Beautifulimages, Richard. The last two were my favourites. Simply stunning, as they always are!! Thanks for the info on the PowerBanks. Mine is getting old and heavy, so this information was very useful.
Super images at the end there Richard - there's no doubting that Orion makes for a cracking nightscape sky! Always interesting to see it flipped from our perspective in the northern hemisphere 🙃.
I can’t even imagine what 25C would feel like right now! 🤣 I think I’d be using those power banks for cooling fans. Great video, Richard - agree that those small and apparently peripheral things make a huge difference in the field if you get them right. Beautiful images - the edit of the Rosette on that 50mm shot was sublime.
Richard again your photos never seem to amaze me, Greatness, I have read so many articles on Milky Way & get so confused. 500 rule. 400 rule even 333 rule & now I reading NPF rule. Mind boggling. Great info on the accessories. Hope to learn from your videos. Keep them coming. Thanks
Thanks a lot Wayne. Yes there is a lot of confusing information out there. In a nutshell .. you set a shutter speed that allows for stars that are nice and round as opposed to little trails. The trails are caused by the rotation of the earth .. and they become longer as you increase the lens focal length . therefore the shutter speed needs to decrease. This is the reason people use star trackers as they enable the use of much longer shutter speeds without star trailing.
Gorgeous Images Richard. Love looking and studying your compositions. I learn so much...and appreciate sharing the nuances of additional gear: good to know what is reliable in the field. Best Mate
Thanks for the power bank and headlamp tips, Richard. I began using Nitecore headlamps a few years ago. My favorite, an HC68 with buttons I can actually push wihile wearing heavy gloves. I think the headlamp puts out around 1400 candlepower good for walking trails in the woods or rocky shorelines. Nitecore no longer sells the headlamp. I'll need to remember the Summit if I need a power bank.
Great Video and images as usual. I have a Kings 12Ah power bank. It is on the heavy side at 1.5kgs, but it also acts as a weight for the tripod. It has usb A and C, a 12v socket and White/Amber light if needed. The GoPro only uses 25% of the available power over night (12h), but I also use it to power my astronomy gear, including dew straps when needed. It is a great unit and they are priced well, sometimes cheaper with a bundle that they advertise regularly, less than $200 either bundle or by itself.
Hi Richard; Thanks for your advice regarding the Nitecore Powerbank, I have had issues with other brands which do shutdown if the load is too low. The images you posted from recent shoots are as always an inspiration to get outside and make some images, terrific work. Cheers Peter.
Brilliant. Yes, there are so many "small" moving parts associated with taking night images! Best way to remember all and make the process go smoother is what you have stated before - practice!
Nice set of images Richard and lovely accessories you have collected.. I own enough of lights and battery packs and now this video is making me add more 😂😂
Hermosas imágenes como siempre y me encanta tu forma de trabajar en el terreno de la toma. He aprendido mucho de ti , con tus videos y estilo. Saludos desde Gran Canaria.
Once again, thanks Richard. I often shoot in sub-zero weather, and power banks have been a problem. Another issue with red light comes up when you're out with others shooting. If someone's red light gets into your photo, it''s difficult to deal with in post. Slightly invasive white light is not as much of an issue (I learned that from Kerry-Ann Lecky-Hepburn in Chile and it has stuck with me). I'm going to look into Nitecore. Hadn't heard of them in my circles but I see Nitecore products are available in Canada. I'm heading outside now to bring my camera in. Never cleared and it's well below zero.
I'm hearing you regarding the weather here in Australia. Up here in Townsville, it has been very warm at night, humid and cloudy, so there hasn't been very much opportunity to take in any photo sessions outside for a few weeks, not to mention the bugs! I get concerned with my scopes and camera's, taking them from an air-conditioned space inside the home to sit outside for hours on a tripod due to the condensation that can accumulate internally. When you have spent a small fortune on the equipment to have it damaged by your environment, especially when money to replace said equipment is not readily available makes it difficult to get and enjoy our hobby. I always feel that this time of the year I need to re-locate south to chase my "be all target" of the nebulae in Orion, but that's not an option these days for me. Richard, thanks for your nightly efforts, and as always, the fantastic photo's we all get to enjoy (the tree with Orion behind it is my fav at present!!).
