skypointer2000
Galactic Selfie
Roughly 30 minutes after starting to do my Milky Way shots at Mobius and shortly after my first capture of this series was recorded (flic.kr/p/zgtcB3), the photographer I met at the parking showed up and I wondered whether there would be a problem sharing the site.
After a second “hello” and a proper introduction, my new acquaintance told me that he had been trying to do astrophotography at Bristlecone for the last two nights, but that the place was extremely crowded and that the mood was very aggressive. Now he was afraid that it would turn out the same here.
After seeing this peaceful forest in the afternoon, I could hardly believe his story. How can a place with so many great locations become crowded and how can astro-photographers, who share the same hobby and who should have a common understanding of their insignificance under the vastness of the star filled skies, become aggressive, huddling around the same old tree? Horrible. I obviously had taken the right decision coming to the Alabamas and I told my new friend not to worry.
As we started discussing our equipment, we found out that he was shooting with more focal length. So my camera and tripod were in his field of view. Of course, I immediately shifted my position. This was no problem at all, as there are plenty of possibilities for great compositions at Mobius Arch.
I also offered to shut down my lights, so he could do his own light painting, but he decided to give my static lighting, which was new to him, a try. After a few shots, we saw that my setup was ok for my 16mm lens, but that it was less then optimal for his 24mm focal length and composition. So I started to move my lights and while doing so, we discovered that we both were native German speakers. Now the mood got even more relaxed and we soon not only talked photography, but about our professional and personal background too.
In the end, we spent a great evening and both got more excellent captures than we expected, profiting from each other’s experience. I still do not understand how photographers sharing the same site can become aggressive instead of improving their skills by talking with their newfound friends.
This is my second shot of the evening. I hate selfies and consider selfie sticks one of the top ten inventions that mankind does not need. Therefore I have never done a self-portrait with the Milky Way before, but while shifting my camera in order to get out of the FOV of my new friend, I thought I might try to spoil my own image...
Galactic Selfie
Roughly 30 minutes after starting to do my Milky Way shots at Mobius and shortly after my first capture of this series was recorded (flic.kr/p/zgtcB3), the photographer I met at the parking showed up and I wondered whether there would be a problem sharing the site.
After a second “hello” and a proper introduction, my new acquaintance told me that he had been trying to do astrophotography at Bristlecone for the last two nights, but that the place was extremely crowded and that the mood was very aggressive. Now he was afraid that it would turn out the same here.
After seeing this peaceful forest in the afternoon, I could hardly believe his story. How can a place with so many great locations become crowded and how can astro-photographers, who share the same hobby and who should have a common understanding of their insignificance under the vastness of the star filled skies, become aggressive, huddling around the same old tree? Horrible. I obviously had taken the right decision coming to the Alabamas and I told my new friend not to worry.
As we started discussing our equipment, we found out that he was shooting with more focal length. So my camera and tripod were in his field of view. Of course, I immediately shifted my position. This was no problem at all, as there are plenty of possibilities for great compositions at Mobius Arch.
I also offered to shut down my lights, so he could do his own light painting, but he decided to give my static lighting, which was new to him, a try. After a few shots, we saw that my setup was ok for my 16mm lens, but that it was less then optimal for his 24mm focal length and composition. So I started to move my lights and while doing so, we discovered that we both were native German speakers. Now the mood got even more relaxed and we soon not only talked photography, but about our professional and personal background too.
In the end, we spent a great evening and both got more excellent captures than we expected, profiting from each other’s experience. I still do not understand how photographers sharing the same site can become aggressive instead of improving their skills by talking with their newfound friends.
This is my second shot of the evening. I hate selfies and consider selfie sticks one of the top ten inventions that mankind does not need. Therefore I have never done a self-portrait with the Milky Way before, but while shifting my camera in order to get out of the FOV of my new friend, I thought I might try to spoil my own image...