The proof in 40000 seconds, a photo from Erongo, South

Photographer's Note

(Le texte en Franзais se trouve un peu plus bas.)

Namibia is one of those rare spots on earth where you can still watch the milky way in the way it was meant to be seen. There is no industry around for hundreds of miles, making it the ideal place for star observation, far away from disturbing lights. This picture has been taken from Guest farm Niedersachsen, an insider tip for people interested in astronomy.

My camera was steadily headed to the south pole and I had a laptop controlling the camera body through a USB cable. During all night, every 3 minutes, I heard the camera shooting. I was laying there, the eyes towards the sky, and my only job was to replace batteries every 2 hours to keep the camera going. That night I asked myself why the sky shows its movements only to those who take the time to look and compare over the time. This picture is arithmetically computed from more than 230 pictures that have been shot every 3 minutes from 7pm to 7am during the night from sunset to sunrise. It is a result of a 'highest intensity pixel wins' comparison between all pictures, in other words some kind of mathematical addition over the time. A kind of movie inside that very picture, for me somehow my goal of achievement in photography: a comprehensive capture of movement, evolution and time. (This picture is part of the Eclairages Reciproques gallery)

La Namibie est l'un de ces rares endroits de notre terre oщ l'on peut encore observer dignement la voie lactйe d'une maniиre qui en rйjouirait son crйateur. Loin des lumiиres perturbantes des villes ou industries, j'йtais sur la ferme auberge Niedersachsen, spйcialisйe dans l'observation astronomique.

Mon appareil photo йtait fixй stablement vers le pфle sud, et j'avais apportй un ordinateur portable pour le contrфler via un cвble USB. Toutes les 3 minutes, toute la nuit, j'entendais le dйclic de mon appareil. Confortablement allongй sur mon dos, en regardant le ciel, je n'avais plus qu'а remplacer les batteries toutes les 2 heures. La question que je me suis posй, c'est: pourquoi le mouvement des йtoiles n'est'il que perceptible а celui qui l'observe d'une maniиre prolongйe et attentive?
Cette photo est le rйsultat d'un calcul cumulatif de plus de 230 photos prises toutes les 3 minutes, toute la nuit de 19h du soir jusqu'au matin vers 7h, au levй du soleil. Le rйsultat est arithmйtiquement le maximum mathйmatique en intensitй de chacune de ces photos. Un genre de film dans une photo, en quelques sortes. C'est pour moi ce qu'il y a de plus noble dans la photographie: la magie de savoir figer dans une photo d'une maniиre comprйhensible un mouvement, voire mieux une йvolution. (Cette image fait partie de la galerie Eclairages Reciproques)

paul_lombard, Nicolas_D, Amaniman, alainh, chrisnet, vascao, sarahnatalie, SamB, cobraphil8, steevloki, tobourge, Goran, darrasin, pridel, wautersw, startacked, pady, nels, vincent24, nicole80, ktanska, gezgin37, gabrielpat, moshe_mosk, altonv, superpau, sc07, hpbaxxter, bach37, rtome, wodigori, Jaune, TheG1, azat, premels, mortijo, ewasting, grimus, pinakie_slg, JonteW, shirgold, barni, sheepyak, alessandro_1981, rui_seabra, WhiteRose, ulla, jeromep, Betty, Valeski, leiju, rachelonthego, whereami, HIRAKZ, aimiliospet, jdwyer264, rleclercq, Irina75, szabcsi, enedimd, rajhema, manub, JorgeCK, w0jtuch, MadraRua, bhardwajkapil78, mpsf, Preetie, sagar, theblackhead, CRATEOS, sreeharig, jcdurka1, v_vicky, Mateja, chrkont, josien, seb36, jonathan_hart, stefpat, h_sedghi, andr3w has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

norbertbo (494) 2006-09-04 14:28

Hello!
This photo... it's a proof of professional work.
Very good idea.
Regards,
Norbert

[2]

paul_lombard (375) 2006-09-04 14:30 [Comment]

Show Comment

Nicolas_D (472) 2006-09-04 14:37

On a l'habitude de voir ce clichй en continu, et non pas en discret comme tu l'as fait, a savoir une pause toute les 3 minutes et sans rien entre.
Cela donne bien, et est assez originale! Bien jouй!
Amitiйs,
Nico.

