The 50mm panorama, with all of the highlighted celestial objects looks amazing. I literally paused the video for a couple of minutes to admire the beauty of photo and the Milky Way. Awesome pic Richard :)
Always a pleasure to watch and learn from you Richard! It always makes me smile how you find time for a cupper and a biscuit. You seem like such a genuinely nice guy. Take care and have a nice weekend.
Wow! That pano at the end was GOLD!!! And the music playing with it! I could play that on a loop while starring at that photo. Your work is just amazing every time! I love every single video you put out!
Brilliant Richard, so good to finally track you down after all these years. Your knowledge and handle on the topic is so spot on. Superb presentation, well done.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Glad you responded, I've heard so much about your work. Now I finally get to see your artistry first hand. If only "Buttsy" was still here to see it too! Please say hi to Glenys for me, cheers!
Now you've really got me guessing your identity .. the UA-cam name doesn't give it away. Although the Buttsy comment ..... Gibbo ..??? @@numismaticfanatic9173
@@nightscapeimages.richard Spot on, got it in one. I know this content is a couple of years old but I'll be certainly on the look out for more! Go Tiges...👍
Hi Richard. I'm sure your videos are getting better and better. I just love the results you got with the 50mm. And the beautiful scenery matched with that music...WOW! Awesome work! Lisa
Love the video again. It has been awhile since I have visited your channel. I really enjoy your enthusiasm for the work. Awesome photos. The core of the Milky Way is gone up north. Take care. Nyall
Well after watching your night time adventures I went and bought the Z6ii and the 20mm 1.8S and after seeing your images in this one there’s another lens identified for my wishlist! Thanks for sharing your stunning images and your inspiration.
Lol, I am still using my D810, and my Nikor 20mm F1.8. Still love that pairing. No Milky way for us till April. But as usual you have got to my creative side, and it will not be long before I am out again. Thanks once again Richard, for all your hard work. TC mate.
Hi Richard , John from Oregon. Finally our skies are starting to clear. A couple of days till our summer starts. We have had so much rain. Any way ,We are having a planet and moon line up on the 24 so I am ready to see what my 50 mm f1.8 will do. I am now set up for stacking and panorama shooting. Excited to see what stacking will do. Panorama I think I have a good start . My first extra piece of equipment is JM-II Wireless Remote Control. First step towards a velometer. Getting there with all your help. Thanks
thank you so much for your videos. you have inspired me to take a trip to Alaska next year. So I will be watching your videos every day to learn how to take better pictures .
Fantastic shots. I am now inspired to break out my 50. I bought a few months ago just to have something faster than my f3.5 kit lens. I also recently bought an 11-16 (for my APS-C) for something wide and still reasonably fast f2.8, but I have always liked the challenge of using a 50, which was always the standard in the film days. I need to get out and start scouting and shooting. - Cheers
Great time watching your videos Richard. I always loved your compositions and the way you explain the process, looks like I am with you during the shoot. Keep inspiring.
Absolutely brilliant images. You have an incredible eye for composition and it really shows in your results. Please keep these videos coming. They are a great inspiration.
Fantastic video as usual Richard. Coincidently a hour before watching this video I was looking at 50mm lenses for astro and this video came up - I had seen some of your previous videos on the subject and I have been inspired. Last week my MSM startracker arrived but I haven't had opportunity to set it up. Thank you for producing well thought out, well explained and inspiring content. You are the best on UA-cam.
@@nightscapeimages.richard You deserve it sir! I have a small question if you please. What do you think about the Sony a7SII for astrophotography? Is it a good camera?
@@mohammadel-mohammadi5666 The Sony A7sii is a great camera but only 12 mpx. My feeling is that you may well be better served with the A7iii or even the newly released A7iv as they have more megapixels. The A7S series of cameras are excellent video cameras and I use one for my video work.
Thank you Richard for creating such beautiful and inspiring video !! We usually tend to use wide angles for such scenes, so its an eye opener that how a 50mm can also be effectively used.
Hi Richard...Yours Compositions with milky Way are perfect....Every week i am waiting for video with great anticiparion. I am curious about the assembly of these 3 layers - the sky x2 and foregroud. Best regards from cloudy Poland in new moon...
Thanks so much for watching Andrzej. I should have explained this a bit better as I've ben asked now quite a few times. When I'm using a tracker I have to eventually blend this in with the foreground subject. To do that I often use the Photoshop sky replacement tool. But I need a sky to replace so I take a single image at high iso so I have that sky. This is my Ambient sky shot. Then I layer any other light painted images over that if needed. Hope that explains it.
The pictures were excellent! 50mm lenses provide fantastic compositions, but requires a bit of patience to find the correct composition! Congratulations! I hope one day I can photograph like you! Hugs direct from Brazil!
Great job again Richard. Love the old tree in silhouette . I’ve never been a fan of in camera noise reduction because of the lag time, but maybe I should revisit it
Thanks a lot Jeff. Yes you can't beat a good silhouette every now and again. I've hardly ever used long exposure noise reduction for the reasons you stated . .however I wanted to give it a try.
Thank you once again for those wonderful and inspiring shots Richard. I had to watch the video twice to see why you took the single "ambient" light shot as well as the multiple foreground images. Reading the comments below answered that for me given your use of Photoshop's new sky replacement capability. Inspiring as always.
Soon as I seen the video title I new there would be pano in there somewhere. Nic e work as always. At :53-:54 , the photo on the right looks like the MW is so close it is going to smack into or scrape by the Earth! Great vid.
