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Robert
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Had a few hours to kill in the middle of the night recently, what better way than to use the D3 to capture some of the sights of Morecambe in a different light. Taken from 2:30am until about 3:30am. Nikon D3 all shots with the Nikkor 18-35 f3.5-4.5, the Benbo tripod, no flash but a small LED torch. Firstly four pix of Eric Morecambe, a Bronze Statue on the sea front at Morecambe. 35mm, 5 seconds @ f6.3, ISO800 Lit with sodium vapour street lights.  35mm, 5 seconds @ f6.3, ISO800 Lit with sodium vapour street lights.  35mm, 8 seconds @ f14, ISO500 Lit with sodium vapour street lights and a small LED torch.  35mm, 8 seconds @ f14, ISO500 Lit with sodium vapour street lights and a small LED torch.  All processed in Lightroom and finished in Photoshop. I had to increase the exposure time for the LED torch lit images because I couldn't cover the entire statue in 5 seconds, I only just managed in 8 seconds. |
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Eric
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You should get up in the middle of the night more often!! Nice images. Have you thought of using the spotlighting feature in photoshop? It would add a stage light effect that might be even more dramatic of that pose. Here's a basic one I did for an advert concept ....back in 2009! Eek!! You can greatly vary the position, spread, colours to get amazing effects. These were simple farmers so they just wanted a hint of celebrity. Attachment: DSCF2954v2 copy.jpg (Downloaded 56 times) |
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Robert
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Thanks Eric! I have wanted to photograph the Eric Morecambe statue for a while but I hate the hordes of tourists that are usually taking pix of themselves and family etc. Even at 3am I had to deal with a drunk 18 year old who took a keen interest in my activities. Not aware of the spotlight feature in Ps, will look into it and try it out... I have some photo's of Venus and Cupid which are a bit different too. Will post them later. |
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Eric
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Robert wrote:Thanks Eric! Was Eric Morcambe in the Observer Corp with those binoculars? Or was he a bird watcher ....and the sculptor didnt know the size (small and lightweight) of birdwatching bins?  Nice work though! |
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Eric
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You never said what you were doing on Morecambe sea front at 3am!!!! ... ......... or  ? |
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Robert
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Eric was a keen bird watcher I believe, one of the hides at the Yealand seaward RSPB site is named after him. I think the design of the statue is fairly well documented, I read it up when the statue was unveiled by the Queen but stuff like that doesn't stick well in my memory, not that much does nowadays... Some idiot lowlife cut the statue down with a petrol stone saw. It's not long been re-errected. I was supposed to be at Sharon's place to hand over when they came back from Turkey, at about 4 am. I had been looking after the Wabbit and minding the place while they were away, Christopher was banned from going back to Turkey this year... Christopher gets very bored, very quickly and last year he sought some amusement when they were all sunning themselves by the hotel swimming pool, a porter came by wheeling a very large stack of poolside chairs on a trolly. Christopher, I am told seized his moment and next thing, chairs, porter and trolly were all bobbing up and down in the pool; much to the amusement of the guests but not the porter, who didn't see the funny side and wasn't best pleased... Christopher banned. |
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Robert
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This is a bit boring but illustrates the amazing power of the D3 to capture the unseen. The boats were barely visible to the human eye in the darkness. The rocks in the foreground were lit by Christopher who rapidly painted them with the light of his small LED torch. Again, Nikon D3, Nikkor 18-35mm f3.5-4.5: 35mm, 5sec @ f4.5, ISO3200. Processed in Lightroom, border and signature added in Ps.  The seafront and promenade, Eric's statue behind me and the next feature, Venus and Cupid at the far end of the prom. 18mm, 0.5sec @ f3.5, ISO3200  Finally a couple of pic's of Venus and Cupid... I have never seen them close up before, not really my sort of thing but I was in an adventurous mood. 35mm, 1.6sec @ f4.5, ISO3200 Lit by Sodium discharge orange street lamps, colour corrected in Lightroom, white balance on one of the white mosaic tiles.  26mm, 3.0sec @ f20, ISO3200 Lit by Sodium discharge orange street lamps, and small LED torch, colour corrected in Lightroom.  So that was the product of a lovely night at Morecambe. Very enjoyable. I had actually hoped for some star trails to take surrounding Eric's statue but it was a cloudy sky so no stars to be seen. May have another go... |
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jk
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Good shots of EM. Prefer the blacker WB of the later images. |
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Robert
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Thanks JK, just playing about really but it's fun trying to get nice shots under what would normally be considered difficult circumstances. I like a challenge! |
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Eric
