AT Shot of the Day Thread

[zCypher]

I'm not sure if you've done astrophotography before - I see you have a D5200. The hard part is focusing.
I did an amateur (duh) video on the basics of focusing last year - it is very germane to the D5200 ( I helped a guy Friday with a D5300 - same deal.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocfzCBuwZjs

I've tried but one time about a year and a half ago. At that time I just had the D5200, Tokina 11-16 and 18-55 kit lens. I borrowed a friend's cheapo tripod, fumbled with it in the dark at -20c and got a few shots. I didn't really know much, but I saw the math online about roughly which exposure times I could get before star trails would become too apparent, etc. The fiddling got me: https://www.flickr.com/photos/durbonpix/albums/72157684446713896 , which I was not blown away with, but for a first attempt I was pleased enough.

Now that I have a decent tripod coming, have learned a lot more about post processing and such, I'm excited to see how much better I can manage. You are right about the focusing bit, that's for sure.

 

[CuriousMike]

You'll be blown away by the light gathering ability of the f/1.4 -- even at the expense of shutter time.

Your shots above are good - focus looks good.
Don't be afraid to take a few at f/1.4, 10 seconds and ISO 3200 ... hell, got ISO 6400 just to be ridiculous.

This time of year in Northern Hemisphere, you want to look E->SE at 11:30 pm and the MW should be up over the horizon.

 

[zCypher]

Thanks, appreciate the tips. Looking forward to posting some (hopefully good) pics soon! Sirui tripod arrived and seems nice, fits in my small backpack, so this calls for a short motorcycle trip over a long weekend to see how this goes!

 

[bigrash]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbyrashid/

 

[CuriousMike]

Wow! Really nice. Great composition, sharpness and color.

 

[KMFJD]

Got this guy in Banff 2 days ago

 

[zCypher]

Beautiful, KMFJD, especially love the expression in the first one!

 

[zCypher]

Another dandelion

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Took this pic at my stepson's graduation 2 Fridays ago. My daughter was extremely sad that her bubba wasn't going to be around much longer as he starts a new chapter in his life. It was great to see him console her.

 

[KMFJD]

An Elk i got yesterday on the Klondike Highway

 

[KMFJD]

 

[MrSquished]

My dog last week taking a breather by the river. Shot with an LG V20

 

[zCypher]

I was presented with a beautiful sky as I was getting reacquainted with the 105:

[

 

[zCypher]

If you're going to park in the stream, make sure you bring your sticker.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I was presented with a beautiful sky as I was getting reacquainted with the 105:

[

These are awesome!

 

[zCypher]

Thanks, glad you like them!

 

[zCypher]

Close up with the 35mm

And with 105mm

 

[KMFJD]

He's not happy with me intruding on his drink, Waterton NP, AB

 

[CuriousMike]

 

[zCypher]

Casually "trying" to get a shot of this bird hiding out in a shadow with the 105 really makes me appreciate how much time, effort and skill goes into the amazing bird shots I see from some photographers:

I recovered a lot out of the shadow detail, but at an obvious quality cost. Still , I liked the pose and am still happy with the shot overall. Makes me want to try again.

 

[Brainonska511]

Went on a day hike along the Appalachian Trail the other day - Nuclear Lake is pretty beautiful on a nice day:
Nuclear Lake
And the views along the trail are also pretty spectacular at some points:
Cat Rocks "The View"

 

[CuriousMike]

Butte Lake

At day for comparison

 

[Red Squirrel]

Woah nice, cool how the stars seem to trail more on the water than above.

 

[CuriousMike]

Regarding the "stars trailing more on the water", unfortunately it was breezy outside and the water was choppy.
I went out two nights, and both nights the water was choppy ( not too dissimilar from the daylight water conditions ) - that leads to blurry looking stars on the water.
This was my first opportunity to shoot the MW with water, and unfortunately I didn't get that glassy reflection. Next time!

Woah nice, cool how the stars seem to trail more on the water than above.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I was thinking that may have been the cause, but still turned out pretty interesting.


Pics I took today from a helicopter ride.

Tons more here: http://imgur.com/a/iTYUM