jasmis (58653) 2006-09-04 14:51

Fine idea and astonishing result. Regards.

rhizomes (15343) 2006-09-04 15:37

Salut Pascal,
Impressionnant !! J'aime vraiment beaucoup et l'explication est trиs claire et bienvenue !
Fйlicitations !
Christophe

alainh (33209) 2006-09-04 15:55

Bonjour Pascal.
une galerie toute jeune mais dйjа d'une grande richesse. cette derniere est un must en terme de passion, de patiente et de technique. le resultat est bloffant !
tres beau boulot. encore bravo pour tes images precedentes !!
bonne soiree

alain

Amaniman (1122) 2006-09-04 15:56

Quel boulot ! Le rйsultat est а la hauteur : magnifique !

rewshearer (682) 2006-09-04 16:52

Hi Pascal
I almost feel dizzy looking at that shot. Amazing to see such tangible proof of our planet's spin. Congratulations, your efforts have resulted in a spectacular and very rewarding shot.
Beautiful work!
Rew

Rockyboy (20598) 2006-09-04 17:43

C'est surrйaliste comme photo! On se croirait dans un film de science fiction! En tout cas, j'admire la patience que tu as eu pour faire ces 230 photos. J'imagine que le travail de superposition a dы prendre du temps йgalement. Par ailleurs, le paysage lunaire est magnifique... Bravo!

Goran (247) 2006-09-04 18:31

A lot of preparation and work led to a great result. Thanks for sharing!

vascao (192) 2006-09-04 18:50

I'm speechless.
TFS.

SamB (1948) 2006-09-05 0:06

Wow--the picture is interesting, but the note is absolutely incredible, very useful. Thanks for this well executed and informative piece!
sam

cobraphil8 (84) 2006-09-05 2:29

Bonjour Pascal,
toi qui restait bйat devant les ruines incas, j'en fait autant devant ce spectacle naturel que tu as magnifiquement fixй, ta note explique trиs bien la difficultй de prise de vue...
Je pensais а un temps de pose trиs long mais finalement c'est encore plus contraignant que cela pour arriver а ce rйsultat !
230 clichйs pour avoir ce rйsultat, vive le numйrique :)

Merci pour ce ballet йtoilй

Philippe

tobourge (971) 2006-09-05 3:02

Bonjour Pascal,

Exceptionel rйsultat du travail de toute une nuit!!!

Merci

Tony

dkeus31 (27739) 2006-09-05 6:11

Bonsoir Pascal,
Original les poses courtes qui nous montrent les йtoiles ponctuelles.
Tu as fait des poses longues pour la voie Lactйe?
Amicalement
Didier

darrasin (2860) 2006-09-05 13:26

Hello Pascal! This is very inspiring image and give me many great ideas. I really appreciate your note on how it was done!

thanks for sharing
Doug

thor68 (5586) 2006-09-05 16:55

wow, wow, wow! :-)
what an awesome job, pascal! :-)
and so much work - but the result is incredible.
very pro-work, maybe something to try for me in a couple years. *g*
very well done & take care, thorsten.

ncfg (137) 2006-09-05 17:05

Hi Pascal
First, thanks for the tips to my Serra da Estrela photo.
Second, you did a great work here! Composition, colours and that spiral effect are really a masterpiece. Well done!
Greetings
Nat

PixelTerror (0) 2006-09-06 3:45

Bonjour Pascal,
Voila une vue etonnante et epatante. J'en ai deja vu sur TE (en Australie) mais en general elles sont le resultat d'une pose B d'au moins une demi heure. Ici la technique permet de capturer le mouvement sur une duree bien plus importante et le resultat est spectaculaire. 230 photos... comment donc as tu fait le travail d'assemblage ???
En tout cas bravo pour cette performance !
Bonne journee,
Jean-Yves

wautersw (3647) 2006-09-06 7:15

Pacal,

it was well worth the wait. This is really exceptional. A lot of work but the result is stunning. Why can't we give 5 points for this.

