Thx for the reply. Is there any ideal time or as long as sky is clear I can try my luck?
Milky Way Galaxy photographed in Singapore recently.
- Thread starter astrosg
- Start date
Thx for the reply. Is there any ideal time or as long as sky is clear I can try my luck?
Use software to determine the time..it changes depending on time of the year.
When I use justin ng's app last Saturday, it says visible from 8pm to approx. 11+. Angle was 30+ degree. I tried based on his settings but got very over exposed images as I was struggling to set to ETTR but not able to achieve it. Probably the light pollution was very bad.
That is an environment issue Liao. Ettr can only seek to improve ur odds and ability to get some milky way without going super dark places. But still need some relatively favourable(dark) ambient light. Can't do it too bright and expect good results.
Might be interested to join too if timing can accommodate.
thenakedshades
Member
I'm planning to head to either sembawang park or punggol end this coming friday night. Not sure how to see if it's good timing to go? Anyone can help? What kind of software is good for layman astro?
thenakedshades
Member
which part of changi is good? mind sharing the location?
i suggested changi because of the isolation from our light pollution; from being so ulu. exactly where is good spot, will have to be recce as i have no idea too haha!.
edited: actually i may know of a place that is open ground and has got no lights all around at changi. maybe be a perfect place. but we will need to trek in vegetation(got path so no need bash) for maybe 10-15 minutes and probably feed mosquitoes. that place is state land also so we may have some brush with the law for trespassing.
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thenakedshades
Member
Where is that may I ask? Mind sharing the location with me? On google maps or something?
went to reece, the sky is not suitable, too much light pollution IMO.
Hi at0m87. On page 1 of this thread, George shot and post-processed a photo of Milky Way in Bishan Park, which is in the middle of our city state, i.e. surrounded by light pollution from nearby Ang Mo Kio / Bishan towns. Changi Beach is a darker location overall compared to Bishan Park and one can point their camera towards the sea direction which has lesser light pollution.
Here are some notes which may be useful to those trying to shoot Milky Way in Singapore (or any urban environment):
(1) On a clear enough night, point your camera where the Milky Way SHOULD be and shoot. For 99% of the locations in Singapore on those clear nights, you WILL NOT see the Milky Way with your naked eyes. So don't wait until your eyes can see it before you shoot and don't conclude prematurely a particular location is not dark enough or has too much light pollution blocking the Milky Way base on whether you can see it with your naked eyes.
In most cases, after shooting a long exposure shot, you may not even see Milky Way very clearly in your photos via the LCD screen of your camera. Don't assume you didn't capture it and delete them too early! Because ....
(2) Lots of post-processing is required to bring out / enhance the Milky Way as seen in final shots. Prepare to make the effort to learn different types of post-processing techniques. For a start, I suggest learning the Exposure To The Right (ETTR) techniques used by local professional photographer Justin Ng. Visit his website and read his tutorials of post-processing Milky Way shots. For example, this one: http://www.justinngphoto.com/2014/0...ky-way-from-light-polluted-skies-of-singapore.
Then, spend more time to do research and experiment on other techniques of post-processing astrophotographs. In time, you will develop your own style/workflow/preference base on the final effect you prefer to see.
(3) Don't confuse clarity of sky on a particular night with local light pollution. These are 2 separate issues when evaluating a particular site in terms of suitability of shooting Milky Way (and stargazing for that matter). So don't conclude too early base on only 1 single recce trip unless the sky happens to be very clear on that one particular recce night.
It's Chinese New Year period now which means it's new Moon period. Can start practising capturing the thickest/brightest part of Milky Way (between Sagittarius and Scorpius) during the early morning hours around 5:30am these days. Milky Way is still relatively low near the horizon compared to a few months later. But if these early morning skies are clear enough, there may be opportunities to create interesting compositions with objects near the horizon and Milky Way just above them.
Then by the time the summer Milky Way is much higher up in the sky a few months later, you will be well prepared and have more confidence of capturing the required data to be post processed later.
Wishing all of you good luck and a very Happy New Year!!
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