Anatomy of a Milky Way Panorama

Take a journey to the stunning Southern Alps of New Zealand as Dan Zafra reveals the step-by-step process behind creating one of his favorite tracked Milky Way panoramas. This talk will dive deep into the techniques and decisions that brought this image to life, offering insights that any astro-landscape photographer—whether beginner or advanced—can apply to their work.

Dan will start with the planning phase, showing how to use tools to compose the perfect panorama under the night sky. You’ll learn how to use a star tracker effectively to capture sharp, detailed exposures of the Milky Way while managing the challenges of tracking and blending multiple frames.

The processing section walks you through the workflow for stitching and editing panoramic nightscapes, from blending tracked and untracked exposures to enhancing details and colors for a natural yet striking result.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear understanding of the techniques and mindset required to create breathtaking Milky Way panoramas. Whether you’re looking to improve your planning, tracking, or editing skills, this talk is packed with practical advice to elevate your astro-landscape photography.