Great photos! I love the perspective 50mm gives the Milky Way and I think it works really well for a vertical panorama shot in landscape orientation when the Milky Way is perpendicular to the horizon. I'm not quite sure if LENR is better than just doubling the exposure time. What do you think?
Thanks a lot for watching Jim. In this instance I couldn't double the exposure time because I'd certainly have star trails at that 50mm focal length. Still not sure about LENR.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Sometimes it just makes sense to use LENR. Like the very last very long exposure of the night, turn it on and let it go while I pack up the camera after the exposure is finished.
I'm really impressed with the way your panos turned out Richard. I have used the 50mm f1.8 for night sky panos which greatly enhances the resolution and the extra compression somehow changes the perspective,, but I have only done this with cityscapes and more urban settings where you don't have to worry about star trails. The MW is out of view here in Texas until late winter, but I am definitely going to get my tracker and 50mm out and practice with some night sky landscapes on a starry night. I concur with your views of the Z6ii, it is a great night shooting camera. Thanks Richard for the inspiration!
Richard, thank you sir. You videos are so informative. I absolutely love your explanations of the work you do. It is inspirational. I don't understand how you don't have more followers sir. You are very talented, and seem like a genuine person. I really enjoyed you video on repetition. I look forward to seeing the next video.
Thank you, Richard, for another outstanding video of inspiration. I also shoot nightscapes with my Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens. For some reason the star and air glow colors are spectacular with that lens. -John V Foty
Holy crap 🤯 I loved these mate 😎 incredible and always showing us all the tips and tricks! enjoy the milkyway core we have just said goodbye to it here in the UK. Can't wait to see it again. Keep up the amazing work as always 👏
Another great video Richard, as you know I love the longer focal length, never tried the noise reduction on, interested to try. Love the pano :) well done 👍
Great shots as always Richard, I really did like the pano. I shot quite a few Milky Way arch panos earlier in the season(including a tracked pano at 30mm). I love the singular trees, but trees(except Joshua trees) and dark skies aren't all that common here in California. I'm headed out Wednesday for some "off-season" Orion shots.
Another beautiful video with some incredible images! I really enjoy shooting at longer focal lengths. I also shoot wide angle but I do like to see more detail sometimes. Longer focal lengths just show more clearly how magnificent the world and the universe in which we live is. Orion is up again here in the northern hemisphere! Another chance to get some good images of the Orion Nebula 😀.
Stunning work Richard. I haven't been out shooting for ages just because of time or bad weather but I'm hoping that soon I will get back out there. Love your work mate.
Fantastic video and beautiful images as usual Richard. Can't wait to try a longer focal length next time I'm out. Will probably go 35mm with my crop sensor. I was wondering why you add an ambient sky image when you do a tracked shot? Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks so much for watching again Mark. As I mentioned a few times in the comments below. .I should have explained myself a bit better regarding this ambient sky image. It's because I'm using a tracked sky and need a sky to start off with and replace later in photoshop. Hope that makes sense.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks for the quick reply Richard. I thought it must have something to do with the editing process. Sorry, I should have read through more of the comments first to see if you'd addressed the question already. Look forward to your next video. Take care :)
Another interesting video Richard, I really haven't tried shooting at that focal length or panoramas, guess I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet one night. Thanks once again for the inspiration.
Another great video Richard. Thank you. Keeping thinking about getting a star tracker, but which one is best on a decent budget to go for. Review time to start for a few weeks me thinks.
Thanks a lot for watching Adi. I have both the Sky Watcher Star Adventure and the ioptrop Sky Guider Pro. Both are excellent but the Move Shoot Move tracker is significantly cheaper .. . although nowhere near as robust.
What a difference light polution makes... I alwys feel lucky for sometimes having Bortle 4, but that seems very much like Bortle 1. I have to admit, i´m really jealous
Thanks Chetan. All that really means is that I'm using the photoshop sky replacement to add in my tracked sky. That extra ambient sky shot is the one that is replaced.
Love your work and detailed explanations of the process. Can you elaborate on the purpose and value of the Ambient Sky images you include for your stacking? Not sure I appreciate why it’s done and I don’t recall hearing you address that in the many videos I’ve watched. I’m new to your channel.
Thanks a lot for watching Stephen. The ambient sky exposure is used when I intend to use the sky replacement algorithm in Photoshop when I track my skies. It's kind of assumed that you need a sky to replace but it's often not discussed.
Amazing panorama there Richard. We are so lucky here through Spring to have the MW core sit up on the western horizon so perfectly for our nightscape photography. I don't have a good 50mm for astrophotography, however have used the Sigma 85mm on the core with tracking and the detail is amazing.
Thanks a lot Dominic. Yes 85mm is a great focal length .. very difficult to incorporate a foreground , but I do have a few more "Artistic" shots at 85mm.
I always enjoy your videos, thank you Richard! I would love to try this kind of night photography, but here in Germany a Bortle 4 is already the darkest you can find in most places, and we have a quite heavy light pollution at the horizon no matter where you look. Darkest places are at the coast, but that's looking north, with big cities to the south...
Thanks so much for watching and commenting Sabrina. You could still shoot what you can and maybe feature the landscape of foreground subjects to make the images more dynamic. Light painting makes a world of difference., and it's quite addictive. Always happy to help if I can.
Another wonderful video, thank you! I just love these! Question: I have noticed that in the last few videos you list an "Ambient Sky" image in addition to the foreground and stacked images. What is that for and how do you fit it in when going through your editing process? BTW, I always have a cupper and biscuit whilst watching your videos! Cheers!
