Apologies all – I know I’ve been a bit quiet for the last 4 weeks, but I’ve been busy with a few things.

Ive just finished my new video training title – the Complete Guide to Photographing and Processing Night Sky Images.

Topics covered throughout the video training lessons include:

• Focusing at Night
• Camera settings
• Correct shutter speed for your focal length, sensor size and latitude
• How many frames to shoot
• When and when NOT to use long exposure noise reduction in your camera
• Correct neutral white balance in Lightroom
• Lightroom sharpening & Noise Reduction settings
• Shot Noise & Fixed Noise
• Stacking & aligning stars to reduce SHOT noise in Starry Landscape Stacker and Photoshop
• Manual star alignment in Photoshop – the way that actually works!
• Masking using the Image Calculations Panel inside Photoshop
• Normal brush masking in Starry Landscape Stacker
• Using precise masks made in Photoshop inside Starry Landscape Stacker
• Photoshop layer masks, layer blend modes, layer groups & group masks
• Retouching image layers & masks in Photoshop
• Photoshop Smart Objects & the Camera Raw smart filter

and more.

Over 7.5 HOURS (465mins approx:) of video training spread over 43 lessons that I GUARANTEE will make you an excellent photographer of this most enigmatic natural wonder.

You wouldn’t believe how long it takes to produce these video training lessons when you work on your own with a shoe-string setup!

Click the link above if you shoot landscapes and fancy a crack at proper night sky photography – once you start you won’t be able to stop – it gets very addictive!

Anyone who bought my original ‘Basic Milky Way Workflow’ training can email me and get a discount code, as the new title incorporates re-worked versions of the videos they already have, plus 30 new lessons.

In between bouts of recording videos I’ve been testing a lens that’s had me intrigued ever since I heard about it early this year.

I’m talking about this little baby:

Yes, the Irix 15mm f2.4 Blackstone.

And I have to say that it’s impressed me – greatly.

I decided to test it against two of the most expensive and respected lenses in the same focal length group I could think of – the Nikon 14-24 f2.8 zoom and the hugely expensive Zeiss 15mm f2.8 Distagon ZF2.

Nope, no Rokinon/Samyang/Tamy/Tokie/Sigy glass comparisons as this Irix is something of a cut above, if you get my drift.

I’m off to Norway on Saturday for a week, but when I get back I’ll finish the review of this cracking bit of kit – suffice to say this Irix is having a trip to Norway on Saturday, and it won’t be its last!

If you want any info on this lens in the meantime just email Mr. Irix in the UK – Charles Woods at info@actionmc.co.uk

And speaking of Norway, I’ve decided to be different on this eagle trip and shoot using the Nikon D5 and a 500mm f4 prime (the heavy one).

Am I making a mistake – who knows, but I am taking the trusty D4 – just in case!

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