Sky at Night

Moonlit star trail

Captured at home on evening 26th & 27th February 2021. Full moon - 99.8%. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 7-14mm BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 7-14mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time x 7hrs (1500 exposures) F4 ISO 320 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 7-14mm focal length composing the camera with horse chestnut tree in frame. The full moon (99.8%) was extremely bright and lit up the landscape. It was just to the right of my exposure upon time of setup - approx 2230hrs. There was no need for any light painting/illumination as the moon provided plenty of natural light to the scene. 7hrs worth of 15s exposures (1500 total) imported to software (Starstax) to generate final composite. The resulting shot reveals 7hrs of Earth spinning with landscape lit by the moonlight. The 0600hrs ISS flyby can just be seen on right side of tree running bottom to top corner. Stay safe.

Moonlight

Captured at home on evening 25th February 2021. Nearly full moon - waxing gibbous 98%. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 12-40mm I was setting up the camera for a star trail shoot. Look how the landscape is naturally lit from the moon. Amazing, almost looks like daytime! EM1, mk3, 12-40mm f2.8, 15s, ISO 320

Moonlit Stars

Captured at home on evening 25th & 26th February 2021. Nearly full moon - waxing gibbous 98%. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 12-40mm This star trail was captured by using the Olympus in-camera function called Live Composite (Setting B on top dial). I chose 15s exposures and set the camera shoot for 2 periods. The first was 2.5hrs and 2nd for 5 hours. The final image you see is a 7.5hrs composite made from both Live composites captured in camera. BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 12-40mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time using Live Composite mode in camera. F2.8 ISO 320 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 12mm focal length composing the camera with horse chestnut tree in frame. The nearly full moon (98% waxing gibbous) was extremely bright and lit up the landscape. It was just to the right of my exposure upon time of setup - approx 2100hrs. There was no need for any light painting/illumination as the moon provided plenty of natural light to the scene. Using the Lice Composite mode on the Olympus camera I shot 2 Live Composites. The first was 2.5 hrs and the 2nd was for 5hrs. Both star trail composite are generated in-camera. A cool feature to reduce post processing. I put both Live Composite images together with software to create a final single composite image. The resulting shot reveals 7.5 hrs of Earth spinning with landscape lit by the moonlight. The bright streak at top left looks like a satellite flare. easily mistaken for a meteor but you will note how the flare increases in brightness and fades, a signature of a satellite flare. Stay safe.

Moonlit tree

Captured on 24th February 2021. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 12-40mm. f2.5, 1/640s, ISO 640, tripod.

Waxing Gibbous 79%

Captured on 22nd February 2021. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f6.3, 1/640s, ISO 400, tripod, High Res mode.

Waxing Gibbous 79%

Captured on 22nd February 2021. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f6.3, 1/640s, ISO 400, tripod.

Tree in the dark

Captured at home on 19th Feb 2021. OMD, EM1 (mk3), with 7-14mm f4, 31s, ISO 200

New Year eve star trail

Captured on evening 31st December 2020. Last star trail of the year! This is a short 3 hr star trail as cloud rolled in. Olympus OMD, EM1 (mk3) in M mode, 7-14mm, set to 15s exposures, f4. Star Trail put together post processing in software (Starstax).

2021

Happy New Year 2021 Lunar font. Olympus EM1, 100-40mm

Full moon clouds

Captured on 30th December 2020. Multiple exposure of clouds and full moon. Olympus EM1, mk3, 100-400mm.

Full Moon (99.9%)

Captured on 27th December 2020. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f6.3, 1/2000s, ISO 320, hand held.

Full moon in trees

Captured on 29th December 2020. Full moon (99.9%) captured in a separate image and multi exposure with trees. Olympus OMD EM1,100-400mm

Moon halo

Captured on 27th December 2020. Cold conditions allowing a 360 halo to form around the nearly full moon. the halo is created by the moon’s light refracted by water droplets in the air. Olympus OMD EM1, 7-14mm, f4, 4s, ISO 500.

Waxing 95% Gibbous

Captured on 27th December 2020. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f7.1, 1/640s, ISO 320, hand held.

Christmas Eve Moon

Waxing gibbous 75% Captured from home on christmas Eve 24th December 2020. Nice to get a clear sky, especially on Christmas Eve :-) E-M1 (mk3), 100-400mm f6.3, 1/800s, ISO 500 spot metering. Hand held.

