Peveril Point Swanage Milky Way Welcome 2018

Swanage Peveril Point Milky Way in Dorset UK

Swanage Milky Way
Milky Way and moon rise from Peveril Point in Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom

As I did last year, I went again to the same place for my first Milky Way, Peveril Point, Swanage, Dorset UK. For my previous attempt, I used a Sigma Art lens 20mm F1.4. The idea was to capture more detailed foregrounds. The lens proved to be excellent for low light but it has four major downsides: first, photos of the night sky taken with this lens were extremely difficult to edit. Second, it is not very good for panoramas, despite I used a nodal head. Third, the autofocus is the worst of any lens that I have ever owned, it is very difficult to capture a sharp photo even with the best light conditions. And fourth, the lens profile in Lightroom is terrible, it makes the images worse. I was not bothered by the astigmatism distortion of the corners which virtually disappeared in panoramas. Overall, I was not happy with the lens, I felt I wasted my last year trying to use it. So I went back to my trustworthy Samyang lens 14mm F2,8. Coupled with the Canon 6D, still my preferred choice. I have not tested the Sigma 14mm F2 yet, but given the price, I will stick with my Samyang.

Below is the process used to create it. It is a panorama of 7 photos, Canon 6d and Samyang 14mm F2.8, ISO between 4000 and 5000. Each photo is 25 secs. Stitched in Adobe Lightroom.

Peveril Point Swanage Milky Way: 7 images highlighted below and stitched in Abobe Lightroom.

I also took another one without me, and here is the result:

Swanage Peveril Point Milky Way. Dorset United Kingdom. Canon 6d Mk1 Samyang 14mm F2.8. Panorama of 8 photos. 25 Secs each ISO 4000.

The moon rise was spectacular, one of the most beautiful rises from the sea, it was also so dim that allowed to capture the Milky Way up to the last minute before the astronomical dawn. Again, I thank you the nature for this beautiful experience.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

I thank you all for all your comments, likes and support, my very best wishes for you all!!!!

 

 

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And 2017 so far

This year 2017, started with big expectations, always trying to be realistic too about what it could be achieved, as the windows of opportunities in the UK are extremely reduced…so every clear night is so precious, to the point that if I miss one window(a clear moonless night ), I feel like I just wasted my time by doing something else.  It is a journey, and a great learning experience and it has become a religion.

 

Heavenly Ways

Heavens are my inspiration and always finding the ways to get to them…

Last Thursday 27th April 2017 from Durslton Country Park in Dorset UK.

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Trying to reach you Milky Way Durlston Country Park Dorset UK

And the Milky Way season 2017 began

With this image, my first of 2017, the Dorset Milky Way begins with all its beauty ….

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Peveril Point, Swanage, Dorset UK.  Dorset Milky Way

Dorset Milky Way

Few more opportunities the mother nature gave me during the last two months of the year to see through the window of the universe…

 

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Milky Way above the shed, Purbeck, Dorset, UK
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Self Portrait with Milky Way in Purbeck, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way Stour River, Throop, Dorset, UK
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Milky Way above Dragon’s Teeth, Bramble Bush bay, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way self portrait, Bramble Bush bay, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way above Purbeck, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way self portrait, Purbeck, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way Self Portrait next to a shed in Purbeck, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way from Bramble Bush bay, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way self portrait from Purbeck cross roads, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way view from Evening Hill, Shore Road, Poole Harbour, UK.
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Milky Way and Hamworthy Park Beach Huts, Dorset, UK.
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Milky Way and old jetty, Hamworthy Park, Dorset, UK.

 

 

 

 

 

Astrophotography Workshop Dorset 2016

Welcome to 2016 Astrophotography Workshop in Dorset.

Weather dependant, the first window is on Friday 26th August 2016 from 10:30 pm. Two hours session.

Location:  Isle of Purbeck or Studland (TBC on the day).  You must have your own transport.  Precise location will be released on the day.

To book your place only complete the form with subject : Astrophotography WS.

Looking forward to see you there !

 

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Update:

New window Monday 29th August 2016

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Poole Harbour Starry Nights 

Poole Harbour Milky Way Dorset

The largest natural harbour in the United Kingdom.  It is the estuary of 4 rivers, the largest being the Frome.  It has an approximate area of 36km2 (14 sq mi) and it is very shallow (average depth is 48cm) .  The area has a long history of human settlement pre-Roman times.  The harbour was used by the Romans as an invasion port.

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View of the Sandbanks chain ferry jetty. Sirius and the Milky Way, Sandbanks, Poole, England
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Milky Way above Parkstone Yacht Club and Poole Quay, from Whitecliff Harbourside Park, Poole, England

Poole is the main town.  It became a wealthy city in the 17th century as it was a trading hub, and by the 18th century it was the main British port trading with North America.

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Milky Way view above Poole Park, Dorset, England

 

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Hamworthy Lake Pier,  Sirius and the Milky Way, Poole, England.

The harbour is an area of international importance for wildlife conservation, and borders three natural reserves.

 

 

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View of the Milky Way above the harbour from Evening Hill, Poole, England

Poole Harbour has a special charm, and is well known for the most beautiful sunsets in Dorset.  This post is about a face little known, Poole Harbour under the starry nights

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Milky Way above Sandbanks bay, next to the sailing club. Poole, England.

Durlston Country Park: where inspiration is born

Views of the Milky Way from Durlston Country Park, Dorset, England.

Durlston Country Park is a 1.13 square kilometre (280-acre) country park and nature reserve stretching along the coast of the Isle of Purbeck at Durlston near Swanage in Dorset, England.  The Park, which is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, has been owned by Dorset County Council since the early 1970s and is mostly open access.

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View points across the park with descriptions

In 1887 George Burt, local constructor and business man who used to own Durlston estate, built a small ‘castle’ at Durlston Head, on the hill above Durlston Bay and the town of Swanage. The Durlston Castle was never a real castle, but was purpose-built to be used as a restaurant for his estate.

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Durlston Castle

Burt also commissioned a 40-ton limestone Globe, three metres in diameter, engraved with an 1880s world map. The footpaths around the Castle and Globe are lined with cast iron London bollards which were left in Swanage having been used as ballast by the ships transporting stone to London. Other ornaments include plaques carved with quotations from Shakespeare and the Bible, maps showing the English Channel and the United Kingdom, and facts about the natural world.

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The Globe, a 40-ton, 3 meter diamete sphere.
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The globe is engraved with an 1880 world map

In the 19th and 20th centuries Purbeck was quarried for its high-quality limestone. There were few open-cast quarries, and none in Durlston, but there are many mine shafts across the landscape, notably Tilly Whim Caves in a dry glacial meltwater valley.

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View of the Tilly Whim Caves

Most of the Park is designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and since 1997, a Special Area of Conservation. The majority is also designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance.

Durlston Country Park is one of the most inspiring places for photography in Dorset.