melillojh
✨️ Echoes of the Cosmos Above Ancient Nitzana 🌌
Few things excite me more than capturing the universe above sites where ancient civilizations once gazed up at the same night sky. This photo was taken at the ruins of a Byzantine church in Ancient Nitzana (Nessana), deep in the Negev desert of Israel. Standing among these weathered columns, surrounded by centuries of history and silence, is a surreal experience—especially under the glow of the Milky Way. 🌠
To create this image, I combined 121 exposures, each 15 seconds long, stacking them in Sequator to bring out both the majestic Milky Way and the delicate details of the ancient ruins. My camera setup was a Sony Alpha 6400 (unmodified for astrophotography) paired with the Sony E 11mm F1.8 APS-C ultra-wide-angle prime lens—a compact but powerful kit. Despite not using any specialized astro-modifications, I was amazed at the clarity and depth I could achieve, especially in a place with such minimal light pollution. ✨
The final touches were made in Photoshop ️, balancing the warm, earthy tones of the columns with the cool, infinite expanse of the night sky. Ancient Nitzana was once a vital stop on the Incense Route, bustling with traders, pilgrims, and monks. Now, it’s mostly ruins and desert wind, but under the stars, the site feels alive—almost as if time folds, letting past and present meet for a brief, magical moment. ⏳
Nights like this remind me why I love astrophotography: it’s not just about capturing stars, but about connecting with history, geography, and something much larger than ourselves. This image is a tribute both to the people who built this church centuries ago, and to the wonder of the universe that continues to inspire us all. ✨🌍
Gear & Process:
📷 Sony Alpha 6400 (unmodified)
🔭 Sony E 11mm F1.8 APS-C Ultra-wide-angle Prime Lens
🌌 121 images × 15 sec each, stacked in Sequator
️ Edited in Photoshop
If you ever get the chance to stand among ancient ruins under a sky like this, don’t miss it. The silence, the stars, and the stones together are unforgettable. 🌙
✨️ Echoes of the Cosmos Above Ancient Nitzana 🌌
Few things excite me more than capturing the universe above sites where ancient civilizations once gazed up at the same night sky. This photo was taken at the ruins of a Byzantine church in Ancient Nitzana (Nessana), deep in the Negev desert of Israel. Standing among these weathered columns, surrounded by centuries of history and silence, is a surreal experience—especially under the glow of the Milky Way. 🌠
To create this image, I combined 121 exposures, each 15 seconds long, stacking them in Sequator to bring out both the majestic Milky Way and the delicate details of the ancient ruins. My camera setup was a Sony Alpha 6400 (unmodified for astrophotography) paired with the Sony E 11mm F1.8 APS-C ultra-wide-angle prime lens—a compact but powerful kit. Despite not using any specialized astro-modifications, I was amazed at the clarity and depth I could achieve, especially in a place with such minimal light pollution. ✨
The final touches were made in Photoshop ️, balancing the warm, earthy tones of the columns with the cool, infinite expanse of the night sky. Ancient Nitzana was once a vital stop on the Incense Route, bustling with traders, pilgrims, and monks. Now, it’s mostly ruins and desert wind, but under the stars, the site feels alive—almost as if time folds, letting past and present meet for a brief, magical moment. ⏳
Nights like this remind me why I love astrophotography: it’s not just about capturing stars, but about connecting with history, geography, and something much larger than ourselves. This image is a tribute both to the people who built this church centuries ago, and to the wonder of the universe that continues to inspire us all. ✨🌍
Gear & Process:
📷 Sony Alpha 6400 (unmodified)
🔭 Sony E 11mm F1.8 APS-C Ultra-wide-angle Prime Lens
🌌 121 images × 15 sec each, stacked in Sequator
️ Edited in Photoshop
If you ever get the chance to stand among ancient ruins under a sky like this, don’t miss it. The silence, the stars, and the stones together are unforgettable. 🌙