Comet McNaught

Comet McNaught with dry poppy capsules in the foreground...

Way, way cool. Wonderfully done. Dan

Peter, I would be inclined to crop this from the RHS to emphasise the comet more. I would also like to know how you did this. The effect is great.

Great idea and execution - car lights illuminating the foreground ? I'm inclined to agree with Jeff's thought of a crop ---- somewhat like this...

Hope you don't mind ... but now I notice this version is too small to be judged :-(

G'day Dan, Jeff and Walter,

You're looking at the full frame from the Canon 5D.

During late January 2007, Comet McNaught was so bright, that an image of it was easily obtained from southern skies, with a relatively short exposure time.

From an artistic point of view, the crop suggestion has some considerable merit. Small as it may be, Walter's effort does still show an increased emphasis on the comet, though I'm guessing that Jeff may lean towards a more square format?

The car headlights suggestion isn't far from the mark.

During the 10 second exposure, with camera mounted on a tripod (obviously), I painted the foreground with a bright torch (flashlight).

I've displayed the original full frame, as that is how it currently appears in the Tasmanian Alkaloids wall calendar, for the month of January 2008.

Interestingly enough, they also distribute a smaller desk calendar, which has a different format. This Comet McNaught image is cropped from the RHS on these desk calendars...

Cheers!

Peter, you read my mind. A square would work for me :-}

Jeff, the people at Foot & Playsted (Launceston based printers of the Alkaloids calendar), also must have read your mind! ;-)

 

 

execution Peter! The warm torchlight works a treat - most ingenious idea. I like the format as is. I see the taller single poppy head in midground right a sort of counter element to the comet in the opposite part of the frame. Fabulous cloud, gorgeous sapphire evening sky, a solitary star to punctuate the fading light - simply perfect bliss.......

Peter, you probably could have done better with shot, but for the life of me, I can't think how!

 

MP