Moontage

Another version of my lockdown lunar montage which has captured every phase of the waxing moon during lockdown months, including the multiple exposure feature in centre. Images range from May through till Dec 2020 and include the following phases:- 5% - 23 June 9% - 25 May 11% - 24 June 18% - 25 June 28% - 26 June 36% - 20 December 39% - 27 June 50% - 22 November 59% - 30 May 61% - 23 November 64% - 31 May 72% - 01 June 80% - 26 October 82% - 25 November 89% - 26 November 94% - 27 November All moon images were captured with:- Olympus OMD EM1 (mk3) 300mm & 100-400mm lenses A mix of tripod and hand held. Some using Star Adventurer tracking mount. Some captured in High Res mode. Final montage of all images put together using Pixelmator software. A fantastic project during lockdown. Stay safe.

Lockdown Lunar Montage

This is my lockdown lunar montage which has captured every phase of the waxing moon during lockdown months. Images range from May through till Dec 2020 and include the following phases:- 5% - 23 June 9% - 25 May 11% - 24 June 18% - 25 June 28% - 26 June 36% - 20 December 39% - 27 June 50% - 22 November 59% - 30 May 61% - 23 November 64% - 31 May 72% - 01 June 80% - 26 October 82% - 25 November 89% - 26 November 94% - 27 November All moon images were captured with:- Olympus OMD EM1 (mk3) 300mm & 100-400mm lenses A mix of tripod and hand held. Some using Star Adventurer tracking mount. Some captured in High Res mode. Final montage of all images put together using Pixelmator software. A fantastic project during lockdown. Stay safe.

Waxing crescent 37%

Captured from home on evening of 20th December 2020. This is a High Res mode capture using tripod. E-M1 (mk3), 100-400mm f6.3, 1/320s, ISO 400 spot metering. Tripod, High Res Mode (tripod).

Jupiter Saturn conjunction

Captured on evening of 20th December 2020. Jupiter & Saturn conjunction maxing out tomorrow (21st Dec) however cloud is forecast so this is the night before. Tough subject to capture but Jupiter moons clearly visible. E-M1 (mk3), 100-400mm f6.3, 0.8s, ISO 1000 spot metering. Tripos & tracking mount.

Waxing crescent 36%

Captured from home on evening of 20th December 2020. Hand held, no tripod. Amazing quality in respect of this. E-M1 (mk3), 100-400mm f6.3, 1/400s, ISO 400 spot metering. Hand held.

Waxing crescent 27%

Captured from home on evening of 19th December 2020. Hand held, no tripod. Amazing quality in respect of this. E-M1 (mk3), 100-400mm f6.3, 1/520s, ISO 500 spot metering. Hand held.

Christmas crescent

Captured on 19th December 2020 from back garden. This is a crescent moon multiple exposure. To capture the effect required taking 2 images. The first (to achieve the long trail) was a long exposure. Using the multiple exposure mode in the Olympus E-M1 (mk3) I then captured another correct exposure setting and the in-camera feature blends the 2 images. Here's how its done:- Olympus OM-D, E-M1 mk3 100-400mm Long exposure f22, 1/3s, ISO 500 Quick exposure f6.3, 1/400s, ISO 400 In camera menu2 select Multiple Exposure - Number of frames 2f - OK. Long exposure - loosening the tripod head so I could move the camera easily during long exposure and shutter press. Now to get the second (quick exposure) in a single frame go back into menu2 select Multiple Exposure again - 2F and also Overlay to On. When you switch overlay on the LCD screen shows you existing images taken. Select the first image of the long exposure - OK. Now compose the moon again in the required position on the long exposure trail (This may take a few shots to correctly align). When you are happy press shutter button and this time the camera will overlay the long exposure with the quick exposure in a single composite. Simples! A fun project, all done within camera. Stay safe.

December Star Trail

Captured on night early morning 16/17th December. This is a 9 hour long exposure star trail. Using the Olympus OMD, EM1 (mk3) in M mode, 7-14mm, set to 15s exposures, f4 over 2000 exposures. Star Trail put together post processing in software (Starstax).

December Stars

Captured on night early morning 15th December. This is a 5 hour long exposure of stars from early hours 15/16th Dec whilst watching for Geminids. There are plenty of meteors in the image if you look closely. Using the Olympus OMD, EM1 (mk3) in M mode, 12-40mm, set to 15s exposures, f2.8 a total of approx 1200 exposures. Star Trail put together post processing in software (Starstax).