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Robert wrote:Thanks Eric! I would have liked to see a shot from a slightly different angle than the first two....halfway round between them, so it shows a bit more right palm and more bent leg ...but not square on. You may have to go back at 3am again....or tell me to &£*^%^#* off. Although the lighting may? be better in the 3/4 shots, I think showing full length to get the signature bent leg is a must. Great statue and a good nights work! The Venus and Cupid ones ....I had heard about them but not seen them. Not sure they are my cup of tea. I sometimes sculptors that fudge faces are short changing us. I hear the reasoning for all these faceless people....think it's an excuse. Attachment: barefaced.jpg (Downloaded 49 times) |
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Eric
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Incidentally, I may have mentioned this before, but if you ever get down to Surrey with some time to kill, you may like to visit this place... https://www.thesculpturepark.com Several hundred works of art (some questionable!) on display and for sale (some as cheap as £2k ...other £170k!) and spread over several acres of rough terrain. Quite a walk if you follow their colour coded routes. We have been twice and still not had the stamina to get to the third colour. There is great pub opposite the gate ....and after lunch in there we never had any impetuous to go back and finish the routes.  Here's one you might find amusing..... Attachment: _DSC7399.jpg (Downloaded 49 times) |
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Robert
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Sorry Eric, been somewhat distracted... Am currently welding up and helping restore an old Subaru Impreza and have spent several of the last weeks nights out with the camera. Have made some time-lapse movies of the nearby estuary and other star related photography. Last night we went out to try to capture some meteorites. Finished about 3am then drove home and started processing them. Have discovered the D3 isn't keen on long exposures in time-lapse constant operation. It suffers badly from banding across the frame, Starts with almost indistinguishable narrow bands but gradually become wider and more pronounced. Not too bad for a movie but would be no good for stills. I was making an exposure of 32 seconds at ISO800, every 34 seconds for about two hours, the banding became apparent after about 15minutes. I have tried 32 second exposures every minute with no evident banding after two hours, so it would seem it's the lack of recovery time which is the issue. it was pretty cool late at nigh with a cold strong wind, so it wasn't ambient temperature. Will post some more pic shortly. |
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Robert
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These were taken at Furness Abbey, near Barrow-in-Furness. 54°8'5" N 3°11'51" W D3 and Nikkor 18-36 f3.5 -4.5. Moon rising: 10 seconds @ f4.5 ISO 1600  Before the Moon was high enough to light the scene nicely, a shooting star above the Abbey. 25 seconds @ f4, ISO 1600  After a coffee and a break of an hour or two, we were treated to quite a nice display, by now the moon was illuminating the amphitheatre of the Vale of Nightshade and the Abbey. Coupled with the amazing light gathering powers of the D3 sensor. 35mm, 15 seconds @ f4.5, ISO 1600  We were treated to a visit from the local constabulary... No doubt wondering what we were up to at 2am in the wilderness of Barrow! LOL While they ruined several frames by swinging their torches at the camera from a distance, they did redeem themselves by illuminating the Abbey beautifully with their headlights as they left. Just as a shooting star shot into view above the Abbey. Probably best pic of the night! 35mm, 15 seconds @ f4.5, ISO 1600  Finally a close up of the buildings with the Abbey behind. 18mm, 30 seconds @ f5, ISO 1600 by Moonlight, at 2:16am Police long gone!  All the images processed in Lightroom. The last image visiting Nik Filters using detail extractor to bring out the texture of the stonework, which it did impressively. Almost forgot this one! 21 shots processed in StarTrax from the D300s with a 20mm f2.8 lens fitted.  |
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Robert
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Don't know if this will work but here goes... Short time-lapse of the tide coming in around Oakdale, an old Mersey Barge, which is home to Dave and his dog. <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/229493003" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> JK: Any ideas? https://player.vimeo.com/video/229493003 OK, clicking on the HTTPS link above runs the video in a new window or tab. |
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Robert
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Another: This one taken with the D3 is the one with the banding. Just click on the link... https://player.vimeo.com/video/229492891 |
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Robert
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According to the forecast there will be a completely clear night tonight, close to full Moon too. I am planning to photograph a small square disused lighthouse not too far away. I did a reccy a couple of weeks ago, the tide will be full at about 11pm, I may have to wait until 1 or 2am for the tide to ebb enough to get to my preferred position. That should also mean minimum disruption from passing cars, the lighthouse is close to a local road so there will no doubt be passing cars. My intention is to position myself to the South and with Polaris just above the top of the lighthouse so the star trails describe a circle around the top of lighthouse. I have an app on my iPhone which shows where the stars would be visible were it dark. The app suggested to get Polaris where I want it I need to position the camera right next to a large pool, I just hope it's right and in fact I don't have to be IN the pool! Have my wellies ready! Watch this space. |
