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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?
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3 Comments
kai463
kai4631mo agoMost Upvoted
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?
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kelly_roberts
Three whole minutes into that exposure... of course the one streetlamp in the county decided that was its big moment. Streetlamp 1, Nebula 0.
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viola_clark20
Did you try to mask it out in editing, or was the glare just too blown out?
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