TFS

Wolf

startacked (1395) 2006-09-06 13:58

Amazing stuff Pascal! You have very good ideas and your gallery shows your tallent and skills. Keep it up!
Gilbert

pady (4800) 2006-09-06 15:50

Belle prouesse technique, c'est assez йpoustouflant.
Comment as-tu procйdй а l'assemblage de ces 230 photos ?
Le paysage est trиs beau.
Amitiйs
Pierre-Andrй

nels (2623) 2006-09-06 16:26

hi pascal,, truly awsome work a lot of thought time and effort has gone into this shottfs:)

adrian

vincent24 (9060) 2006-09-06 16:26

Bonsoir Pascal,
Une facon tres habile de depasser l'handicap des capteurs numerique dans les longues pauses...trйs astucieux et beau resultat,je vais la montrer а mes enfants pour illustrer mes explications lors d'une soirйe d'observation cet йtй...
bye,
vincent

nicole80 (2163) 2006-09-06 16:55

Salut Pascal,
C'est une expйrience inoubliable ! J'avais dйjа vu des photos de la voute cйlйste, mais aucune comme celle-ci en pointillй.
C'est du trиs bon boulot !
Fйlicitations,
Nicole

ktanska (44714) 2006-09-07 3:26

Hi Pascal,
It's fascinating. I wonder if I've ever seen this of southern skies. Imaginative use of technology. And excellent place for such experiment.
Kari

gezgin37 (3788) 2006-09-07 11:39

Very good idea with superb result.
TFS.

gabrielpat (7163) 2006-09-07 18:24

salut pascal,
зa c'est fort!!! merci.

rafid76 (0) 2006-09-12 18:23 [Comment]

Show Comment

altonv (620) 2006-09-14 15:46

fantastic!! wow..
lots of batteries :)

great shot once again!!

superpau (1464) 2006-09-15 21:35

Simplemente increнble.
I have no words. Congratulations!!!
Thanks for this extraordinary photo.
Saludos, Paula.

sc07 (1292) 2006-09-18 20:45

Salut Pascal!
Superbe photo, vraiment йtonnante. Et Bravo pour tout ce travail, le rйsultat est а la hauteur des efforts fournis...Une autre chose surprenante, c'est la trajectoire obtenue: entre la rotation de la Terre et le mouvement des йtoiles, c'est йtrange d'obtenir des arcs de cercle parfaits!!!! Je ne sais pas si tu as dйjа des explications lа dessus, en tout cas je vais chercher...Et merci du partage (et de la note, indispensable ici), cette photo est vraiment fantastique
Seb
PS: Aprиs relecture de ta note, je crois avoir trouvй ma rйponse: йtant fixй vers le pфle sud, en supposant les йtoiles fixes, tu viens de re-prouver que la Terre tourne sur elle-mкme...La dйmo se tient...(enfin je crois!)

Bambi (4) 2006-09-21 7:08

C'est splendide...

rtome (638) 2006-09-21 7:54

Salut Pascal.
Tu nous prйsente une photo exceptionnelle dans sa technique et son exйcution!
Autant le rйsultat visible que la note qui acompagne sont fascinant.
Bravo!
Amicalement, Robert

manulvu (200) 2006-09-21 8:05

Hello Pascal,
Indeed the result of your hard work for full night paid out beuatifully.. Nice explanation of the post processing.
Did you shoot in RAW or JPEG?
Regards
Manu

Zivko (211) 2006-09-21 8:08

Bonjour Pascal!
Your picture is very professional. It suitable for a textbool in astronomy.

premels (2400) 2006-09-26 17:20

Bonsoir Pascal,
J'avais dйjа vu ce genre d'image en argentique oщ on travaille avec de (trиs) longues poses. En numйrique de si longues poses gйnиrent souvent trop de bruit. L'idйe de rйaliser une succession de poses (plus) brиves c'est l'oeuf de Colomb.
L'assemblage final est superbe. Je me demande quel vitesse d'obturation tu as utilisйe pour toutes ces petites poses.
Philippe

caproger (168) 2006-09-29 15:47

Hi Pascal:
This is an astonishing 'technical' photograph. Well done!

sameeras (49) 2006-10-08 10:43

Amazing picture. Fascinating !!!

ewasting (762) 2006-10-08 10:45

Brilliant in every respect... sparks of genius...! You must have a very penetrating mind. Congratulations. ewa

voyagenation (1180) 2006-10-08 11:03

Hi Pascal,

Its the love that drives this kind of work, meticulous (concept and application in cync), rythmic (changing batteries), organised (cataloguing of all details), patience (love does that), enduring (facing the tough work
in a glimmer of smile perhaps) are all needed to bring this into fore. btw, did i mention i dropped my jaw someplace, but in Manila...where city lights cannot give you this masterpiece.