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Robert
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OK a couple of pix... First a single photo of the lighthouse which DOES work! D3, 16mm f2.8 fisheye, 13sec at f5.6, ISO 1250  This is on Roe Island, the ferry jetty for the Piel Island ferry and the lifeboat station. D3, 18-35 f4 lens at 28mm. 5.0 sec at f5.6, ISO 800  At almost three in the morning am calling it a day. Will see if I have any material for star trails tomorrow, there was quite a bit of cloud and the later pix of the lighthouse suffered with banding. Need to leave more time between exposures for the sensor to cool. |
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Robert
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Sitting here somewhat frustrated... I took several batches of photographs last night and a couple of nights ago. It was a really clear night last night, if somewhat cool at 0ºC. I want to off load them onto my Mac Book Pro thence onto the new Lightroom CC. Unfortunately I left my trusty Firewire card reader at home, expecting to be back by now. Am trying to find a USB cable to use that from the D3 directly. I don't want to have to buy yet ANOTHER USB lead! With some luck I will be home tonight so I will be able to share them then. I only have my 16mm fisheye with me, so my subject matter is somewhat limited. Landscape/cityscape and star trails, a new one for me is motorway light trails. I am going to try the star trails software to blend the images. Although I may blend them in Adobe Photoshop layers or even Lightroom HDR? Some of the individual images look as though they may have some merit. Difficult to tell for sure on the camera screen. |
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Robert
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Back home and catching up. Have processed my Luneside files, Jubilee Bridge. It has long been a target for my imagination, wondering how to capture the somewhat striking design in a meaningful way. I have been somewhat concerned about taking the camera into that area because there are so many bone-head idiots roaming, just looking for 'fun'. Armed with the D3 and 16mm f2.8 fisheye Michael and I ventured forth. With the extreme range of lighting I decided to go with bracketing and HDR from the outset. These are my attempts. I have captioned them ready for uploading to the Portfolio website. It seems the Adobe Portfolio layouts can't handle captions. I used Lightroom (Classic) to create the HDR images, quick and easy. I don't feel they look 'overcooked'? I also used the lens correction feature in Lr to de-fish the extreme distortions introduced with the Nikkor fisheye. I haven't completely straightened the images, rather a compromise. I actually quite like the curved effect, also it looses important bits from the image when the geometry is fully straightened, which was why I selected to use a fisheye in the first place.    Finally taken from a bridge over the M6 Motorway:  30 seconds exposure. In the interests of safety I wore a dayglow yellow jacket because there was passing traffic on the bridge, despite the late hour (this exposure was made at 03:21 Hrs). Unfortunately some wagon drivers on the motorway mistook me for a police radar trap!!! They expressed their feeling by blowing their horns at me... Looking at these, I think the caption background needs to be brighter? |
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Eric
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The last ones caption should perhaps make reference to Orion nicely captured in the sky. Nice set of images again Robert. I knew that D3 would stir your juices. |
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Robert
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I was hoping somebody would name that constellation - Orion, I searched all my star 'apps' but without success. Thanks Eric. I will update the caption. Photographically the D3 is the best thing I have ever done, from the moment I used yours briefly, I knew it was what I needed. The D1 was a good camera which gave me a lot of enjoyment for three years but the D3 is a superb tool. I am hoping the D3S, which is on the horizon, will fix the banding issue when the sensor gets hot. I am finding I need to restrict the exposure rate to 20 seconds per minute at ISO400 to avoid the issue, but that works well enough for star trails, so I can't complain. I took another star trails sequence last night, I feel it's my best yet, the sky was perfect, full moon and zero cloud. I could have stayed out all night but after tree weeks of playing Mr. Shifter I was too tired. I'm sure there will be more clear nights. |
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Eric
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Well you have also captured two of the brightest stars, along with Orion. Procyon in Canis Minor, top left, and Sirius [Dog star) in Canis Major, centre bottom. Attachment: 0059CB2E-18EE-4F6F-ABDC-4EDFE332EB8F.jpeg (Downloaded 23 times) |
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Eric
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I've been doing some night shots too! The local council are doing some son et lumiere projections onto key building around Lynn.... Attachment: 95C09F75-7B69-431B-B441-88D22631A749.jpeg (Downloaded 24 times) |
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Eric
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...and another Attachment: DA0A744C-05C9-4731-B5DF-75C30D60E404.jpeg (Downloaded 24 times) |
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Eric
