Last night time launch of the space shuttle ever! I made it to Titusville, FL about 4 hrs drive for me, which is not too bad. The viewing spot is about 13 miles ( 20 kilometers) away from the launchpad:
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_MAP.jpg
5 PM is when i set my tripod with the shuttle complex way out in the diatance
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_5937.jpg
This is the assembly building
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_5940.jpg
After sunset searchlights come on
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_5983.jpg
Same search lights with slightly better white balance on the camera
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_5987.jpg
The moon rose above the horizon with irregular shape due to haze
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_5993.jpg
I thought a lot about what camera settings to use for the launch. This is at 200mm, f2.8, ISO 400 and EV exposed compensation to -4. At 7:55 pm we have ignition!
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6055.jpg
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6056.jpg
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6060.jpg
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6062_650.jpg
past the moon:
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6079.jpg
Set my EV compensation to -1 now which made it a lot brighter
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6101.jpg
Finally set a new lens to 18 mm to catch this scene
http://www.mega247.com/photos/1108SHUT/s_DSC_6113.jpg
What an amazing sight! I also took a video from a separate tripod nearby. I will post that separately
Ivan Cholakov
www.mega247.com
