Skyfire

I am thrilled to present "Skyfire," an evocative capture of the Milky Way rising vertically to the East over Lake Heron in New Zealand's Canterbury region. This panoramic shot, taken last June on a crisp winter night, marks a special moment for me. As the first of June signals the start of winter here in New Zealand, I decided to list this image for sale today to celebrate this transition. Lake Heron holds a significant place in my photographic journey. It's one of the locations I frequented when I first began astrophotography, before progressing to equatorial tracking mounts, panoramas, and exposure blending. This image represents both a return to my roots and a showcase of how far I've come. On that cold night, the wind began to stir, causing the reflections in the water to soften. Despite this, I'm immensely satisfied with the outcome. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds can be seen to the right, adding a celestial touch to the scene. The composition captures the pristine beauty of New Zealand's night sky, framed by the tranquil waters of Lake Heron. To achieve this shot, I used a Canon R5 with a Sigma 40mm lens, mounted on a Fornax Lightrack II equatorial mount. The image is a composite of 25 shots: 10 for the ground and 15 for the sky, each exposed for 55 seconds at f/1.8 with ISO 1600. This meticulous process ensured that both the terrestrial and celestial elements were captured in epic detail. "Skyfire" is not just a photograph; it's a reflection of my journey and the passion I have for capturing the night sky. I hope it resonates with you as much as it does with me. This image is now available as a 1/1 NFT, a unique piece for someone who appreciates the blend of technical precision and natural beauty. Size: 29064 x 16348 = 475,138,272 pixels Pixel count: 475.14 million pixels Resolution: 475.14 megapixels