The Skies of Natural Bridge

After an already a long astrophotography session, I arrived at Natural Bridge located in the Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia, tired and cold. But I had timed it correctly and the edge of the Milkyway galaxy was just ascending to vertical when I had my camera gear setup.

Then, out of the clear skies, thin clouds started to appear, seemingly congealing out of the atmosphere. They flew fast with the sea breeze and threatened to get thicker and thicker. Realising that I had better get started, I switched to my wide angle lens and started taking photos for my multi-panel image (see below left). As luck would have it, when I almost finished the last photo the clouds began to evaporate, disappearing into the night air as quickly as they appeared.  I was packing up to go then but the stars came back - so I unpacked all my gear again to take another image, but this time with my 50mm lens (see below right).

| IMG_1277 | 2020-06-20 | Natural Bridge, Western Australia | EOS6D modified | Sigma 24mm f1.4 lens | @f/2.2 | IDAS filter | ISO1600 | 60s | 20 x panels | Skywatcher StarAdventurer mount |

This would have to be my favourite image of the night. The streaking of the thin clouds seems to add an interesting kinetic element to the image without obscuring the colours of the Milkyway and the night sky. The orange in the sky is not the coming dawn (its facing south for starters), but the approach of air glow in the upper reaches of the atmosphere. These get closer as can be seen in the other image.

This stitched image of 20 photos was taken with a modified Canon EOS6D camera through a Sigma 24mm f/1.4 lens. Each photo frame was taken immediately after the other, and all camera and lens settings were fixed throughout. A tracking mount was used for the sky frames.

| IMG_1332 | 2020-06-20 | The Gap, Western Australia | EOS6D modified | Canon 50mm f1.2 lens | @f/2.2 | IDAS filter | ISO1600 | 60s | 22 x panels | Skywatcher StarAdventurer mount |

Air glow, a product of chemiluminescence caused mainly by oxygen and nitrogen reacting with hydroxyl free radicals in the upper atmosphere, shines as orange cloud like formations in the sky over Natural Bridge, Western Australia.

Revealed behind this orange veil is the bright line of the Milkyway galaxy, almost vertical over the rocky coastline. The great Carina Nebula remains undimmed through it all, whilst the LMC and SMC peak through in the left of the image.

This stitched image of 22 photos was taken with a modified Canon EOS6D camera through a Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens. Each photo frame was taken immediately after the other, and all camera and lens settings were fixed throughout. A tracking mount was used for the sky frames.

Natural Bridge is located 20 minutes south of Albany, Western Australia (by car). Its sealed road all the way there, with a proper car park at the end (fees apply, but its reasonable). Natural Bridge is also next to The Gap, another tourist attraction.