Astrophotography Blog: Sullivan County

Showing posts with label Sullivan County. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Canon Ra Panorama Milky Way Toronto Reservoir Bethel, NY

This is one of my early large-format panoramas taken with the Canon EOS Ra. Previous posts featured single exposures, but here I captured a classic wide-field Milky Way panorama composed of 10 separate images, stitched together to reveal far more detail and structure in the galactic core.

The photo was taken at Toronto Reservoir in Bethel, New York, a quiet and scenic area located about 7.7 miles from Monticello in Sullivan County. The reservoir sits in a relatively dark region compared to NYC, making it a great location for astrophotography when the sky is clear.

In the photo you can clearly see the calm surface of the Toronto Reservoir, framed by the dark silhouettes of trees along the shoreline. The water reflects the trees and several bright stars, creating a peaceful mirrored foreground. Above it, the Milky Way stretches like a river in the sky, while the reservoir becomes the river on Earth — both flowing in parallel. A portion of the Galactic Center is also visible, adding extra detail and structure to the panorama.

Canon EOS Ra Milky Way Panorama over Toronto Reservoir, Bethel NY

Canon EOS Ra Panorama Milky Way Toronto Reservoir Bethel, NY

Technical details:
Canon EOS Ra • EF16–35mm f/2.8L II USM • f/2.8 • ISO 6400
Panorama of 10 images, each 8 seconds

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Canon Ra Reflection Night Landscape Bethel, Sullivan County, New York Astrophotography

I continue testing my new Canon EOS Ra astrophotography camera. There is nothing quite like a starry, quiet summer night — the Milky Way moving slowly across the sky while the landscape glows softly beneath it.

This photo was taken in Bethel, Sullivan County, New York, an area that became world-famous in 1969 when nearly 500,000 people gathered on Max Yasgur’s Farm for the legendary Woodstock Festival. Today, the region is peaceful, rural, and surprisingly good for astrophotography.

In the image you can see a small local pond reflecting the surrounding trees and several bright stars. Even though it was nighttime, the landscape appears illuminated enough to reveal the details of the trees and water — the only sign that it is truly night is the Milky Way arching above. This is a simple one-shot exposure, but it carries a calm atmosphere that reminds me of childhood fairy-tale stories.