Interesting Photo of the Day: El Taito Geyser Field

Interesting Photos

Sometimes, getting the photo you want requires more than one exposure and a lot of dedication to stick around beyond the first one. In this case, harrowing weather conditions can cause a photographer to equip his or her camera and tripod with defense against the elements while they wait for the next shot. In areas of blistering wind, moisture, or precipitation, it’s important to protect your lens and camera body from harm! The effort and precaution is worth it, as this image shows:

“A Milky Way Sunset Reflecting in the El Taito Geyser Field” by @blazing_heavens (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)

Instagram user blazing_heavens captured this stunning image of the Milky Way in less than ideal conditions at the El Tatio Geyser Field in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile. He used a Nikon D810 camera with a 14–24mm lens. The settings for the sky were a 30 second exposure at ISO 6400, f/2.8, and 14mm. The first exposure was for the foreground and clouds at sunset, and then another one a few hours later once the Milky Way came into view. In Photoshop, post processing consisted of aligning the combined exposures and using blending methods with masking to create the reflection on the ground.

The temperature was freezing, and he experienced lower oxygen levels at an altitude of 14,000 feet to photograph these exposures.  Thanks for sticking it out in the cold and getting this wonderful shot!