Thanks as always for watching Robin. I should have explained this a bit better as I've ben asked now quite a few times. When I'm using a tracker I have to eventually blend this in with the foreground subject. To do that I often use the Photoshop sky replacement tool. But I need a sky to replace so I take a single image at high iso so I have that sky. This is my Ambient sky shot. Then I layer any other light painted images over that if needed. Hope that explains it. Yes you can't beat a cuppa and a biscuit ... !!!!
I've watched your videos a long time Richard and you got me into nightscapes, one thing I plan on doing is light painting with a drone, have you thought of doing that? I love the photos on Google with the halos round an object.
Another GREAT Video Richard, Thanks . . . Quick Question : With the 14 Shot Pano was it 2 Rows of 7, or a different Combo ? . . . AND also did you "Light Paint" the Foreground component ? . . . I attempted that once (ie Pano with different settings for the FG, but LRoom didn't "Stitch" the FG shots . . . maybe something else I did wrong ?) Still learning / experimenting ! Thanks. Great Work !!
Thanks a lot Alan. Yes it was 2 rows of 7 shots. I didn't do any light painting on this one but I did make sure I increased the foreground brightness in Lightroom before sending to photoshop for stitching.
Amazing as always! Here in the northern hemisphere, we currently even don’t see the core at all 🙈 Richard, at about 10:25, do you generally use long exposure ISO noise reduction? On my Z7 it’s always off. Never tried, I do NR always in post by Topaz Denoise AI. Before I try myself: are there any advantages using the in body long exposure NR? Besides: The Z6 having the huger pixels is better for night sky, I once had it, but sold it. I do a lot of panorama and landscape by day, that for I am happy about the 45 megapixel of the Z7. But night sky Z6 rules. Owned you once also the Z6 prior to your Z6II? Any enhancements doing night sky upgrading Z6 ➡️ Z6II?
Thanks as always for watching Roland. I don't usually apply in built long exposure noise reduction .. .I just wanted to give it a go for this one. Topaz Denoise is very good. Overall there is no image difference between the Z6 and Z6ii. The advantages are more small changes such as increased shutter speeds and timelapse options.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks for reply. Well, the best would be, I'll get that manual Z6 and Z6II downloaded and compare myself. Often the tiny details are very useful no one talks about, such as the adaption of the Sony behaviour (please don't ask me which models have it covered and which don't): as soon you flick out the screen, EVF is automatically disabled. The Z6/7 II's have that adapted. I should get my Z9 end of November (probably very early Christmas this year) but I am still thinking of a Z6II in parallel, because of the 24 megapixels, specially for night sky and portrait photography, less is better. Stars turn out brighter because of the larger pixels and skin imperfections are "on sensor" corrected.
The Nikon D810 with Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 was my go to milky way setup my first couple of years. In one situation it was just too wide so I tried a 50mm f/1.8 lens and a pano. Really liked the way it turned out so the 50mm comes out from time to time. I love the way that the 50mm makes the milky way appear larger in the frame. I've recently added a 20mm f/2.8 and a 35mm f/1.8 to my nightscape kit. I now seldom use the 14mm.
And thats a very common story Jerry. There is certainly a place for those ultra wide lenses but like you I rarely shoot them myself these days. Thanks for watching.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thank you for producing them. I've learned a a great deal watching your channel and very much appreciate your time and effort.
Amazing work Richard. You’ve inspired me to try astro next season with my 50mm 1.8 lens. Gosh that pano with the tree looked amazing. It’s funny I was thinking while watching the video how a pano in portrait mode would go. Thanks for sharing the video mate cheers 🍻👍🙏
Richard, its really fantastic composition. I really loved to see stars glowing via the camera you use for Video. Really enjoyed watching your videos. Whats the outside temperature and how long you spent for taking those Panorama shot.
Thanks again for watching. It was about 12 degrees celcius when I shot these images. I shot the panorama at 8 sec shutter speeds but with long exposure noise reduction enabled which effectively doubles that to 16 sec each panel. There were 14 separate shots.
Love your videos, I have a couple questions, I enjoy longer focal length Astro 35mm being my favorite, I tested the 35mm 1.8 z and was disappointed with its performance and find its coma cleans up adequately at around f3.2 and I notice most people shoot the 20 1.8 at around f2.2 it leads me to wonder if the 24-70 f2.8 would not be a fine choice I hear the coma is much better then the primes and if the primes already need stopping down and the 24-70 has so much more versatility and the z6 does so well at higher ISO then why not, and have you tried the 24-70mm z. ? By the way I am a spoiled sigma 40mm 1.4 user. Also I was thinking of picking up the z6ii and am curious how you like the conversion I like that they can remove the lowpass filter when converted but the white balance concerns me a bit I miss my d810a but it was factory white balance and behaved nicely. How are you liking your converted z6 ? Anywho thank you, And cheers
Thanks so much for watching Morgan. Out of the 3 "Z" primes I have the 35mm is the weakest .. but it's still pretty good. The 20mm is the most versatile and I use it all the time. The 50 is really sharp also. I've not used the 24-70 f2.8 but I know it's a wonderful lens. I would assume it's really clean wide open at f2.8 .. but obviously it's a very expensive lens. If I had my time again I possibly wouldn't bother with the H-Alpha conversion. I much prefer using the stock cameras. As you mention the white balance is a pain and not at all suitable for normal photography.
