Hi Robert - I've always wanted to try a monochrome version of the Milky Way but I could never pull away from the color. Your shot has inspired me to give that a try next time I get a chance. I tried a couple of Lightroom edits to pass along in case you want to try. I masked the Milky Way and then used the Tone Curve to increase contrast in that part of the image using a fairly steep s-curve. I had to tone down part of the result of that edit with another mask because it resulted in a part I thought was too bright. I also cropped the image to move off-center a tad. The adjustments may not be to your taste, but the I think the edit did increase the visibility of the Milky Way. (I also added a vignette to keep viewers' eyes in the image.) By the way, I really liked the lower right corner of the image showing a light source and some hills in the distance with a little light on them. Thanks for the inspiration to try a mono-Milky Way!   Posted: 07/08/2024 20:59:00

Hi Robert, an awesome sight! I think that there is a special attraction in the monochrome version. My attempt for contribution is subtler than Jeff's: in Affinity Photo, I started with an elliptoid gradual brightness mask round the Milky Way that darkens the surrounding areas, and erased part of the mask at the bottom to show something of the foreground. Then I went to Levels, adjusted mainly Gamma, and made small changes in black and white levels. I like the centered composition, and I think that the mask actually forms a vignette to direct the eye to the center.   Posted: 07/10/2024 04:00:32

Not at all flat. You could try increasing the contrast, Jeff and Kirsti suggestions are orth considering from a more dramatic photograph. I agree with jeff that including foreground.   Posted: 07/10/2024 18:13:25

Hi Robert. My thought for star shots is the intensity of the star fields. I took the image into Photoshop and using mostly Camera Raw Filter did some processing to bring out and emphasize the star field. I am not sure if this is what you were seeking but it is what I would have done for my own image were I able to get to a place were I could see the Milky Way star field - not possible as close to Philadelphia as I am.   Posted: 07/27/2024 00:52:09

Thanks, Ed. I like it a lot. You, Jeff, Kirsti and Al have given me a lot to work with to improve the image - much appreciated to all.   Posted: 07/29/2024 18:03:34