Great video Richard....I only just found out about the trickle charge issue with some powerbanks when I tried some new low level lighting out, it kept cutting out at the lowest light setting as it wasn't detecting anything. I can only use it on the next setting up which is quite a bit brighter than the lowest. Oh well, it's how we learn :) Fantastic images at the end as always 👍
Thanks Trevor. It's been a problem for many years but worse now as a lot of new gear is fussier than ever with power requirements. All the newest Nikon Z cameras are tricky in this regard as well.
Great images as always Richard, thanks for sharing. The only advantage I find to red lights (I am with you around a general dislike) is that they are less attractive to moths and bugs in our summer months, a definite problem I have in some of my local locations in the warmer months 😂
Thanks a lot Jeroen .. yes I'm sure your summers are not quite that warm .. but on the other hand, our winters are much milder than your's I'd say ..!!!!
Fantastic work, brilliant images and great video tutorials Richard. It is great to see gear reviewed that is thoroughly tested and used in the field. I just wish I could manage to afford to jump across the ditch to do one of your courses, maybe one day I will have a big lotto win. In the meantime I will be content in following your work. Keep up this great stream and a great 2025 to you and your family.
I have been using a Nitecore HU60 headtorch which runs off a powerbank, which is nice because you can either use a small one or a larger one if you need the extra capacity. It also means less weight on your head since the powerbank is on a cord in your pocket. I mainly use it with the Nightcore NPB1 5000mah powerbank which has a locking attachment for the USB plug on the HU60, and that seems to be plenty even for longer hikes at night. The HU60 offers plenty of power when you need it with 1600 lumens on the spotlight, and some decent low settings as well when you're operating the camera.
Great to see you keeping busy with the shoots thru the summer months Richard, and food for thought on the nightcore powerbanks. Did you get an opportunity to shoot comet c/2024 G3?
Hi Richard. How did we manage before power banks came along? I even use them to power dummy batteries in my Nikon cameras nowadays. The Nitecore models look great and despite their very high price here in the UK I'm tempted to get a couple. Their small size and lighter weight are great selling points. I use a Petzel Core Active head torch for my night shoots as they've got a USB chargeable battery which is important on long night sessions. Can't fault them. Love the images you've produced on the Z6IIa - simply stunning! Really enjoyed the review - many thanks for sharing. P.S. I've just picked up a pair of used F&V Z96 lights based on your recommendation. I've only used them once but they're fantastic and will definitely improve my light painting. Thanks again.
Some very nice images. A lot of loving effort has been put into setting up the prop lights for the foreground, stitching, and blending the tracked pano images. Great accomplishments. In cold weather which power bank do you use to keep both the MSM NOMAD tracker (if you use it) and the lens warmer charged?
Thanks heaps for watching. If I'm powering multiple items it's less of a problem as the current draw is greater . .therefore they all work ok. I like this Nitecore one as it's small, light and portable. The MSM Nomad doesn't need much power to work so this power bank is ideal.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks. I watched the Amazon video of this product just now. Impressive! My initial concern about this product was that it had only one USB-A port. Didn't know there is a USB-C to USB-C cable available in the market. Learned something new today. Keep inspiring us!
I use cheapo no name power banks to run my lenses heaters when doing a night timelapse. No issues with them shutting off, but maybe it's just cooler here than where you typically shoot, so the voltage stays high enough to keep them on. As for headlamps, I want one that is smple...red, white, off. I don't like cycling through 6 modes to get the stupid thing off.
I've run my original MSM rotator from a USB power bank before, when I forgot to charge it before heading out. I guess the Nomad can also be run from a powerbank?
Great shots Richard...are you using the move shoot move tracker here?? And do you run your photos through Topaz before or after the final image?? Cheers
Yes I did use the Nomad for these shots Carmel. I use Topaz differently depending on what method of editing I'm using. Most of the time I'll be editing the foreground separately to the sky and my application of Topaz is a little different for both. So I don't wait to the very end to apply noise reduction generally. . although that may happen if it's a single shot.
Hi Richard have you ever used a Back Light Scanner in your light painting? ruclips.net/video/ItQj2DQKjpU/видео.html&lc=UgyVffc0zhwzKO5R_xN4AaABAg&si=bSUAWknkWFql2ry0
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for great pictures and smart advices Richard 🙂
Thanks as always for watching Peter.
Beautiful pictures as always Richard, nice update on accessories.
Thanks Richard
As always I appreciate your comments Mario.