I like the 50mm shots, they bring the galaxy up really close. Did you shoot these with the modified camera as there is a reddish tinge to some of the images? As always, great result Richard. 👍👍
Thanks a lot Geoff. No these are all with the stock Z6ii. I think if I had my time over I'd not worry about the H-Alpha mod. I like these results just as much.
@@nightscapeimages.richard I tend to agree with you. The Ha learning curve is steep and results seem to be way off for those who have recently converted to Ha imaging.
Great video as usual... i plan to buy Viltrox 50 1.8 (230$ in my country) for my Astro timelapse. i am not sure if you have mentioned about this lense before. Pls give a comment if it is a good option to go for / thank
The 50mm panorama, with all of the highlighted celestial objects looks amazing. I literally paused the video for a couple of minutes to admire the beauty of photo and the Milky Way. Awesome pic Richard :)
I'm really pleased this video was inspiring for you Nitish. Thanks for watching.
same here!
@@rocheuro Thanks so much
Always a pleasure to watch and learn from you Richard! It always makes me smile how you find time for a cupper and a biscuit. You seem like such a genuinely nice guy. Take care and have a nice weekend.
You're a very kind man indeed Paul. Thanks heaps for supporting my work.
Wow! That pano at the end was GOLD!!! And the music playing with it! I could play that on a loop while starring at that photo. Your work is just amazing every time! I love every single video you put out!
You are very kind indeed Mary. Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it.
Brilliant Richard, so good to finally track you down after all these years. Your knowledge and handle on the topic is so spot on. Superb presentation, well done.
Thank you so much for watching, really appreciate your comments.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Glad you responded, I've heard so much about your work. Now I finally get to see your artistry first hand. If only "Buttsy" was still here to see it too! Please say hi to Glenys for me, cheers!
Now you've really got me guessing your identity .. the UA-cam name doesn't give it away. Although the Buttsy comment ..... Gibbo ..??? @@numismaticfanatic9173
@@nightscapeimages.richard Spot on, got it in one. I know this content is a couple of years old but I'll be certainly on the look out for more! Go Tiges...👍
You had a smashing good night under the stars! You were so productive and successful on this night!
Yes it was an amazing night Shawnie . .I did get a bit carried away .. I appreciate you watching.
Hi Richard.
I'm sure your videos are getting better and better. I just love the results you got with the 50mm. And the beautiful scenery matched with that music...WOW! Awesome work!
Lisa
You're very kind as always Lisa. Thanks for watching again.
Richard is the KING of night time imagery, Simply beautiful and awesome work period...Love this channel...73s from the u.k
You're very kind indeed Keith, thanks so much for your support.
Richard you are so inspirational.
I'm glad you're getting something out of the videos. Appreciate you watching.
Love the video again. It has been awhile since I have visited your channel. I really enjoy your enthusiasm for the work. Awesome photos. The core of the Milky Way is gone up north. Take care. Nyall
Thanks so much for coming back for a look Nyall, I really appreciate that.
Nice video Richard. Enjoyed the story telling format. And, of course, nice pics.
Thanks as always for following along David. Always appreciate your comments.
Great video Richard, images are amazing as usual. Love the story like presentation, always a pleasure
Thanks so much for tuning in Michael, always appreciate your comments.
great shots love your work Richard
Thanks a lot for tuning in Jeff, really appreciate it.
Richard, you're an awesome photographer full stop! Happy tree adventures, lol
You are always very kind Suzanne and I very much appreciate your supportive comments.
And what an outcome it is! Fantastic, Richard 👏🏼
I'm really pleased you enjoyed it my friend.
Well after watching your night time adventures I went and bought the Z6ii and the 20mm 1.8S and after seeing your images in this one there’s another lens identified for my wishlist! Thanks for sharing your stunning images and your inspiration.
Thanks as always for watching Carl. The 50mm f1.8S lens is superb . .one of their best.
Amazing pictures as ever. Your work is my inspiration.
I'm really pleased you like it my friend. Thanks for watching.
Wow. You naild it 🙏
Thanks so much for watching Andreas.
@@nightscapeimages.richard off course I watch 🙏 you are one of the best of astrophotography on the whole UA-cam. You and Alyn Wallace👏
@@andreasholmstrom6308 Thanks again Andreas.
Lol, I am still using my D810, and my Nikor 20mm F1.8. Still love that pairing. No Milky way for us till April. But as usual you have got to my creative side, and it will not be long before I am out again. Thanks once again Richard, for all your hard work. TC mate.
Good on you Roy. There is always something to shoot out there my friend. Nothing wrong with your D810 and 20mm combination at all.
What a nice night out you had. Great shots!
Yes it was wonderful. Thanks for watching.
Потрясающе красиво!!!!! То что надо для пейзажного астрофо!!!!! Класс 🙌!!!!!!!
Many thanks indeed my friend.
Amazing shots, Richard. Many thanks to share all that beauty with us.
You're very welcome my friend. Thanks for watching.
thank you richard, it was wonderful
Thanks so much for watching Iman.
@@nightscapeimages.richard 🤟🏻🌷🍀
Love the panoramas!
Thanks so much for tuning in mate.
That first shot just took my breath wow Amazing good work.
Thank you so much for watching, really appreciated.
Those were awesome...great results!
Thanks so much for watching Jason
Breathtaking, as always!
Thanks again for watching Chris
THANKYOU...
Thank you for watching Phoenix
Fabulous presentation Richard, always enjoy your videos.
I'm pleased you enjoyed it Les, thanks so much for watching.
