How do I photograph the Milky Way over a landscape like the Ubuntu 'Forever' wallpaper?
Asked 8/12/2015
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I’m new to photography and want to make an image similar to the Ubuntu 14.04 'Forever' wallpaper: a landscape with a star-filled sky/Milky Way above it. What conditions do I need, what camera technique is used, and how much editing is typically involved?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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According to author's annotation to the image at 500px, it was taken in desert of Medina, Kuwait. It was submitted for inclusion with Ubuntu by someone else, and luckily the Albanian photographer Shady S. was happy to give his permission.
More generally, you'll need a location with no light pollution from surroundings. Technique-wise, have a look at already excellent answers on capturing the Milky Way and its colors.
Originally by user4390. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4390
10y ago
0
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Shoot on a clear, dark night in a location with very little light pollution. A new moon (or only a thin crescent) is best, because moonlight will wash out the stars. You also need the Milky Way to be visible in the part of the sky you want.
Use a tripod and a long exposure. Keep the exposure roughly under 30 seconds if you want stars to stay mostly points rather than turning into trails. If you do want longer exposures without trails, a tracking mount such as a simple barn-door tracker can follow the sky’s motion.
The foreground and sky can often be captured in one shot if the scene is dark and the exposure is long enough. Some color cast in the landscape can come from nearby light pollution or intentional added light. Basic post-processing is usually enough: contrast and color correction/touch-up. The example may be close to straight out of camera apart from mild adjustments.
So the essentials are: dark location, moonless/near-moonless night, clear skies, stable support, and a long exposure.
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