Thanks, Richard great video, beautiful pictures. Try to stay cool.
Thanks as always for watching Jeff, really appreciate it.
Beautifulimages, Richard. The last two were my favourites. Simply stunning, as they always are!! Thanks for the info on the PowerBanks. Mine is getting old and heavy, so this information was very useful.
Always appreciate your great support Simon, thank you.
Merci Richard pour tes conseils bonnes photos !
Appreciate you watching again Patrick.
Super images at the end there Richard - there's no doubting that Orion makes for a cracking nightscape sky! Always interesting to see it flipped from our perspective in the northern hemisphere 🙃.
Yes I get that comment a lot Paul. It sure is a great subject.
Great video! Enjoy the heat while you can. Been -23 Celsius in my neck of the woods.
Wow, that's pretty chilly. Never get that around here.
I can’t even imagine what 25C would feel like right now! 🤣 I think I’d be using those power banks for cooling fans. Great video, Richard - agree that those small and apparently peripheral things make a huge difference in the field if you get them right. Beautiful images - the edit of the Rosette on that 50mm shot was sublime.
Thanks as always for your comments Paul. Always appreciated. I'm sure it's nowhere near 25C in your part of the world at present ..!!!
Richard again your photos never seem to amaze me, Greatness, I have read so many articles on Milky Way & get so confused. 500 rule. 400 rule even 333 rule & now I reading NPF rule. Mind boggling. Great info on the accessories. Hope to learn from your videos. Keep them coming. Thanks
Thanks a lot Wayne. Yes there is a lot of confusing information out there. In a nutshell .. you set a shutter speed that allows for stars that are nice and round as opposed to little trails. The trails are caused by the rotation of the earth .. and they become longer as you increase the lens focal length . therefore the shutter speed needs to decrease.
This is the reason people use star trackers as they enable the use of much longer shutter speeds without star trailing.
Gorgeous Images Richard. Love looking and studying your compositions. I learn so much...and appreciate sharing the nuances of additional gear: good to know what is reliable in the field. Best Mate
Thanks for your continued support Manjul.
Thanks for the power bank and headlamp tips, Richard. I began using Nitecore headlamps a few years ago. My favorite, an HC68 with buttons I can actually push wihile wearing heavy gloves. I think the headlamp puts out around 1400 candlepower good for walking trails in the woods or rocky shorelines. Nitecore no longer sells the headlamp. I'll need to remember the Summit if I need a power bank.
Thanks for tuning in Richard, really appreciated.
Great Video and images as usual. I have a Kings 12Ah power bank. It is on the heavy side at 1.5kgs, but it also acts as a weight for the tripod. It has usb A and C, a 12v socket and White/Amber light if needed. The GoPro only uses 25% of the available power over night (12h), but I also use it to power my astronomy gear, including dew straps when needed. It is a great unit and they are priced well, sometimes cheaper with a bundle that they advertise regularly, less than $200 either bundle or by itself.
Good on you Michael. There is a lot of good stuff out there for us to make use of isn't there. Thanks for watching.
Very informative Richard, you’ve given me some idea for new gear🙂
Thanks as always for watching Julie.
Hi Richard; Thanks for your advice regarding the Nitecore Powerbank, I have had issues with other brands which do shutdown if the load is too low. The images you posted from recent shoots are as always an inspiration to get outside and make some images, terrific work. Cheers Peter.
Thanks for watching Peter. Yes the low current draw is a constant issue for me.
Brilliant. Yes, there are so many "small" moving parts associated with taking night images! Best way to remember all and make the process go smoother is what you have stated before - practice!
Very true indeed Kerry, thanks again for watching.
Nice set of images Richard and lovely accessories you have collected.. I own enough of lights and battery packs and now this video is making me add more 😂😂
Once again I apologise for making you open the wallet Virat ..!!!! All the best my friend.
Great pics mate, so true about working through those batteries, I have a couple of Anker ones, work well though heavy. Thanks for review :)
Thanks as always for tuning in Al.
Hermosas imágenes como siempre y me encanta tu forma de trabajar en el terreno de la toma. He aprendido mucho de ti , con tus videos y estilo. Saludos desde Gran Canaria.
Thank you so much for your kind words Samuel.
Thank you Richard for the video! It's always nice to get recommendations for such accessories as well! The images at the end were the cherry in top
I very much appreciate you watching.