Mabuhay!

Raul

pinakie_slg (861) 2006-10-08 11:31

Hi Pascal Specht,

I saw these type of photographs in books and read about the way to click in photography magazines, but it was nice to see someone clicking whom i know in the extended family of TE. Thanks for sharing.

Pinakie

JonteW (190) 2006-10-08 13:34

I would have given you points just for doing it already! The sunrise gives a nice little extra to the image! I've sometimes thought about long exposures towards the point of the earth axis. But never realized how long one has to wait to get nice "stararchs".

shirgold (2485) 2006-10-18 17:09

Hi Pascal,
Very impressive result of a fascinating technique!!!
Amazing job! favorite!
TFS - Shir

barni (15751) 2006-10-18 17:11

Bonsoir Pascal
Bravo pour cette composition qui t'a demandй beaucoup de travail.
Merci pour la note trиs bien йcrite.
Salutation
Christophe

alessandro_1981 (302) 2006-11-07 6:19

This picture is really a great work of the human genius! congratulations!

Elaine_Blath (8471) 2006-11-07 6:59

Hi Pascal,

aboslutely FANTASTIC!!!!!

Take care, Ivana

rui_seabra (205) 2006-11-07 6:59

woww... So much work put into this one...

I had already seen some long exposures but this one is different as it results from adding many photos... interesting idea...

It's strange that one can actually see many different positions the stars assumed during that night...

Still... there was a "bump" somewhere in the middle of the night :-D as can be more easily seen in the inner "circles" where there's a minor deviation...

Anyway... a trully interesting photo with a lot of time put into it!

TFS
Rui Seabra
Portugal

SCidER (388) 2006-11-11 7:18

nice work man.. universe is alive :D

WhiteRose (10) 2006-11-11 7:34

Pascal

A superbly original take on the star trail theme. You have put in a huge amount of work to make this image but it has paid off magnificently.

Regards

Richard

jeromep (217) 2006-11-11 8:07

Travail trиs impressionnant!
Fйlicitations,
Jйrфme

Faros (12) 2006-11-13 11:16

Pascal,
Merci pour ce travail et pour ta note !
Super !

Phil.

Valeski (906) 2006-11-13 11:33

Mitico! Nulla da aggiungere. Foto magnifica e nota intelligente!
Grazie
Ciao
Vale

jramos (507) 2006-11-29 0:46 [Comment]

Show Comment

vonp (2235) 2007-01-05 4:20

Hi Pascal,
No comment for your shot...
Simply genial and wonderful.
Bravo
Ciao
Paolo

HIRAKZ (168) 2007-01-05 4:20

Hi Pascal,

Your name and this great photograph (kudos and congratulations for this painstaking effort) are synonymous with one of science's greatest scientists. You have lived up to the expectation of science and of course, yourself and your TE friends. Fantastic use of the camera. Really appreciate and thanks a million for sharing.

Warm regards and greetings from New Delhi, India.
HIRAK

Mayaya (44) 2007-01-05 4:33

I'm very impressed. I like it so much.
mayaya

sleon (9402) 2007-01-22 14:14

HI Pascal
What a remarkable photographic assembly, and the results are spectacular. Fascinating and mesmerising.
Susanna

jpwashere (148) 2007-01-22 14:32

your explaination of how you achieved this photo is very detailed. you went to great lengths to get this photo and the result is really excellent. the pattern is very revealing of the movement of the earth that we take for granted.

well done.

randompics (961) 2007-02-26 3:26

a fantastic shot. the effort u have put on it really shows ur passion in photography..kudos to you for having such a passion and dedication..and this picture shows us the magnificent beauty of the nature..

xtelle (0) 2007-02-26 3:45 [Comment]

Show Comment

rleclercq (630) 2007-04-09 9:32

Salut PAscal,

Beau travail,et un rйsultat amplement mйritй a la vue de l'ingйniositй dont tu as fais preuve (et de la nuit blanche ;) ).
Les couleurs sont restйes naturelles а mon avis d'autres treakeartiens vont s'y essayer.
Et hop!directement dans mes favorites.

