Brad Ashbrook  


Bryce Queens by Brad Ashbrook

June 2021 - Bryce Queens

About the Image(s)

I was finally able to get out and travel last month! Went to Kanab fore a night photography conference and stayed out into the wee hours of the morning 5 nights. On the last night, we hiked down the Queens Garden trail in Bryce and found these nice hoodoos and a tree. These were lit by 3 very small, very dim LED panels. This is a 15 second single exposure with my A7R4 and 20mm f1.8 lens at ISO 3200. I first used DXO PureRaw which helped with the noise and also removed some slight vignette. I then opened the image as a DNG into CC and made several raw adjustments. Then in CC I used a new plugin Astro Panel 5 to add additional contrast, color and brightness to the Milky Way.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted




Becca Cambridge   Becca Cambridge
Doesn't it feel great to get out again? The Milky Way capture is clear with minimal star movement and good color.
I find the tree to the left to be distracting from what I think is the focal point. I'd crop it out for a more interesting photo with the sunrise emerging.
I am so glad there are people who get up to hike and shoot night photography. It can be a challenge.   Posted: 06/09/2021 09:47:17



Lauren Heerschap   Lauren Heerschap
I debated about that tree. If it wasn't a Milky Way shot you could crop it to a portrait of the rocks on the right; however your subject is the sky and I think the mountains are enough. Taking out the tree would open up the view of the sky. I love Bryce.   Posted: 06/10/2021 08:38:38



Jon Allanson   Jon Allanson
To me the the main subject of the image is Milky Way and the hoodoos, the tree is adding little to it - so I would crop to create a square image. The use of the LEDs has brought out all the detail needed in the hoodoos, without spilling over in to their surroundings. In many ways I would prefer the sky to be darker with with less blue in it.   Posted: 06/13/2021 01:32:13
Brad Ashbrook   Brad Ashbrook
You might see this subject again next month taken a little later in the evening (or Morning depending on your perspective) with the Milky Way a little more vertical and eliminating the tree.   Posted: 06/14/2021 16:17:42



Renee Schaefer   Renee Schaefer
I agree with the others. The tree is a bit of a distraction. The rock formations and the Milky Way are what the image is about. The light on the rocks is beautiful and I like the coloring of the sky.   Posted: 06/13/2021 14:34:50



Jan van Leijenhorst   Jan van Leijenhorst
A very interesting image. I like the "otherworldly" feeling of it. The tree does not disturb me. It bring a touch of reality to the image.   Posted: 06/15/2021 10:42:57



Danny Dunne   Danny Dunne
Lovely shot. I think the tree adds balance to the hooddoos. Lighting on the hoodoos works really well. Exposure well done. It helps to have the right gear and settings.   Posted: 06/23/2021 05:10:13