Nocturnal

Lone Tree and Milky Way at Olmsted Point

My very first attempt at light painting in multiple layers, or stages, rather than in a single exposure was in Michael Frye's starry skies workshop at Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park (note the small nub on the horizon at left, which is Half Dome). With the camera firmly on a tripod, we took one exposure for the sky, one for backlighting the lone tree, the next for front-lighting the tree, and blended using layers in Photoshop. The purpose of this is to get the desired exposure throughout the composition. Obviously, I enhanced the vibrance (but not saturation) of the night sky, because I like the warm/cool contrast of the deep purple colors of the night sky with the orange glow of light pollution at the horizon. Constructive crticism is most welcome, thank you!

AstrophotographyCaliforniaEastern SierraHalf DomeLandscapeMilky WayNational ParkNatureNightNight PhotographyNorthern CaliforniaSierra NevadaStarsUSAYosemiteYosemite NPYosemite National Park