Learning to take milky way landscapes

 Occasionally I post about my other passion - astrophotography.  I will in the near future be setting up a new blog about my astrophotography but for now, I do occasional posts here on Arwen's blog. 

During the summer months I turn my attention from deep sky objects (DSO's) such as galaxies and nebulae to milky way landscape shots.  A completely new skill set, as I am not a daytime landscape photographer either!

I invested in a new lens - it came highly recommended on youtube and various astrophotography forums on facebook.  A samyang 14mm F/.8 manual focus wide angle prime lens. It is a beast of a lens - such great light capture at night.  And, its taking some time to master its use as well! 

Here are some of my first efforts. As always, I will say, again, that the data collection bit is easy - the post editing bit is a dark, dark art!  Oh! And so is learning how to compose a good landscape shot in the dark! 

Most of these shots have involved using the following equipment and software programmes. It is very early days!

Equipment:

• canon 800D
• canon 22mm F/2.8 pancake lens
• samyang 14mm F/2.8 wide angle lens
• intervalometer
• skywatcher star adventurer tracker 2i 
• william optics wedge
• benbo carbon fibre tracker
• joby gorilla heads
• two power banks
• dew band lens heater 

Software programs:

• sequator
• affinity photo 2
• photoscape X

The night sky and milky way core over Bigbury beach and island area on the south devon coast 

a tracked, stacked and blended composite photo: bigbury island  

On the roseland peninsula just above the beach

Down at wembury beach with the great mewstone island on the horizon

our milky way core - we are in an outer spiral of it; when we look at the core - think 'looking at a dinner plate sideways on' 

the old mill at wembury - national trust 

never did I ever think I'd capture a photo with meteors, milky way and faint aurora pillars in a single shot! Hope it happens again in a darker location next time! 

Lots of new learning - very much the beginner here! That's the fun though - life long learning 

A short trip

 The stars aligned. A gap on the family calendar. No travel expeditions or trips to get in the way.  A whole day of sailing! Oh my! Lost for words! 

Arwen was taken off the drive the day before and given a good scrub down and clear out. Even got the 'dyson' out to hoover up odd bits and pieces from her bilges!  Ssssh! Don't tell SWMBO!

Everything was taken out of Arwen's substantial, spacious hull and laid out on the lawn! Wow! I mean seriously - WOW! What am I carrying in her? After the clean up, a sort out and pruning of gear that went back in! 

Wheels were checked. Wheel bearings greased once more as were keel rollers. And then, just like that,  she was 'ready to go' for the following day!  

Then a test of the outboard on its home built outboard stand. She started on the third pull as usual. Great stuff. 

And the following day arrived with a stupendous sunrise. Through the bedroom window I watched the sky transform through a colour palette worthy of Turner or Van Gogh, and slowly, the fiery orange disc that is our sun, poked above the hilly horizon beyond the valley. 

Light winds, predicted temperatures of 22C and afternoon high tides. Perfect for launching and 0900 and returning around 1600 

"Specific sailing plans?" I hear you ask?  

None whatsoever - just a pootle around the sound! No beachings, no sailing up creeks or rivers - just open waters and tacking back and forth!  Six hours of just pootling about! 

The launch was easy, the slipway clear.  Arwen just rumbled backwards off her trailer with only two pushes. I motored out of the little marina and harbour and raised sails on a vacant outer mooring buoy in the Cattedown; and promptly got visited by several cadet boats,  all with two very scary looking, highly competent teenagers in each one. All polite, all close enough to my transom to shake hands with; all chilled, laid back and relaxed. I miss interactions with teenagers - retirement as a teacher can be brutal in this sense. The world cadet sailing championship taking place all week in Plymouth Sound. As far as the eye could see up the Cattedown, a humongous flotilla of small white hulls and white sails  - interspersed with safety ribs - I reckoned over 100 boats easily - but then maths was never my strong point! All heading downriver for the sound. Making easy work of the fickle incoming tide and head on winds! A masterclass in how to sail in light winds. Also, teenagers who appreciated boats like mine. Arwen drew many admiring compliments and waves from these crews. 

And so it came to pass, we took an hour to get out of the cattedown tacking back and forth from the mountbatten breakwater to the corner of the citadel area at the entrance to sutton harbour. Incoming tide and winds directly from the west!  Well, you just have to take what the day brings! 😆

Right along the outer edge of mountbatten breakwater, close into Jennycliffe beach at the rear of the old flying boat hangers and then following the coast close in all the way up towards Fort Bovisand.  Tucking under the bow and stern of a large motor yacht moored in the bay. Avoiding the little laser fusions and the young people learning to sail, out from the local watersports centre. Passing well to the north of the inshore lobster pot boat, the single crew working hard to rely the pots. Waving to local kayakers and quickly closing with two drascombes to pass greetings and quick chats. More enquiries about Arwen "What type of boat is she?" "Did you build her?" "Who is her designer?" "What are the seakeeping qualities like?"  "Isnt she such a beautiful little boat - you must be very proud of her?"  Yup! She's a little weathered and worn and needs some cosmetic TLC but she's still sound 15 years on! 

Over to Drakes Island and back again. Some setting sails so she sails herself. Marmite and cheese sandwiches and apples. A little sail trimming and boom setting. 

Did I take any photos? Nope! Was having too much fun - sorry! 

Did I take any video - yep loads but haven't the time at the moment to edit it all down. Will try to do something over the next few weeks, promise! 

So, just a pootle out on the water. As Wallace would say "A Grand day out t'was that"