Star Trails - Night on the move

[suntinez]

Rusher, those are some awesome shots!

More playing tonight - 6 mins, 36mm, f/4.5, ISO 200. Trees were reflecting some red xmas lights below.

 

[Tucson T4R]

My first serious attempt at recording star trails this weekend camping at Chimney Rock.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

I'd say you nailed it Brad!

Happy New Year

 

[nwoods]

I'd say you nailed it Brad!

Happy New Year

I agree. Nice touch shooting that with the Lunar Lander module in the foreground.



Btw, your camp and random rig photos for this trip are also quite nice.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Thanks guys. Happy New year. :wings:

BTW I like the lunar landing module comment. Most appropriate. :victory:

 

[mtnbike28]

Brad,

What was your exposure data? Time, ISO and f stop? Also I read somewhere that colder nights are prefered for star trails, but can't find it again to remember why....

 

[Tucson T4R]

Colder nights just usually have a clearer sky.

My shot was taken at f3.5 with 10mm wide angle. ISO 200 for 30 mins.

 

[bzauche]

Hey all! I just joined the forum a couple minutes ago and the photography forum caught my eye. While I don't have the surroundings that a lot of y'all have, I love taking pictures! Here's my most recent star trail shot:

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Great photo bzauche, nice entrance and Welcome to the Forum!!

 

[bzauche]

Great photo bzauche, nice entrance and Welcome to the Forum!!

Thank you!

 

[photoman]

Here are a couple from Friday night along the Arizona and Utah border.

1. F2.8 - ISO1600 - 16mm - 25sec

2. F6.3 - ISO200 - 16mm - 1519sec

3. F6.3 - ISO200 - 16mm - 1446sec

 

[Tucson T4R]

Nicely done Aaron. My favorite is #1 with the nicely lit white rock formations in the foreground.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

I cant decide which one I like best! They're all just phenomenal!!

 

[nwoods]

Very nice Aaron. I like the third, because of the completeness of the sky rotation

 

[RusherRacing]

A couple tips since we are talking about techniques etc.

I do single exposures, using a cable remote on bulb mode... My camera has a built in intervalometer but so far I have just been doing single exposure.

You don't want to go to low on your Fstop. I typically go around F8ish range... Enough to pick up the bright stars but won't pick up all the stars... If you shoot wide open you pick up to many dim starts and it can ruin your effect and it also limits the amount of time you can stay open. I shoot for 1hr exposures F8 ISO 100... Keep the ISO as low as possible to reduce the noise. Then once in Photoshop you will need to significantly adjust the curves to make the stars pop..