Star Trails

CWSkopecCWSkopec Registered Users Posts: 1,325 Major grins
edited November 22, 2012 in Landscapes
This image was taken back near the end of August while camping up in the mountains east of San Diego (the orange glow on the left is our campfire). Technique-wise, it may be my best star trails shot thus far, but I'm having trouble deciding on a crop for this image.

Your thoughts on the crop and anything else that strikes you are much appreciated!

1| A standard crop
Los-Coyotes-Star-Trails-Edit-XL.jpg


2| A pano crop
Los-Coyotes-Star-Trails-Edit-X2.jpg

Thanks for looking! :thumb
Chris
SmugMug QA
My Photos

Comments

  • JCJC Registered Users Posts: 768 Major grins
    edited November 20, 2012
    It looks good, well done. I like the pano crop, but I'd leave a smidge more space at the bottom of the tree, and not take off any of the top of the trails. The gradient into the semi-dark sky adds an element of interest, and you are losing the darkest part by cropping it off.
    Yeah, if you recognize the avatar, new user name.
  • superduckzsuperduckz Registered Users Posts: 377 Major grins
    edited November 20, 2012
    To my eye the pano has more impact.
    Accidents and Inspiration
    One of these days I'll have to figure out what my "style" is..
  • jttphotojttphoto Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited November 20, 2012
    I also like the pano crop. The only thing I would change on it is the half a tree at the right edge of the pano crop. What were your settings if you don't mind posting them? I really like the shot.
  • Art MorganArt Morgan Registered Users Posts: 107 Major grins
    edited November 20, 2012
    This is a well crafted shot, Chris. Nice work!

    I do think the campsite (fire) is distracting. Personally, I would crop the image to a square, so that the North Star is in the center of the square. This would crop out your camp...but there's not enough detail of your camp to make me want to keep it.
    Art :)

    www.ArtMorganFineArt.com
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,940 moderator
    edited November 20, 2012
    Count me as a fan of the Pano version as well. Nicely done!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • CWSkopecCWSkopec Registered Users Posts: 1,325 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    Thanks for the thoughts, everyone! I appreciate it your input! :D
    Art Morgan wrote: »
    Personally, I would crop the image to a square, so that the North Star is in the center of the square. This would crop out your camp...

    Art, I really hadn't considered getting rid of my campfire (I suppose it means more to me than your average viewer). I'll give the square crop a try and see how it looks. Thanks! thumb.gif
    Chris
    SmugMug QA
    My Photos
  • Art MorganArt Morgan Registered Users Posts: 107 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    CWSkopec wrote: »
    Art, I really hadn't considered getting rid of my campfire (I suppose it means more to me than your average viewer)

    Ha. That's what I was thinking, and I actually started writing something to that effect, but erased it....of course you'll always have the campfire shot to look at since we don't delete our originals.

    I'll give the square crop a try and see how it looks. Thanks! thumb.gif
    Post it when ready! mwink.gif
    Art :)

    www.ArtMorganFineArt.com
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