Celestial Trails - Simpson Desert, Qld

Ben Messina

Celestial Trails - Simpson Desert, Qld

Getting to know the stars is an important part of landscape photography. Using a compass and G.P.S I was able to pinpoint the South Celestial Star. Because of the rotation of the earth, using a six hour exposure gives the feeling of the stars trailing around this point. I used a 5 million candle power flashlight to illuminate the sand dune. Because of the massive size of the dune I had to climb an adjacent dune and paint the light on from there.

Camera – Fuji Gx617
Film – Fuji Velvia

To see more of my work please visit www.gallerym-australia.com

Celestial Trails - Simpson Desert, Qld belongs to the following groups:

Astronomy, Australian Contemporary Photography, Film Photography, Landscape and Abstract Photography, Landscape Photography, Light Painting (with tips and techniques), Medium and Large Format Film Photography, Night Photography, Panoramas 3:1 Ratio Minimum, Skyscapes, Technical Photography and Timelapse/Long Exposure Photography
Celestial Trails - Simpson Desert, Qld by Ben Messina
Celestial Trails - Simpson Desert, Qld by Ben Messina
  • Tony Middleton

    Tony Middleton

    absolutely brilliant Ben ! This is my favourite photograph of yours and it looks awesome printed large !

  • Matt Halls

    Matt Halls

    What clever work!! Magnificent result Ben

  • David Iori

    David Iori

    Great Work Ben

  • Kirk  Hille

    Kirk Hille

    Amazing ,
    Love the composition and color .
    The spot light worked well to bring out the exposure on the sand

  • Barry Norton

    Barry Norton

    Brill great use of technology

  • Ben Messina

    Ben Messina

    Thanks everyone for the comments, much appreciated. Barry not sure if you read the description, this image is one exposure done over a six hour period, on film, no technology needed.

  • Daniel Bowen

    Daniel Bowen

    Awesome image, well done love hoe you have ilumanated the sand dune as well as having teh star trails in the image

  • Macky

    Macky

    ........and now all of a sudden I feel small. :-) Beautifully ‘engineered’

  • Annette Blattman

    Annette Blattman

    stunning

  • Globalphotos

    Globalphotos

    Wow, you certainly had to plan this one and what a fabulous resulting image !!

  • Paul Scarsella

    Paul Scarsella

    awesome work!

  • NickMonk

    NickMonk

    This is a fabulous shot Ben, well done. There is nothing worse than attempting a shot of this technical difficulty and fluffing it up, you must have been relieved when you got this one back from the lab!

  • Christina Vasilakis

    Christina Vasi...

    6 hours??? holy heavens!! that is patience. it was well worth it, awesome shot!

  • amarica

    amarica

    great shot

  • toolesque

    toolesque

    WOWSA! How did you do SIX hours? I get tired after three or four minutes! Great photography, I appreciate this.

  • Lisa  Kenny

    Lisa Kenny

    this is brilliant Ben!

  • Jess Rodda

    Jess Rodda

    That looks amazing!

  • Matt  Lauder

    Matt Lauder

    Excellent work Ben… it is shots like this that really show your skill as a professional photographer. As a fellow slide film shooter I can see that you only get one shot at a shot like this.

  • salsbells69

    salsbells69

    Excellent..wonderful image. Well done.

  • Mark Greenmantle

    Mark Greenmantle

    That is just nuts – wow =)
    Bloody nice work Ben.

  • ozlat

    ozlat

    are you saying you had the bulb open for 6 hours?

  • Paul Pichugin

    Paul Pichugin

    Quite possibly one of the most amazing photos I’ve ever seen..

    - paul

  • Morgan MacLaren

    Morgan MacLaren

    This really makes you feel you are part of a moving universe!

  • Davide Montellanico

    Davide Montell...

    Stunning! Outstanding work. You planned so patiently an unrepeatable shot. I admire you!

  • simonesphotos

    simonesphotos

    Wow this is truly sensational!

  • TaGiRoCkS

    TaGiRoCkS

    wow

  • wildrider58

    wildrider58

    Awesome image

  • Luka Skracic

    Luka Skracic

    Incredible imagery.

  • Matthew Stewart

    Matthew Stewart

    Wow Ben, stellar work on this.

  • Paul Moore

    Paul Moore

    Yep, that is awesome!

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