My nebula photo got blown out by a sudden streetlamp

I drove out to a dark site to photograph the Lagoon Nebula last weekend. Right as I started a 3-minute exposure, a streetlamp flickered on nearby. The whole image is just a bright orange mess now. How do you guys check for potential light problems at new locations? Is there a good way to shield the lens from side light like that?

3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

3 Comments

kai4636mo ago

Check the area with a red flashlight before setting up to spot any light domes or unshielded fixtures. A quick walk around your spot can save you a lot of pain later on. Have you thought about using a portable light shield or even a dark jacket draped over the lens and tripod?

10

kelly_roberts6mo ago

Three whole minutes into that exposure... of course the one streetlamp in the county decided that was its big moment. Streetlamp 1, Nebula 0.

8

viola_clark206mo ago

Did you try to mask it out in editing, or was the glare just too blown out?

6