Once again, thanks Richard. I often shoot in sub-zero weather, and power banks have been a problem. Another issue with red light comes up when you're out with others shooting. If someone's red light gets into your photo, it''s difficult to deal with in post. Slightly invasive white light is not as much of an issue (I learned that from Kerry-Ann Lecky-Hepburn in Chile and it has stuck with me). I'm going to look into Nitecore. Hadn't heard of them in my circles but I see Nitecore products are available in Canada. I'm heading outside now to bring my camera in. Never cleared and it's well below zero.
Thanks so much for watching Gary. Yes the red light is very invasive and difficult to deal with in post.
Thanks Richard for the tips & great to know. I love the images at the end, very nice indeed 👏👏❤️🇮🇪
You're very welcome Vivian.
Nice pics buddy, hopefully Feb isn't too hot!
Thanks Rob, I guess we shall see ..!!
I'm hearing you regarding the weather here in Australia. Up here in Townsville, it has been very warm at night, humid and cloudy, so there hasn't been very much opportunity to take in any photo sessions outside for a few weeks, not to mention the bugs! I get concerned with my scopes and camera's, taking them from an air-conditioned space inside the home to sit outside for hours on a tripod due to the condensation that can accumulate internally. When you have spent a small fortune on the equipment to have it damaged by your environment, especially when money to replace said equipment is not readily available makes it difficult to get and enjoy our hobby. I always feel that this time of the year I need to re-locate south to chase my "be all target" of the nebulae in Orion, but that's not an option these days for me. Richard, thanks for your nightly efforts, and as always, the fantastic photo's we all get to enjoy (the tree with Orion behind it is my fav at present!!).
Thanks so much for checking out the video John. I hope the weather clears for you soon.
Great video Richard....I only just found out about the trickle charge issue with some powerbanks when I tried some new low level lighting out, it kept cutting out at the lowest light setting as it wasn't detecting anything. I can only use it on the next setting up which is quite a bit brighter than the lowest. Oh well, it's how we learn :)
Fantastic images at the end as always 👍
Thanks Trevor. It's been a problem for many years but worse now as a lot of new gear is fussier than ever with power requirements. All the newest Nikon Z cameras are tricky in this regard as well.
Great images as always Richard, thanks for sharing. The only advantage I find to red lights (I am with you around a general dislike) is that they are less attractive to moths and bugs in our summer months, a definite problem I have in some of my local locations in the warmer months 😂
Yes Eric, others have also made mention of that .. and it sure is a problem in summer isn't it.
Great images Richard. I like the look of that head torch.
Thanks Andrew. Yes there are some awesome products available at present.
I have 2 powerbanks both Anker good units I've charged phones,tracker,cameras. Great info and photos
Thanks again for tuning in Phillip.
Stunning images. 👏👏
Thanks so much Wayne.
25 degrees at night... wouldn't float my boat either 😅. Still you managed to take quite a lot of great shots in those past 5 weeks!
Thanks a lot Jeroen .. yes I'm sure your summers are not quite that warm .. but on the other hand, our winters are much milder than your's I'd say ..!!!!
Fantastic work, brilliant images and great video tutorials Richard. It is great to see gear reviewed that is thoroughly tested and used in the field. I just wish I could manage to afford to jump across the ditch to do one of your courses, maybe one day I will have a big lotto win. In the meantime I will be content in following your work. Keep up this great stream and a great 2025 to you and your family.
Thanks for your great support Les, always appreciated my friend.
Hi Richard maybe one winter you should do a trip to the snowy highlands of Vic
Yes I have thought about doing that . .maybe one day.
Great video thank you
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
I have been using a Nitecore HU60 headtorch which runs off a powerbank, which is nice because you can either use a small one or a larger one if you need the extra capacity. It also means less weight on your head since the powerbank is on a cord in your pocket. I mainly use it with the Nightcore NPB1 5000mah powerbank which has a locking attachment for the USB plug on the HU60, and that seems to be plenty even for longer hikes at night. The HU60 offers plenty of power when you need it with 1600 lumens on the spotlight, and some decent low settings as well when you're operating the camera.
Yes they sure do make some really nice gear don't they. Appreciate you tuning in.
another great video and fantastic photo. do you have any videos on how to do track pictures, I looked but could not find anything.
Thanks for watching. I have a video playlist regarding trackers. See here: ruclips.net/p/PLAYKmqkUeSM9CQ2l5zOSr479ZmlusOlpN
Nice video
'Thanks so much for watching.
