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Twilight Wonders of Mount Bromo Astrophotography Tours by Justin Ng
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I didn’t intentionally start out thinking I was going to run Astrophotography Tours ...
Twilight Wonders of Mount Bromo Astrophotography Tours by Justin Ng
Twilight Wonders of Mount Bromo Astrophotography Tours
I didn’t intentionally start out thinking I was going to run Astrophotography Tours on Mount Bromo. It just happened as the next logical step because I wanted to share my profound experience with the location with as many like-minded people out there. The first time I visited Mount Bromo was in April 2012 because I’ve seen plenty of breathtaking sunrise images from that vantage point online and I wanted to see everything for myself. I only stayed for 3 days but Mount Bromo did not disappoint and indeed there was just too much beauty and splendor to capture from the dramatic landscapes and eerie surroundings. Let me tell you more about it so you can be convinced and persuaded to join one of my astrophotography tours in the future.
My first shot of the beautiful Milky Way Galaxy on April 2012 in Mount Bromo. Credit: Justin Ng
My first star trails shot in Mount Bromo on April 2012.
Credit: Justin Ng
Milky Way Galaxy above Mount Bromo taken on August 2012
Credit: Justin Ng
The Location
At the center of the astrophotography tour is the Mount Bromo landscape. Mount Bromo is part of the Bromo-Tennger-Semeru National Park located in East Java, Indonesia. The National Park, occupying 800 square kilometers, is home to Mount Bromo, a well-known active volcano (which regularly spews white sulphurous smoke) that lies in the middle of the Sea of Sand within the massive Tengger Caldera. Sharing the spotlight with Mount Bromo is Mount Semeru which is Indonesia’s most active volcano as it spews out steam and smoke every 20 minutes.
A record shot of Mount Bromo spewing white sulphurous smoke during sunrise on 8 September 2013.
Credit: Justin Ng
Mount Bromo, Mount Semeru and Mount Batok (another mountain within the area) usually provide the backdrop for much of the famed landscapes that visitors from around the world flock to see. Expect to see rugged beauty from the fine volcanic sand background around Mount Bromo as well as lush green areas in other locations. The clear and vast sky atop the mountains also serves as a whole new canvass for astrophotographers.
Ray of lights shining through Cemoro Lawang Village in Mount Bromo during sunrise on 8 September 2013.
Credit: Justin Ng
“Misty morning ride” – The tourists travel to Mt Bromo crater either by foot or horse.
Credit: Nellie Ngoo
I may have been attracted to Mount Bromo initially from the rumors of its famed sunrise views. But after experiencing the vista from different vantage points in the area I believe that there is more to Mount Bromo than meets the eye. This is what convinced me to film my first timelapse movie and thus began my astrophotography journey.
The Objective
With any regular tour, the usual objective is to see as much of the sights as the participants are able. For an astrophotography tour, the objective is both simple and complex. One must be able to take relevant, vivid, clear and awesome pictures of the subject. However, in order to fulfill this objective, the participant must take into account several conditions:
The weather – Sometimes, as I have experienced, an astrophotographer has to withstand hours and hours of harsh weather conditions to be able to get the perfect photos. We are often at the mercy of cold temperatures (between 5-8 degrees Celsius), uncomfortable terrain and endless hours. However, once we look at our perfect photos, all will prove to be worthwhile.
The natural phenomena – Depending on the time that the tour is scheduled, you will most likely be informed that you’re shooting specific natural phenomena, like the Southern Taurids meteor or the zodiacal light phenomenon or the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower, to name a few. To get the right shots, it takes a lot of preparation to be at that particular location at that particular moment in time. To increase the chances of getting good images, I have developed a web-based astronomy tool at http://bit.ly/1e5Pf5y that calculates the best chances for capturing a celestial event.
The key to achieving the objective is preparation, patience, determination and adherence to the guidelines and rules set out at the start of the tour. As I have extensive experience in shooting astrophotographs and creating timelapse films, it is to your advantage to listen, to learn and to follow.
A meteor captured during Eta Aquarid meteor shower above Mount Bromo
Credit: Justin Ng
“Lightning and Milkyway above Mount Bromo”
Credit: Justin Ng
“Milkyway at Dusk” – This is a single exposure shot of the zodiacal light and the milkyway along with the 3 volcanoes, Mt Semeru, Mt Bromo and Mt Batok, and 3 planets, Venus, Saturn and Mercury.
Credit: Justin Ng
Timelapse of Zodiacal Light by Justin Ng
“Rise of the planets” – Planet Mars and Jupiter rose above the sea of clouds in Mount Bromo before sunrise.
Credit: Justin Ng
Image of porters warming up under the milkyway was probably the biggest takeaway from this trip for me. It’s a result of blending 3 images, the milkyway, mid-ground and foreground, together.
Credit: Marklin Ang (www.facebook.com/marklinangphotography)
Mount Bromo crater fuming under the starry night on 9 September 2013.
Credit: Eugene Hu
Behind the scene image of May 2013 astrophotography expedition to Mount Bromo. Photographers endured more than 8 hours of shoot under the milky way galaxy at a temperature of between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius.
Credit: Guek Peng Siong
The Details of the Tour
Since 2012, I have had the pleasure of escorting interested parties around Mount Bromo and teaching them the wonders of astrophotography. From these expeditions, I have been rewarded with one-of-a- kind photos, the kind that gets published in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, Space.com, EarthSky.com and other prestigious nature-oriented websites. I have also managed to create timelapse videos of Mount Bromo that have also found their way in notable print, online media.
Large and small Magellanic Clouds together with Canopus were captured during sunrise in Mount Bromo
Credit: Justin Ng
“Reaching for the Moon” – As the sun rose above the cloud, a horseman was reaching his hand up as if he’s trying to grab the moon.
Credit: Reyn Aria (500px / Reyn Aria)
A group shot taken by my driver at Mount Bromo in September 2013
For this year 2014, I have decided to limit our tour group participation to between 7 and 10 people to allow a more exclusive shooting experience for everyone. Click here for the specific details of the Mount Bromo Twilight Wonders tour.
A bright meteor streaked across the magnificent night sky in Mount Bromo just one day before the peak of Eta Aquarid meteor shower which is caused by Halley’s Comet. They are named after their apparent radiant point in the Constellation Aquarius, near one of its brightest stars, Eta Aquarii. Mount Bromo, which was spewing smoke in the above image, is one of the active volcanoes in East Java, Indonesia. The highest active volcano is called Mount Semeru and the extinct volcano, Mount Batok, is located at the right side of Mount Bromo. Read more at Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower in Mount Bromo | Justin Ng Photo
A composite image of the Milky Way and the horseman, standing on the crater of Mount Bromo and above the sea of clouds, who was trying to reach out for the Milky Way galaxy. Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, a dark nebula of gas and dust, is also visible along with other beautiful nebulae in the above image. Read more at Horseman reaching out for the Milky Way | Justin Ng Photo
A tale of two horses catching a glimpse of the breathtaking sunrise from two awe-inspiring locations, one from above the fog on the crater of an active volcano, Mount Bromo, while the other is located in our very own galaxy, the Milky Way! Can you spot the 2nd horse? Read more at http://www.justinngphoto.com/2014/04...orning-horses/
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