Comment by saiya-jin | Hacker News Reader

Comment by saiya-jin | Hacker News Reader

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Those milky way pictures are not so much about long camera exposure but rather tons and tons of after-processing mostly in Photoshop (did quite a bit of night sky photography with full-frame camera). Literally painting some areas with black and massively highlighting colors which are barely there.

You know all those comparisons pre-and-post-photoshop for models? Its same for those over-processed night shots (or generally any way over-processed shots, which most milky way shots are) I turn away in disgust. I understand folks who don't know much about this like it, but once you know what actually comes out of full frame sensor in 25s exposure (even if stacked) there is no way back.

Most pros do this too simply because it sells well to those who don't know better.

My experience is different. Sensitive camera with a fast lens feels sort of like a night vision. In my case sony a7iii + 1.4 24mm lens can see so much more stars in Berlin. And that's on relatively fast shutter speed (hand handled) with no processing. Yes longer shutter speeds, contrast boosting, stacking etc then multiple this effect to another level.

Oh you can see many more starts, milky way is more clear etc that was not the point. I don't have much different setup (Nikon D750 + 20mm 1.8 which is actually a bit bigger glass than yours), but when you take picture from camera, its completely different from what you typically find presented from amateurs and pros alike.

The difference is that ridiculous amount over-processing, literally re-painting parts of picture ie to add more contrast to milky way. Once you know what goes inside making of such a picture, as a photographer you can't have much respect there, I know I can't.

Its same as celebrities with unnaturally smooth plasticky skin - when you know how they look like in real life even with tons of makeup, those shots over-processed on top of that look just cheap and bad taste.

You do not understand neither photography, nor astrophotography.

Next you will have a disdain for JWST, becuase we do not see IR.

I have the unfortunate duty to inform you that you are incorrect in all your statements and assumptions

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