Around the Corner [Explored]

While daylight-scouting foregrounds for a Milky Way panorama in Joshua Tree National Park, I went to a famous spot, trying make up my mind whether to try my take of it or not. Unsurprisingly, it was crowded by tourists, photographers and two instagrammers who obviously owned the place. I didn’t even check my planning app, as I knew how the Milky Way would align from countless images on social media. After watching the freak show for a while, I moved on, still unsure if I was willing to return for a night shot.

 

A short distance away, I was alone again. Glad to have escaped the zoo at the overcrowded spot, I took a deep breath and glanced around. There was nice looking group of rocks with some scattered Yuccas and bushes in the foreground. This peaceful scene immediately made me stop. If I was not completely mistaken, the Milky Way would nicely align here. A quick check of my planning app confirmed my suspicion and I knew that I just had found the place for my Milky Way panorama.

 

EXIF

Canon EOS R, astro-modified

Sigma 28mm f/1.4 ART

iOptron Skytracker Pro

IDAS NBZ filter

Sky:

Panorama of 6 panels, each a stack of 5x 45s @ ISO1600, f/2, unfiltered & 3x105s @ ISO6400, f/2, filtered

Foreground:

Panorama of 7 panels, each 6s @ ISO400, f/11, during blue hour

Done