Night at the Glades

[molested_cow]

IT WAS A MOSQUITO PARTY!!!!!

Seriously, all I can hear is mosquitoes, constantly... Had quite a few huge bumps on me. The insect repellent worked, but I put it on a bit too late.

Anyways, there is this spot in the Everglades National Park that photos love to take sunset shots at. I got there a bit too late and the condition wasn't good for sunset, so I stayed for the stars instead.

The storm clouds are pretty, but they killed the sunset as well because the sun was right behind it.

However as the night goes on, the lightning in the clouds became really active. With the stars and the lake, I was able to get quite a nice shot here.

Just another shot.

This is the first attempt at the milky way.... perhaps not enough milk

30min exposure (3X10min) at F8.

Last one:

Just a few more if you are interested:
Everglades pictures by molested_cow - Photobucket

 

[rjc003]

I like the 2nd one and the last the best. Sweet shots!

 

[joealcantar]

2nd the second one. Cool shot.
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Thanks for sharing and shoot well, Joe

 

[oldmacman]

All great pics, but that second one has great contrast in the clouds against the silhouetted trees. Beautiful shot.

 

[RUMANDRAMEN]

Like a Bob Ross painting, but no one beats Bob Ross.

 

[KenC]

Agree with others - all nice, but the second is spectacular. I wonder, though, if it would be even better without the star trails. Did you experiment with different shutter speeds and settle on this one?

 

[molested_cow]

Thanks all. Yes the second one is my favorite as well. The cloud was sitting in the west which blocked my view to the setting sun. In turn, it gave me tons of lightning. The lightning didn't register well when the day was still bright, but when the sun set completely, it was a party out there! So I was in a very lucky spot. It's completely clear sky all around me. Then there's this active storm cloud far in the west with a lake in between to bounce reflections. I literally had 360 degree of view to shoot for different results. I wish I was there longer, but it got a bit unbearable due to the mosquitoes.

I usually depend on the 20mm (on full frame) for night star trails because I can easily capture both the landscape and stars in one shot. This is important to me because the landscape helps to ground the shot, giving the composition grounding and meaning to the location. The first one was using a 35~70mm lens which I don't use often. It's a good walk around lens, but I usually depend on primes. I managed to get a nice composition. I guess the speed of the lens doesn't matter for long exposures.

Winter is definitely much better for star trail shots. Also better if you are closer to the north. In s.florida, you can't see the center of the spin, where as it's easily captured in states like Michigan. Humidity is also an enemy, that's why colder climate is better. Colder temp is also better for the sensor. I am new to digital SLRs so I was worried about letting my shutter open for too long.

 

[stephen.shelley]

I've donated my share of blood at that same lake to the mosquitoes. They can be quite thick there at times, especially in the summer. It too is one of my favorite sunset spots in Everglades National Park.

Everglades, Big Cypress and Florida Keys Photography www.stephenshelleyphotography.com

 

[dxqcanada2]

I like the last shot.
What focal length ?

 

[dxqcanada2]

Ah man ... old thread ... I hate when this happens !!!

 

[BlackSheep]

Hmm, another bumped old thread.

But these pictures are new to me so I'm glad for the bump.
Like everyone else, I love the second one, its fantastic. And the sunset shot ain't half bad either!
A belated :thumbup: to you, molested cow.

 

[Blitz55]

Well Done.