A+

Rodrigue

Irina75 (1502) 2007-04-10 11:16

Cette photo est absolument magnifique!! Le commentaire passionnant, superbe idee, Merci

Poseidon_Simons (50) 2007-04-27 11:19 [Comment]

Show Comment

enedimd (1532) 2007-05-26 9:33

Hello Pascal,
In a one word, this shot is WONDERFUL and EXCELLENT...
Congratulation for your patience. Exceptional frame...
TFS,
Have a nice weekend.
Emir Nedim

rajhema (1873) 2007-07-03 3:29

A well deserved picture. Your note explains how tough it was to take. I do have a wish to take a picture like this. Thanks for the tips Pascal.
TFS
Rajesh

wamc24120 (1031) 2007-07-03 3:54

Bonjour Pascal,
Quel patiente, mais le rйsultat en vaut la peine.
Des images comme ont n'as pas l'habitude d'en voir,sans parler de la qualitй du clichй proprement dit.
Merci pour cetravail et le partage

w0jtuch (88) 2007-08-18 5:20 [Comment]

Show Comment

MadraRua (887) 2007-08-18 5:21

Pascal, this is very impressive. When I saw the thumbnail I expected some stort of star trail. But this is just an amazing piece of work. I love the way the distances are getting wider towards the edge.
Congratulations on this wonderful shot and all the efford that went into it.
Hauke

bhardwajkapil78 (486) 2007-08-18 5:27

This is amazing....
amazing work Pascal Specht...

it shows your dedication to bring the best ..
and really i lived it.. the not is really useful..

cheers
Be my guest in india....

Regards
Kapil Bhardwaj

eyesthetix (641) 2007-08-18 5:31

Hi Pascal,
your effort needs to be commended.
Very interesting shot - and engaging note !

Thanks for sharing :-)
Best regards, Daniel

orfanak (174) 2007-08-18 5:36

Excellent work
Excellent description of work
Congratulations
Michalis

mpsf (731) 2007-08-18 5:40

Hola Pascal, tu foto es rarнsima pero estб fenomenal. Un saludo.
Pilar

lecelte (8) 2007-08-18 6:33

Magnifique ! Superbe ! Gйnial !
Et en plus trиs didactique.

Preetie (433) 2007-08-20 5:10 [Comment]

Show Comment

CRATEOS (7278) 2007-12-07 12:52

first time in TE i see work like this..is astonish..!!!!
my gngrs Pascal....!!!!

Amities
nf

jcdurka1 (1950) 2008-01-07 9:09

La encore, bravo pour la patience et la creativitй.
A+,
Jean-Claude

seb36 (1060) 2008-06-15 4:29

fascinating! Congratulations for both your photo and your patience!

zahoor_salmi (1053) 2008-12-08 19:59

Amazing stuff Pascal! You have very good ideas and your gallery shows your tallent and skills.

Yves-triga (5149) 2009-07-23 2:15

Bonjour Pascal,
Superbe image,tous ces points dans le ciel sont chaques dйclanchements de ton apn,c'est magique.
quelle beautй.
merci de toutes ces explications trиs interressantes.
bien а toi
yves

deud (1920) 2009-10-16 17:01

Wow! Superbe image ici!
Une fantastique technique de longue exposition!

merci.

bmukherjee (1516) 2009-11-15 7:45

I know what patience this takes. Sorry - I didn't really mean to refer to this picture when I mentioned Namibia in Star trails over India. This is a great photo - you're lucky not to have run out of battery power!

biswaroop

psykhe (14) 2009-12-02 7:36

perfect circle!
congs, just great.

h_sedghi (880) 2010-04-20 6:19 [Comment]

Show Comment

mar294 (38) 2011-02-28 0:05

Very interesting idea!!! But i think it can be more effectively if you increase the time between shots by logarithmic or another mathematics law! Thank you for great picture!