Rodney Campbell's Blog

Visiting some more caves at Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve. This time at the other end of the Reserve

Arch Loop

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 1/25 sec at f/4, ISO 180 x 6 Frames

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

This is the Arch Cave a short walk from the picnic area. This is the easiest cave to reach if you’re driving, it’s just a two minute walk from the car park

This is a quick little handheld panorama, consisting of six (6) vertical frames stitched horizontally

That dark area up on the left is the entrance to a dark cavern with stalactites, stalagmites and columns inside, bring a torch (or your phone)

Sparks

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 42 mm, 1/400 sec at f/5.6, ISO 64

A little sunset magic lined up through the fork in this tree

This is actually an HDR exposure blend of five (5) exposures at 1EV intervals taken handheld

A bit of trivia – right in front is also pretty much the spot I took the previous nights astro shots. The cool lone tree in those frames is 90 degrees directly to my left and up the hill a bit

Those clouds you see pretty much ends any thoughts of shooting astro tonight (plus it’s soooo cold this evening)…

Some practice over and above with my new Samyang 14mm f/2.4 ultra wide astro lens along with the Novoflex multi row pano rails

Over

NIKON Z 7 + 14.0 mm f/2.4 @ 14 mm, 15 sec at f/2.4, ISO 6400 x 10 Frames

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

The final result of a ten (10) shot panorama. It consists of two rows of five vertical overlapped frames to cover the entire milky way arch

I’d actually taken eight (8) exposures of each frame. With the intention of doing star stacking of each frame to reduce noise. In the end however I just couldn’t be bothered :). So I just chose the best exposure from each set and stitched them

The bright glow (light pollution) under the left end of the arch is caused by the city of Orange in the distance

This evening we were treated to an absolutely stunning sunset. Alas no time for the tripod and filters (which I did bring)

I just took some images (bracketed) handheld with the new Z7 and the Z 24-70/4 lens and just a polariser out front

Greener Pastures

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 56 mm, 1/60 sec at f/5.6, ISO 64

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

You can also see here that they have the makings of a small vineyard on their property – useful for photography too…

Tree of Thirds

NIKON Z 7 + 14.0 mm f/2.4 @ 14 mm, 15 sec at f/2.4, ISO 6400

On our first night staying at our friends place near Orange I went out for an astro shoot

It was a beautifully clear night with near perfect conditions. No moon, no clouds, minimal light pollution and not too windy or cold

I’d already checked out the place on maps online before coming so I knew this tree was hear near the top of a small hill on the property

A single frame vertical composition with a nicely centred tree and the image split into thirds with the Milky Way near horizontal above