Aoraki Star Trails

[Killakoala]

Aoraki (Mt. Cook) with star trails.

Unfortunately the room I was staying in is visible in the reflection of the window. I could not open the window without a brick and attracting attention so I had to make do with this. If you learn anything from this photo, it's to make sure the window of your hotel room opens if you want to take a shot like this in warmth and comfort.

If I ever return to NZ, I will attempt this again. However after I have visited the place four times, I am keen to go somewhere else for a change. (Although I do love the place)

Nikon D700, 28-70mm @ 28mm / F4 and 183 seconds exposure.

Click on the image for a 1080px desktop view. Looks better than 800 pixels.

[biggerry]

I could not open the window without a brick and attracting attention

Another 20 shots like this over the course of the night and merge them and its game on I reckon Although I am sure the wife would have something to say here (assuming..)

Have you tried lighting it up a bit? is there much detail to be had from the mountians? I do love that composition and I reckon the white snow would show up nicely...

[Murray Foote]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing - and maybe lighten up the mountains either more than the sky or the sky not at all. 20 minutes might have been nice for the star trails too, depending on the capabilities of your camera.

[Killakoala]

Even just a 3 minute exposure was too much as the ambient light shining into the dark room was enough to light it up like daylight. There is a significant amount of cloning on this image to remove the brightest reflections. Next time (if there is one) I venture to a place like this I will make sure I get a room with a balcony and set up the camera there.

The D700 does have the facility to take many exposures one after the other so it's possible to just leave it alone until the battery runs out. I only had one night here and I was very tired from having been mountain climbing during the day and I ha planned a trip to the top of the Tasman Glacier for the next day so staying up all night was not really an option.

However, as I am moving permanently to Tassie this year, I will have opportunities similar to this one within a short drive of home. So prepare to be bombarded with much improved images

[biggerry]

So prepare to be bombarded with much improved images

excellent..

[surenj]

Even just a 3 minute exposure was too much as the ambient light shining into the dark room was enough to light it up like daylight.

I think you have done really well given the difficult circumstances.

[ozimax]

Steve, was this taken from the Hermitage hotel?

[Killakoala]

Steve, was this taken from the Hermitage hotel?

Yep. The hotel stuffed up my booking. I asked for a cheaper room but they made a mistake and put me in the most expensive room (for the price of the cheaper room after I argued with reception.) The cheaper room had a balcony though

[ozimax]

You lucky dog. It really is a spectacular region and one of my favourite destinations in all the world. Did you get to trek anywhere near by? (eg the grey rivers and ice chunks etc)

[Killakoala]

You lucky dog. It really is a spectacular region and one of my favourite destinations in all the world. Did you get to trek anywhere near by? (eg the grey rivers and ice chunks etc)

I walked over to the bottom of Tasman Glacier and wandered around there, stumbling over rocks and taking photos for quite a few hours and also climbed about 1200 metres to a ridgeline overlooking the junction of the Hooker and Mueller glaciers, (I like Glaciers:) ) just short of the Mueller Hut as I couldn't get passed a large field of snow with the minimal equipment I had. I also flew to the top of Tasman Glacier and had an enjoyable wander around there too. That was the highlight of my two weeks on the South Island.

Some of the images I have post processed so far are here;
http://www.stevekilburn.com/Steve-Kilbu ... 3664_vNjps

I do agree with you though, it is an amazingly beautiful place and I've been four times so far. I'm tempted to make it five this winter.