Nightfly Photography's photostream

While we are in the midst of winter one cannot help but drift ahead of time to a warmer clime. It is true that Scorpius is emerging from its date with Sol and soon will be filling the early morning southern sky. Dreams of Rho-Oph will soon be fulfilled.

Taken last June during a rare window of opportunity of good weather, but during the work week, so little sleep was afforded. It was worth it of course.

The film, Fuji Acros 100 is a stellar performer for capturing the faint blue reflection nebulae in this region, especially IC4592! On top of that the contrasting dark nebulae (Thank you Mr. Barnard ! ) leap from the frame. The lack of thick star clouds in the upper right is because this is where the central hub of our galaxy tapers off.

I hope to be haunted again this summer by the spirit of E.E. Barnard, shooting this region again as he had done over a hundred years ago, with film and a portrait lens.

The full Moon illuminates a granite wall that rests adjacent to a black basalt dike at Schoodic Point, Acadia NP, Maine.

Pentax Spotmatic II with 35mm f/3.5 @ f/11 and 30 minute exposure On Kodak E100G

An incredibly large leaning section of cliff (broken off perhaps during the Ice Age) leans along the present cliff at Schoodic Point. The opening allows one to see through and photograph. Its pretty tight and difficult to shoot near high tide.

I've shot this composition at night several times over the years.

Pentax Spotmatic II 35mm f/3.5 SMC Takumar @ f/8 14 minute exposure on Kodak E100G.

Classic black and white astrophotography using modern orthopanchromatic b&w emulsion.

The image was obtained by using an equatorial mount for tracking during the 60 minute exposure utilizing a Pentax 67 and 105mm f/2.4 lens stopped down to f/4.

Under a dark sky these dark regions in Taurus and Auriga can be glimpsed by the keen observer. Long exposure photographs show an entanglement of dark nebulae rivaling anywhere else in the northern Milky Way. Edward Emerson Bernard was among the first to photograph this region and was delighted by what he recorded.

Barnard photographed this region (Plate 5) on January 9, 1907 revealing more than what can be seen here.

www.library.gatech.edu/Barnard_Project_W/PDF/plate5.pdf

A granite wall rests next to black basalt dike at Schoodic Point, Winter Harbor, Maine

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor trail as the earth turns during the exposure.

Pentax 67 45mm @ f/11 30 minute exposure on Fuji Acros 100 developed in Xtol.