Geminid Meteor

Captured on 15th December 2020. The annual Geminids meteor display. Peak viewing was on 14th which sadly was clouded out. Following night much better with clearer skies. Captured a nice bright fireball at approx 0130hrs. Olympus EM1 (mk3) 12-40mm

Olympus Lunar Font

All phases captured with EM1 (mk3) & 300mm. A bit of fun :-)

Full Moon Slingshot

Captured on 30th November 2020 from back garden. This is a full moon multiple exposure. To capture the effect required taking 2 images. The first (to achieve the long trail) was a long exposure. Using the multiple exposure mode in the Olympus E-M1 (mk3) I then captured another correct exposure setting and the in-camera feature blends the 2 images. Here's how its done:- Olympus OM-D, E-M1 mk3 100-400mm Long exposure f22, 0.4s, ISO 64 Quick exposure f6.3, 1/1250s, ISO 320 In camera menu2 select Multiple Exposure - Number of frames 2f - OK. Long exposure - loosening the tripod head so I could move the camera easily during long exposure and shutter press. Now to get the second (quick exposure) in a single frame go back into menu2 select Multiple Exposure again - 2F and also Overlay to On. When you switch overlay on the LCD screen shows you existing images taken. Select the first image of the long exposure - OK. Now compose the moon again in the required position on the long exposure trail (This may take a few shots to correctly align). When you are happy press shutter button and this time the camera will overlay the long exposure with the quick exposure in a single composite. Simples! A fun project, all done within camera. Stay safe.

Full Moon (99.9%)

Captured from home on evening of 30th November 2020. The cloud clears (just in time). Full 100% was this morning but will take this 99.9% as full. E-M1 (mk3), 100-400mm f6.3, 1/1250s, ISO 320 spot metering Tripod. High Res mode (tripod).

Multiple Moon

Waxing Gibbous (94%), multiple exposure captured on 27th November 2020. As the moon phase grows (gibbous) so does the need to increase the gap between multiple exposure shots, unless you want to achieve the kissing effect such as this. Looks quite cool. This is a six number multiple exposure with a 1.5 min interval between shots. Here's how I captured this shot all in-camera using the Olympus OM-D, E-M1 mk3. Olympus OM-D, E-M1 mk3 100-400mm pro lens f6.3, 1/1250s, ISO 400, spot metering Tripod. In camera menu2 select Multiple Exposure - Number of frames 2f - OK and then composing the crescent in top left of LCD screen I took first shot. Using a timer I waited 1.5 mins and then I took the 2nd photo. Once done the camera will process the multiple exposure (2 frames or 2 moons in one image). Thats the first part, now to get more moons in a single frame go back into menu2 select Multiple Exposure again - 2F and also Overlay to On. When you switch overlay on the LCD screen shows you existing images taken. Select the first image of 2 moons - OK. Keep the timer running and after another 1.5 mins take another image. This time the camera will overlay the double moon with the new image making 3 in total. (Repeat the same process for more multiple shots). Each image has to be manually captured and ensuring focus remains consistent is a challenge! A fun project, all done within camera. Stay safe.

94% Multiple Exposure

Captured on 27th November 2020 from back garden. This is a lunar multiple exposure. To capture the effect required taking 2 images. The first (to achieve the long trail) was a long exposure. Using the multiple exposure mode in the Olympus E-M1 (mk3) I then captured another correct exposure setting and the in-camera feature blends the 2 images. Here's how its done:- Olympus OM-D, E-M1 mk3 100-400mm Long exposure f22, 0.4s, ISO 64 Quick exposure f6.3, 1/1000s, ISO 320 In camera menu2 select Multiple Exposure - Number of frames 2f - OK. Long exposure - loosening the tripod head so I could move the camera easily during long exposure and shutter press. Now to get the second (quick exposure) in a single frame go back into menu2 select Multiple Exposure again - 2F and also Overlay to On. When you switch overlay on the LCD screen shows you existing images taken. Select the first image of the long exposure - OK. Now compose the moon again in the required position on the long exposure trail (This may take a few shots to correctly align). When you are happy press shutter button and this time the camera will overlay the long exposure with the quick exposure in a single composite. Simples! A fun project, all done within camera. Stay safe.