I’ve Used A Once-In-A-Lifetime Chance To Capture The Neowise Comet (13 Pics)

With one chance every 7000 years or so, staying in bed was not an option. Even though I would have loved to after filming a full breeding season of several Dutch bird species for TV documentaries and cinema. The comet was too rare to skip, so I made a plan for some pictures. I planned two nights with a clear sky and no wind. The first night I went for some landscape pictures close to home. We live next to a national park called Fochelooërveen—ideal for a clear view of the horizon and the upcoming Neowise in the north. I arrived just before 00:00 and prepared the camera. With this type of photography, the success of the photo lies more in the landscape, than the comet itself. That is just the finishing touch.

More info: Instagram | Facebook | rjvanderleij.nl | twitter.com

Neowise with landscape

I’ve Used A Once-In-A-Lifetime Chance To Capture The Neowise Comet (13 Pics)

The first picture with the great yellow details in the scene has been taken with a shutter time of 15 seconds in which I used my car lights on the scene for about 1 second. This adds some beautiful detail and color to an otherwise dark front. After I had managed this, I decided to go for the comet with reflection. With no wind, the water was flat; I just needed a place with the comet behind the river. I managed to find a place, and the result was as I hoped. Shutter open for 25 seconds to get enough light on the sensor. That was about it for the first night. I was satisfied and enjoyed the silence of the night, but, at the same time, wanted something with an animal in view. As I had worked in the past with white stork in the moon, I decided to go for that the second night. I knew several nest sites and checked extra on the map if I would manage to align myself with the birds and the Neowise Comet in the north. The second night I went for it.

Neowise with reflection

I’ve Used A Once-In-A-Lifetime Chance To Capture The Neowise Comet (13 Pics)

White storks watching Neowise together with me

I’ve Used A Once-In-A-Lifetime Chance To Capture The Neowise Comet (13 Pics)

My wife wanted to join as well, so after our kids went to sleep at grandma’s place, we went to the area about 45 min from our house. When we arrived, we immediately saw the birds and the comet, so this had to work out. I used a 500mm lens for a closer look at the birds, and after some tests, the best was to focus on the birds, not the comet. You can place the comet anywhere you like in the composition by walking a meter left, right, or forwards. The most interesting picture for me is the one where all three are watching the comet with me! The image is surreal. In another picture they moved a bit, and their heads give away that they are for sure white storks. The overview picture also gives you a good idea of why I ended up with white storks again. Besides their pretty large size, their nests are often out in the open and about 6 meters of the ground. Ideal!