Thankyou Richard a quick one today, Saturdays off to a good start.
Thanks as always for your support Phillip. Greatly appreciated.
Hi Richard , John from Oregon. Finally our skies are starting to clear. A couple of days till our summer starts. We have had so much rain. Any way ,We are having a planet and moon line up on the 24 so I am ready to see what my 50 mm f1.8 will do. I am now set up for stacking and panorama shooting. Excited to see what stacking will do. Panorama I think I have a good start . My first extra piece of equipment is JM-II Wireless Remote Control. First step towards a velometer. Getting there with all your help. Thanks
Good on you John. I hope it all goes well my friend.
Thanks for another entertaining and informative video Richard. Have yourself a great week 👍🏻🌌
I really appreciate you watching Steve.
Another great video Richard, thank you!
I really appreciate you watching Frank
Love it Richard…getting inspired to get out next season & use my Sigma 50mm art for some panos….
That Sigma 50mm is a great lens .. I'm sure you'll get some amazing images. Appreciate you watching.
What a cool guy.
Very kind of you my friend
It doesn’t get any better than this, great video and images Richard. 🙏🏻🍺🍺👌🏻
Thanks so much for watching again Michael
Another great video Richard, thanks again and keep on shooting!
As always I appreciate you watching Thomas
thank you so much for your videos. you have inspired me to take a trip to Alaska next year. So I will be watching your videos every day to learn how to take better pictures .
Thank you so much for watching. I hope your Alaska trip goes really well.
Great video, and good tips thanks
Thanks so much for watching.
These are the mages are absolutely beautiful Richard! Love that 35mm focal length for Astro shots.
Thanks so much Mike and Chris, always very much appreciate your comments and support.
Another enjoyable and informative video. Thanks Richard.
You're welcome Tony, thanks so much for watching.
Love your work Richard.👍🏻
I'm really pleased to hear that Steve, thanks heaps.
Fantastic shots. I am now inspired to break out my 50. I bought a few months ago just to have something faster than my f3.5 kit lens. I also recently bought an 11-16 (for my APS-C) for something wide and still reasonably fast f2.8, but I have always liked the challenge of using a 50, which was always the standard in the film days. I need to get out and start scouting and shooting. - Cheers
Thanks so much for watching Joe. I really appreciate your comments.
Thanks again Richard for another interesting Video!
And thanks again for tuning in Dave .. !!!
great work Richard
Appreciate you watching as always Phill
Great video and as usual great detail and information. Plus the shots were awesome.
Thanks heaps for watching David, always appreciate your comments.
Subbed from NC, USA. Awesome work!!
Thank you so much for your support Cary. Much appreciated.
Great time watching your videos Richard. I always loved your compositions and the way you explain the process, looks like I am with you during the shoot. Keep inspiring.
I really appreciate you watching Sharjeel. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement.
The old tree bathing in the light of Venus, wow, love this picture.
I really appreciate you watching as always Darren
BTW loved the ending
I'm really pleased to hear that John. Thanks so much for watching.
Love your work Richard
I'm pleased you do Mike. Thanks for tuning in.
On the whole, I can say that it's not as easy as you make it look 👌👌
cheers👍👍
Thanks for watching Mr Dev. It does take a lot of hard work and commitment . .that's for sure.
Absolutely brilliant images. You have an incredible eye for composition and it really shows in your results. Please keep these videos coming. They are a great inspiration.
You are very kind indeed my friend, thanks so much for watching.
Fantastic video as usual Richard. Coincidently a hour before watching this video I was looking at 50mm lenses for astro and this video came up - I had seen some of your previous videos on the subject and I have been inspired. Last week my MSM startracker arrived but I haven't had opportunity to set it up. Thank you for producing well thought out, well explained and inspiring content. You are the best on UA-cam.
I really appreciate your great support and encouragement . it means a lot.
Thanks so much for this! Beautiful captures! I will keep using the 50 next season and challenging myself. Thanks for your continued inspiration!
You're very welcome Wendy, thanks so much for your support.
That’s crazy how you want the Milky Way low. When we want it high.
“Northern Hemisphere”!!!
And there is a big difference between your high and my high regarding the milky way .. it's literally straight up.
You got GOLDEN hands, sir! You're a landscape astrophotographer by nature. Your fan from Michigan, US!
I very much appreciate your support Mohammad.
@@nightscapeimages.richard You deserve it sir! I have a small question if you please. What do you think about the Sony a7SII for astrophotography? Is it a good camera?
@@mohammadel-mohammadi5666 The Sony A7sii is a great camera but only 12 mpx. My feeling is that you may well be better served with the A7iii or even the newly released A7iv as they have more megapixels. The A7S series of cameras are excellent video cameras and I use one for my video work.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Perfect! Thank you very much for this amazing advice, sir!
Thiis is amazing! )) )
I'm glad you liked it my friend.
Thank you Richard for creating such beautiful and inspiring video !! We usually tend to use wide angles for such scenes, so its an eye opener that how a 50mm can also be effectively used.
Yes you are so right Amit. I appreciate you watching.
I think your gift of storytelling is on par with your Astrophotogrpahy work. Inspiring.
Very kind of you to say Josh. I really appreciate your support.
Hi Richard...Yours Compositions with milky Way are perfect....Every week i am waiting for video with great anticiparion. I am curious about the assembly of these 3 layers - the sky x2 and foregroud.
Best regards from cloudy Poland in new moon...