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....and another Attachment: 428F3B16-EF7A-4B53-BDCF-6412246E481C.jpeg (Downloaded 23 times) |
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Robert
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My latest StarTrails pix, after I had taken the Motorway light trails pix, on my way back I stopped by at a local landmark, a tall radio mast. Oddly It doesn't seem to have a red lamp at the top, despite being quite tall and at the top a large hill, unless it's only visible to aircraft? Mmmm, Flicker is down right now. This is a screenshot of the banding issue. This batch was taken at 30 seconds, f4 at ISO640 one exposure per minute. This is a screen shot taken at 1:1 or a 100% crop one image pixel to one screen pixel. Attachment: Screen Shot 2017-11-06 at 20.01.11.jpg (Downloaded 98 times) |
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Eric
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...and one more...no idea of what it's all about Attachment: 92F1002F-B62F-44F3-9E47-A5EE563318E9.jpeg (Downloaded 23 times) |
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Robert
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Thanks for the map, it's probably my eyesight, I see dots that aren't there and don't see dots that are!!! I did realise that the group was a constellation but just couldn't figure which one. I did try the Southern Cross but apparently that's in the Southern hemisphere... Wonderful! Muncaster Castle do something similar and project what appear to be Disney characters chasing each other across the walls of the main building, kids love it! |
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Eric
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Robert wrote:My latest StarTrails pix, after I had taken the Motorway light trails pix, on my way back I stopped by at a local landmark, a tall radio mast. Oddly It doesn't seem to have a red lamp at the top, despite being quite tall and at the top a large hill, unless it's only visible to aircraft? I used to get some of that on the D1X on 10sec exposures! So there has been some improvement in exposure time before it happens. |
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Eric
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Robert wrote:Thanks for the map, it's probably my eyesight, I see dots that aren't there and don't see dots that are!!! I did realise that the group was a constellation but just couldn't figure which one. I did try the Southern Cross but apparently that's in the Southern hemisphere... Not just kids....her ladyship was videoing for AGES,  Attachment: 94DA58AF-CB23-4379-BF17-36C09D1D34EE.jpeg (Downloaded 24 times) |
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Robert
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We will NOT be rushed! . Attachment: Christmas at Muncaster.jpg (Downloaded 23 times) |
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Robert
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This is the full image of the radio mast star trails... 16mm Nikkor, D3, 30sec exposures @f4, ISO650, 34 exposures at one minute intervals.  And finally, for now! Taken at Stickle Pike last night, in full Moon, D3, Nikkor 16mm f2.8, 20seconds, f4 ISO400, 61 exposures at minute intervals.  The Moon was just out of the frame, I should have waited until later but cloud was forecast and I wanted to try to get oblique lighting on the rocks. Processed in Lightroom Classic and StarStax. Partly de-fished ~50% in Lr. |
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Eric
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Robert wrote:
I have just been reminded where I heard of Piel Island before. It was the landing place of Lambert Simnal invasion force in 1487. He was the boy child that the Yorkists tried to use as a substitute for the real heir to the throne in their last ditch stand in the war of the roses. Needless to say the army was routed by Henry VII in Newark and my remaining Yorkist ancestors legged it back to Halifax. Small world. |
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jk
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Robert wrote:
It is ready for release when you are ready Robert. |
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Robert
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jk wrote:It is ready for release when you are ready Robert. Will PM you later JK. |
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Robert
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Another little foray tonight. Had planned to go up to the Stickle Pike location but snow and poorly treaded tyres conspired to stop me when I was almost at the top of the hill, only about a quarter of a mile but too far to carry the gear on my own late at night. Had a rethink and decided to go to Coniston but before I got there I changed my mind and went to a location I haven't used for a long while which has a good view to the South, over Morecambe Bay. About two to three inches of snow on the hills, temperature was about -3. This was the first one I took, D3, Nikkor 16mm fisheye, 25seconds @ f4, ISO400, de-fished in Lightroom Classic. Attachment: Screen Shot 2017-12-12 at 02.59.15.jpg (Downloaded 13 times) |
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Robert
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Looking at that this morning it's rubbish compared with what I am seeing in the Lightroom window on the same monitor. The Lightroom window is much sharper, with better contrast and MANY, more distinct stars. I usually post images via Flicker but for some reason I can upload TO Flicker and I can see the image on Flicker, but can't get to the page to get the link to copy the URL so I can display it here. Mmmm... |
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Robert
