The Big Dipper over Pyramid Mountain and Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, October 19, 2016, taken after moonrise of the waning Moon, now lighting the sky and clouds. Some foreground illumination comes from lights across the lake on the Pyramid Lake Lodge. Clouds were moving in but add a nice texture and colours to the sky. This is from a latitude of 54° N so the Big Dipper does not set and is circumpolar despite it being at its lowest point in the sky for the year in the northern autumn season. This is a stack of 8 x 20-second exposures for the ground, mean combined to reduce noise, and one 20-second exposure for the sky, all at ISO 6400 with the Sigma 20mm lens at f/2 and Nikon D750. This was from the end of 350 frames shot for a time-lapse sequence.
The Big Dipper over Pyramid Mountain and Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, October 19, 2016, on a dark moonless night before moonrise. Some foreground illumination comes from lights across the lake on the Pyramid Lake Lodge. The sky has some green from airglow or diffuse aurora. Haze and thin clouds add the natural glows around the stars. No filter was used here. This is from a latitude of 54° N so the Big Dipper does not set and is circumpolar despite it being at its lowest point in the sky for the year in the northern autumn season. This is a stack of 8 x 20-second exposures for the ground, mean combined to reduce noise, and one 20-second exposure for the sky, all at ISO 6400 with the Sigma 20mm lens at f/2 and Nikon D750. This was from 350 frames shot for a time-lapse sequence.
The Big Dipper reflected in the still waters of the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016, with an aurora to the north at right. Only in autumn can one shoot the Dipper reflected in the water in the evening sky, as it is then riding low along the northern horizon. This is from a latitude of 49° N where the Dipper is circumpolar. It is also called the Plough in Great Britain. This is a stack of 4 x 25 second exposures for the dark ground to smooth noise and one 25-second exposure for the sky and water, all with the 25mm Canon lens at f/2.2 and Canon 6D at ISO 3200. Taken with dark frame LENR on.