Thanks so much for watching Andrzej. I should have explained this a bit better as I've ben asked now quite a few times. When I'm using a tracker I have to eventually blend this in with the foreground subject. To do that I often use the Photoshop sky replacement tool. But I need a sky to replace so I take a single image at high iso so I have that sky. This is my Ambient sky shot. Then I layer any other light painted images over that if needed. Hope that explains it.
Hugely inspiring! Lots of info and showing even with a 50mm you can create something stunning! My goodness Richard so many great shots, thank you.
Hey Mali, thanks heaps for tuning in mate. Really appreciate your comments.
The pictures were excellent!
50mm lenses provide fantastic compositions, but requires a bit of patience to find the correct composition!
Congratulations! I hope one day I can photograph like you!
Hugs direct from Brazil!
You're very welcome Antonio. Glad you enjoyed the video my friend.
super sir
Thank you for watching sir.
Great job again Richard. Love the old tree in silhouette . I’ve never been a fan of in camera noise reduction because of the lag time, but maybe I should revisit it
Thanks a lot Jeff. Yes you can't beat a good silhouette every now and again. I've hardly ever used long exposure noise reduction for the reasons you stated . .however I wanted to give it a try.
Thank you once again for those wonderful and inspiring shots Richard. I had to watch the video twice to see why you took the single "ambient" light shot as well as the multiple foreground images. Reading the comments below answered that for me given your use of Photoshop's new sky replacement capability. Inspiring as always.
Thanks a lot for watching again Bob, I always appreciate your comments. Yes I should have explained the logic behind the "Ambient Sky" shot.
Another great video - many thanks - about to do some experimentation with my 105mm Z lens 😊
haha. With just 5 seconds without star trails, you'll have a pretty dark photo even if it's fast glass.... got a tracker?
That sounds like a wonderful lens Brett .. like all the Z lenses. Thanks again for watching.
Soon as I seen the video title I new there would be pano in there somewhere. Nic e work as always. At :53-:54 , the photo on the right looks like the MW is so close it is going to smack into or scrape by the Earth! Great vid.
Thanks again for watching Ted. I really appreciate your comments as always.
I wished I lived somewhere without so much light pollution so I can see this stuff.
Yes that is a major problem around the world we live in.
Awesome images as always Richard. Love the pano. Weather here in Wellington NZ has not been clear for about a month. Hopefully this week!
Thanks so much for watching Stephen, really appreciate it.
Great photos! I love the perspective 50mm gives the Milky Way and I think it works really well for a vertical panorama shot in landscape orientation when the Milky Way is perpendicular to the horizon. I'm not quite sure if LENR is better than just doubling the exposure time. What do you think?
Thanks a lot for watching Jim. In this instance I couldn't double the exposure time because I'd certainly have star trails at that 50mm focal length. Still not sure about LENR.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Sometimes it just makes sense to use LENR. Like the very last very long exposure of the night, turn it on and let it go while I pack up the camera after the exposure is finished.
I am considering to buy 50mm for astro.
Thanks for an inspiration.
50mm lenses are fantastic if you can make them work ..!!!
I'm really impressed with the way your panos turned out Richard. I have used the 50mm f1.8 for night sky panos which greatly enhances the resolution and the extra compression somehow changes the perspective,, but I have only done this with cityscapes and more urban settings where you don't have to worry about star trails. The MW is out of view here in Texas until late winter, but I am definitely going to get my tracker and 50mm out and practice with some night sky landscapes on a starry night. I concur with your views of the Z6ii, it is a great night shooting camera. Thanks Richard for the inspiration!
Thanks a lot for your comments Todd, I always appreciate your insights. There's always something new to try with this caper.
Richard, thank you sir. You videos are so informative. I absolutely love your explanations of the work you do. It is inspirational. I don't understand how you don't have more followers sir. You are very talented, and seem like a genuine person. I really enjoyed you video on repetition. I look forward to seeing the next video.
Thanks so much for your very kind words Jeremy. I have given up trying to understand the youtube algorithm ... it does my head in ..!!!!
I always enjoy your contrbution. I would like to be under this stars in australia
It's a wonderful place to be in Australia under the stars Gerd. Thank you for watching.
Thank you, Richard, for another outstanding video of inspiration. I also shoot nightscapes with my Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens. For some reason the star and air glow colors are spectacular with that lens.
-John V Foty
Thanks again for watching John. Really appreciate it. Yes the 50mm lenses are just great.
I love old dead trees for milky way with some low level lighting they come back to life
Yes so true John, you can't beat those old dead trees . .and you have quite a few over your way.
@@nightscapeimages.richard I sure do, would love to see your take with my dead trees here
Holy crap 🤯 I loved these mate 😎 incredible and always showing us all the tips and tricks! enjoy the milkyway core we have just said goodbye to it here in the UK. Can't wait to see it again. Keep up the amazing work as always 👏
Thanks for your kind words Gavin, really appreciate it mate.
Another great video Richard, as you know I love the longer focal length, never tried the noise reduction on, interested to try. Love the pano :) well done 👍
Thanks a lot Alan. Yes I know you're a fan of those long lenses mate.
Great shots as always Richard, I really did like the pano. I shot quite a few Milky Way arch panos earlier in the season(including a tracked pano at 30mm). I love the singular trees, but trees(except Joshua trees) and dark skies aren't all that common here in California. I'm headed out Wednesday for some "off-season" Orion shots.
Thanks a lot for watching Bill. Yes I must admit I have a fascination with trees and go searching for them at every opportunity. Hope Orion goes well.