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That's better am able to get to the Flicker copy page again... Still not wonderful but better. Via forum software (for comparison). The snow covered fields and the whole sky is rubbish by comparison: Attachment: Screen Shot 2017-12-12 at 02.59.15.jpg (Downloaded 13 times) |
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Robert
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Mmmm, not sure what happened there. Perhaps I was too tired... I have reprocessed it using 'StarryLandscapeStacker' and this is the result... Same basic image as above, Nikon D3, Nikkor 16mm f2.8 Fisheye, 25 sec @ f4, ISO 800, 10 exposures, stacked with ten dark exposures (blank taken with the lens cap on). Overlooking Morecambe Bay at about 2 am. Camera pointing due South.  |
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Robert
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Some more night time pix of Morecambe Bay, taken early this morning 01:30 ish First from Walney Island of the Devonshire Hall building, two exposures HDR with the D300S 1600 ISO and the 80-200 f/2.8. used a tripod but the lettering isn't really sharp.  Second from near Rampside, across Morecambe Bay, Heysham nuclear power station, three exposure HDR hand held braced on a concrete sea wall.  I have added Caption and Title in Lightroom, see screenshot...  Attachment: DSC_5874-HDR.jpg (Downloaded 71 times) |
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Robert
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Thanks to Eric, who noticed this link, well worth a look. I still haven't processed the image I took last week, I have been so tired when I have had my dinner I simply don't have the energy to start processing images. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52120114 |
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Graham Whistler
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I gather Robert that the moon was very large tonight so I took a snap of it for you. This is the D850 with 500mm PF Lens plus x1.4 + 700mm. Hand held 1/500 sec f8 ISO 1250 VR on. Click here to comment on this image. |
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Robert
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Very impressive Graham. I almost went out last night to photograph the bridge at Ulpha by moonlight but I don't fancy the £100 fine if caught. There is too much light pollution close to home, although I might try something around the boats if it's clear again tonight. There are another bunch of moon pix with conspicuous landmarks on the BBC News website this morning but I notice they are all by the Press Association or other professional sources. I guess they can get away with it. |
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jk
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Robert wrote:Very impressive Graham.I actually think that some of these photos are possibly composites. They never say so but it is easy to do this in Photoshop. Also I dont think that press coverage should be deemed to be essential personnel or services. There should have been a full lockdown from early February with testing for all suspected cases and we would have had less deaths. |
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Graham Whistler
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It was a bit hazey last night and on our little stubb of road there are street lights. Moon was in and out of light misty cloud all evening this was the best at about 11.00pm no orange colour so this is as shot with auto WB. |
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chrisbet
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We had 8/8 cloud cover so no moon pics for me.. |
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jk
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These were the images that are fabulous but look like composites to me. https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11633/production/_111691217_999dc1a3-1ce7-4dd0-a76d-7a38eaf16a0b.jpg https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/08AB/production/_111691220_75487454-4af2-4f14-9087-a0ef3e06a2fe.jpg |
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Robert
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jk wrote:These were the images that are fabulous but look like composites to me.Can't disagree. A few minutes with the photographers ephemeris might be very revealing... |
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Robert
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A startrail image on the Duddon Estuary with 'Oakdale' in the foreground. X2 15 minute exposures D800 with Nikkor 16mm f/2.8 fisheye @ f11, ISO400. Processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic and stacked in StarstaX I feel I pretty well achieved my intention of showing Oakdale at night with the estuary and the Lake District mountains in silhouette with a star-trail sky. It just seems a bit 'grey'. The NEF's were better in that respect, the image lost some impact in StarstaX when I combined the two JPEG's, I wasn't able to get back to the original feel. I may have another go tonight, although I am still shattered after last night's 3am jaunt. There seems to be some green and magenta banding which I haven't noticed before... But given it was almost impossible to discern the boats hull in the dark, the camera has done an amazing job, at f11 ISO400.  Click here to comment on this image. |
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| A small amount of member data is captured and held in an attempt to reduce spammers and to manage users. This site also uses cookies to ensure ease of use. In order to comply with new DPR regulations you are required to agree/disagree with this process. If you do not agree then please email the Admins using info@nikondsl.uk Thank you. |