Photographer with EC135 handy..

[muddergoose]

Starry night shot + EC135

I have tried to take star shots and found to get that sort of intensity in the milky way requires around 40 minutes (with film) to intensify the weak ambient light and a tracking system to compensate for the earths rotation. Streaking can be obvious after a minute or two. If a star tracking system was used then the chopper would be rotated.

Is that photo a composite?

How long was the shutter left open for, what aperture was used and what was the lense?

It is an effective shot.

[lelebebbel]

for astrophotography tips, see here:
Catching the Light: Astrophotography by Jerry Lodriguss

With modern DSLRs you can get reasonabe quality at very high ISO settings. I would guess that this (great!) image was simply taken at ISO3200 or above, with no more than a minute of exposure time and no tracking. Like this one here:
Setting Milky Way Black Forest Star Party

[Jabberwocky82]

Some great photos. All the best with the book Richard.

[Richard Green]

answers to photo questions

Yes the photo is a composite but not what you imagine. It is composed of 5 shots subtending a horizontal field of about 180 degrees - they are hand stitched togerther to create one hi res image 1.5 metres long.

Camera - Canon EOS 1Ds zoom lens set at 17 mm, f4, 30 sec exposures. A lot of work was required to stitch such wide images.

[Svenestron]

EC135 extended fuel capacity..

All the brilliant photographs aside, this might just be interesting to any EC135 operators out there..

“The helicopter's standard fuel tanks have a capacity of just over 650 litres. In addition, I have designed and fitted a long-range tank capable of holding an additional 300 litres - essential for those places where there is a longer than usual jump between fuel stops.”

Found second paragraph on this page..

And having done some photo-stitching myself, on images taken with my lowly G10, I can only say the work of Mr. Green seems second to none..
Well done!