@nightscapeimages.richard 👍🙂
Great to see you keeping busy with the shoots thru the summer months Richard, and food for thought on the nightcore powerbanks. Did you get an opportunity to shoot comet c/2024 G3?
Thanks Greg. . just trying to keep up with you boys over in the west ..!!! No didn't get out to shoot the comet.
Hi Richard. How did we manage before power banks came along? I even use them to power dummy batteries in my Nikon cameras nowadays. The Nitecore models look great and despite their very high price here in the UK I'm tempted to get a couple. Their small size and lighter weight are great selling points. I use a Petzel Core Active head torch for my night shoots as they've got a USB chargeable battery which is important on long night sessions. Can't fault them. Love the images you've produced on the Z6IIa - simply stunning! Really enjoyed the review - many thanks for sharing. P.S. I've just picked up a pair of used F&V Z96 lights based on your recommendation. I've only used them once but they're fantastic and will definitely improve my light painting. Thanks again.
Thanks heaps for your insights Tim, always appreciated.
Some very nice images. A lot of loving effort has been put into setting up the prop lights for the foreground, stitching, and blending the tracked pano images. Great accomplishments. In cold weather which power bank do you use to keep both the MSM NOMAD tracker (if you use it) and the lens warmer charged?
Thanks heaps for watching. If I'm powering multiple items it's less of a problem as the current draw is greater . .therefore they all work ok. I like this Nitecore one as it's small, light and portable. The MSM Nomad doesn't need much power to work so this power bank is ideal.
@@nightscapeimages.richard Thanks. I watched the Amazon video of this product just now. Impressive! My initial concern about this product was that it had only one USB-A port. Didn't know there is a USB-C to USB-C cable available in the market. Learned something new today. Keep inspiring us!
Another helpful video. Thanks Richard.
As usual the images were spectacular!
PS, did you get the Subaru fixed?
Thanks again David. Subaru was written off . .have since replaced with similar model.
I use cheapo no name power banks to run my lenses heaters when doing a night timelapse. No issues with them shutting off, but maybe it's just cooler here than where you typically shoot, so the voltage stays high enough to keep them on. As for headlamps, I want one that is smple...red, white, off. I don't like cycling through 6 modes to get the stupid thing off.
I hear you about the cycling through different modes on headlamps. . hate that . .especially the strobing mode.
I've run my original MSM rotator from a USB power bank before, when I forgot to charge it before heading out. I guess the Nomad can also be run from a powerbank?
Yes you sure can run the Nomad with a power bank.
Cool
Thanks for watching Oleg.
Great shots Richard...are you using the move shoot move tracker here?? And do you run your photos through Topaz before or after the final image?? Cheers
Yes I did use the Nomad for these shots Carmel. I use Topaz differently depending on what method of editing I'm using. Most of the time I'll be editing the foreground separately to the sky and my application of Topaz is a little different for both.
So I don't wait to the very end to apply noise reduction generally. . although that may happen if it's a single shot.
Both look a good product, but strangely Amazon for the PB says it doesn't ship to OZ but the headlamp does 🤷♂️
That's interesting Rob. Amazon seem to change their mind every 5 minutes ..!!
Fantastic video as always Richard. Which tracker did you use, or did I completely miss that? 😅
Cheers from the Jersey Shore
Thanks Chris. I used the MSM Nomad tracker for these.
I really love your images without manmade object in the frame. All natural. Can you not see the comet?
Thanks for watching Keith. Yes the comet has been visible for a little while now.
I found out the hard way that a white head torch attracts bugs which delight in bouncing of your face, so I now use a red one.
Yes you sure have a point there Martyn. Lots of bugs around here during the summer nights.
Hey Richard, was just trying to watch this video, it's dubbed in Italian, I am not sure why 😏
@@schatzie4065 That's interesting... what country are you in ...???
@nightscapeimages.richard lol Australia. Checked my settings and they are set to English 🤔. This is strange.
Hi Richard have you ever used a Back Light Scanner in your light painting? ruclips.net/video/ItQj2DQKjpU/видео.html&lc=UgyVffc0zhwzKO5R_xN4AaABAg&si=bSUAWknkWFql2ry0
No I haven't used any black lights in my nightscapes at this stage Ray . . but I've seen some very interesting images taken with them.