topic Re: Milky Way in Share Your Photos

Milky Way

justadude — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:59:56 GMT

I went out to shoot the Milky Way a few weeks ago when we finally had clear skies. Not uncommon for me, but usually I shoot with a 15mm lens to get as much of not only the Milky Way in the shot, but also some foreground as well.

While out there on the Lake Michigan shoreline in a dark area of the state, I got to thinking that the last time I shot the night skies with a lens longer than 15mm was back around 1990 with film. So I grabbed my 35mm lens, and fired off a few shots. I was pleased with the results, and thought I would share one here. I wish I could have captured more of the core, but the light pollution was pretty bad not too far below the bottom of where I centered this shot, so I shot high.

Canon EOS R6 Mk ll
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8

Re: Milky Way

shadowsports — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:42:06 GMT

Nice shot Gary. Beautiful. 🙂

Re: Milky Way

justadude — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:30:22 GMT

Thank you, Rick!

Re: Milky Way

March411 — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:55:41 GMT

Very nicely Done Gary!

Re: Milky Way

justadude — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:18:11 GMT

Thank you, Marc!

I have a favor to ask... Next time I'm taking night sky photos facing south - southwest, if I give you a shout, can you have everyone in Chicago turn off their lights for an hour? 😅

The image below is 60 miles as the crow flies from downtown Chicago. The yellow glow that covers 2/3rds of the bottom is Chicago, and Gary Indiana. The slightly less yellow portion is from Michigan cities of Muskegon and Grand Haven. Isn't it crazy how far that glow can be seen? At least next week I'll be traveling another 130 miles north to darker skies for a week. Watch us have a week of cloudy days. lol

Re: Milky Way

March411 — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:42:44 GMT

No problem,I'll throw the switch.

What bortle zone are you sitting in when you grab these images

Re: Milky Way

justadude — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:33:20 GMT

For these I'm in a bortle zone 4. Next week I'll be in an area that's a 3, and if I look north, I'll be looking at zone 2 skies.

Where I live however, that's a zone 7, which is why I'll happily drive 80 miles north to the zone 4 skies for shots like these two.