Another beautiful video with some incredible images!
I really enjoy shooting at longer focal lengths. I also shoot wide angle but I do like to see more detail sometimes. Longer focal lengths just show more clearly how magnificent the world and the universe in which we live is.
Orion is up again here in the northern hemisphere! Another chance to get some good images of the Orion Nebula 😀.
Thanks a lot for your comments David. Yes Orion is a really good subject for the longer focal lengths . .I hope you get plenty moving forward.
Stunning work Richard. I haven't been out shooting for ages just because of time or bad weather but I'm hoping that soon I will get back out there. Love your work mate.
Thanks a lot Brad. Plenty of time mate . .you'll get out when you're able.
Fantastic video and beautiful images as usual Richard. Can't wait to try a longer focal length next time I'm out. Will probably go 35mm with my crop sensor.
I was wondering why you add an ambient sky image when you do a tracked shot?
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks so much for watching again Mark. As I mentioned a few times in the comments below. .I should have explained myself a bit better regarding this ambient sky image. It's because I'm using a tracked sky and need a sky to start off with and replace later in photoshop. Hope that makes sense.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks for the quick reply Richard. I thought it must have something to do with the editing process.
Sorry, I should have read through more of the comments first to see if you'd addressed the question already.
Look forward to your next video.
Take care :)
@@pearcem66 No worries, you wouldn't know it's been spoken of already.
Another interesting video Richard, I really haven't tried shooting at that focal length or panoramas, guess I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet one night. Thanks once again for the inspiration.
Thanks heaps for watching again Peter, I really appreciate it. You'll have to give the 50mm a go.
Another great video Richard. Thank you. Keeping thinking about getting a star tracker, but which one is best on a decent budget to go for. Review time to start for a few weeks me thinks.
Thanks a lot for watching Adi. I have both the Sky Watcher Star Adventure and the ioptrop Sky Guider Pro. Both are excellent but the Move Shoot Move tracker is significantly cheaper .. . although nowhere near as robust.
What a difference light polution makes... I alwys feel lucky for sometimes having Bortle 4, but that seems very much like Bortle 1. I have to admit, i´m really jealous
Yes it does make a huge difference. I actually live in a Bortle 4 sky area, but travel away to get to darker skies.
Stunning Richard, noticed you got one shot for ambient sky following the tracked shot, what does that serve?
Thanks Chetan. All that really means is that I'm using the photoshop sky replacement to add in my tracked sky. That extra ambient sky shot is the one that is replaced.
Love your work and detailed explanations of the process. Can you elaborate on the purpose and value of the Ambient Sky images you include for your stacking? Not sure I appreciate why it’s done and I don’t recall hearing you address that in the many videos I’ve watched. I’m new to your channel.
Thanks a lot for watching Stephen. The ambient sky exposure is used when I intend to use the sky replacement algorithm in Photoshop when I track my skies. It's kind of assumed that you need a sky to replace but it's often not discussed.
Amazing panorama there Richard. We are so lucky here through Spring to have the MW core sit up on the western horizon so perfectly for our nightscape photography. I don't have a good 50mm for astrophotography, however have used the Sigma 85mm on the core with tracking and the detail is amazing.
Thanks a lot Dominic. Yes 85mm is a great focal length .. very difficult to incorporate a foreground , but I do have a few more "Artistic" shots at 85mm.
I always enjoy your videos, thank you Richard!
I would love to try this kind of night photography, but here in Germany a Bortle 4 is already the darkest you can find in most places, and we have a quite heavy light pollution at the horizon no matter where you look. Darkest places are at the coast, but that's looking north, with big cities to the south...
Thanks so much for watching and commenting Sabrina. You could still shoot what you can and maybe feature the landscape of foreground subjects to make the images more dynamic. Light painting makes a world of difference., and it's quite addictive. Always happy to help if I can.
Another wonderful video, thank you! I just love these! Question: I have noticed that in the last few videos you list an "Ambient Sky" image in addition to the foreground and stacked images. What is that for and how do you fit it in when going through your editing process? BTW, I always have a cupper and biscuit whilst watching your videos! Cheers!
Thanks as always for watching Robin. I should have explained this a bit better as I've ben asked now quite a few times. When I'm using a tracker I have to eventually blend this in with the foreground subject. To do that I often use the Photoshop sky replacement tool. But I need a sky to replace so I take a single image at high iso so I have that sky. This is my Ambient sky shot. Then I layer any other light painted images over that if needed. Hope that explains it. Yes you can't beat a cuppa and a biscuit ... !!!!
I've watched your videos a long time Richard and you got me into nightscapes, one thing I plan on doing is light painting with a drone, have you thought of doing that? I love the photos on Google with the halos round an object.
Thanks a lot for your long term support Graeme. I've not done drone light painting but I have seen some lovely work online. Maybe one day.
Another GREAT Video Richard, Thanks . . . Quick Question : With the 14 Shot Pano was it 2 Rows of 7, or a different Combo ? . . . AND also did you "Light Paint" the Foreground component ? . . . I attempted that once (ie Pano with different settings for the FG, but LRoom didn't "Stitch" the FG shots . . . maybe something else I did wrong ?) Still learning / experimenting ! Thanks. Great Work !!
Thanks a lot Alan. Yes it was 2 rows of 7 shots. I didn't do any light painting on this one but I did make sure I increased the foreground brightness in Lightroom before sending to photoshop for stitching.
