless. 

So, which of the photos above do you like most and why? Which do you think is the worst and why? What tips would you give me to help me further on my learning journey? 

As always, drop me a comment. Help me and other fellow readers progress our beginner skills. It will be appreciated, promise. 

Meanwhile, clear skies to you all, stay safe, take care out there and enjoy

Steve