Lake Leschenaultia Field Trip
Preamble : This is the simplist astro shot you can take so if you want to learn this is definately your best starting point. For those that are more experienced we will pray for a calm night so we can get the milky way reflected off of the lake. We can car pool for those who don't want to drive themselves, just select the ticket for car pool as opposed to driver and we will sort out who goes with who.
Topic : Vertical Milky Way Photograph
Location : Chidlow in the Perth Hills
Travel time from Claremont : 1hr 10 mins approx
Best time to take photographs : 10.30pm, but the Milky Way Galactic Centre rises at 9.30 and can be photographed from that time till late into the night as there is no moon on Monday evening.
Where to meet onsite : park in the carpark on the west side of the lake. If the gate is shut then park at the visitor centre and walk around, its only about a 5 minute walk across the dam. We will be taking our photographs from near the beach on the western side of the lake. I suggest you depart Perth to arrive at site by about 9.15pm (so about 8pm depart). This will give you time to set up prior to the best photographs being available. You should be home before midnight.
What to bring : Camera, tripod, head lamp and wide angle fast lens. This will be a single exposure portrait shot so nodal rails are optional. There is a panorama shot available but its not essential to take a panorama to get a good shot of a vertical milky way. You will also need warm clothes, something to eat and drink and a chair to relax in whilst you wait for the your shots.
Camera Settings : Refer previously distributed presentation for more details.
Please ensure you set up your camera before you leave home as its much easier than doing it on the fly in the field.
• Exposure – 2 x NPF Accurate but always less than 500 rule, somewhere between 10 and 30 secs depending on your combo. (use app to look up for your camera and lens combination)
• Aperture – 0.5 to 1 stop above minimum
• ISO – 1600 to 3200
• White Balance – 3200K to 3400K
• IBIS – turn off!!
• Remote Trigger - enable or use delayed release (2 sec)
• Focus - manual (minimise size of stars or use hyperfocal length for foreground focus and acceptable star focus)
We will do a processing workshop during April so you can get a proffessional finish for this photo, more news later on this.
