Jeff Ball Jeff Ball

Ultimate Portable Astrophotography Setup Part 2

We expand our search for the Ultimage Portable Photography Setup. Equipment reviewed is the William Optics Redcat 51 on the iOptron Skyguider Pro with multiple ZWO gear including the Air, 294 MC Pro camera, and 120 camera and scope. Please give it a view.

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Jeff Ball Jeff Ball

Badwater Milky Way

The setting Milky Way from the lowest point in North America. The night sky is remarkable at Badwater. The salt residue patterns adding a point of focus in the foreground. The town of Ridgecrest casts some light on the horizon, but that is the only light visible this location. Sitting in the middle of Badwater at night, taking in the beauty of the sky and hearing absolutely no sounds, created a tranquil environment for meditation and reflection. The Sony A7RIII was used with the Laowa 15mm f2 lens with 10 images of 10 seconds stacked to form a smooth Milky Way presentation.

badwater_milkyway_web2.jpg
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Jeff Ball Jeff Ball

Eagle Nebula from Spruce Knob, WV (Almost Heaven Star Party 2019)

My access to the sky below 0 degrees declination is very limited. That means I must travel to image an object like M16-The Eagle Nebula. On the first night we had very nice conditions early in the evening that afforded me the opportunity to take a late summer run at The Eagle Nebula. In 1995, the Hubble telescope captured one of the most iconic images of our universe to date-the Pillars of Creation. Those pillars are in the central part of the brightest section of the nebulosity in this image. I will never forget when that image was published. It captured the imagination of the entire world at the time. For details on the image, please see this link to the Astrobin page. I hope you enjoy the image and that it spurs in you a moment to contemplate the miracle of the creation of our universe.

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Jeff Ball Jeff Ball

New Gallery: Astro Scapes

Inspired by Richard Tatti of Australia through his amazing YouTube channel, I have opened up a new gallery of images called Astro Scapes. Richard is a master of night sky images in the landscape. He inspired me to scout and execute my first light painting technique shot at the remarkable location of Spruce Knob Tower at the summit of West Virginia’s highest peak.

This gallery will include any astronomical event or skyscape that features a landscape foreground. Please take a moment to peruse the new gallery and here is the new image. of which I am quite happy with. Have a great weekend!

Don’t forget, you can click on the image for a larger preview.

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Jeff's Blog

Join me on photography journeys from desert landscapes to deep sky wonders.