Amazing as always! Here in the northern hemisphere, we currently even don’t see the core at all 🙈 Richard, at about 10:25, do you generally use long exposure ISO noise reduction? On my Z7 it’s always off. Never tried, I do NR always in post by Topaz Denoise AI. Before I try myself: are there any advantages using the in body long exposure NR? Besides: The Z6 having the huger pixels is better for night sky, I once had it, but sold it. I do a lot of panorama and landscape by day, that for I am happy about the 45 megapixel of the Z7. But night sky Z6 rules. Owned you once also the Z6 prior to your Z6II? Any enhancements doing night sky upgrading Z6 ➡️ Z6II?
Thanks as always for watching Roland. I don't usually apply in built long exposure noise reduction .. .I just wanted to give it a go for this one. Topaz Denoise is very good. Overall there is no image difference between the Z6 and Z6ii. The advantages are more small changes such as increased shutter speeds and timelapse options.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks for reply. Well, the best would be, I'll get that manual Z6 and Z6II downloaded and compare myself. Often the tiny details are very useful no one talks about, such as the adaption of the Sony behaviour (please don't ask me which models have it covered and which don't): as soon you flick out the screen, EVF is automatically disabled. The Z6/7 II's have that adapted. I should get my Z9 end of November (probably very early Christmas this year) but I am still thinking of a Z6II in parallel, because of the 24 megapixels, specially for night sky and portrait photography, less is better. Stars turn out brighter because of the larger pixels and skin imperfections are "on sensor" corrected.
@@rolandrick I love the Z6ii Roland. I'll be very keen to hear about your Z9 when you get used to using it.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Richard, I promise I will share all Z9 experiences and secrets with you ;)
Those panos with the 50mm lens are very impressive. Really interesting to see you experiment with your techniques.
Thanks a lot Three-phase. Yes if I can use the 50 I will. It gives a whole new look.
The Nikon D810 with Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 was my go to milky way setup my first couple of years. In one situation it was just too wide so I tried a 50mm f/1.8 lens and a pano. Really liked the way it turned out so the 50mm comes out from time to time. I love the way that the 50mm makes the milky way appear larger in the frame. I've recently added a 20mm f/2.8 and a 35mm f/1.8 to my nightscape kit. I now seldom use the 14mm.
And thats a very common story Jerry. There is certainly a place for those ultra wide lenses but like you I rarely shoot them myself these days. Thanks for watching.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thank you for producing them. I've learned a a great deal watching your channel and very much appreciate your time and effort.
Amazing work Richard. You’ve inspired me to try astro next season with my 50mm 1.8 lens. Gosh that pano with the tree looked amazing. It’s funny I was thinking while watching the video how a pano in portrait mode would go. Thanks for sharing the video mate cheers 🍻👍🙏
Thanks for watching again Adrian. Yes I think the common old 50mm lens if often under rated. Looking forward to your next camera test mate.
Richard, its really fantastic composition. I really loved to see stars glowing via the camera you use for Video. Really enjoyed watching your videos. Whats the outside temperature and how long you spent for taking those Panorama shot.
Thanks again for watching. It was about 12 degrees celcius when I shot these images. I shot the panorama at 8 sec shutter speeds but with long exposure noise reduction enabled which effectively doubles that to 16 sec each panel. There were 14 separate shots.
Love your videos, I have a couple questions, I enjoy longer focal length Astro 35mm being my favorite, I tested the 35mm 1.8 z and was disappointed with its performance and find its coma cleans up adequately at around f3.2 and I notice most people shoot the 20 1.8 at around f2.2 it leads me to wonder if the 24-70 f2.8 would not be a fine choice I hear the coma is much better then the primes and if the primes already need stopping down and the 24-70 has so much more versatility and the z6 does so well at higher ISO then why not, and have you tried the 24-70mm z. ? By the way I am a spoiled sigma 40mm 1.4 user.
Also I was thinking of picking up the z6ii and am curious how you like the conversion I like that they can remove the lowpass filter when converted but the white balance concerns me a bit I miss my d810a but it was factory white balance and behaved nicely. How are you liking your converted z6 ?
Anywho thank you,
And cheers
Thanks so much for watching Morgan. Out of the 3 "Z" primes I have the 35mm is the weakest .. but it's still pretty good. The 20mm is the most versatile and I use it all the time. The 50 is really sharp also. I've not used the 24-70 f2.8 but I know it's a wonderful lens. I would assume it's really clean wide open at f2.8 .. but obviously it's a very expensive lens.
If I had my time again I possibly wouldn't bother with the H-Alpha conversion. I much prefer using the stock cameras. As you mention the white balance is a pain and not at all suitable for normal photography.
I like the 50mm shots, they bring the galaxy up really close. Did you shoot these with the modified camera as there is a reddish tinge to some of the images? As always, great result Richard. 👍👍
Thanks a lot Geoff. No these are all with the stock Z6ii. I think if I had my time over I'd not worry about the H-Alpha mod. I like these results just as much.
@@nightscapeimages.richard I tend to agree with you. The Ha learning curve is steep and results seem to be way off for those who have recently converted to Ha imaging.
@@geoffsharpe6456 Yes and I reckon the stock camera is no slouch in the H-alpha department anyway.
Great video as usual... i plan to buy Viltrox 50 1.8 (230$ in my country) for my Astro timelapse. i am not sure if you have mentioned about this lense before. Pls give a comment if it is a good option to go for / thank
Thanks for watching. I haven't used the Viltrox 50mm but I have tried 4 other Viltox lenses and they are all quite good I think.